VW Campervan rental
VW Campervan rental
Active Kampers would like to welcome you to our 4th and final pre-season blog, for your travelling pleasure.
So far in our last 3 blogs, we’ve covered Europe and our beloved South Coast for those of you wishing to travel compact with a VW Campervan rental – but what about the rest of the UK? Read on for the definitive guide to road tripping some of the best that Great Britain and Ireland has to offer…
Active Kampers – VW Campervan Rental : England / Ireland / Scotland
The South-West Coast, Ireland
Take a drive from the eastern ferry ports to Limerick – This route is 450 miles…
From Limerick, head south via Blarney to Cork and Kinsale. Then turn west for Skibbereen, following the sequence of picturesque peninsulas and deep, fjord-like bays back round to Limerick via Tarbert. You can add a circuit of County Clare’s coast and the cliffs of Moher, returning to Limerick on the N18 from Ardrahan.
Keep an eye out for the lush, green countryside, rugged coastlines, islands, lakes and rivers. Park up for charming country towns and villages of thatched cottages and friendly local pubs. Also, check out Cork’s city craic, Cobh’s historic harbour and Kinsale’s posh waterfront. The west coast road really does have some of Europe’s finest scenery – notable is the Dingle peninsular.
This route ends where you started; Limerick has a memorable medieval castle on a river island in an old centre full of all the shops, cafes and culture you would hope for.
Yorkshire Wolds, England
Turn off the M62 at J38, through North Cave village up to Beverley.
This route is 135 miles – from Beverley’s likable minster, galleries and doily-laden teashops. Head north to the seaside charms of Bridlington. From Bridlington, head south via the proud East Riding country towns of Driffield and Pocklington, where Burnby Hall Gardens’ pretty lakes are home to the national water lily collection.
Finish off by re-joining the M62 at the comfortable market town of Howden (J37), with its minster standing tall in the old town centre.
You’ll be taken in by the long straight roads and ancient villages nestling between smooth rolling hills. Worth a look in Rudston is the mysterious 26ft monolith, the tallest standing stone in England.
The Atlantic Highway, England
Turn off the M5 at Bridgwater (J23) and admire the watercolour landscapes of the Somerset Levels, heading west on the A39. This route is 135 miles and is easy… Simply follow the A39, and enjoy the views. On one side of the road are increasingly wild hills; on the other, some of Britain’s best coastline.
The route ends in laid back Bude’s collection of windy dunes, Victoriana, beach cafes and great surfing marks the first seaside town in Cornwall – however, stay on the A39 for Padstow or Newquay.
Keep an eye out for the charming, little-known villages of the Quantocks and Brendon Hills; the National Trust’s lovely Selworthy village; the view from Lynmouth’s water-powered cliff funicular railway; and scenic detours to Ilfracombe and Combe Martin’s rocky seashores and Hartland’s bohemian end-of-the-worldness.
And for those of you really wishing to push the envelope…
The Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Firstly you’ll need to get CalMac ferry from Ullapool in the North west of Scotland to the island of Harris. Drive straight off the ferry onto the windy streets of Stornoway, the Outer Hebrides‘ main town.
This route is 150 miles… It’s winding, single-track road all the way, and one of Britain’s greatest travel experiences. We recommend heading across Lewis’ vast, flat, open, treeless landscape to see the Stevenson’s lighthouse at the Butt of Lewis, and Port of Ness fishing. South are the impressive Callanish standing stones – which truly give a sense of prehistory that Stonehenge doesn’t match.
What to look out for – A sequence of islands, with great views of mountains, sea, lochs and glorious white-sand beaches. Highlights include driving through Harris’ mountain pass and through sea spray on the causeways linking the central islands. You can also spot seals from your van, plus an array of wildflowers in spring.
We hope that’s enough Euro, South Coast and UK inspiration to get you out of the old routine and firmly into a VW Camper for your 2015 holiday.
Whatever you wish to do and wherever you wish to go this year – get in touch with us at Active Kampers – and let us help you do it in true compact style and comfort with a VW Campervan rental…
