Which 2026 "Grand Tour" would you choose?
There is nothing quite like the freedom of a UK road trip. From the rugged peaks of the North to the turquoise coves of the South, the UK has some of the most iconic caravan and motorhome routes in the world.
We want to know: If you had a clear diary, which of these legendary circuits would you choose for your next adventure?
Which 2026 "Grand Tour" would you choose? 4 votes
1 vote
3 votes
Comments
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I’m surprised to see Bealach na Bà pass included in the NC500 trip for a caravan/motorhome grand tour.
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I can’t offer a vote on this one. We prefer to truly explore and spend time investigating all the really interesting places and giving them the time they deserve, rather than following a route with hundreds of others. We got caught up in the SW300 route a few years ago, happened to stop off in D&G as the hoards arrived (plenty from overseas as well) and frankly it was bedlam, too many outfits, too many rentals who hadn’t got a clue. We happily left them to it and did our own thing. We can get our small MH into places big outfits and caravans could never go. We have been exploring Cornwall and Devon for 40 plus years, and still find something and somewhere new every trip. Beautiful places deserve time and reflection, rather than ticking a box and that’s it, done☹️
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Agreed, PD. Methinks that was written by a non-caravanner/motorhomer without much/any research.
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Like @Takethedogalong I'd avoid them like the Plague. And just for those who think tackling some of Eryri roads with long wheelbase M/Hs and towing caravans is a good idea, think again. Plus the locals are getting a bit restless with the behaviour of those that do.
The UK is rammed full of places of beauty that doesn't need an influencer to promote. Find your own piece of heaven.
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I do wonder why there isn't a choice of "None of the above" as that is the one I would choose, for reasons similar to @Takethedogalong and @Wherenext
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Got me thinking about these Tours……. I am assuming it’s a lot of car/van combos doing a lot, as some of the places are going to be a bit awkward for MHs to park up to do some of the activities listed. Unless folks are sharing transport or the Club has pre arranged parking……🤔
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I have visited all the areas referred by Rowena, not as a dedicated tour but certainly in sections. The only one I would not bother taking my toad to would be the NC500. A towed car would be a hindrance on single track roads. All the others really demand some form of alternate transport for site seeing unless you have a small campervan.
peedee
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[YOUR SUGGESTION] – Tell us your favourite route in the comments! 👇
Well I wouldn't choose the UK for a Grand Tour with our caravan. More likely to use all our 90 EU days travelling down through France - Corsica - Sardinia - Sicily - Puglia - Rome - Tuscany - Ancona (ferry) - Croatia (Split) - Slovenia (Lake Bled) - Austria (Vienna and Salzburg) and back through Germany and Champagne region of France! Why: great continental roads, weather, sites (cheaper and with pools), history, the food and the wine……..
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As a motorhomer, I completely agree with @Roger McNair's sentiment - in my view, the state of our roads is shocking and the UK is becoming increasingly anti-motorhome.
My favourite grand tour (to date) was a 2 month trip touring down the Adriatic coast to the heal of Italy, then over to the ferry at Messina for a month-long circuit of Sicily and then home to the UK via the Mediterranean coast and the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Parked under the trees at Tarquinia, NW of Rome.
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Great photo from Roger. We gave up UK touring 25 years ago.
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As a motorhomer, I completely agree with @Roger McNair 's sentiment - in my view, the state of our roads is shocking and the UK is becoming increasingly anti-motorhome.
@JimE I agree the state of UK roads is a disgrace, but I don't believe the UK as a whole is becoming anti motorhome. There are just areas where that is the case and I will always avoid these. Nevertheless there is sufficient anti motorhome feeling and lack of legal stopping places that most of us do take our Grand Tours across the other side of the Channel. I have always done this and for me highlights have been, a two month tour to Norway and more recently a six week tour taking in the Czech Republic, Austria and Croatia. Hopefully, we will still be able to cross the Channel this year. Got the tickets and hoping fuel is not going to be a problem.
peedee
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The NC500 (Scotland): The "King" of routes. White sands, the challenging Bealach na Bà pass, and wild Highlands. 🏴
One has to ask why, if it is true, or there is sufficient anti motorhome feeling, that the UK is becoming increasingly anti-motorhome?
What has brought this on? Who is to blame? One could say that it is the press of adding or aiding this in terms that they report any problem or issues with MH, and I'm sure we have all seen theses in national and local press, but they do not make these up? The problems, issues… are there nationally . Who makes this anti motorhome feeling, well it could be said certain MH owners do, not anyone on here of course I must add, so it's almost a problem of their own making? I don't agree that it is down to a lack of legal stopping places, there are many campsites, club or otherwise, CLs, Britstops… and other legal places to park and/or camp that can accomodate MHs. If perhaps all MH owners used them rather than say stay overnight free at certain tourist places, or dump their rubbish and/or waste anywhere (as been reported in many press articles) there might not be such anto MH feeling? I do realise it is the few that may be spoiling it for the rest.
One from the past week or so caught my eye:
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@Cornersteady This matter has been debated many times previously and I do not wish to clutter this thread with another to and fro on the subject.
Suffice it to say, I choose to spend the majority of my motorhoming days outside the UK these days for similar reasons to @Roger McNair - "great continental roads, weather, sites (cheaper and with pools), history, the food and the wine…….. ".
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One wonders why you made the comment "the UK is becoming increasingly anti-motorhome" @JimE if you did not wish PD and others to inevitably follow it through 🤷🏻♂️.
The thread is about UK road trips so posts about continental touring are certainly a clutter. This reminds me of the days when certain posters would drag any and every topic 'over there' as a way of disrupting a thread.
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The NC500 (Scotland): The "King" of routes. White sands, the challenging Bealach na Bà pass, and wild Highlands. 🏴
@JimE I have no idea what you're talking about with another to and from subject? My post wasn't in reply to yours but my thoughts. It could be said by replying to me you have started a to and fro post?
You tour as you see fit, although why you want to bring in abroad touring in a UK touring based thread is a puzzle to me but totally your choice but in my view it certainly adds to the clutter as you put it. This is a forum and my choice to post my thoughts on your own words, I was not expecting any reply from you but thanks anyway.
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The discussion has been posted in "Caravan and Motorhome Chat" not UK Touring which in my view leaves it wide open to post on ones preferred method of "Grand Touring" The added comments about "over there" being preferred does not amount to clutter especially as the question is asked for suggestions as to your favourite route!
peedee
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Did you miss Rowena's opening comments, PD?
"There is nothing quite like the freedom of a UK road trip. From the rugged peaks of the North to the turquoise coves of the South, the UK has some of the most iconic caravan and motorhome routes in the world.
We want to know: If you had a clear diary, which of these legendary circuits would you choose for your next adventure?"
It's quite clearly referring to UK 🤷🏻♂️
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The NC500 (Scotland): The "King" of routes. White sands, the challenging Bealach na Bà pass, and wild Highlands. 🏴
@peedee glad you agree this is a UK touring thread referring to the UK, as such then one's thoughts should be within the general parameters as laid down by the OP surely?
There is nothing quite like the freedom of a UK road trip.
If @JimE wants to talk about abroad touring and the supposed advantages (as he perceives them) to UK touring with a motorhome then perhaps start a thread of his own and keep this one on topic for the purpose and 'audience' to which it was intended?
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That applies to every post on the whole forum but we are asked to direct our thoughts and words in a particular direction - in this instance, the UK.
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[YOUR SUGGESTION] – Tell us your favourite route in the comments! 👇
Already planned our 'short tours' for the summer.... in 3 stages...
- South and South West: South Wales first....(Tredegar House CAMC), Cornwall (Globe Vale), Devon (Putts Corner CAMC), Dorset (Hunter's Moon CAMC) - wanted to get the Cornwall bit done before the schools break up... 🙂
- The Outer Hebrides: the caravan stays at home for this bit.... we've rented a cottage on Lewis. We're there mainly to visit our daughter/ SIL and grandson, wbo live on Lewis. There house is quite small, so we tend to rent a cottage to avoid a crush... besides... out son, DIL and two grandchildren are coming with us so we're sharing the cottage.
- The North East: White Water Park CAMC (Middlesborough), South Meadows Caravan Park (near Belfort, Northumberland), Cayton Village CAMC (Scarborough way...) Sutton-on-Sea CAMC site.
Each section is punctuated with a few days at home... mainly to drop off and pick up the caravan.... These 'tours' are not new to us... we've done them before, but they work' for us. BTW, serviced pitches booked on all sites.... 😀😀
Perhaps one day we will do the NC500, but I'm not really sure if we could do it in a large-ish twin axle caravan??
....I guess one of our biggest challenges this year may well be affording to put the diesel in the car!!
David
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