What inspired you to start caravanning/motorhoming
Was it the call of the open road, the freedom to explore new places on your own terms, or perhaps a cherished memory from childhood? Maybe it was a desire to connect more deeply with nature, or simply the appeal of a different lifestyle.
Our stories can inspire, motivate, and even help others who might be considering taking the leap into this rewarding way of life so please share in the comments:
Your initial inspiration for starting this journey.
A favourite memory or experience from your travels that solidified your love for caravanning or motorhoming.
Although our journeys are unique, we're all part of the same adventurous spirit that calls the open road home.
Looking forward to reading your stories. 
Comments
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Decades ago I was involved in car rallys with stages deep in forests at night and kept adding more facilities and comforts to my Land Rover until it became easier to have a seperate unit that I could tow along when needed. Hence the caravan was born!
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I was 27 with two babies..The tent leaked. I was hard up but paid £228 for a caravan. First four years without club membership. Just went to the beach at weekends.
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Before we owned a caravan we had a small boat on which we used to explore the waterways of England. Once we had children we decided that an active 2 and 4 year old were not a good mix on a small boat or in fact on larger hire boats which we did try. We had some friends that had a frame tent but didn't fancy that but someone nearby was advertising a 1976 Ace Airstream for sale which was in good condition and that was the start of caravanning for us and eventual motorhoming. First campsite we went to was Ferry Meadows in 1982 a site we have returned to many times since, the last being a few weeks ago.
David
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For me it was the next step, prior to this it was tenting, trailer tenting and campervanning. The first step was my fledgling move from home. My parents had prepared me well and had exposed me to the delights of the great outdoors, nature and caravanning, motorised or otherwise. Still in love with ‘it’!
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In 1976 we bought a new Sprite Alpine. The main reason was that as farmers we couldn’t plan in advance when to go away. They still holds true today. Our first trip was to New England Bay - because it was near a beach. I976 is famous for the long hot summer, but that hadn’t arrived when we went in May. But our children loved it despite the weather. We kept the 4 berth for many years, and it coped well with us and three children. Eventually we sold the caravan to pay the electric bill. But a couple of years later bought an old second hand caravan and a tent. We had a few second hand vans, then just a two man tent. Then I got fed up with sleeping on the ground and trekking across the field to the toilets in the dark, so went back to a caravan.
our favourite site is still New England Bay and we go there every year.
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We borrowed BIL’s micro camper (Morris Suntor Camper) for a couple of short breaks away, before we got married. He let us buy it for £300, just before we got married, we had most of our honeymoon in it, it was our main car, and holiday outfit, and I learnt to drive in it. We toured the UK from top to bottom over a few years, until it needed a lot of work doing. We sold it, bought an MGB GT and a tent, used this, then bought a second hand caravan off SIL, used that towed by various Land Rovers and the MG. Then we found a spanking Cotswold Windrush 2 berth for sale, bought it toured all over with our variety of dogs. Still got the Original Cotswold, we found another that we kept in Cornwall, until we bought our MH, sold Cornwall outfit, now tour primarily in MH when we can. We love cheap camping holidays all year round, but money saved goes towards cottages and at one time overseas holidays, which we intend doing again when I’m not caring. Having that van located in Cornwall allowed us to spend something like three months of each year down there at one time, and we loved it.
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I have been touring the UK and Europe by motorcycle for many years but since Covid I have gone a bit soft and have begun to enjoy creature comforts! Then I took a trip as a foot passenger on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry last September staying AirB&B in Dieppe. I was surprised by the affordability of the crossing with a MoHo given that I am over 60. Finally I shopped online for the best price for an Ebike (MiRider GB3) and found myself looking at some large dealers selling both folding bikes, caravans and MoHos and the idea grew from there.
So I have swapped motorbike and hotels for my Hobby T500 and GB3. To my mind a folding Ebike and a motorhome are made for each other!
I collect the van on 3rd May and have a room full of purchases here to fit when it arrives! So far I have three UK and two European jaunts booked!
Chris
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35 yrs ago, with 3 young children the one week a year in a static caravan at Haven or Warners site was beginning to get expensive for us so we borrowed a 10 ft Sprite caravan off my eldest brother, had a week at Unity Farm, Brean Sands. We were hooked, looked over hedge into the Club site at Hurn Lane, lovely grass and spacious pitches, we purchased a 1972 Elldis Whirlwind, 4 berth and joined the club. Children all grown up, grandson (15 yrs) no longer comes away with us, but hey, we still enjoy our carjacking probably around 100 days reach year.
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My wife wanted to see Norway, but with two children and knowing how expensive things are there, we couldn't afford hotel accommodation, so we rented a caravan and took it up to the Arctic Circle and back. The children loved it so after another rental the following year to tour Wales we bought our first caravan and we've been doing it ever since, even though the children have long since left home. Now it's the independence that we value, knowing in advance the quality of the beds that we'll be sleeping in the next night and being able to make our own meals at any time without having to dress for dinner.
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Well, my brother and I were introduced to caravanning aged 4 and 6 by Mum and Dad, we joined the Wiltshire centre in it's inaugural year. What a way to grow up, rallies every weekend from March to November and sometimes Christmas. Freedom, exploration, friends and a lot of fun. Later on in my teens I met my future wife on a rally then a short break for marriage, house and then we were inspired to give our kids a similar experience. Many holidays later they were off to uni and forging there own way. Our daughter now has a caravan and son a tent they continue to explore with their families. We're entering the Autumn of our touring, now retired we can enjoy many nights away still exploring and revisiting some old favourites.
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Like many we started with a tent. We bought this and a trailer to carry it in when my mother in law passed away. It was a cheap way for our very young family to have a holiday. A trailer tent came next, sold to me by a fellow teacher. This gave us the luxury of being off the ground.
In 2001 we had our first "camping" trip to France, and at a campsite in The Loire, spotted a classic Eriba Touring caravan and it was love at first sight. I have to admit I did not and still do not like big caravans. I know we all have different requirements, but towing a bungalow hundreds of miles to park it in a field has always seemed a strange concept to me, especially when you think we are seeking the great outdoors, but with a bit of comfort.
When home I started the search. It took me 18 months to find one. At the time there was only one UK dealer and another in Scotland. At the time we lived in Essex and I bought the van blind from a private seller in Berkshire. We have not looked back since then, buying our second Eriba form Belgium when the £ was strong and the Euro was weak.
We are now on our 5th Eriba, this one is still a pop top but it is a Feeling model and a compromise over the curved Touring models. This purchase was more of a head than heart decision, lead by build quality issues and high prices of the latest Touring models.
I cannot emphasis enough the qualities of these pop top vans. I have a 500kg payload, tow with a 1.5L petrol engine getting up to 38mpg, have a fixed double bed, separate dining area etc. The only thing I'm lacking is a shower, but that is why I stay on a decent campsite
Colin
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We started in 1983 with a tent and trailer . This was because having two boys holidays were too expensive.
. we had used my parents caravan in the 60s very basic water in a container outside . Gas lights inside and a cold box kept under the van outside But had loved it . We didn’t have our own car those days so they would take us and leave us mostly to the Forest of Dean .
we bought our first caravan ( a Target )when the boys were 3 and 5 years old . We used to plug it onto our car battery for electric lights . It was the start of my love affair with caravan holidays . Then we bought a new swift budget caravan around 1989 . This lasted for 13 years . We travelled to France and many uk places with our two boys . Every year this always included trips to Cornwall .we have changed our caravans a few times over the years . We don’t travel so far any more . we moved house 4 years ago we had to either rent a property while waiting or live in our caravan for 4 months . (Can you guess what we did ) we loved every minute .
I have booked 3 trips away this year and am still planning as many as I can . My husband doesn’t drive any more due to having sight loss . I do all the driving and towing now . It’s still my favourite type of holiday . The Netherlands rally in delft has been one of my favourite trips of all time . The last was booked and cancelled in 2020 due to covid.
my husband wants us to retire from caravanning . Yet when we are away he always loves it . I do have to do a lot now but I don’t mind .5
