Category Archives: Inspire Me

Coastal Getaway in Scotland

If you have never visited the Scottish coast line, first of all why not as this is the most picturesque coastline in the Uk.

The best way to do it is in a Campervan from Edinburgh, where you can enjoy the scenic views along this magical route. The Scottish coast is ideal for those that like walking, sea fishing or if your one of the brave souls out there open water swimming.

Our camper van’s in Edinburgh offer a place for 4 people to sleep and chill out during the day whilst watching the sunset over the horizon.

Once collected from Edinburgh take the east coast route and head over the magnificent Forth Road Bridge towards the historic coastal town of St Andrews. Here you will find the world famous University where Prince William attended, the world famous St Andrews Golf Course where the British Open has been held here 29 times since its inception in 1860 with the 2022 tournament the next time it arrives here.

After a short stop off here head across the Tay Road bridge which leads to the City of Dundee. this city is steeped in nautical history and is home to the newly built Victoria and Albert Museum. take a walk round the docks and see the magnificent yachts all lined up.

Your camper van is ideal for the short narrow roads you may encounter on your trip there are so many places to visit on the East coast but a popular beach to visit is Hopeman East Beach this is a 3 hour drive from Edinburgh but well worth it.

Park your campervan up at West beach Caravan park for a few nights and explore the local area. The beach is ideal for surfers or dog walkers, you may even see some RAF jets here as the airbase of Lossiemouth is a stones throw away.

If you want to book a campervan from Edinburgh just give us a call on 01942 778899 or 00 44 (0) 131 322 6597

Winter Motorhome Hire

Lots of people are looking to have a short break away in a motorhome or campervan over the winter months. With people having holidays cancelled, plans being cancelled due to the Covid restrictions, it’s one way to have a holiday and some valuable family time. Some people are put off by the thought of being cold or weather issues, however, the motorhomes if they are used correctly are really toasty warm. We have put some things together that should be a must when considering which campsites to use, these handy tips will allow your trip to be as fuss free as possible.

What to consider when looking for a campsite over winter:

The main thing that you should consider about the pitch in winter is checking that it is hardstanding. The reason for this is that when pitching up on a hardstanding pitch, the ground is much sturdier than on a grass pitch. This will prevent you from becoming stuck in a muddy puddle!

Another really good tip is to check that the site has electric hook up. This is great to have in winter, even though the heating & hot water will work on both gas & electric, it will be used much more over the winter months than in summer. With electric hook up it is a lot more cost effective, this way you can leave the heating & hot water on overnight. If you are going to run off gas only, you should make sure that you have at least one spare bottle in case you run out.

It is important that you know exactly how your motorhome works and if there are dump valves & how to isolate them. Most of the motorhomes or campervans have an automatic frost control valve that will automatically dump any water at low temperatures. This prevents water from freezing in pipes. This is a really good reason to have your heating on low whilst using the electric hook up. This would allow your vehicle to stay at a temperature where the dump valve will not be activated. Spend some time with the representative from easicampers that shows you around the vehicle & ask about trips they may have had in the motorhome, the staff are all very knowledgeable about the vehicles & will have used them at some point to get to know them better.

The larger motorhomes are self-contained and have showers & toilets on board so that you don’t have to nip to the shared facilities on sites, however, due to restrictions, you will find that many of the facilities (showers & toilets) may not be available in the current restrictions. If you plan to hire a VW California, it would be advisable to check the sites you are planning on visiting have facilities open. If they are not available you may want to add on one of the porta potties that can fit easily in the back of the vehicle.

You will also need to make sure that you pack appropriate clothing for your trip. If you are planning on taking a pet with you and having long winter walks, you should consider taking plenty of warm clothing and good dry footwear, also consider what items you will need to take along for your pet, for example blankets or wash items.

There are some really fantastic landscapes around the UK and there are campsites that open all year round so you will have plenty to choose from when hiring your easicamper from us.

Festival Camping in a Motorhome

What  you need to know, about festival camping in a motorhome?

You will have to buy a separate motorhome ticket in addition to your festival tickets.
Everyone staying in your motorhome will require a festival ticket.
In some instances it is allowable to park a car next to the motorhome.
Once settled in your designated  space you will probably be required to remain there until the end of the festival.
You will not have access to an electric hook up but your motorhome rental will run on the leisure battery and gas for all of its amenities (hot water, shower, fridge, cooker, heating, lighting) with the exception of the 240V plug sockets (remember to pack a car phone charger) Turning over the engine each morning will keep the leisure battery topped up throughout your stay. This is important as generators are usually not allowed.

But the best thing of all is, you will get to enjoy the atmosphere of the event,  but still have all your home comforts.

Top tips for a family motorhome holiday

Pack an activity box
Take a selection of the kids favourite toys, games and books, as well as some games all the family can enjoy. It’s always good to have something for the down times when the kids need entertaining and those rainy evenings when the whole family can enjoy some good old fashioned fun.

Choose the right campsites and limit your journey times
Spend some time choosing the right campsites, make sure they have all the facilities you will need whilst there. For younger children you may want a play area and for teenagers Wi-Fi is probably a must. Plan a route that involves no more than 2 hours travelling at one time. Children want to be out exploring the countryside or enjoying the beaches rather than sitting in the motorhome travelling. This will help make your trip a lot more stress free.

Make a scrapbook
On holiday you make memories that last a lifetime. Why not make a scrap book of your travels then you have something to remind you of your wonderful family holidays. All the family can join in writing notes in it whilst you are away leaving spaces to add your photos later.

Avoid getting caught in the storm
The Great British weather can be very unpredictable. Try to plan outdoor activities around the weather, but make sure you pack your water proofs and have a plan b just in case your activities for the day get rained off.

Take your bikes
Our 6 berth Ford Zefiro 675 and VW California both come with bike racks on them, holding up to four bikes. It’s a great way to get out and explore, plus the kids love their bikes so it will keep them happy too.

Apps every camper should have

WikiCamps

Free preview on Android
£0.99 on iPhone

The UK’s largest database of campsites, caravan parks, points of interest, dump stations, visitor information centres, water taps, showers, toilets and more. Wikicamps is a crowdsourced database meaning things are added, modified and shared by it’s users.
You can apply search filters such as pet friendly and points of interest, it also has a map that can be downloaded so is not dependant on data.

Accuweather

Free on Android and iPhone
Avoid getting caught in the storm. With this app you can plan your trip around the weather and make sure you’re prepared for whatever the British weather may have in store for you.

Geocaching

Free on Android and iPhone
The worlds largest treasure hunt, it’s a great way to explore your surroundings and keep the whole family entertained. It uses GPS to lead you to locations where a box is hidden with a logbook for you to sign.

SkyView Lite

Free on Android and iPhone
One of the best things about camping is escaping the light pollution and being able to appreciate the stunning beauty of the night sky. You just point your phone to the sky to identify stars, constellations and satellites. If you’re camping with kids, it’s very informative but still educational and engaging for them.

AllTrails

Free on Android and iPhone
This is a great app for finding walking, cycling and running trails. It also has a wide range other activities from canoeing to fly fishing! You can view trails that are wheelchair accessible and dog or child-friendly. The trails can be sorted by difficulty, length and more, and you can also view and follow detailed maps.

Scotlands must see castles

Inveraray Castle

Some will recognise this must see attraction from a Christmas episode of Downton Abbey. Customers can indulge in the tea room here which offers a glimpse into royal life.

Edinburgh Castle

Perched on an extinct volcano, towering over the famous Royal Mile this fortress has a strong presence in Edinburgh’s skyline. It’s one of the most famous and most visited castles in Scotland.

Eilean Donan Castle

This 13th century fortress is recognised as one of the most iconic images in Scotland. It is located in a magical setting in the middle of a loch, connected to the mainland by a footbridge. Some people say Eilean Donan is the most beautiful castle in Scotland.

Stirling Castle

This powerful fortress is one of the largest and most important castles in Scottish history. Mary Queen of Scot’s childhood home has a lot of history and remains a great symbol of Scottish independence.

Urquhart Castle

Overlooking Loch Ness, this early medieval fortress is one of the most visited castles in the country. Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, it saw great conflict during it’s time and was passed back and forth between the Scots and English during the war of independence.

Caerlaverock Castle

Unusual for it’s triangular shape and surrounded by a wide deep moat, this medieval stronghold is one of the finest castles in Scotland. This fortress was once caught up in the bloody boarder conflicts but is now a popular filming location.

British Isles road trips

The Lake District

This road trip will take you through the stunning Lake District National Park. Starting at Kendal, head north towards England’s largest lake in the picture postcard resort of Windermere. From here, head north again to the charming lakeside villages of Ambleside and Grasmere soaking up the beautiful views on the way.

The Norfolk Coast

The coastline of Norfolk varies enormously, with long stretches of golden beach interspersed with mud flats and salt marsh, shingle and pebbles. A road trip along the A49 coastal road from King’s Lynn to Cromer and passes through salt marshes, fields of lavender, over low cliffs and through pretty coastal villages.

Northumberland Coast

Beautiful Northumberland is England’s northernmost country. This road trip will take you through some charming coastal towns and with many castle sites in this area, some of which are one the coast, you will pass them whilst on your drive. The night skies are protected in Northumberland giving stargazers the best experience in England.

The North Coast 500

This stunningly beautiful route offers never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland’s most picturesque coastal scenery. With deserted beaches, delicious fresh seafood, picturesque lochs, historic castles, diverse wildlife and more.

The Peak District

This road trip will take you through the countries most treasured national parks and along the famous Snake Pass, one of the UK’s great mountain passes reaching a high point of 510m above sea level. As you head south there are some great trekking opportunities around Derwent Dam.

The Cambrian Way, Wales

Beginning in Cardiff, the Welsh capital city, this spectacular route runs from south to north through the heart of Wales, ending in the Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno. This road trip will take you over the highest and most scenically beautiful areas of Wales, taking in two national parks on the way.