New to autumn and winter touring

While using a SP will be even better in winter and while you can insulate the aquaroll and pipes from the tap on the bollard I have found the tap on the bollard can actually freeze too, and not even in winter as this happened last October. 

Some club sites have the tap in an insulated box but not last October in the Lakes, and of course the service point tap can freeze too, so best to have some reserve water inside your van.

If you are into insulating your pipes just visit your local DIY place and use pipe wrap in one meter lengths like this here.

Oh and don't forget your awning heater

 

Completely agree with you. It's wonderful being inside a warm toasty caravan like that. And yes the waste pipes freeze up quite good don't they, ours go all the way to the drain on SP and I lag the aquaroll and inlet pipes I really can't be bothered insulating the waste ones. 

We have been going away in the van during the winter months for quite a few years now. Admittedly we have never been away when it has been really cold by which I mean many degrees below zero for days on end. Although we did once come close to it at Chatsworth once, in December, when there was ice on the site roads and the outside water taps had shut off, fortunately water was available in the washing up area. Unless we have a particular event to go to we tend to watch the weather forecast and decide really late, being retired we are free agents. So the year of the Beast from the East we went to Ferry Meadows in January and enjoyed daytime temperatures of 14/15 degrees as well as sunshine. Didn't get away until April after that because of the weather. This year in February we were at Cherry Hinton and had some really warm (for the time of year) sunny weather. On our motorhome we use an external silver screen which tends to keep the cold out and the screen clear of frost. We now have an internal water tank so that is less of a worry. Not yet experienced any problems with the waste tank but it is always a risk in very cold weather that the water could freeze but I doubt it would be a problem in just a sharp frost, or at least that has been my experience over the years. Not always practical to leave the drain valve open if you use you van facilities as it would mean taking something like a waste master. I think even if you are on hook-up you need to be prepared to use gas as well as electrics, especially if you want a longer hot shower! Also using a mix of both will heat everywhere up quicker.

If you have never been away in the winter give it a try. There is a lot going on from around late November to Christmas, particularly at Chatsworth,Longleat, Blenheim and Warwick to name a few. Don't forget a pair of socks to wear at night!!!

David

 

 

I think even if you are on hook-up you need to be prepared to use gas as well as electrics, especially if you want a longer hot shower!

When we arrive on site in mid December for our long 'chill' out we set up, bung Alde on electric and go off to shop and get lunch. Always make sure gas available as one December break the electric was down for two days. 

First of our autumn/winter trips coming up this weekend.  Cold, sunny days walking on the vast expanses of North Norfolk sandy beaches, hundreds of thousands of migrating birds and cosy countryside pubs with crackling fires and British brewed real ales.  No don’t think I need to drive 3000 miles for a couple of degrees heat

+1 next weekend

isnt that what you've just done?

That was my summer holiday.  What we are talking here is Autum/Winter, it’s all in the thread title 🌞

+1 to all of that

I don't remember winters in central Italy being that much warmer than here.

Same in the Lakes, less people, lovely autumn colours, crunch of fresh snow later on and huge suppers, and what's that saying about if you haven't walked in the mountains in winters you don't know half their beauty or half their strength.

 

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