Newbie trying out a hire MH next week, suggestions pls (1 Viewer)

[Steve Packham]

Hi
Looking at possibility of buying a motor home but want to try before we buy so we have rented one for next week
Heading along the Jurassic coast, Wareham, Durdle Door. Looking for suggestions for good sites or places to stop or overnight at please, really have got no idea where to start!
Thanks in advance
Steve

 

[Riverbankannie]

This one near Bridport comes with recommendations
http://highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk/

You could download the free app Search For Sites
This will show you all available options.

 

[Pausim]

There are two sites at Moreton, one Camping&CC and one Caravan&MC (Crossways). They are both a short walk to the railway station where you can get trains to Weymouth, Dorchester and Poole. I like the Corfe Castle C&CC site too.

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[treetops1]

Take care and enjoy lol.But beware some nearly new can be in a poor state maintenance wise .

 

[tonka]

Hope you have a good week.
My only thought is that being a main holiday week (Easter) campsites will be busy and may give a wrong view of motorhome life. Also most of our camping is done away from campsites, ie at Rallies, shows, small 5 pitch sites, temporary holiday sites, aires when abroad and some wild camping. This we find more enjoyable than just sat on a campsite but you have to start somewhere.

As such cant help with recommendations..

 

[Lenny HB]

If it was be I would pop over to France, then you will get the true Motorhome experance, France is Motorhome Heaven.
We hired a couple of times before buying found out what we couldn't live with and enabled us to make the right choice. Kept the first van 6 years.
We hired in Germany mainly because it was ½ the price of the UK but the Euro was at 1.45/£.

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[mitzimad]

youll have trouble finding sites over easter most want a 3 night booking or not at all even if they are not full

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Jubs666]

Another recommendation for Highlands End (although it can get windy up there on the cliffs!). Not sure if you have perhaps left it a bit late to book now - you could try sites like Pitchup to check for sites with availability around where you are planning to go. You may find some sites with availability still, but perhaps not with electric hook up.

If you’re in a motorhome (rather than camper), you would be well to find sites where you can walk to local villages or towns - it’s not so easy to pack up and drive to the nearest town if you have run out of milk.

Take some food with you if you're staying on a site that’s away from local shops. Most camp site shops have very limited supplies (especially over bank holidays). Plan ahead a little for the first couple of nights what you will want to eat and drink and be aware that the fridge may not be huge. If it’s nice weather, a lot of sites allow bbqs which is always fun . Check with them when booking. We have a cadac which we use for most meals now (including breakfast).

I would probably advise to only visit 2/3 sites - that way you’re not packing up / setting up so often. I would also advise to spend your first night close to where you are hiring the vehicle from, that way you can always get back there easily if any issues. Make sure to ask lots of questions and be sure you understand what runs of mains / 12v (in case you do some wild camping - you don’t want to be watching TV off a leisure battery as it will run down very quickly - not sure if motorhome hire places would have 12v TVs in or not...).

Also beware that there are some very narrow lanes in Dorset so plan your route well or download an app for your phone to plan a route based on your vehicle (rather than just using a car route planner) - there are some apps out there that you can enter width / length of vehicle on which are handy.

Sorry - waffled on a bit there! I hope you have lots of fun.

Jubs.

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[Riverbankannie]

@Jubs666 , great information from a newbie. Hope you stick around and join up !

 

[Riverbankannie]

@Steve Packham do let us know how you get on.

 

[Jubs666]

Thanks @Riverbankannie - I have subscribed and will certainly be sticking around

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[buttons]

Hi and Welcome......

 

[Caggsie1]

West bay is nice, there is a site in centre, I imagine will be expensive over Easter. There is also opposite the car park, as you come into town on your right, a less formal site, not free. Great walk along the back of these across fields into Bridport, which is a nice, with typical shops and a good market on sat.

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

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[Steve Packham]

Well, first of all thanks for your replies and tips. Bad news is I’m going nowhere. Made the mistake of not reviewing before booking and hired from a company that’s been featured very negatively on tv a few times and awful online reviews.

Will hire in the future but from a national such as Abacus

Thanks again

 

[Sucoz]

Hi Steve, we hired recently from a company in Southampton. (but I think have a few locations in England) They had terrible reviews and advertise under about 3 different names.
Fortunately our experience was not too bad. The motorhome was quite old for a hire van but other than that it was fine and we got our deposit back eventually. They tried to charge for everything including crockery and general explanations- we didn’t pay for those but everything was included anyway!
We are in a similar position to you and are currently trying to buy a motorhome ( with the help and advice from this forum)
Good luck

 

[Kev and Carolyn]

Another Newbie? Wooooooooo ooooooooooooH!!

Kev and carolyn

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[Burgo]

We hired before we bought - and got the dealer to refund the hire fee against the purchase. It peeed with rain the whole hire period, which forced us into cooking inside rather than bbq and eating outside, etc, etc. We still had a great time and it convinced us it was the right time to buy. Have a great time and use the van rather than eating out, use the on board shower rather than a site one, etc.., would be my tuppence worth.

 

[Steve Packham]

Sucoz this was the same company. They changed pick up location at the last minute and started wanting extra money for the silliest things so I looked up some reviews and was horrified so cancelled. Unlike me not to review first but lesson learned.

They’ve been on tv a couple of times (rip off Britain) I guess they give the whole industry a bad name.

Steve

 

[TheBig1]

I can recommend bagwell touring park at weymouth or highlands end. Certainly not west bay site. As for things to see and do, our coastline is magnificent. Everything from the swannery outside bridport through durdle door and numerous other places to the tank museum at bovington and monkey world at wool. Good easy parking at most for a motorhome

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