GlamperRV Trip Inspiration

This glorious weather is getting us so enthused for the luxury motorhome hire season ahead and whilst shorter than usual, we very much hope that by the turn of the summer equinox we will again be back in full swing, so sit back and be inspired for your GlamperRV adventure.

The cancellation and postponement of a number of major events has resulted in customers transferring their bookings and our calendar opening up to new ones.  From late June through to mid-July we are now wonderfully available and so if you are keen to get away we are now taking bookings from 22^nd June onwards with the peace of mind that should the government advice regarding non-essential travel still be in place at that time then your booking will be totally transferable to any other date within 12 months or a full refund can be claimed*.

I know when the country opens up again there is going to be a great rush to the most popular tourist attractions and so my personal recommendation would be to head to the quieter region of East Anglia.  The coastline and countryside from Ipswich in the south around to Hunstanton on the North Norfolk coast is stunning, unspoilt and simply perfect for a summer getaway.

A short drive from our Buckinghamshire base around the M25 and onto the A12 will have you out in Constable country within a couple of hours.  There are few places in Britain more picturesque, this rural landscape was where the painter John Constable was born and where he painted his most celebrated works. The villages of Flatford and Dedham are well documented and there is a wonderfully peaceful campsite, Flatford Farmhouse just a short walk from Flatford Mill and Dedham Vale that has excellent reviews.

I have heard many friends over the years talking of weekend retreats in Orford so was keen to see for myself what draws them there.  A pretty village, sitting on Orford Ness, with a high proportion of pubs to houses (always a good sign) and a wonderfully restored 12th Century castle, impeccably maintained by English Heritage.  The castle car park was a perfect place to leave our GlamperRV as we explored the village and surrounding area and a bonus was the parking fee being refunded upon entry to the castle, which was well worth a visit.

We always enjoy a night at a good pub and a quick online search found us heading to the Unruly Pig, just a few miles inland and known locally as a foodie haven.  Upon calling to request a dinner table and parking spot for the night we were met by an utterly charming owner who welcomed us and was only apologetic that at such short notice their only table was in the bar – perfect for our own unruly children!  Our parking spot allowed us to create a ‘private’ garden to set up our outdoor furniture and the pub’s own beer garden, complete with football goal, proved the perfect playground for our boys. The food was sensational and the staff following the lead of the owner were delightful.

A leisurely breakfast and family game of cricket was a great start to the day and then off we headed to the seaside town of Aldeburgh.  We had been advised to park at the sailing club which has acres of space and was a great spot from which to explore the town and coastline.

A healthy dose of fresh air gave us all a hunger that was well and truly satisfied by a fish & chip lunch on the beach.  Not that we needed any more food but the fish shacks along the beach were worth a nosy and of course we came away with plenty of the of the smoked variety.

A few miles outside of Aldeburgh, I was keen to see what Snape Maltings was all about.  Unfortunately, by the time we arrived the gift shops were closing (much to hubby’s delight!) and the concert hall was closed on a Sunday but still some interesting sculptures to view and footpaths to explore.  The sign said no overnight parking and with a plan to stay over in a nearby forest no-one argued and off we headed to our resting spot.

Tunstall Forest, designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a haven for wildlife, including fallow deer and muntjac and proved a wonderfully peaceful parking spot for the night.  The boys unloaded their bikes and were off exploring whilst we enjoyed a relaxing end to a busy day.

Our next stop on our way north was a visit to the Norfolk Broads, an area adored by many GlamperRV customers and so we were lucky to have a good source of recommendations on where to stay.  We opted for The Malsters Pub which is located right on the broads and opposite an RPSB office from where we took a boat trip onto the nature reserve.  If you prefer a campsite then Clippesby Hall comes recommended and is popular during summer months with its swimming pool and on-site pub!

If you have children, you will remember that any good family outing has to include a visit to a Cathedral and what better place to stop than Norwich.  The Red Lion on Bishopgate has historically been a great motorhome stopover being just a 10 minute stroll from the City centre however like all pubs is currently closed and we hope to see it reopen soon so do call ahead.

A friend and regular visitor to Norfolk told me a few years ago, you can’t go wrong in this brilliant, historical, seafaring part of our beautiful country, with mile upon mile of mostly deserted sandy beaches.  The beauty of this coastline is the protected tidal salt marsh that extends from Hunstanton in the West along to Salthouses and gives onto huge areas of sand dunes standing guard over the beaches. The villages are relatively unspoilt and those inland haven’t changed for years.

From Norwich heard directly north towards Cromer and then west to Blakeney where you can jump on a boat and chug out to the Blakeney National Nature Reserve to see the seals – a fantastic trip for all the family (Beans Boats offer competitive rates and booking is advisable).  My advice would be to get to the public car park early in the morning but ensure you are parked in a way that exiting will be easy as the car park will soon fill up as found out!  If sunsets are your thing, then the village of Stiffkey is a must.  There is a free car park here which could be used off season to wildcamp but we had also heard great things of a rural campsite, High Sands Creek with unobstructed views out to sea and a short walk from the Red Lion, a family friendly pub serving good, local food.

A little further along the coast is Brancaster, also known as ‘Chelsea on Sea’ where you will be able to park up right by the beach. It does get very busy in peak season and sometimes floods at high tide so beware. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat, the White Horse offers fabulous views out across the Staithe.  It has a large flat parking area out the back so worth asking for an overnight spot if you fancy a bite to eat in this atmospheric pub.

If you’re searching for the infamous big skies and miles of sand, then head to Holkham beach.   Park along Lady Ann’s Drive amongst the horse boxes during the day from where it’s a short walk to the sand dunes through pine forests. Sit with a picnic in a sheltered dune and watch the horses gallop along the sand, kites flying and sometimes, the odd fighter jet booming across the open sky. Across the road is Holkham Hall which is an exquisite house and gardens packed with activities you could spend a day here simply exploring the estate.

Close to Holkham Hall is the village of Thornham where we recommend the Lifeboat Inn, which having enjoyed ourselves we have sent many customers to over the years as their quiet car park provides a great overnight spot and an excuse to enjoy the fantastic food served in the restaurant.

We are so looking forward to seeing our customers again soon but in the meantime,

Happy Easter.

*Updated cancellation policy:

– available on bookings made from 1st April – 1st June for travel during 2020
– full refund is subject to a £70 admin fee
– policy is only valid if Government advice remains to only undertake essential travel