Where to go at Crimbo

[Rudski01]

So we returned from a disastrous trip to France, the new van to us performed perfectly which is a change for us, unfortunately I was the broken one, 3 rd day in and I became really ill, to the point I couldn’t drive, headaches like I’ve never experienced in my life, anyway we eventually made it home after nearly two weeks in my pit, I have some sort of viral infection so loaded up on antibiotics/steroids and pain killers.
Anyhow back to the point, as my better half is working again she can only manage 3 weeks off at Crimbo and we’re undecided how far to go, it’s been Spain and Portugal the past couple of years but we’ve had a couple of months to play with, the ferry to Santander is fully booked and we have two dogs so not much chance of a cancellation,
We’ve done Scotland a few times already and sometimes been lucky with the weather and other times not, so do we head to southern England? Or crack on and drive through France and chase the sun? I don’t want to feel I’m spending the whole time driving rather than chilling.
Suggestions and ideas welcome
Cheers

 

[Miggs]

Nearest airport!

 

[Badknee]

Spain for us

 

[Rudski01]

Nearest airport!

Can’t leave the dogs with anyone, so it would be kennels which adds a great whack of money onto the trip

Especially at Christmas

 

[Jenben]

You could get a ferry to France and accept the weather may be good/bad
(by good I mean dry !) . You could enjoy the scenery on the north coast as you say you don’t want to drive all the time.

Otherwise the Cotswolds at Christmas time is generally a nice area to explore. Lots of villages and towns will have stuff going on over the festive period.

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[15edward]

I think I’d probably head for a White Christmas
Near enough to drive to
Potter about
Chilling
Cosy in the van
Slow drive back

 

[MichaelT]

We ate thinking of the alps next year but not sure where and if it's a good idea

 

[lorger]

Don’t know where you are based so might be a bit far, the Lake District can be nice at Xmas as can D&G and the Scottish Borders. Some lovely little villages and good walking to get you out and about.

 

[WESTY66]

We’re off to Switzerland for the new year

 

[Bluemooner]

We stayed at Keswick for Xmas and moved to Moffat for new year this was about 9 years ago

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[steve69]

Or crack on and drive through France and chase the sun? I don’t want to feel I’m spending the whole time driving rather than chilling.
Suggestions and ideas welcome
Cheers

Sorry to hear about your ailments and hope you're feeling a lot better.
My worry would be that most of European motorhomers will also be heading south for Christmas and the campsites or aires just might be a little full at that time of year.

 

[starquake]

We stayed at Sandringham and Canterbury over last Christmas. We liked both, but preferred Sandringham over NYE.

This year we are goign over to Cotswolds, and staying on NYE at a friends house and staying on drive Griswold fashion. We're adding some hardstandings before and after, we'll book exact places in November once we have a better idea on dates for some other family stuff.

We also need to work out when we swap the current Calor for some Gaslow, as being offgrid in Winter at friends place will mean we need a lot of gas to keep the van warm, if it's cold we can get though our current setup in 3 days. So we'll need around 11kg for the 4 ish days we expect minimum when we're without power (the farm we're staying at they have no power by the hardstanding where we can park the van alongside our friends van).

 

[starquake]

Don’t know where you are based so might be a bit far, the Lake District can be nice at Xmas as can D&G and the Scottish Borders. Some lovely little villages and good walking to get you out and about.

The issue with the Lakes as we found last Christmas is that if you book it late, you won't get on a hardstanding pitch (in our experience) booking after November (ie, when we know when we free).

If you can plan a bit better than us, we'd 100% agree on the Lakes being a great choice.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

We stayed at Keswick for Xmas and moved to Moffat for new year this was about 9 years ago

up for Keswick. We stayed at Braithwaite Village nice off road walk into town.

 

[Rudski01]

Don’t know where you are based so might be a bit far, the Lake District can be nice at Xmas as can D&G and the Scottish Borders. Some lovely little villages and good walking to get you out and about.

We’re based in the western lakes, so we always need to factor a days travelling if heading abroad, that’s either to reach the Chunnel or ferry

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[Rudski01]

We’re off to Switzerland for the new year

You won the lottery, I’m still chocking on the pizzas and 2 x 33cl bottle of Heineken £50

 

[Roby2008]

We Chuck a Cover over the MH and bugger off to Egypt for xmas and New year.....

 

[Emmit]

We're off to Barbados.
Please note; NOT! Scarbados or even Skegbados but the real one over on't other side of the water.

 

[Bessy765]

We went to the Christmas market at Brugge stayed on a site ten mins free bus ride from the markets, £14 per night with 6 amp ehu. We went some years ago and thought it was great not so much this time crowded stalls full of junk or alcohol overpriced not impppressed never again.

 

[starquake]

We're off to Barbados.
Please note; NOT! Scarbados or even Skegbados but the real one over on't other side of the water.

We went there the Christmas before last... just be aware to take an extra suitcase for the rum on the return journey (I think memory was we were allowed 4 litres per person last time!).

The rum in Barbados is amazing (though we preferred one made in St Kitts), as is the snorkelling, we had a great sailing over a wreck in one of the bays followed by copius amoounts is rum.

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[carolyn]

The South of England ie Dorset is likely to be cold and wet. If it wasn’t for family we would not be staying there!

 

[gus-lopez]

My worry would be that most of European motorhomers will also be heading south for Christmas and the campsites or aires just might be a little full at that time of year.

Those that are ,are usually there well before christmas. Think the French have similar holiday to the Spanish so only christmas day off ,boxing day is normal working day.Nothing like the Uk when everyone takes a fortnight off.

 

[PlacidoD]

Likely to SORN mine. It is parked on the drive so I can tinker and effect improvements at my leisure over Christmas.

Have already booked a week in Normandy late April 2025 and MOT is due that month so I am dithering on how long to keep it on SORN. It could potentially be November to end of March but I doubt t will be that long. I just need crystal ball regarding UK weather forecasts!!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We’re off to Switzerland for the new year

Wot Jungfrau againbet it is lovely with the snow there…..

 

[WESTY66]

Wot Jungfrau againbet it is lovely with the snow there…..

No, we stay at the next one down camping Breithorn!!
Yes Val wanted to see it covered in snow, it adds a different perspective to it other than sun in summertime

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[bobnick]

Dubai for Christmas Sydney for New Years

 

[MichaelT]

No, we stay at the next one down camping Breithorn!!
Yes Val wanted to see it covered in snow, it adds a different perspective to it other than sun in summertime

That's why we were thinking of it. Was thinking col de Saisies we saw TDF there last year.

 

[bobnick]

Good bit of sn

No, we stay at the next one down camping Breithorn!!
Yes Val wanted to see it covered in snow, it adds a different perspective to it other than sun in summertime

Good bit of snow around at the mo. See pic of the day.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

No, we stay at the next one down camping Breithorn!!
Yes Val wanted to see it covered in snow, it adds a different perspective to it other than sun in summertime

Will be a bit of a rush, how long to drive there

 

[MitchandJenny]

So we returned from a disastrous trip to France, the new van to us performed perfectly which is a change for us, unfortunately I was the broken one, 3 rd day in and I became really ill, to the point I couldn’t drive, headaches like I’ve never experienced in my life, anyway we eventually made it home after nearly two weeks in my pit, I have some sort of viral infection so loaded up on antibiotics/steroids and pain killers.
Anyhow back to the point, as my better half is working again she can only manage 3 weeks off at Crimbo and we’re undecided how far to go, it’s been Spain and Portugal the past couple of years but we’ve had a couple of months to play with, the ferry to Santander is fully booked and we have two dogs so not much chance of a cancellation,
We’ve done Scotland a few times already and sometimes been lucky with the weather and other times not, so do we head to southern England? Or crack on and drive through France and chase the sun? I don’t want to feel I’m spending the whole time driving rather than chilling.
Suggestions and ideas welcome
Cheers

Morocco
Mitch

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