Alpine And Other Motorhome Adventures

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Building on the hard work and success of the previous Awards Co-Ordinator Terry Owen, the Awards were updated this year to include new criteria for both the entry qualifications and the judging process. Yes, you read that correctly! There are designated spaces for motorhomes at the bottom of the main car park. And after 6pm it’s totally free. The road is in great condition with many sections having been resurfaced over the last few years. You can get a real move on but there are some twists and turns to look out for and it’s best to take your time anyway as the scenery is beautiful in places. Judges’ comment: ‘The shots have been thought about and it is very easy to watch. A range of equipment has been used and a cinematic style has been achieved. A very nice video; well produced and thought out’

A grand total of 16 entries were received for the Douglas King Award for Journalism, encompassing both established magazine titles and personal blogs. It was delightful to see so many writers enter the Awards for the first time. All entries were judged by an independent panel who assessed many aspects including structure, presentation and accuracy of facts, grammar, and level of engagement and creativity. After popping in to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre where we acquired a free map, we set off and spent a glorious autumnal day negotiating the tiny roads that led to the five dams: Claerwen, Craig-goch, Pen Y garreg, Garreg ddu, and Caban-coch.Sammy has a BSc(Hons) degree in Tourism, Leisure and Recreation Studies and I.T. Her passion is going on adventures in her caravan with her two children, Emily (17) and Daniel (13) and her motto has always been ‘Have kids will travel’. They have been on great adventures with their caravan in the UK and abroad. The Awards are aimed at recognising journalistic excellence within the leisure vehicle industry. The Guild organizes the awards, and Vantage Insurance Services Ltd kindly co-sponsor them. As if mountains, waterfalls, and crashed WWII bombers weren’t enough on this road trip, a short drive north would lead us into yet more spectacular scenery… We’d already found out during a road trip through the Peak District that our old motorhome wasn’t too keen on going up hills with anything more than a 20% incline. And now, in the Elan Valley, we were faced with the same dilemma.

Michael and Frances write a monthly destination feature and a monthly technical feature for the magazine under their own names and write for other industry magazines under a nom de plume. Just off the A465 you’ll find the village of Ystradfellte and the magnificent Brecon Beacons 4 Waterfalls Walk. There is a sixth dam that never got finished, the one that was used in the famous WWII Dambusters film.Runner up in this award was Andy Barnett of Motorhome Adventures Vlog. Together with his wife Michelle, Andy produced an excellent video which was praised for its ‘excellent camera work’. As the only finalist who was not a CWG member, the committee was delighted to offer Andy one year’s Associate Membership of the Guild. The little guidebook we’d found said nothing about narrow roads right on the edge of deep, dark-water reservoirs!

A470 heads north, following the river Wye as it meanders its way from the Brecon Beacons National Park up into the county of Powys in Mid Wales. Runner up in this category was the very popular and well-known writer Peter Baber for his delightful touring feature ‘A Revolutionary Approach,’ which appeared in Practical Caravan Magazine. In the crowded genre of travel, Peter’s ‘high standard of literacy and engagement’ stood out. In 2017 Nigel took part in Bailey of Bristol’s “Arctic Adventure” which saw the team drive from Millbrook to Ivalo in Northern Finland and joined them again in 2023 on the “Sahara Adventure” which had been postponed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic (he was part of the 2020 team too). has been a whirlwind year for a relative newcomer to the industry, Karla Baker. In a short period of time, her writing skills, enthusiasm, and her passion for inspiring others has earned her commissions with high profile magazines across different markets. It was a touching piece written for the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine that won over the judges and saw Karla win the Douglas King Award for Journalism 2019.

Home to the fastest zipline in the world and the longest in Europe, Penrhyn Quarry on the edge of Snowdonia National Park is unlike any other average zipline you’ve ever been on before. Named Velocity 2, Zipworld will have you soaring like a bird, as you zoom head first, for over a mile, 500 metres above the bright blue quarry. Afterwards you can learn all about the history of the quarry on the Penrhyn Quarry tour. From Left to Right, Karla Baker, Chris Apperley (Guild Chairman), Nigel Coppen (Business Development Director of Vantage Insurance).

The Elan Valley had captured the heart of romantic poet, Percy Shelley, some 200 years ago (1). Now it was about to capture ours. Nigel served for thirty years in the Police, spending fifteen years on Traffic and the final twelve on Forensic Collision Investigation, providing highly detailed reports for various Courts, where he and his colleagues were classed as “Expert Witnesses”. This time, in the car, we’d chosen a great location for our stay, right in the heart of the valley at Penbont House. And this part of the road trip would take in yet another great route, voted one of Britain’s favourite roads… The A470 – one of Britain’s favourite roadsNigel is Swedish company Alde's first Brand Ambassador, working closely with both Alde UK and Alde Sweden. He has also produced features for both the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club. There is a poignant reminder of this at the Visitor Centre where 27 large stones stand like sentinels, each reminding us of the villages that were lost forever when the taps were turned on and the water filled the valleys. 27 standing stones, each representing a village in the Elan Valley that was lost under the water The old metal mines at Cwmystwyth It was such a pleasurable 20 mile drive that we turned around and did it the other way. You’ll probably want to as well.