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Guides

Knowledge for every stage of the journey

A curated directory of UK campervan and motorhome guides — beginner advice, UK touring know-how, technical guidance and practical tips from trusted UK publishers, all in one place.

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🚐 Going Away? Don’t Forget a Thing!

Use our interactive Campervan & Motorhome Trip Checklist to pack the essentials,
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Bag the Wainwrights

Track all 214 Lake District fells, add climb dates, then print or share your list.

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Conquer the Munros

Track all 282 Scottish Munros, add climb dates, then print or share your list.

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606 guides available — search by topic or browse by category.

More Featured Guides

  • Beginner GuidesCampaMate Tool

    Campervan & Motorhome Trip Checklist

    Don't leave the important stuff behind. Tick off your van, kitchen, safety, clothing and trip essentials before you set off.

  • A CampaMate campervan with its rear doors open ready for a trip
    Beginner GuidesExternal guide

    Plan your first overnight trip with confidence

    A pre-trip safety inspection checklist covering tyres, gas, habitation checks and what to look over before you leave the driveway.

    Source: Leisurevan

  • A campervan touring through open countryside
    Touring EnglandExternal guide

    Best motorhome routes across England

    Route inspiration spanning the Lake District, Peak District and beyond, useful for planning a first multi-day tour.

    Source: The Gap Decaders

  • A campervan visiting a remote Highland-style landscape
    Scotland GuidanceExternal guide

    Campervans and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code

    Explains why Scotland's right-to-roam access rights don't extend to vehicles, and what responsible overnighting looks like instead.

    Source: Dubbed Out

  • Motorhome campsite
    Wild Camping GuidanceExternal guide

    Motorhome wild camping rules across the UK

    Compares the legal position on wild camping in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in one place.

    Source: IDS Leisure

  • A vehicle using a dedicated weighbridge lane
    Weights, Payloads & LicencesExternal guide

    Understanding MIRO, MAM and payload

    Explains the weight terms on your van's plate and how to work out how much you can legally carry.

    Source: Oaktree Motorhomes

  • An LPG gas bottle installed in a campervan gas locker
    Gas & LPGExternal guide

    Understanding motorhome gas: propane vs butane

    Explains the difference between propane and butane, why propane suits winter touring, and how exchange cylinders work.

    Source: The Gap Decaders

  • Fresh-water plumbing installed inside a campervan
    Fresh Water, Grey Water & ToiletsExternal guide

    Fresh water, grey water and keeping it all hygienic

    Practical tips for managing fresh water and grey water tanks without cross-contaminating hoses or fittings.

    Source: Wandering Bird

  • A campervan-style vehicle parked in deep winter snow
    Winter & Seasonal TouringExternal guide

    Winter-proofing your van

    Covers insulation grades, frost protection for pipes and choosing the right heating setup for cold-weather touring.

    Source: Oaktree Motorhomes

  • A mechanic completing a vehicle maintenance checklist
    Vehicle MaintenanceExternal guide

    A beginner's guide to maintenance and repairs

    Covers the basic checks and light repairs every owner should be comfortable doing between services.

    Source: Lowdhams

  • A campervan with its awning pitched
    Buying & Selling a Campervan or MotorhomeExternal guide

    Pre-purchase checklist for used vans

    A practical checklist for inspecting a used campervan, including documentation, HPI checks and condition red flags.

    Source: Quirky Campers

  • A campervan base vehicle exterior
    Build: Planning & Choosing a VanExternal guide

    Choosing the best van for your conversion

    Compares small, medium and large panel vans and the trade-offs each size makes for space, running costs and payload.

    Source: Vanlife.uk

  • Different insulation materials being compared inside a campervan
    Build: Insulation & InteriorExternal guide

    Choosing the right insulation material

    Compares PIR foam boards against sheep's wool and other options for R-value, cost and ease of fitting.

    Source: Vanlife.uk

  • A campervan 12-volt battery and electrical installation
    Build: Electrics & SolarExternal guide

    12V electrical systems explained

    Introduces leisure batteries, fuse boxes and DC-DC chargers as the core building blocks of a campervan 12V system.

    Source: Vanlife.uk

  • A ceiling-mounted smoke detector
    Build: Safety & SecurityExternal guide

    Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

    From a UK alarm manufacturer: correct alarm placement relative to fuel-burning appliances, and testing routines.

    Source: FireAngel

  • A converted campervan with DVLA rules and how to comply
    Build: Legal, DVLA & InsuranceExternal guide

    Reclassifying your van as a 'Motor Caravan' with the DVLA

    Sets out the fixed-bed, cooking, storage and seating criteria the DVLA looks for before reclassifying a V5C.

    Source: Quirky Campers

  • A campervan interior dinette and fittings
    Repairs: Routine MaintenanceExternal guide

    What a habitation check actually covers

    Explains what's inspected in a habitation check, why manufacturers require it annually, and what it costs.

    Source: Camplify

  • Checking a campervan's door mechanism before a trip
    Repairs: Tyres, Brakes & SuspensionExternal guide

    A pre-journey checklist from the RAC

    The RAC's own checklist for tyres, brakes and general roadworthiness before setting off. Brake, suspension and steering faults should always be inspected by a qualified technician rather than DIY-repaired.

    Source: RAC

  • A campervan leisure battery and charge controller set-up
    Repairs: Electrical & BatteriesExternal guide

    Looking after your leisure battery

    Covers the basics of leisure battery care, from storage charging to spotting a battery that's reaching the end of its life.

    Source: Caravan Guard

  • A gas regulator valve and pressure gauge
    Repairs: Gas & AppliancesExternal guide

    Understanding UK gas regulations

    Explains how the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 apply to leisure vehicles. Gas work should always be carried out or checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, never attempted as a DIY repair.

    Source: Motorhome Servicing & Repairs

  • A moisture meter checking for damp inside a campervan
    Repairs: Damp, Leaks & SealsExternal guide

    Spotting and treating damp early

    What to look and smell for, and why catching damp early makes it far cheaper and easier to put right.

    Source: Motorhome Protect

CampaMate summaries are original — each card links out to the full guide on the publisher’s own site. Photos are freely-licensed images from Wikimedia Commons, not taken from the linked publishers. Spotted a broken link or have a great UK guide we’re missing? Let us know via Community or Feedback.