Scenery, Sausages, and Seriously Narrow Lanes
Southern England has it all - rolling hills, craggy coastlines, sleepy villages, and enough cream tea to sink a modest ferry. Whether you're craving the Cornish coast or the lavender fields of Hampshire, touring by caravan gives you the freedom to wander without checking into beige hotel rooms or eating another soggy sandwich at a service station.
But if you're going to do it right (and avoid reversing into a hedge whilst panicking about low bridges), you may need a bit of a plan. Not a military-grade spreadsheet. Just a flexible route, a few vitals, and the kind of attitude that laughs when it rains for the third day in a row.
Plan Your Route (But Leave Wiggle Room)
Let's face it - some of the best moments happen when you take a wrong turn. But it helps to have a rough idea of where you're going. Think of it as a "loose ramble" rather than a rigid itinerary.
- Start with the hotspots - Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, the South Downs. All caravan gold.
- Map out distances - Southern England looks small until you hit traffic near Bristol or Bath.
- Factor in smaller sites - Big sites have the perks, but tiny ones often have the peace (and better views).
- Plot fuel stops - Especially if you're towing through places where villages have more cows than petrol stations.
Pack for Changeable Weather - and Random Cravings
The South can serve you sunshine and sideways rain in the same hour. Don't get caught out with soggy socks and no kettle.
- Layered clothing - Flip flops in the morning, waterproofs by tea time. It's tradition.
- Stock up on really importants - Biscuits, bacon, tea bags. And spare gas canisters. Always a spare gas canister.
- Paper maps - Just in case the satnav gives up in the middle of nowhere. Which it will.
Things to Avoid (and Laugh About Later)
You'll have hiccups. That's part of the charm. But a few quick dodges make all the difference between "memorable" and "why did I agree to this?"
- Leaving site bookings too late - In summer, even fields with cows get booked out. Sort the first few nights in advance.
- Ignoring caravan-friendly signs - Some routes look scenic until you're trying to do a 7-point turn outside someone's cottage.
- Sticking rigidly to timings - Traffic happens. So do detours. Leave space to wander, dawdle, and take photos of sheep.
Don't Forget About Insurance
If your tour includes cliffside pitches, forest tracks, or city stopovers - get insured accordingly. Look for a caravan insurance policy that covers theft, accidental damage, and site-to-site travel. A cracked skylight or stolen hitch lock is far less stressful when the paperwork's already sorted.
Suggested Stops for a Cracking Southern Tour
You don't need to hit them all, but mix and match depending on your vibe: beachy, countryside, or historic town mooching.
- Jurassic Coast, Dorset - Fossils, sea views, and fish 'n' chips done right.
- New Forest - Wild ponies, woodlands, and enough pubs to keep you happy for days.
- South Hams, Devon - Winding lanes, secret coves, and villages that haven't changed since the 1800s (in a good way).
- Isle of Wight - Worth the ferry. Just book ahead, especially in the school holidays.
- Cotswolds edge - Not technically "south-south," but close enough for honey stone villages and good farm shops.
Go Easy, Travel Happy
You don't have to see everything. You don't have to drive every day. Sometimes the best part of a caravan tour is staying in one place long enough to actually relax. Watch the sunset. Burn the sausages. Nod knowingly at other caravaners in the field. It's a thing.