149 ACCESSORIES Brilliant products for your motorhome, 149 ACCESSORIES Brilliant products for your motorhome, days out and more REGULARS 10 LETTERS Readers share their tips, tricks and tall tales 16 FAVOURITE PHOTOS Sunrises, sunsets and everything in between 19 BACK TO BASICS MMM’s new columnist debunks some common internet myths 22 NEWS New models, campsite updates and more 28 SHOW NEWS Get ready for the National Show at Newark 68 M 68 MY TRAVELS Amsterdam has p d 147 P plenty to keep this duo and their dog occupied for a long weekend 147 PAWS ON TOUR Helping dogs b m 160 M become more comfortable with motorhome travel 160 MY VIEW New discoveries versus o d old favourites… which campsites do you choose? M M M A Y 2 0 2 5 UK’S BEST-SELLING MOTORHOME MAGAZINE part of the UK’S BEST-SELLING MOTORHOME MAG e family familyfamily WHAT MOTORHOME WHAT MOTORHOME MAGAZINE NOW INSIDE MAY 2025 CarthaCarthaCartha slimme IV DRIVINDRIVINIVIN DRIVING LUXURY ago’s stunning ago’s stunning ed down A-class ING LUXURY ING LUXURY IN Carthago’s stunning slimmed down A-class Around the world... ...in a motorhome: four great trips of a lifetime orl f a lif rld... ifetime CANYON BELIEVE IT! USA's jaw-dropping Wild West The road to Olympus Greece’s legendary lands Wild Escape to Oz d about Queensland Escape to Oz Wild about Queensland D O R S E T • G R E E C E • U S A • C A N A D A • A U S T R A L I A 7 2 5 A NOSE FOR ADVENTURE SE ring E FOR ADVENTURE ng Canada with a dog Touring Canada with a dog JUST FOR TWO: Rear lounge campervan from Eriba PLUS Off-grid ready Pilote JUST FOR TWO: Rear lounge w ADVICE Forecourts to forums: the smart way to buy a motorhome way to buy a motorhome 11/03/2025 17:02 GREATSubscripti OFFERPAGE137 COMPETITIONS & OFFERS 117 PUZZLES Solve the monthly brainteasers to be in with a chance of a cash prize 159 NEXT MONTH What’s in the July issue 97 Included with this issue Part of the family HELPING YOU BUY YOUR PERFECT MOTORHOME JUNE 2025 £5.50 outandaboutlive.co.uk ULTIMATE CAMPERVAN Fit for a Formula 1 star! G R O U P P U B L I C A T I O N S P L C 06 9 772397 278034 > BIGGER HYMER 4X4 Mercedes Grand Canyon S 700 THE FUTURE’S ORANGE RE’S ORANGE TURN TO PAGE New high-roof Fiat Trouvaille vaille 116 5 Bürstner Lyseo Gallery range The one with a staircase! 8 Consort Nova FB Sleeping comfort to the fore 11 Dreamer D68 Up Saphir Adding extra kit and a pop-top 14 Elddis Avalon 250 New flagship with an island bed 17 Hymer Grand Canyon S 700 Merc 4x4 grows longer 20 Knaus Van I 550 MF An A-class that’s really compact 23 Orange Campers Trouvaille Classique MWB Improved by its high-top 26 Robeta Schumacher Edition The most expensive campervan 31 Sunlight campervan range Celebrating 20 years New ’vans Consort Nova FB Well respected for rear lounges, now Consort offers fixed beds, too a FB xed beds, too New ’vans Elddis Avalon 250 Thisnewflagshiprangeincludesadifferenttakeontheislandbedtheme Consort Nova FB WATCH THE VIDEO motorhome.ma/ consort ADVANTAGES • Comfortable fixed bed with room to ADVANTAGES • Comfortable fixed bed with room to sit up • Large under-bed garage • Excellent build quality sit up • Large under-bed garage • Excellent build quality DISADVANTAGES • The only seats are the cab chairs • Curtain required when showering • Small water tanks DISADVANTAGES • The only seats are the cab chairs • Curtain required when showering • Small water tanks OUR VERDICT New fixed bed layouts increase choice at Consort and offer something different to their continental rivals. There’s no half-dinette but the bedroom area is a star feature. OUR VERDICT New fixed bed layouts increase choice at Consort and offer something different to their continental rivals. There’s no half-dinette but the bedroom area is a star feature. Elddis Avalon 250 WATCH THE VIDEO motorhome.ma/avalon FACT FILE BASE VEHICLE Peugeot Boxer/ Fiat Ducato PRICE FROM £71,950 (pre-registered, see text) BERTHS 2 TRAVEL SEATS 2 LENGTH 5.41m WIDTH 2.05m HEIGHT 2.58m GROSS WEIGHT 3,500kg PAYLOAD 550kg CONSORT Motorhomes has built up an enviable reputation for rear lounge twoberth campervans designed with practicality as the watchword and several of its models have featured previously in these pages. Last autumn, however, it embarked on a new option for those seeking the comfort of a fixed bed combined with extra storage and we saw one of the first examples – this Nova FB – at the January Motorhome & Campervan Sale at Stoneleigh. Just as with Consort’s rear lounge layouts, there are fixed bed floorplans in the three different lengths of Fiat/Peugeot van – 5.41m, 8 | | JUNE 2025 a is the smallest, ase panel van, and se double bed. The S have lengthways 5.99m and 6.36m. The Nova is the smallest, based on the medium-wheelbase panel van, and the only one with a transverse double bed. The longer Reef FS and Oslo FS have lengthways single beds in the stern. inental fixed bed e are soooo many!), half-dinette seating oesn’t have any seats chairs, so these are island-leg table has rcab shelf. Of course, ys use the rear bed, Unlike the typical continental fixed bed campervans (of which there are soooo many!), the Nova FB doesn’t have half-dinette seating behind the cab. In fact, it doesn’t have any seats apart from the swivel cab chairs, so these are where you dine once the island-leg table has been retrieved from the overcab shelf. Of course, for lounging, you can always use the rear bed, especially as the bedroom has been designed has been designed FACT FILE BASE VEHICLE Fiat Ducato PRICE FROM £84,999 BERTHS 4 TRAVEL SEATS 4 LENGTH 7.37m WIDTH 2.32m HEIGHT 2.85m GROSS WEIGHT 3,500kg PAYLOAD 364kg without any top lockers for comfortable sitting up. Even better, there’s an optional (£650) 24in Avtex TV at the foot of the bed, along with a small shelf for your phone, with an adjacent USB socket. The controls for the Truma heating are also here, so you adjust the temperature and without any top lockers for comfortable sitting up. Even better, there’s an optional (£650) 24in Avtex TV at the foot of the bed, along with a small shelf for your phone, with an adjacent USB socket. The controls for the Truma heating are also here, so you adjust the temperature and Aswitch on the hot water without getting out of bed. Gas/electric heating is standard with a diesel option priced at £850. switch on the hot water without getting out of bed. Gas/electric heating is standard with a diesel option priced at £850. For sleeping, it’s worth noting that the rear bed has a one-piece domestic-quality mattress and you can choose the softness/density according to your preference. There’s a neat pullout step to access the bed and a shelved cupboard For sleeping, it’s worth noting that the rear bed has a one-piece domestic-quality mattress and you can choose the softness/density according to your preference. There’s a neat pullout step to access the bed and a shelved cupboard VALON represents the first step in the renewal of the Elddis portfolio and, while this is the company’s premium range (replacing Encore), its significance to the brand is underscored by a new body construction technique. The all-new Zip system increases strength and reliability with a marine-grade anodised aluminium frame around the underside of the vehicle. Its fully bonded construction creates a complete seal around the floor and the walls, which use HaloTEC one-piece panels with composite polypropylene and a UV-resistant GRP Sunsation high-gloss exterior finish. But Avalon is not just about what’s under the 14 | |JUNE 2025 14 Elddis Avalon 250.indd All Pages above this (under the bed). above this (under the bed). The 90-litre fridge is opposite and at waist height for easy access. The 90-litre fridge is opposite and at waist height for easy access. and Apple CarPlay, 16in alloys, climate control, twin-leaf rear suspension and various driver assistance systems. and Apple CarPlay, 16in alloys, climate control, twin-leaf rear suspension and various driver assistance systems. The other big news, of course, is the much larger garage area afforded by the height of the fixed bed (compared with the rear lounge Nova). This space also includes the heater (boxed in on the offside) but it seems a shame that the opportunity for an inboard (winterised) water tank has not been taken. The 70-litre fresh tank and 50-litre waste are underslung but insulated. The other big news, of course, is the much larger garage area afforded by the height of the fixed bed (compared with the rear lounge Nova). This space also includes the heater (boxed in on the offside) but it seems a shame that the opportunity for an inboard (winterised) water tank has not been taken. The 70-litre fresh tank and 50-litre waste are underslung but insulated. skin but also new features like the largest possible overcab window with a frameless design and the stylish one-piece ABS rear with integated bike rack and reversing camera fittings. As with all the new Avalon models, the starting price is £84,999, with a key standard feature being the 24-hour programmable gas/ electric Alde ‘wet’ central heating. The base vehicle is the latest Fiat Ducato with 140hp motor and manual gearbox; the automatic version costs an extra £3,246. You can also change the cab colour from white to black or Iron Grey for £847, or opt for silver sides the habitation for £282. Forward of the bed on the nearside, the kitchen is small but still manages to include a Duplex cooker with oven/grill, a sink with cover and drainer rack, a good selection of drawers, a worktop extension flap and a bin. Forward of the bed on the nearside, the kitchen is small but still manages to include a Duplex cooker with oven/grill, a sink with cover and drainer rack, a good selection of drawers, a worktop extension flap and a bin. For more cab spec, add the XT Pack (£3,555) which includes a heated windscreen, electric parking brake, automatic air-conditioning, wireless phone charging, and a 10in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and sat-nav. Internally, the 250 is the island bed model but with a different feel to its (often imported) opposition. The bedroom is much less separated from the living area here, giving a more open feel but leaving the bed on show, while, rather than having split en suite facilities (shower one side, toilet the other), the Avalon has its ablutions in one (quite compact) space on the offside. Courtesy of the low chassis, no external step is The washroom is also on the offside and includes a bench cassette toilet and a nice fixed corner basin. Above is a small cabinet fronted by a circular mirror but you do have to use a curtain to cover the door when showering. The washroom is also on the offside and includes a bench cassette toilet and a nice fixed corner basin. Above is a small cabinet fronted by a circular mirror but you do have to use a curtain to cover the door when showering. The Nova FB is available on a pre-registered Peugeot Boxer base vehicle in white from £71,950 (manual) or £74,950 (automatic). If you can stretch to another eight grand, you can have the latest Fiat cab (unregistered) instead, with a higher spec. This includes metallic silver paint, a 10in touchscreen with sat-nav, Android Auto The Nova FB is available on a pre-registered Peugeot Boxer base vehicle in white from £71,950 (manual) or £74,950 (automatic). If you can stretch to another eight grand, you can have the latest Fiat cab (unregistered) instead, with a higher spec. This includes metallic silver paint, a 10in touchscreen with sat-nav, Android Auto The conversion spec is the same, whichever van is chosen, and includes Grade III insulation, a 105Ah lithium battery, 160W solar panel and a 25-litre underslung gas tank. Options include an awning, flyscreen for the sliding door, external barbecue point, cab blinds and increased battery and solar power. The conversion spec is the same, whichever van is chosen, and includes Grade III insulation, a 105Ah lithium battery, 160W solar panel and a 25-litre underslung gas tank. Options include an awning, flyscreen for the sliding door, external barbecue point, cab blinds and increased battery and solar power. There’s also a gas-free option (£3,350) with an induction hob and microwave, 320W solar, 230Ah lithium battery, 2,000W inverter and diesel heating. There’s also a gas-free option (£3,350) with an induction hob and microwave, 320W solar, 230Ah lithium battery, 2,000W inverter and diesel heating. needed to enter, and the lounge has a classic British design with two inward-facing settees and a free-standing table. Armrests and scatter cushions are provided to enhance comfort and there’s lots of natural light from that supersized sunroof, but the nearside sofa is quite short and the position of the TV bracket means that you’ll be sitting rather close to the screen. Remove the settees’ cushions and you’ll find two Aguti travel seats underneath. They have three-point belts and Isofix. Youstepdownfromtheloungeintothekitchen, wherethegalleyisaftoftheentranceandthe133litrethree-wayfridgeisopposite.There’splentyof outandaboutlive.co.uk | 9 outandaboutlive.co.uk | 9 03/04/2025 14:07 floor space and the galley is equipped in British style, with three gas rings, a mains hotplate and separate grill and oven. There’s an 800W microwave above and a new acrylic splashback, plus aflap to increase workspace. While the galley will win buyers to the Avalon, you pay the price in the washroom, which, as alluded to earlier, is compromised by squeezing its facilities into one zone. There’s no separate shower here, although other Avalon layouts provide that if it’s a must-have feature. Underslung water tanks hold 100 litres fresh and only 60 litres for waste. At the rear, the bedroom has the expected ADVANTAGES• Alde heating • Open-plan feel to the layout • Well-equipped kitchen DISADVANTAGES• No separate shower • Less private bedroom area • Island bed smaller than some rivals OUR VERDICT The Avalon is a significant step forward in construction and cosmetics from its predecessor while the layout is little changed. It has a well-equipped kitchen but loses out in the washroom. format of a central island bed, framed by wardrobes on either side. The bed can be retracted during the day, giving extra room around the foot (great for dog owners), but, even when fully extended, there’s adequate space to squeeze past. At night, the mattress measures 1.90m by 1.34m and the padded headboard and bedside drawers are welcome features. The interior of the Avalon feels far more contemporary than its forebears (and other Elddis models) with its Japandi/Nordic design. It can also be further enhanced with options such as leather upholstery, habitation air-conditioning and the Connect+ Pack (solar panel and WiFi). outandaboutlive.co.uk |15 June 2025 outandaboutlive.co.uk 7