One of the most common questions I get about France is "where are your favourite places"? And it's TOUGH. There are so many incredible places around France to enjoy. Before we start, I just wanted to acknowledge the awful wildfires happening in parts of France and elsewhere in southern Europe. My thoughts are with everyone affected, especially the local communities and emergency services working so hard. The places I'm sharing below aren't intended as "go there now" recommendations -...
3 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
We've all been there. You've packed up your camper, shoved things into cupboards or piled it all on the bed in a last-minute rush... Only to set off and be serenaded by a symphony of noises. Bangs Clunks Clink clink clinks The drawer has slid open. The fridge has emptied it's contents Oh- and you forgot to take the shelf out of the oven. Again All in all, you can barely hear yourself think, (and the poor dog is looking at you like you've done it on purpose to upset him!) Over the years, I...
6 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
My very first night wild parking in a motorhome was spent wide awake, convinced every rustle outside was a potential threat. I didn't know if we were going to be murdered, harassed or arrested- or all three! This is a common reaction for anyone new to wild parking or staying off-grid with a motorhome or campervan, especially when you are alone. In this week's video, I recount my early fears and experiences, plus share tips and advice on how best to get past them and build your confidence with...
10 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
At the moment, you can barely turn on the news without hearing about another wildfire somewhere in Europe. Hopefully none of us will ever be anywhere near one, but it is a timely reminder that fires can start frighteningly quickly. And whilst you should always leave firefighting to the professionals, it's worth making sure you're prepared for the smaller incidents that can happen around a house or motorhome. Be honest- would you know what to do if you discovered a fire in your motorhome,...
15 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
"So, where do you empty your toilet...?" This is one of the most common questions I get, especially when I'm talking about staying off-grid or wild parking with my motorhome. Whenever I mention that I've spent several weeks off-grid in places like Ireland, France, Sweden, and Norway, I get emails from people confused about what I was doing. Am I emptying it behind a bush?!?! Er, no. Nor into a river. Or anywhere else that's not a proper hygienic toilet emptying point. Please don't be that...
16 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 3 min read
After 8 years and 90,000 miles of touring in my motorhome around the UK and Europe, I've learned a lot. I've also made a LOT of mistakes, or not done things the easiest way. In fact, that's exactly how Wandering Bird started- sharing the mistakes and tips I learned along the way in order to help others avoid the same errors. This week, I'm sharing 5 of the biggest mistakes I see new motorhome owners make when wild parking or staying off-grid in their motorhome/ campervan. They're all...
17 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Hi! Whilst I know summer feels like it's been here for ever, it's still only July and August is on the horizon. Here are some fun facts, dates to remember and activities to enjoy next month Fun facts about August August used to be called Sextilis, meaning āthe sixth monthā in Latin. Funnily enough, it actually was the 6th month in the early Roman 10-month calendar (before January and February were added later). In 8 BC the month was renamed Augustus, in honour of the Roman emperor Augustus...
20 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 4 min read
Hands up if summer has snuck up on you?! I know it did me!! Several people have contacted me in a panic because they haven't booked anywhere yet for their summer holidays. As one person said "we're not sure we can get in anywhere this year!" If you've left it late too (or didn't bother but now wish you had) this week's video shares some tips for finding last-minute campsites around the UK and Europe. Watch Now Hope that helps make your last-minute trips a little easier! Even if you're already...
24 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
I hate to break it to you... but the summer holidays are about to start. On one hand, morning travel gets a lot easier. On the other, if you haven't already made your holiday plans, it make feel too late. But it's not too late - promise. The UK is packed with incredible places that donāt always make the āmust-visitā listsāand theyāre often much easier to enjoy at this time of year. If youāre still wondering where to head, here are five of my favouritesā¦ šļø Northumberland If you love dramatic...
27 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 2 min read