A desire to showcase the industry to a new audience led to the launch of Holiday Living magazine for Kelsey Media in 2016, extending that scope further to include many other leisure options including short stays, touring, glamping and UK tourist attractions. 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. Nigel 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. Crossing a 10km stretch of frozen Baltic Sea with a caravan, reaching an island that’s only accessible by ‘road’ for a few weeks each year. My journey began in the editorial departments of local newspapers, writing features and road test reports for Newsquest and Reach PLC titles. The road tests gathered pace, leading to Road Tester and Road Test Editor positions at several national motorcycle magazines and weekly newspapers. Caravanning was a distinct change of direction, but a welcome one, allowing me to explore over thirty countries by caravan and inform others how they can do so with ease. My two children, Poppy & Charlie, benefit as well, broadening their horizons with trips across Europe as well as the UK.

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). 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.

Associate Members

Nigel is a lifelong caravanner (and I mean life-long!), and together with his wife Kay, they have toured extensively in both the UK and on the Continent.

From Left to Right, Karla Baker, Chris Apperley (Guild Chairman), Nigel Coppen (Business Development Director of Vantage Insurance). From Left to Right, Chris Apperley (Guild Chairman), John Sootheran, Nigel Coppen (Business Development Director of Vantage Insurance). The little guidebook we’d found said nothing about narrow roads right on the edge of deep, dark-water reservoirs! Just off the A465 you’ll find the village of Ystradfellte and the magnificent Brecon Beacons 4 Waterfalls Walk. 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.

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. 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.

Michael has been successfully selling his writings since the 1970s and specialises by writing about travel as it relates to Superyachts, Yachts, Campervans and Motorhomes. Photographs by Frances Howorth always accompanies his writing and frequently appears independently in other publications, calendars, postcards and posters. On our first visit (in August 2020) we saw maybe only two or three other motorhomers who were brave (or stupid) enough to drive these roads. 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’ We were down to second gear round the hairpin bends but overall our VW Cree managed it without an issue. The main distraction for the driver are the views. We simply had to pull over a few times and take it all in. Both Michael & Frances are additionally members of the British Guild of Travel Writers, the Travel Writers Alliance, and the Yachting Journalists Association.

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”. 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. This time, in the car, we’d chosen a great location for our stay, right in the heart of the valley at Penbont House.

Natasha previously worked in the motor industry and her passion for all things automotive seamlessly transferred over to the leisure vehicle industry. In 2019, Natasha (and Jon) were loaned a motorhome for 12 months by the Erwin Hymer group to tour and share their experience via social media. 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. 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. Coasteering is an incredibly fun and full-on way to explore the rugged stretch of coastline, through the combination of swimming, climbing, cliff jumping, clambering and possibly some belly-flopping! It gives you the opportunity to experience normally inaccessible hidden coves and secret coastal caves of the magical Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Get in touch with Causeway Coasteering to find out more. Michael Howorth is one half of The Howorth’s an award winning team of professional freelance travel writers. Together with Frances, his wife, he is a Features writer of Motor Caravanner Magazine published monthly by The Motor Caravaners Club.Editor of Holiday Living and Park Lifestyle magazines, and Editor at Large for Park Home & Holiday Caravan and the Residential Parks Guide, Bella has specialised in leisure industry communications for over two decades. Every May the town hosts the ‘Hay Festival’, attracting thousands of book-lovers from all over the UK. You can see why Shelley loved this place so much. Though, of course, in his time before the dams were built the landscape would have looked very different. So, less than two months later we returned to explore the area fully and complete the drive in a more nimble vehicle, our trusty little Skoda Fabia estate. 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.