The Best Places to Visit in a Motorhome or Campervan
A small guide to the ultimate road trips from Northamptonshire
Waking up, open the motorhome door and step straight into fresh air and ridiculous views never really gets old. That’s the magic of travelling by motorhome or campervan hire.
This guide pulls together some of the best-rated motorhome and campervan routes across the UK and Europe, based on what seasoned motorhome goers all rave about.
Whether you’ve hired your first motorhome or you’re planning your tenth long tour, here are the standout places to head to.
Why motorhome & campervan travel works so well
Before we dive into routes, a quick reminder of why this style of travel just…works:
Total flexibility – stay an extra night when you fall in love with a spot, or move on if the weather turns.
Comfort on tap – your own bed, loo, shower and kettle wherever you park.
Cost control – campsites instead of hotels, self-catering instead of eating out every meal. BBQ’s and more. Keep the family together, including the pets.
Scenery on demand – lake views one night, wild coastline the next or maybe even close to a city.
Most of the routes below can be done in anything from a compact campervan to a family motorhome – just keep an eye on local road and size restrictions as you plan.
The UK: world-class road trips on your doorstep
The UK is stacked with routes that motorhome bloggers repeatedly rank among the best anywhere in Europe.
1. North Coast 500, Scottish Highlands
Often called Scotland’s answer to Route 66, the North Coast 500 (NC500) is a 500-mile loop around the top of the Highlands starting and finishing in Inverness.
Why it’s special
Wild beaches like Durness and Sango Sands
Detours to John o’ Groats, Cape Wrath and Smoo Cave
Rugged mountain passes and glassy lochs around every corner
Many UK motorhome guides put the NC500 at the very top of their “must-drive” list thanks to its mix of remote coastline, castles and wildlife.
Motorhome tips
Roads can be narrow and single-track – allow time and use passing places properly.
Book campsites well ahead in peak season to ease pressure on wild spots.
Travel shoulder season (May/early June or September) for fewer midges and quieter roads.
The Lake District & Peak District loops, England
The Lake District and Peak District feature heavily in club and dealer blogs listing the UK’s best touring routes.
Lake District highlights
Driving a loop from Keswick via Buttermere, Ullswater and Windermere
Lakeside walks straight from your pitch
Cute villages like Grasmere for tearooms and pubs
Peak District highlights
Gritstone edges, dales and reservoirs all within short drives
Classic routes around Hope Valley, Snake Pass and the Chatsworth area
Plenty of well-equipped campsites that are used to motorhomes
These areas are compact, so you can base yourself in one campsite for a few nights and explore in smaller hops – ideal for first-timers.
Cornwall & the Atlantic Highway (A39), South West England
Motorhome travel blogs regularly praise Cornwall’s combination of surf beaches, harbour towns and clifftop campsites, while coastal-route articles single out the Atlantic Highway between Devon and Cornwall as one of the UK’s best seaside drives.
Route idea
Start near Barnstaple
Follow the A39 towards Bude, Padstow and Newquay
Continue down to St Ives, Land’s End and the Lizard
Why go by motorhome
Sea-view campsites where you can have breakfast overlooking the waves
Easy access to beaches for surfing, bodyboarding or rockpooling
Shoulder-season trips (spring and autumn) feel far more relaxed than school-holiday gridlock
Wales: Snowdonia, Anglesey & the Pembrokeshire Coast
From caravan-club guides to campervan specialist blogs, Wales always shows up as a top pick for dramatic landscapes in a relatively small area.
Snowdonia & Anglesey
Mountain roads, slate quarries and castles inland
Coastal drives out to Anglesey with its beaches, lighthouses and Beaumaris Castle
Plenty of adventure options: hiking, ziplines, kayaking
Pembrokeshire Coast 200
A suggested 200-mile coastal loop taking in Tenby, St Davids and countless coves
Coastal campsites with clifftop views
Brilliant for dolphin-spotting boat trips and coastal walking
Add in friendly towns and a strong campsite network and Wales is a seriously underrated motorhome destination.
Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland
If you like your road trips with a side of legend and lava rock, the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry is hard to beat. It’s a favourite in several “top UK road trip routes” lists aimed at motorhome and campervan travellers.
Don’t miss
Giant’s Causeway and its basalt columns
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
Clifftop ruins like Dunluce Castle
It’s a relatively short route, so you can take it slowly, using well-placed touring parks as bases and nipping inland for distillery visits or Game of Thrones filming locations.
Europe: stretching your legs across the continent
When you’re ready to take your motorhome beyond the UK, Europe is basically one giant playground of scenic roads. Comprehensive European motorhome guides consistently recommend the routes below for first-timers and seasoned travellers alike.
⚠️ Practical note: new EU border systems mean extra checks and, from 2026, a low-cost ETIAS travel authorisation for UK citizens, so always double-check entry requirements before you travel.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Blogs on European campervan road trips almost always include the Costiera Amalfitana – the Amalfi Coast – thanks to its absurd coastal scenery and pastel-coloured cliff towns.
Why it’s unforgettable
Terraced lemon groves and plunging sea views
Iconic towns like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
Easy links to Naples, Pompeii and Vesuvius
Motorhome reality check
The official coast road is narrow and busy, and several sources caution that it’s not ideal for larger vehicles. A popular motorhome strategy is to base yourself at campsites slightly inland or along the Bay of Naples, then visit the coast by bus, scooter or organised tour.
The Romantic Road, Germany
Classic Europe road-trip round-ups and dedicated campervan pieces regularly recommend Germany’s Romantic Road, running roughly 350 km from Würzburg to Füssen.
Expect
Walled medieval towns like Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Fairytale castles, including Neuschwanstein at the southern end
Vineyards, rivers and half-timbered villages
Germany is extremely motorhome-friendly, with well-organised stellplätze (motorhome stopovers), making this a very relaxed introduction to continental touring.
The Atlantic Roadway & Fjords, Norway
Several “best European road trips” pieces highlight Norway’s coast, especially the Atlantic Roadway – a short but spectacular stretch of bridges leaping between islands on the west coast.
Combine it with:
Geirangerfjord and Trollstigen mountain road
Fjord-side campsites where you can paddleboard or fish from the shore
Extended wild-camping options: Norway’s outdoor-access laws are famously generous, and blogs aimed at motorhomers point out that responsible wild camping is widely accepted.
It’s not the cheapest destination, but doing it by campervan gives you flexibility and saves on hotel costs.
Portugal & Spain for winter sun
If you’d rather swap frost for flip-flops, motorhome dealers and winter-touring guides frequently recommend the Portuguese Algarve and Spain’s southern coasts, particularly the Costa del Sol.
What you get
Mild winter temperatures and plenty of sunshine
Long sandy beaches, coastal towns and good public transport
Lots of campsites geared up for long-stay motorhome guests
Experienced European tourers often spend several weeks or months here, working their way between Portugal and Spain at a gentle pace.