OUR BEGINNERS GUIDE - Travel to FRANCE by EUROTUNNEL in a Motorhome | 2022 The Hills Explore 2022-07-20 | Welcome back to the channel!We have spent several weeks putting together this step by step guide, covering everything we did to prepare for our trip to France in our Motorhome this summer.If you are a first timer - then this might just help you plan your journey to France via the Eurotunnel.We are not experts, but many people have asked us about various aspects of our European travels, so we hope this may be of help to some.All the links below we used to help plan and prepare in the months and weeks before we set off.Things are always changing when it comes to travel as we all know from the last 3 years.My motto is if you fail to prepare, your prepare to fail! But I can be a bit over the top!This vlog is our personal experience only and we are NOT, I repeat NOT claiming to have the best advice or fail safe solutions. We welcome comments and feedback and will try and signpost you in the right direction to answer your question.#motorhometravel #france #eurotunnel-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PARK UP IN FOLKSTONE - *NO LONGER ALLOWS OVERNIGHT STAYS*We recently just stayed on a side street in Folkstone instead----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GENERAL TRAVEL ADVICE STARTING POINTwww.gov.uk/foreign-travel-adviceFRENCH EMBASSSY WEBSITE IN THE UK (and therefore in English!):www.uk.ambafrance.orgUK GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD:www.gov.uk/global-health-insurance-card (FREE)ADVICE ABOUT TRAVEL TO EUROPE:www.theaa.comwww.rac.co.ukSPECIFIC LINK FOR DRIVING IN FRANCE:www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe/country-by-country/france-and-monacoGET YOUR CRIT'AIR LOW EMISSION ZONE STICKERS FROM HERE:www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/ (around £4 including postage to the UK)EXAMPLES OF TOLL ROAD TAG SUPPLIERS:www.emovis-tag.co.uk/toll-tags/francewww.bipandgo.com/en/abonnement-telepeage-particuliers/a-la-carteADVICE ON WHAT FOOD AND DRINK YOU CAN TAKE IN TO FRANCE:https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-products-movements/personal-imports_en *Be aware that there are also limits on tobacco and alcoholADVICE ON ALL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FROM UK TO FRANCE:www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirementsThis includes COVID-19 guidance, Passport requirements, Visas, Passport Stamping, Proof of Funds, Travel with Children, Travel with Pets and Custom ChecksA PRE-LOADABLE CARD YOU CAN CONVERT IN TO MANY CURRENCIES:www.revolut.com(Not my favorite!)EXAMPLE COMPARISON WEBSITES TO LOOK FOR THE RIGHT TRAVEL MONEY CARD FOR YOU:www.moneysupermarket.comwww.comparethemarket.com* We are not financial advisors! We just share what works for us
All We Wanted Was ONE Normal Day! | Caravan Salon Düsseldorf The Hills Explore 2026-09-20 | After everything that happened getting to Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, surely we were due a nice, quiet couple of days wandering around the show… surely?! 😂This week we finally get stuck into the HUGE Caravan Salon, and it doesn't take long before Riki starts finding things we absolutely don’t need — from enormous off-road monsters and some very unusual layouts to a world premiere that definitely catches our attention!We also escape the show for an afternoon in Düsseldorf, where there’s a mystery package to collect, a very special birthday to celebrate and a German pork knuckle that may finally have defeated Riki. 🇩🇪🍖But that mystery package has a job to do back at the Concorde. With our garage still firmly locked and part of the broken key stuck inside, can Riki’s latest purchase finally get us back in?And just when we think we’ve had our fair share of things going wrong with the Concorde…Oh, come on. Not AGAIN! 🤦♀️😂Despite the dramas, we had an absolutely brilliant time — and we haven't even got to the really BIG motorhomes yet!Grab a cuppa, settle in and come with us for another slightly chaotic few days at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2026.Has anyone else reached the point where they’re taking bets on what will break next?! 😂#TheHillsExplore #CaravanSalon #CaravanSalonDusseldorf #Dusseldorf #MotorhomeLife #MotorhomeAdventures #MotorhomeTravel #VanLife #ConcordeMotorhome #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeEurope #GermanyRoadTrip ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
We Made It to Caravan Salon… Then THIS Happened! 😱 The Hills Explore 2026-09-13 | Our First Day at Caravan Salon Went VERY Wrong!!We were so excited about Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2026, the biggest motorhome and caravan show in the world — but before we even make it through the doors, our day takes a turn we definitely weren’t expecting.After successfully navigating our 11.5-metre, 15-tonne Concorde all the way from the UK, surely moving it the final few metres onto our pitch should be the easy bit… shouldn’t it? 👀We eventually make it inside the show and discover that Caravan Salon really is like the NEC on steroids! We explore the accessory and technology halls, find some seriously tempting motorhome gadgets, bump into a few familiar brands, discover some very unusual campers and somehow manage to get the credit card out more than once. 😂But hanging over the whole day is what happened that morning…Back at the Concorde, it’s finally time for Riki to explain exactly what went wrong — and reveal the damage for the first time.And just when we think the drama is over, our first day in Düsseldorf has one more unwelcome surprise for us.Grab a cuppa and come with us for Day One at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf. 🇩🇪🚐Next time: Riki is let loose at Caravan Salon on his own… what could possibly go wrong? 😂#TheHillsExplore #CaravanSalon #CaravanSalon2026 #Dusseldorf #Motorhome #MotorhomeLife #MotorhomeTravel #ConcordeMotorhome #ConcordeLiner #MotorhomeShow #VanLife #RVLife #MotorhomeAdventures #Germany
Riki has some explaining to do… 👀 #accidentnews The Hills Explore 2026-09-09 | Riki damaged the Concorde as we began our week in Düsseldorf at Caravan Salon. It all started so well. Then at the final furlong … disaster! All will be revealed in next Sundays vlog. #TheHillsExplore #MotorhomeLife #concorde
Vanlife Eats, a Broken Concorde & 9 Hours to Germany! The Hills Explore 2026-09-06 | What was supposed to be a brilliant weekend at Vanlife Eats, followed by our first ever European adventure in the Concorde, didn't quite go according to plan… 😬We kick things off at the Vanlife Eats Big Picnic, where we were asked to join the Victron Energy area, We spent time catching up with friends, meeting fellow campers and enjoying everything the festival has to offer - including the food of course! 🐻But behind the scenes, things with the Concorde aren't going quite so smoothly…With a few unexpected problems to deal with before we’ve even left the UK, some rather questionable problem-solving from Riki 😂 and a very big motorhome that suddenly seems determined to test us, we start wondering whether taking it all the way to Germany is such a good idea!Nevertheless, Caravan Salon Düsseldorf is waiting, so we point the Concorde towards LeShuttle and set off on our biggest journey with her yet.It turns into quite an adventure — and by the time we finally reach Düsseldorf, we think we've dealt with everything the week can possibly throw at us.We haven't.In fact, what happens next makes everything in this vlog seem rather insignificant… 😳You definitely won't want to miss the end of this one — and next week's vlog is going to be one we won't forget in a hurry.Thanks for watching and coming along for the ride. ❤️Follow Us:📸 Instagram: @the_hills_explore👍 Facebook: The Hills Explore▶️ YouTube: The Hills ExploreCome and say hello — we love hearing from you and following your adventures too! ❤️#TheHillsExplore #VanlifeEats #VanlifeEatsFestival #MotorhomeLife #MotorhomeAdventures #FullTimeMotorhome #ConcordeMotorhome #ConcordeLiner #VanLifeUK #MotorhomeUK #MotorhomeTravel #LeShuttle #CaravanSalon #CaravanSalonDusseldorf #MotorhomeEurope
Our Swift Kon-Tiki Is FOR SALE! | The End of an Era The Hills Explore 2026-08-30 | It’s time to say goodbye to an old friend… and this one feels a little strange! 😢This week, Riki takes our trusty Swift Kon-Tiki on its final journey with us, back to Oaktree Motorhomes in Nottingham, where it’s going up for sale.This motorhome has been a huge part of The Hills Explore. It’s taken us across the UK and Europe, over the Pyrenees to Andorra, and on countless adventures — but perhaps most importantly, it became our first full-time home when we sold our house and moved into it last December.And we certainly haven’t left it standard! 😂 Over the years we’ve added everything from upgraded electrics, lithium battery and solar to hydraulic levelling, VB semi air suspension, Camos 360 cameras, diesel heating, air conditioning, new upholstery and plenty more. Whoever becomes its next owner is getting one very well-loved and seriously well-equipped Kon-Tiki.But dropping it off turns out to be only the beginning of Riki’s day. There’s an unexpected Concorde with a rather famous former owner, a compulsory burger stop in Nottingham 🍔… and then a train journey home that doesn't go quite according to plan. 😂Will Riki actually make it back to Swindon in time for his very important evening appointment with Noah?Thank you, Kon-Tiki. ❤️ You’ve been absolutely brilliant.And if you're wondering what happens next, our adventures in the Concorde Liner Plus 1130 GMax are only just getting started!👍 If you enjoyed the video, please give it a like.🔔 Subscribe and join us for more motorhome adventures, upgrades and full-time life on the road.Instagram: @the_hills_exploreFacebook: The Hills Explore#SwiftKonTiki #MotorhomeForSale #MotorhomeLife #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeAdventures #TheHillsExplore
One Day to Transform Our Concorde… Is He Really Magic? The Hills Explore 2026-08-23 | Everyone kept telling us the same thing… “You need to go and see the Magic Motorhome Man!” 🪄🚐So, with a growing snagging list on our Concorde and a couple of rather exciting upgrades planned, we headed down to see Andy and Kyle to find out what all the fuss was about.But there was one question we really wanted answered…Is the Magic Motorhome Man actually magic? 🧙♂️✨Riki arrived armed with a list — and not exactly a short one! 😬 Some jobs we knew should be straightforward, others had been frustrating us for weeks, and one of our planned upgrades turned out to be slightly more complicated than we’d anticipated… 👀Meanwhile, Beth was very helpfully sent off on her e-bike to explore nearby Wickham. What could possibly go wrong? 😂Back at the Concorde, things were moving FAST. Problems started disappearing, tools were flying, bits of the motorhome were coming apart… and Andy even started finding things that weren’t on Riki’s list!By the end of the day, we were left asking whether it was skill, experience… or perhaps just a little bit of magic. ✨So, does the Magic Motorhome Man really live up to his reputation?You’ll have to watch to find out… although we think our faces might give the answer away! 😂A huge thank you to Andy and Kyle for letting us film the day and for putting up with Riki, his questions… and that list! 🤣👍 If you enjoy the vlog, please give it a thumbs up💬 Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever had work done by the Magic Motorhome Man🔔 And don’t forget to subscribe to The Hills Explore for more adventures in our Concorde!#TheHillsExplore #MagicMotorhomeMan #ConcordeMotorhome #ConcordeLinerPlus #MotorhomeLife #MotorhomeUpgrades #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeUK
We Thought This Was Just a Motorhome Rally... The Hills Explore 2026-08-16 | This week we're heading north to the beautiful Druridge Bay Country Park for a Motorhomer.com rally with friends — although getting there isn't entirely trouble-free. We're too big for the motorhome spaces at our overnight pub stop, our levelling system decides to throw a wobbly and, once we arrive, the Northumberland weather certainly keeps us guessing!It's also a brilliant opportunity to really test the Concorde and our new electrical setup. We're completely off-grid, putting our solar and batteries to work and even becoming something of a mobile power bank for our neighbours!And when you're camping with Darran from The Urban Motorhome, apparently a barbecue simply isn't enough. You won't believe what he's brought this time... 🤣 Add a Ninja smoker, an impromptu silent disco and our first experience of emptying the Concorde's black tank, and it's fair to say this isn't exactly a quiet weekend away!We also get out to explore beautiful Druridge Bay, discover the fascinating history behind the Country Park and its enormous beach, and learn why this peaceful stretch of Northumberland coastline was once considered a potential invasion point during the Second World War.Of course, the British summer has other ideas and gives us wind, sunshine, torrential rain and temperatures cold enough to have the heating on… IN AUGUST! ☀️🌧️🥶But that's rally life — good friends, good food, plenty of laughs and another few days getting to know our new home on wheels.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable and come along for the weekend with us.👍 If you enjoy the vlog, please give it a thumbs up.💬 And tell us in the comments: has Darran finally gone too far with his cooking equipment in a motorhome… or is Riki right and we need more too? 😂🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and join us for more adventures in the Concorde Liner Plus 1130 G Max.Thanks for watching!Riki & BethThe Hills Explore ❤️#Motorhome #MotorhomeLife #OffGridMotorhome #DruridgeBay #Northumberland #MotorhomeRally #ConcordeMotorhome #FullTimeMotorhome #VanLifeUK #TheHillsExplore
First Trip In Our Concorde… It Didn’t All Go to Plan! 😳 The Hills Explore 2026-08-09 | Our first proper trip away in the Concorde Liner Plus 1130 GMax is finally here! 🚐☀️After weeks of upgrades, preparation and moving our lives from one motorhome to another, it’s time to find out what our new 15-tonne home on wheels is actually like to LIVE in.But before we even leave, things don’t exactly go to plan… 💦 A mystery water leak and a few last-minute issues mean our North Devon adventure gets off to an interesting start!Eventually, we hit the road for our three-night off-grid shakedown trip, putting the Concorde — and our huge new lithium and solar setup — properly to the test.And what better place than North Devon? ❤️ We revisit some old favourites around Bideford and Westward Ho!, spend time with the family, enjoy a day on the beach, eat far too much good food and discover just how easy — or difficult — it is to tour in an 11.5-metre, 15-tonne motorhome and get our first proper chance to find out what works, what doesn’t and what we might need to change.Everything seems to be going brilliantly…Until the weekend takes a turn none of us expected.So grab a cuppa and join us for the good, the bad and the ugly of our very first trip in the Concorde!And if you’re new here, welcome to The Hills Explore. We live full-time in our motorhome and share the reality of life on the road — the adventures, the upgrades, the beautiful places and occasionally the bits that go spectacularly wrong!Thanks so much for watching. ❤️#TheHillsExplore #ConcordeMotorhome #MotorhomeLife #MotorhomeAdventures #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeTravel #VanLifeUK #NorthDevon #OffGridMotorhome #ConcordeLinerPlus #MotorhomeShakedown #RVLife
Our HUGE Motorhome Electrical Upgrade – Your Questions Answered The Hills Explore 2026-08-02 | ⚡🔋 Welcome back to The Hills Explore!After last week’s huge solar and lithium battery upgrade, you had LOTS of questions… so this week, we’re answering them!We chat with Jon from LBB Electrical, the man behind the installation, to take a closer look at exactly what we've fitted to our Concorde, why certain decisions were made and — most importantly — what this monster electrical system can actually do.☀️ Just how powerful is it?Our Concorde now has four 480W solar panels, alongside the two original 175W Victron panels that Jon managed to save and relocate.That's a whopping 2,270W of solar on the roof, with the option of another 400W portable ground array when we need it.And then there are the batteries… FOUR enormous Lithium Pro batteries giving us a seriously impressive amount of off-grid capacity.But do we really need all that power? And could a smaller system be more appropriate for someone who only uses their motorhome for holidays?⚡ What can we actually run off-grid?This is where things get interesting!We wanted this upgrade to make us far less reliant on LPG and hook-up, particularly now that we live in the Concorde full-time.Jon explains what we can realistically run from the batteries and solar — including our 230V fridge and air conditioning — and reveals what happened when he put the system under a serious load test.We even discuss whether we could use the Concorde to charge our electric car! 🚗⚡🔥 Should you be worried about lithium batteries?It's one of the biggest questions we received.Jon talks us through lithium battery safety, why the quality of the battery, BMS, fuses, cabling and installation matter, and why choosing the cheapest components isn't necessarily the best place to save money.We also answer your questions about heat inside the battery compartment, how temperatures are monitored and what happens if the solar controllers get too hot.🔵 Victron meets MastervoltWe haven't simply ripped everything out of the Concorde.Some of the original equipment was perfectly good — including a very powerful Mastervolt inverter — so Jon explains why we kept it and how he's integrated new Victron equipment around the existing system.We also take a look at the Victron Cerbo, which allows us to monitor our batteries, solar and temperatures — even remotely.And importantly, the installation has been designed with future-proofing in mind, so there are plenty of options should our needs change later.❓ Your questions answeredWe also cover:✔️ Why we stayed with a 12V system rather than changing to 24V or 48V✔️ Solar versus battery capacity✔️ How our portable ground solar array connects✔️ Winter off-grid use✔️ Battery compartment cooling✔️ Keeping existing equipment rather than replacing everything✔️ Our onboard generator✔️ And plenty more!A quick reminder: we're sharing our own installation and experience rather than giving electrical advice. Always speak to a suitably qualified professional about the requirements and safety of your own vehicle.A massive thank you to Jon at LBB Electrical for answering all our questions — and, of course, for a fantastic installation.🏕️ And now it's time to actually USE it!We're heading to North Devon for three days completely off-grid to see how the new system performs in the real world.Will we need hook-up? Will the batteries keep up? And just how much can we actually run?That's next week's vlog!If you enjoyed this one, please give us a 👍, subscribe and come along for the adventure.We purchased our batteries from:🔗www.lithiumpro.co.uk📞07400 787 282📧sales@lithiumpro.co.ukFor Custom Electrical Systems for Motorhomes & Campervans contact Jon:📞07708 052128📧power@lifebeyondbricks.com#TheHillsExplore #Motorhome #MotorhomeElectrics #LithiumBattery #SolarPower #OffGridMotorhome #ConcordeMotorhome #Victron #MotorhomeLiving #FullTimeMotorhome
We’re moving in! CONCORDE LINER PLUS 1130 G MAX #concorde #motorhomeliving #movingin The Hills Explore 2026-07-30 | It’s day 3 of me moving the contents of our hab area in to the Concorde. Riki has moved most of the garage and locker bits. But this is such hard work in this heat!!We need to be ready to go at lunchtime today 😬Can I get the Concorde ready to travel in the next few hours and transform it form its current state? #maidenvoyage #shakedown#concorde
We Turned Our Motorhome into a SOLAR POWER STATION! The Hills Explore 2026-07-26 | 👋 Welcome back to The Hills Explore!This is the biggest and most expensive upgrade we've EVER done.Join us as we completely transform the electrical system in our 2015 Concorde Liner Plus 1130 G Max, taking it from a fairly standard setup to an incredible off-grid power system designed for full-time motorhome living.From removing the old AGM batteries and transforming just 350 watts of solar into a serious off-grid power system, this is easily one of the biggest projects we've ever tackled on any of our motorhomes.Over several scorching summer days, Jon from LBB Electrical strips everything back before rebuilding the entire installation from the ground up.🔋 In this episode...✅ Removing the old AGM battery bank✅ Installing huge Lithium Pro Megavolt batteries✅ Increasing our roof solar from 350W to over 2,000W✅ Adding a portable ground solar option for winter camping✅ Installing two Maxx Air roof fans✅ Reconfiguring the inverter and electrical system✅ Follow the installation day by day as the new system comes togetherOur aim was simple – to build an electrical system capable of supporting our full-time motorhome lifestyle, allowing us to spend much longer off-grid and run far more of the motorhome from battery power, including both air conditioning units.Along the way you'll also see just how much planning, cable routing and hard work goes into a professional installation – especially when you're working on the roof of a white motorhome during one of the hottest summers on record!We purchased our batteries from:🔗www.lithiumpro.co.uk📞07400 787 282📧sales@lithiumpro.co.ukFor Custom Electrical Systems for Motorhomes & Campervans contact Jon:📞07708 052128📧power@lifebeyondbricks.com💬 Next week...In our next video we'll be chatting with Jon for a full Q&A covering:🔹 Lithium battery safety🔹 Why we chose this system🔹 Running air conditioning off-grid🔹 Future-proofing the installation🔹 Your questions from the commentsIf you've got anything you'd like us to ask, leave your questions below and we'll include as many as we can.👍 If you enjoyed this video...Please give it a thumbs up 👍Subscribe if you're new to the channel and join us every Sunday at 8am (UK time) as we continue our adventures living full-time in our motorhome.📍Follow our adventures📸 Instagram: @the_hills_explore📘 Facebook: The Hills Explore#LithiumBatteries #ConcordeMotorhome #LithiumPro #solarpower #MotorhomeLife #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeUpgrade #SolarInstallation #TheHillsExplore #OffGrid #motorhome
This Upgrade Changes EVERYTHING! | Camos 360 Installed The Hills Explore 2026-07-19 | 🎁 EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT FOR OUR VIEWERS!🌍 Fresh back from Tanzania and Zanzibar... and it's straight into our very first Concorde upgrade!🦅 This week we're taking our Concorde Liner Plus to Camos UK for the installation of their brand-new 4th Generation 360° Omniview Camera System.After loving the previous generation in our Swift Kon-Tiki, we couldn't wait to see what the latest system could do.Over three days, the team professionally installed and calibrated the system before giving us a full walkthrough of all the new features. Plus, we get a little extra addition inside the coach...✅ Crystal-clear 2MP cameras✅ 360° Bird's Eye View✅ Blind Spot Cameras✅ 3D Reversing View✅ Built-in Dash Cam Recording✅ Fully Programmable DisplayBut the big question is...❓Does it actually make driving a 15-tonne Concorde easier?Join us as we put it to the test on some very tight roads and show you exactly how the system works! A huge thank you to Neil and the whole team at Camos UK for looking after us.🎁 EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT FOR OUR VIEWERSIf you're thinking about having a Camos UK 360° system installed, use our discount code:🎉 HILLS200 🎉💷 Save £200 on a Camos UK 360° System*(Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.)If you enjoy motorhome adventures, upgrades and honest reviews, we'd love you to subscribe and join us for the journey.👍 Like💬 Leave us a comment🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next upgrade!#CamosUK#ConcordeMotorhome#MotorhomeUpgrade
Motorhome content is back next week with our first upgrade to the Concorde!! #motorhomeliving The Hills Explore 2026-07-12 | We’ve shared our family update on our Grandson Noah’s genetic condition AGS and we’ve shared our first ever Safari trip!But next Sunday we will be bringing you the usual Motorhome content as we take the Concorde to @Camos-UK for the 4th Generation 360 camera system to be fitted. Are we then going to be able to park the 11.5m beast on our CL pitch without a scratch???Tune in next Sunday at 8am to find out 🙏🏼#concorde #motorhome #motorhomelife #fulltimemotorhome #upgrade #trailervision#travelcouple
We Couldnt Believe Our Eyes In TANZANIA 🇹🇿🐘 The Hills Explore 2026-07-12 | 🇹🇿 TANZANIA SAFARI | Our Dream African Adventure Begins! 🦁🐘After 24 hours of travelling by train, coach, plane, plane and jeep, we’ve finally made it to Tanzania… and what happened next completely blew us away!From the moment we entered Arusha National Park, our safari exceeded every expectation. Within minutes we’d spotted zebras, giraffes, buffalo, warthogs and, incredibly, one of the only remaining elephant families living in the park.But that was just the beginning…Over the next four unforgettable days we explored some of Tanzania’s most spectacular national parks including:🦓 Arusha National Park🐘 Tarangire National Park🦛 Lake Manyara National Park🦁 Ngorongoro Crater UNESCO World Heritage SiteAlong the way we:✅ Walked among giraffes, zebras and buffalo with an armed ranger.✅ Visited a hidden waterfall beneath Mount Meru.✅ Saw lions, hippos, monkeys, rhinos and elephants in the wild.✅ Watched an adorable baby elephant get told off by its mum!✅ Stayed in some incredible African lodges.✅ Sampled traditional Tanzanian food (including banana soup!)This really was one of the most unforgettable adventures we’ve ever experienced, and we hope you’ll join us for every moment.If you enjoy wildlife, travel and motorhome adventures, we’d love you to subscribe and become part of The Hills Explore family.👍 Like the video💬 Tell us which animal you’d most love to see on safari.🔔 Subscribe so you don’t miss the next part of our Concorde adventures!#Tanzania #Safari #AfricanSafari #Ngorongoro #Tarangire #LakeManyara #ArushaNationalPark #Elephants #Wildlife #TravelVlog #TheHillsExplore
From Diagnosis to Today | Noah’s AGS Story – One Year On The Hills Explore 2026-07-05 | This week, we’re sharing something incredibly close to our hearts.A year ago, thousands of you watched the story of our grandson Noah and his journey to being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS).For those of you who have joined The Hills Explore more recently through our motorhome adventures, this is the story of a very special little boy who means the world to our family.One year on from Noah’s diagnosis, Christie and Ashley join us to talk honestly about the highs, the lows and everything that’s happened over the last 12 months. From navigating therapies and specialist support, to celebrating milestones that once felt impossible, this is a story of resilience, hope and unconditional love.Although AGS remains a life-limiting condition, Noah continues to amaze us every single day. His smile, determination and personality light up every room, and we’re so proud of the progress he’s made.We’d also like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who watched Noah’s first story, sent messages of support, followed his journey and continued to ask how he’s doing. Your kindness has meant more than you’ll ever know.By sharing Noah’s story, we hope to raise awareness of rare genetic conditions and leukodystrophies, while reminding other families that they are not alone.Thank you for being part of Noah’s journey. ❤️If you’d like to learn more about AGS and leukodystrophies, or support the amazing charities helping families like ours, we’ve included some useful links below.🔗 www.alextlc.org🔗 www.helenanddouglas.org.uk🔗 www.juliashouse.org🔗 www.jessiemay.org.uk#TheHillsExplore #AGS #AicardiGoutieresSyndrome #Leukodystrophy #RareDisease #DisabilityAwareness #FamilyVlog #SpecialNeeds #RaisingAwareness #Hope #MotorhomeLife
We Returned to VanLove... But everything Had Changed! 🏁 The Hills Explore 2026-06-28 | Welcome back to The Hills Explore! 🚐✨This week we’re off to VanLove Festival 2026 — and this one feels a little bit special for us. We’ve been attending VanLove since the very first event back in 2022, so this year’s festival marks a big change as it moves from Elvington Airfield to its brand-new home at Thruxton Race Circuit.Join us as we arrive at this year’s event, get parked up, explore the new venue, take a look around the trader village, food court and overlander area, and soak up the atmosphere of one of our favourite weekends on the vanlife calendar. There’s live music, dancing, festival food, a few cheeky purchases and of course… the Velvetiser makes an appearance too ☕😂We also share our thoughts on the new Thruxton venue, enjoy a cracking Friday night raving with Dave Pearce, and spend the weekend catching up with friends and making the most of the sunshine.If you’ve ever wondered what VanLove Festival is like, or whether it’s worth adding to your plans for next year, come along with us and see what we thought of the 2026 event.Thanks so much for watching — and if you enjoy the video, don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more motorhome adventures, motorhome weekends and life on the road with us here at The Hills Explore 😊#VanLoveFestival #VanLifeUK #MotorhomeLife #TheHillsExplore #VanLove2026 #MotorhomeFestival #SwiftKonTiki #VanlifeFestival #concorde
The Secret’s Out! This Is Our New Motorhome The Hills Explore 2026-06-21 | 🚐 The secret is finally out!After weeks of teasing and plenty of speculation, we’re finally revealing our new motorhome!In this week’s vlog, we give you the very first tour of our new Concorde Liner Plus 1130G Max – an absolute beast of a motorhome measuring 11.5 metres long, nearly 4 metres high and weighing in at a whopping 15 tonnes. 😲We’ll show you around the outside, explore the huge garage, take a look inside our new home on wheels and explain exactly why we’ve made such a big change from our beloved Swift.This wasn’t a decision we made lightly. As full-time motorhome owners, we needed more space for everyday living, future adventures and, most importantly, for our grandson Noah so he can continue enjoying motorhome life with us as his needs change.Of course, this is just the beginning! We’ve already got a list of upgrades planned, including electrical improvements, interior modifications and a few surprises that we’ll be sharing in future videos.So grab a brew, join us for the grand reveal and let us know in the comments:👉 Have we completely lost the plot?👉 Or is this the perfect motorhome for our next chapter?Thanks for following our journey and supporting The Hills Explore!#Motorhome #ConcordeLinerPlus #MotorhomeTour #FullTimeMotorhomeLiving #MotorhomeLife #ConcordeMotorhome #MotorhomeUK #TheHillsExplore #MotorhomeAdventure #RVLife
🚐 SIX MONTHS OF FULL-TIME MOTORHOME LIVING… WHAT DOES IT REALLY LOOK LIKE? 🤔 The Hills Explore 2026-06-14 | In December 2025, we sold our house and moved into our motorhome full-time. Six months later, we’re sharing a completely typical week in our lives – and it’s probably not what you think!From work commitments and family time with our grandson Noah, to washing days, road closures, date nights, and a trip to the New Forest, this vlog is all about the reality of full-time motorhome living. Not just the highlight reel you see on social media, but the everyday moments that make up our life on the road.We also head to The East Midlands Motorhome & Campervan Show at Newark, where Riki joins Darran from The Urban Motorhome in the Advice Centre to share some of their favourite upgrades, gadgets and accessories.And then there’s the small matter of a BIG decision…If you’ve been following our recent videos, you’ll know we’ve been talking about changing our motorhome. Well, after plenty of discussion, tyre-kicking and number-crunching, a deal may just have been done! 👀But you’ll have to wait until next Sunday’s video to find out exactly what happened…👇 Let us know in the comments:Would you consider living full-time in a motorhome?🚨 THE BIG REVEAL IS NEXT SUNDAY AT 8AM! 🚨Have a guess below… what do you think we’ve bought? 👇😄👍 If you enjoy the video, please give it a thumbs up.🔔 Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss next week’s reveal!#MotorhomeLiving #FullTimeMotorhomeLiving #VanLifeUK #MotorhomeLife #TheHillsExplore #MotorhomeShow #NewarkShow #SwiftKontiki #MotorhomeUK #VanLifeReality
We Escaped Bank Holiday Campsite Prices! The Hills Explore 2026-06-07 | 🔥 On a HOT Bank Holiday Weekend… and we found TWO fantastic Brit Stops! 🚐☀️After leaving the abandoned village of Tyneham, we faced a familiar Bank Holiday dilemma – packed campsites, soaring prices, and no plans for where to stay.Instead, we turned to the Brit Stops app and discovered two absolute gems!First, we head to The Bell Inn near Salisbury, where we enjoy a peaceful overnight stop, riverside views, and one of the most unusual pub meals we’ve ever seen… a Yorkshire Pudding Burger! 🍔The following morning, determined to make the most of our Brit Stops membership, we head to Lotmead Farm near Swindon. With temperatures soaring into the hottest weekend of the year, we find ourselves enjoying a surprisingly quiet farm stay complete with a farm shop, animals, play areas, and eventually… strawberry picking! 🍓Along the way, we share why we’re becoming such big fans of Brit Stops and why it might just be the perfect solution when campsites are fully booked or charging premium prices during busy periods.Could this be the ultimate Bank Holiday motorhome hack?👉 Let us know in the comments:☕ Hot drinks or cold drinks in a heatwave?🐷 Pork scratchings - yes or no?Thanks for watching and don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more motorhome adventures with The Hills Explore.*Not a sponsored video*Our regular member Brit Stops Referral Link:🔗 britstops.com/?refid=jqnkdmckIf you join via this link. We get a free months membership 😊#Motorhome #BritStops #MotorhomeLife #UKTravel #BankHoliday #MotorhomeUK #PubStop #FarmStop #TheHillsExplore #SwiftKontiki #FullTimeMotorhomeLiving
We Drove a Motorhome Into Dorset’s Lost Village… What Could Go Wrong? The Hills Explore 2026-05-31 | This week we’re heading to Dorset for the Bank Holiday weekend, staying at one of the most basic campsites we’ve ever visited — a working farm campsite costing just £8 per person, per night.Surrounded by rolling countryside, sheep, composting toilets and complete peace and quiet, it’s certainly not a luxury campsite… but it does have its own charm!After a surprisingly good night’s stay, things take a turn when we accidentally drive our motorhome down a road clearly marked “No Motorhomes” in search of one of Britain’s most fascinating places — the abandoned village of Tyneham.Evacuated during World War II and never returned to its residents, Tyneham remains frozen in time. We explore the deserted cottages, historic schoolhouse, old telephone box and hear the story of the families who were forced to leave their homes forever.Along the way there are stunning Jurassic Coast views, a few nervous moments on narrow Dorset roads, and plenty of laughs as we discover whether the warnings about bringing a motorhome were justified!🚐 Farm campsite for £8 per person🏚️ Exploring the lost village of Tyneham🌊 Jurassic Coast views🚫 A motorhome mistake!😂 The usual Hills Explore chaosIf you enjoy motorhome adventures, UK travel, campsites, hidden gems and a good dose of reality, we’d love you to subscribe and join us for future adventures.#Motorhome #Tyneham #Dorset #AbandonedVillage #JurassicCoast #Camping #MotorhomeLife #TheHillsExplore #UKTravel #HiddenGems
I Kicked Riki out for a Solo Female Motorhome Trip... To Birmingham! 🍩 The Hills Explore 2026-05-24 | Welcome back to the channel!This week I kicked Riki out of the motorhome… because I had a MUCH better offer — a day out with Christie and Noah at the Allergy & Free From Show at Birmingham’s NEC! 😂As both Christie and I have coeliac disease, this show is basically our idea of heaven. We spent the day exploring allergy-friendly brands, gluten-free treats, dairy-free alternatives, live cooking demos and loads of free samples.We also went on a mission to grab the famous Borough 22 gluten-free donuts before they sold out… and trust me, it got chaotic!After the show, I headed off on a solo overnight pub stop in Birmingham — something I’ve never really done before in such an urban area. So how did my first solo city stop go? Did I sleep? And did Riki survive being abandoned in a hotel for the night? 😅Along the way:🍩 Gluten-free food haul🚐 Solo female motorhome stop👶 Family time with Noah☕ NEC show highlights😂 Riki has to fend for himself!📍 Pub stop overnight in BirminghamIf you enjoy motorhome life, travel vlogs, gluten-free finds and a bit of family chaos, you’re in the right place!#MotorhomeLife #GlutenFree #CoeliacDisease #AllergyShow #VanLifeUK #SoloFemaleTravel #TheHillsExplore #FreeFrom #MotorhomeVlog #NECBirmingham
Confession Time… The Campsite Wasn’t What I Expected The Hills Explore 2026-05-17 | After all the comments on our Most Expensive Campsite stay at Concierge Camping, we decided to swing completely the other way and let Riki loose to find the CHEAPEST campsite he could!The challenge?✅ Within one hour of our location✅ A sea view✅ As cheap as possibleWhat could possibly go wrong? 😅In this vlog we arrive in Brean Sands on the Somerset coast, discover a surprisingly incredible beachside view, explore the area around Brean and the Bristol Channel, and find out whether budget camping can actually compete with the more luxury sites we’ve visited recently.There’s also:🌊 Huge beach views across to Wales🚐 Channel View Campsite tour😬 A suspicious “Riki face” moment⚠️ Dangerous sinking sands😂 Plenty of the usual Hills Explore banterWas this a hidden gem… or a complete fail?#Motorhome #BreanSands #Camping #MotorhomeUK #Campervan #BudgetCamping #TheHillsExplore #RVLife #BeachCamping #MotorhomeVlog
Campervan Campout Fuelled My Obsession! The Hills Explore 2026-05-10 | This year we headed back to Campervan Campout for another incredible early May Bank Holiday weekend — and honestly… it might have been the best one yet!From live music and festival vibes to talks, demos, food stalls, the shopping village and amazing people, Campervan Campout really does feel like Warners Show and a festival rolled into one.But the biggest surprise of the weekend?Riki discovered the RV Owners Club… and completely fell in love with the American RVs - AGAIN!He spent ages chatting to owners, looking around the RVs, talking layouts and travel setups, and now we’ve got LOTS to think about. As if we didn't have enough to consider already!In this vlog:🚐 Campervan Campout 2026🎶 Live entertainment & festival atmosphere🇺🇸 American RVs & the RV Owners Club🍔 Street food & shopping village - with a gluten free find!🎤 Talks & vanlife inspirationIf you enjoy campervans, motorhomes, vanlife, festivals or RV life, hopefully you’ll enjoy coming along with us.Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and drop us a comment — especially if you own an American RV because we’d genuinely love your advice!#campervancampout #motorhome #rvlife #campervan #vanlife #campingfestival
Riki Wants a New Motorhome... Im not So Sure 😳 The Hills Explore 2026-05-03 | We live full-time in our motorhome… so this isn’t just about upgrading a motorhome — this is a life decision.Lately, we’ve been asking ourselves a pretty big question…are we ready to move on from the motorhome we call home?Before jumping into an RV showroom, we decided to do things a little differently. We packed up, left our regular pitch, and headed out for the night to remind ourselves what this lifestyle is really all about.🚜 First challenge… can we find a Brit Stop close to the RV centre that will actually let us stay overnight?From dodgy phone signal to last-minute plans, cosy stopovers and big questions… this vlog is all about figuring out what we really want from life on the road.And then… it’s time to go RV shopping 👀Riki’s got his eye on something BIG… but will it win Dora over?👉 Stick around to the end to see if we’re upgrading… or sticking with what we’ve got.⸻In this video:* Leaving our full-time pitch for a one-night reset* Finding (and staying at) a Brit Stop* Honest thoughts on motorhome life* Visiting an RV centre to explore what’s next⸻If you’ve ever wondered whether bigger is better… or if you’re already living the dream — this one’s for you 👍⸻🔗 Brit Stops(Referral link if you fancy giving it a go!)britstops.com/?refid=jqnkdmck⸻👍 Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe for more adventures from The Hills Explore!⸻Big thanks to @TheUrbanMotorhome and @GadgetJohnAdventures for assisting with the technical difficulties I had trying to publish this vlog!!
We Didn’t Want to Leave Lake Garda… 🇮🇹 The Hills Explore 2026-04-26 | Welcome back to the channel for the final instalment of our Italy vlogs 🇮🇹 This week, we move from the north to the south of Lake Garda, searching for the perfect campsite with nothing booked and hoping for the best! After a few near misses (and a very stressful locked door 😅), we strike gold with an amazing lakeside campsite near Lazise.From there, we explore even more of Lake Garda’s beautiful historic towns—wandering through Peschiera del Garda, catching the ferry across to stunning Sirmione, climbing castle walls, discovering Jamaica Beach, and somehow ending up wading through the lake in search of gelato 🍦There’s bus chaos (again), boat trips, castle views, gluten-free burgers, the best campsite of the trip, and one final pool day before the mad dash all the way back to Calais!We even extend our stay by one extra night… which means over 1,200km back across Europe in a single day 😳Was it worth it? Absolutely.Thanks for joining us on our Lake Garda adventure—we hope you’ve enjoyed this little slice of Italy as much as we did.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more motorhome adventures 🚐✨#LakeGarda #ItalyRoadTrip #MotorhomeTravel #Sirmione #PeschieraDelGarda #Lazise #MotorhomeVlog #TheHillsExplore #ItalyTravel #EuropeanRoadTrip
We Explored Lake Garda… It Didn’t Go to Plan! 🇮🇹 The Hills Explore 2026-04-19 | 🌄 Lake Garda Adventures Continue! 🇮🇹🚐 | Public Transport, Fireworks & Stunning Views!After an epic 1,700 km journey to beautiful Lake Garda, the adventure is only just getting started! In this week’s vlog, we swap campsites (with a bit of creative parking 😅) and dive headfirst into full-on exploring mode… using nothing but public transport!From charming lakeside towns to authentic Italian cuisine (yes… plenty of cappuccinos ☕), this trip has it all. There’s even a surprise fireworks display lighting up the night sky 🎆 and a questionable fashion moment as Riki fully embraces the Italian look 🇮🇹😂Oh—and did we mention we push ourselves way out of our comfort zone to chase some of the BEST views Lake Garda has to offer? Let’s just say… if we make it back in one piece, it’ll be a miracle 😳Join us for another unforgettable motorhome adventure filled with laughs, stunning scenery, and a few unexpected moments along the way. We visit Riva del Garda, Limone Sul Garda, Malcesine and Monte Baldo! 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to follow more of our travels with The Hills Explore!#LakeGarda #MotorhomeLife #TravelVlog #ItalyRoadTrip #VanLifeUK #TheHillsExplore
Our Italy Road Trip Begins! 🇮🇹 Wedding, Crash & Stunning Annecy 🚐 The Hills Explore 2026-04-12 | From wedding bells to winding Alpine roads… this one’s a journey! 💍🚐☀️In this episode, we rewind the clock and take you back to our unforgettable Europe 2023 adventure — and what a start it was! From celebrating our daughter’s wedding in Swindon to an unexpected crash, this trip definitely didn’t begin quietly…After a whirlwind start, we hit the road through France, chasing the sunshine — with a stunning lakeside park-up near Bourg-en-Bresse that reminded us exactly why we love travelling in our motorhome ❤️Then it’s on to the absolute gem of the Alps — Annecy 🇫🇷Often called the Venice of the Alps, this place completely blew us away with its canals, crystal-clear lake, and incredible food (including a rare gluten-free treat for Dora 👀🍰).Of course, no travel day would be complete without:✔️ Toll road drama in Italy 🇮🇹✔️ Questionable parking decisions 😂✔️ A VERY tight campsite pitch 😳✔️ And plenty of laughs along the wayWe finally make it to Lake Garda, ready for the next chapter… but that’s where we’ll leave you hanging for now 👀👉 Let us know in the comments — where are YOU heading this summer?👍 If you enjoyed the video, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join us for the next adventure!#MotorhomeLife #VanLifeUK #EuropeRoadTrip #Annecy #LakeGarda
4 Years Of UPGRADES… Then We Bought THIS?! 🫢 The Hills Explore 2026-04-05 | 🚐 Transforming Our Swift Kon-Tiki | Upgrades, Solar & BIG Reveal!Join us as we take you through the journey of transforming our beloved Swift Kon-Tiki motorhome into our perfect home on wheels!We bought our van back in December 2021 from Oaktree Motorhomes near Nottingham, and since then, we’ve been steadily upgrading and improving it year after year. In this vlog, we’re giving you a full walkthrough of everything we’ve changed—what worked, what didn’t, and why we chose each upgrade.From boosting our solar power setup to tweaking the electrics, we’ll show you all the practical (and sometimes unexpected!) improvements that make life on the road that much better.⚡ In this video: • Our upgraded solar system (now 460W) • Electrical improvements explained simply • Real-life motorhome tweaks that make a difference • Honest thoughts—because not everything suits everyone!And stick around until the end… because we’ve got a special reveal of Riki’s new car! 🚗If you’re into motorhomes, van life, or just love seeing how people customise their setups, this one’s for you.⸻👍 Don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe to follow our adventures!📺 Check out our previous vlog at Concierge Camping (linked in the video!)💬 We love hearing from you—please keep all comments positive, respectful, and supportive of everyone in the community.⸻#MotorhomeLife #SwiftKonTiki #MotorhomeUpgrades #SolarPower #TheHillsExplore #fulltimemotorhome 📋 FURTHER INFORMATION!!☀️ Solar panels - fitted by Oaktree Motorhomes as the motorhome was purchased from them🔋 Fogstar 460 AH Lithium Battery, Victron Multiplus Inverter, Victron B2B Orion XS, Victron Cerbo, Additional Internal Sockets, Maxx Air Fan - all fitted by Jon at LBB Electrical power@lifebeyondbricks.com🔋 Ecoflow - Delta Max Plus 2 (purchased preloved)🔌 Juicy Brucie Cable - EV-Charge your mobile home www.juicybrucie.com🌡️ Autoterm Diesel heater - www.autoterm.store⛽️ Gaslow Refillable LPG - www.gaslowdirect.com䷡ Gas tank level monitor - Mopeka Pro - Amazon⚖️ E&P LevelMPro Hydraulic Levelling - Installed by Out and About Services Ltd, near Peterborough. * * We received a discount on the RRP when we purchased this system as we made a dedicated review vlogThe E&P LEVELM PRO - Hydraulic Levelling Just Got Smarter!youtu.be/ygW0ET3kJfYNEW LEVELM PRO vs ORIGINAL E&P Hydraulic Levelling Systemyoutu.be/nTlIC1JHpC8📹 Camos 360 Surround View Camera System - www.camos-uk.com * Top Tip - A Discount is available to members of the Caravan & Motorhome Club (as of April 2026) ☁️ VB Semi Air Suspension and Handling Package - Installed by Out and About Services Ltd, near Peterborough. *We received a discount on the RRP when we purchased this system as we made a dedicated review vlog Why did we fit VB Semi Air Suspension?youtu.be/zfnNSsbiMUU📷 Blink Cameras www.blinkforhome.com🚨 Vanguardian Alarm System - www.vanguardian.co.uk* We were gifted this system as our motorhome was used as a demonstration vehicle﹪ DISCOUNT CODE AVAILABLE FOR YOU 😊 Use Code HILLS5 online for a 5% discount 🔐 Bear Lock and Bear Safe - www.bearlocksw.co.uk🛞 OKO Puncture Control - Tyre Sealant - 0333 577 0505* We were gifted this product as our motorhome was used as a demonstration vehicle🚐 Table - AVC - made by Rik and installed by Danny🛋️ Leather Seats and Reupholstery - www.regalfurnishings.co.uk🍖 External Shelf - Amazon✨ Ceramic Coating - PPProtect www.ppprotect.co.uk
This Campsite Was Voted #1 in the UK… But Is It Worth It? The Hills Explore 2026-03-29 | We’ve just stayed at what might be the BEST campsite in the UK… 👀…but also possibly the most expensive.So the big question is… was it actually worth it?In this video, we take you inside a multi award-winning luxury campsite in West Sussex — from HUGE fully serviced pitches to our very own private cabin complete with a log-burning oven, ensuite shower, and even a coffee machine ☕🔥We cook pizzas, explore the site, test out the facilities (which might be the best we’ve ever seen 👀), and give you our honest verdict at the end — including exactly how much we paid 💸Would YOU pay this much for a campsite? Let us know in the comments!🚐 In this vlog: • Touring one of the UK’s most talked-about campsites • Private cabin + luxury pitch setup • Log fire cooking (did it go to plan…? 😅) • Exploring the site & facilities • Honest pros, cons & final verdict💷 Price revealed in the video… and it might surprise you!👍 If you enjoy motorhome adventures, campsite reviews & honest travel content, don’t forget to like, subscribe and join us on the journey!💬 We’d love to know:Would you pay for a campsite like this… or is it too much?#motorhome #campinguk #conciergecamping #vanlifeuk #campsitereview #luxurycamping #thehillsexplore
Is Cirencester the true Capital of the Cotswolds? The Hills Explore 2026-03-22 | This week we take a short trip to Cirencesester where Dora has a plan to discover hidden history.We start from the Cirenceter Park Caravan and Motorhome Club campsite in the heart of the Bathurst Estate. No tree is left unexplored (or so Riki would like) whilst meandering through Cirencester Park - much to Dora's annoyance...Cirencester's Roman roots are uncovered one at a time, even with a routing issue. There was so much to discover in a location so close to home.We even find time to give a tour of the campsite before revieing how it feels to 'go away' for the weekend in the motorhome we now call home full time.#cirencester#explore
BATH PARK & RIDE - The Perfect Base to Explore the City in One day! The Hills Explore 2026-03-15 | Bath is one of the most beautiful historic cities in the UK — but can you really explore Bath in just ONE day? 🤔In this vlog, we set ourselves a challenge: to see the highlights of Bath in just 8 hours! Bath may be one of the smallest cities in England by population, but it’s packed with over 2,000 years of history, stunning Georgian architecture, and world-famous Roman heritage. Starting our day at the Lansdown Park & Ride (a great cost saving option if you’re visiting in a motorhome), we head into the city to see if it’s really possible to experience Bath’s top attractions in a single day. Along the way we battle the rain, hunt down the perfect brunch and coffee, and tick off some incredible landmarks.🏛 In this video we visit:• The world-famous Roman Baths, built around natural hot springs used since Roman times• Bath Abbey, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks• The stunning Pulteney Bridge, one of the few bridges in the world with shops built across it• The beautiful Georgian architecture of The Circus and the Royal Crescent• The Thermae Bath Spa (where you can bathe in the same natural thermal waters!)• The Jane Austen Centre and Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein• And of course… we finish the day with an epic burger at The Beefy Boys 🍔We also share tips for visiting Bath, including Park & Ride costs, ticket prices for the Roman Baths, and whether booking ahead is worth it.After a full day of sightseeing, coffee stops, and a few laughs along the way… the big question remains:👉 Can you really see Bath in a day?Watch to the end to find out — and to see the newest addition to Dora’s growing souvenir collection!📍 Location: Bath, Somerset, UKIf you enjoyed this video, please like, subscribe and drop a comment letting us know:Have you visited Bath? And what would be your must-see spot in the city?#VisitBath#BathEngland#RomanBaths
Full-Time Motorhome Life Begins | Your Questions Answered (And were expanding our family!) The Hills Explore 2026-03-08 | In Part 2 of our big life update, we share what actually happened after completion day when we officially moved into our motorhome full-time.Importantly - the kettle went on and reality started to sink in! In this video we chat about the next steps in our motorhome life journey, how we’re making full-time motorhome living work while still holding down a job, and why we chose a Certified Location as our starting point. 💬 We answer some of the questions you asked after Part 1, including:🚐 How we’re managing full-time motorhome life while working📍 Where we’re staying and why we chose that location👨👩👦 Staying close to family (especially our grandson!)🤔 How friends and family reacted to us selling the house❤️ Why we finally decided to take the leap into full time motorhome lifeSelling a house and moving into a 30-foot motorhome isn’t a decision we took lightly, but sometimes you just have to follow that gut feeling and go for it.Grab a cup of tea or coffee and join us as we share the next chapter of our journey!⸻👍 If you enjoy our adventures, please like, comment and subscribe.It really helps support the channel and keeps us sharing more motorhome life with you.⸻#MotorhomeLife #FullTimeMotorhome #MotorhomeLiving #TheHillsExplore
We did it! We SOLD the house (but it nearly broke us!) The Hills Explore 2026-03-01 | Two years ago, after the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC, we made a life-changing decision… and this is the story of how we made it a reality. 🚐✨We ditched traditional house life and chose simple, intentional living instead — while keeping one full-time job, quitting another, becoming grandparents to Noah, battling house sale drama, carrying sofas across dual carriageways (yes, really!), smashing through a loft ceiling 😳… and surviving Storm Bram on completion week!This vlog is the real, unfiltered 18-month journey:🏡 Selling our family home of 10 years📦 25+ years of decluttering chaos🛠 DIY disasters & last-minute fixes💔 Buyers pulling out (at the worst possible time)⚡ Motorhome electrical meltdowns🔑 Completion day nerves… and freedom!It wasn’t luck. It was making some big decisions to make a change and being brave enough to see them through.And we’re taking you behind the scenes of what it really takes to swap bricks for wheels.👉 Part 2 coming soon — did the money land? Did we overload the van? And what does the future actually look like?Thanks so much for watching and being part of the journey 💛#MotorhomeLiving #fulltimemotorhome #fulltimervliving #LivingDifferently
🚐 NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show Feb 2026 | Our Highlights, Quirky Finds & Must-See Stands! The Hills Explore 2026-02-20 | 🚐 NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show February 2026 | Our Highlights, Quirky Finds & Must-See Stands!It’s the start of show season and we’re kicking things off at the NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show — and what a show it is! From luxury motorhomes to quirky trailers, security upgrades to curry kits… we’ve whizzed around all five halls to bring you our top picks.🌟 Showstopper of the Day🚍 Morelo Palace LinerYes… the one we definitely need (apparently).✔ Slide-out✔ Built-in coffee machine✔ Garage big enough for a car✔ £564,820 price tag 😅Would you drive something this big on UK roads?🏴 Built in Wales – Fifth Wheel Luxury🚐 Fifth Wheel Company Celtic Rambler A UK-built fifth wheel with slide-out space that feels enormous — but still designed for British roads.✔ Hand-built in North Wales✔ On-site campsite to test your van before taking it home✔ Prices from £95,000Is this the perfect halfway house between caravan and motorhome?🔧 Upgrades We Swear By🛞 Air Ride SolutionsPuncture tyre protection system — we genuinely recommend this.🔐 VanGuardianNo-drill security system (inventor appeared on Dragon’s Den!).Save 5% online with our code HILLS5⚖ AL-KOE&P LevelM Pro levelling system — we wouldn’t be without ours.🚐 VB-AirsuspensionWe recently upgraded to semi-air suspension — total game changer.⸻🗺 Travel & Inspiration🏕 Caravan and Motorhome Club Show deal: 3 months free membership + site night offers.📍 Highlands & Islands Travel Guides and Maps with @highlands2hammocks NT500, NE250 & Wild Atlantic Way travel guides — perfect for planning your next adventure.⸻🔥 Safety & Essentials🧯 Fire Safety StickLightweight, 15-year lifespan — no servicing needed.🌶 Mighty Spice7 meals for £20 at the show — and genuinely delicious.⸻🎒 Quirky Finds🛶 Boats (yes, actual boats!)From £450 inflatables to £64,800 motorboats!☕ YETIAre they worth the hype? Let us know!🚐 Wheelhome DashawayA tiny towable camper — kettle on in 4 minutes!🇫🇷 Bower Expanding TrailerTravels narrow (1.95m) and expands widthways to 4.3m!⸻👟 Top Tips for Visiting NEC • Book your free parking online beforehand • Wear trainers — you’ll walk miles • Dress in layers (warm outside, toasty inside) • Start your day with a coffee… trust us ☕⸻If you enjoyed this whistle-stop tour, give the video a 👍 and let us know:👉 Would you go for the Morelo?👉 Are slide-outs underrated in the UK?👉 Do you own a YETI cup — and is it worth it?!See you on the next adventure 🚐✨#motorhomeshow #ncc #motorhomer
Why did we fit VB Semi Air Suspension? The Hills Explore 2026-02-15 | 🚐 We wanted a smoother ride, less grounding out and more payload. 🎥 In this vlog, we show you how, what and why we chose the upgrades we did to achieve this.🔧 VB semi-air suspension, full front suspension overhaul, and an official up-plating from 5 ton to 5.5 tonnes was in order.The result:✔ Better handling✔ Improved ride comfort✔ Increased ride height✔ 478kg net payload gainHere’s how it all went…⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 – Time for an UpgradeWe head back to Out & About Services Ltd near Peterborough… PPE included 😅01:39 – Weighing & Measuring the VanAxle weights checked and ride height measured before the install.03:19 – VB Semi-Air vs VB Full Air ExplainedWhat semi-air actually is — and why we didn’t go full air.05:53 – VB Handling PackageFront Suspension Overhaul - Upgraded springs and dampers fitted to improve steering and braking.07:10 – Uprating RequirementsRear handbrake extension and what’s needed to legally go to 5.5 ton.10:50 – Installation That signature red torque marking!15:10 – Ride Height Results3.5cm gained at the rear and E&P LevelM Pro hydraulic levelling legs adjusted to suit.16:51 – The Big Weight RevealOnly 22kg added… but 500kg uprated = 478kg net gain - Beth is already calculating shoe capacity…18:19 – First Test DriveDoes it actually feel different on the road?18:33 – Final ThoughtsIf you are interested in VB Air Suspension - get in touch with Conan and David at Out and About Service Ltd for a chat 01778 561836. They’ll guide you through the right setup for your vehicle.VB Air Suspension have a stand at the February 2026 NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show too - Hall 3, Stand 3068 - the team will be happy to talk through all your options.🔗 Considering Air Suspension?(Links below 👇)www.outandaboutservices.comwww.vbairsuspeniosn.co.uk#airsuspension #vb #semiair
Layby vs. Campsite - would you stay here? The Hills Explore 2026-02-08 | In this video, we compare staying the night in a lay-by versus a campsite.Have you ever stayed the night in a lay-by? Do you always use campsites?Why? Have you ever thought about trying both?We have reasons for using each and we explore the pros and cons of staying in a lay-by versus staying on a campsite and make our minds up as to what is best for us. We spend a night in an East Midlands lay-by and the following night, we check in to Ferry Meadows CAMC campsite near Peterborough.Costs are only going one way at the moment, so is there a way to make the best of both worlds?#campsite #laybycamping #motorhome
Exploring the South East coastline The Hills Explore 2026-02-01 | We continue our end of year adventures in the South East, with several seaside walks - and of course coffees. It may be freezing, but that doesn't stop us seeking out the biggest, longest, tallest and oldest sites to be found on the North coast.Riki plans a circular route to visit Whistable, Herne Bay, Ramsgate and Canterbury in one day. He tries some extremely local fresh oysters, but I save myself dinner.We see in the new year in the comfort of the motorhome (in a car park) - oh the glamour!We have a 5% discount code if you are thinking of adding the security of Vanguardian to your pride and joy HILLS5www.vanguardian.co.uk#explore #kent #vanguardian
Exploring Canterbury didn’t go to plan The Hills Explore 2026-01-25 | We head for a very much needed break in the South east for a few days between Christmas and New Year, but luck just isn't on our side.Even though research was done, the best laid plans always seem to go down the pan for us! Best not to plan really!!We found out how good a base Canterbury park and ride really is. #motorhome #travel #explore
Celebrity spotting in North Devon The Hills Explore 2025-09-03 | We head on our annual trip to North Devon with the family and found some surprises!Our August visit is often food based, as we like to revisit our favourite places from when we lived in the area many moons ago.The weather can be hit and miss at the coast, but we were fairly lucky this year and we got to take our Grandson Noah on the beach for his first time in Devon.We show you some lovely sandy beaches, great ice cream and gluten free chip shop chips and restaurant options.Riki gets taken for a walk on reigns and we end up accidentally at a beach party where we bump in to a local celebrity.Throw in a good value and convenient park up spot and this rounds up our mini break away.#northdevon #motorhometravel #westwardho
THIS VENDÉE CAMPSITE HAS MORE - FOR LESS! The Hills Explore 2025-07-01 | We love to travel to Europe in our motorhome, but as we work full time, we are always tight for time. We need to travel as far as we can to find the best spots to visit. That was even more important on our latest trip as we were travelling with our grown up kids, son0in-law and 6 month old grandson.No time for meandering! We needed a campsite we could trust, that was also affordable for all - within a reasonable driving distance for the baby.We think this site has it all!This is our second visit here. We found it by chance back in 2022, so when we needed all of the checklist above, this is the place we thought of first! Can you neat this in terms of Best Value for money??Camping L'Oceano d'Orchadotel.com/en/campsite-loceano-dor-jard-sur-mer#vendée #jardsurmer #motorhometravel
The whole family head to France! The Hills Explore 2025-06-17 | To all the new subscribers - welcome to the channel. We are Beth & Riki, otherwise known as Noah's Grandma and Grandad.If you watched our last vlog, you will ave met Noah and have had a glimpse in to his recent diagnosis of AGS.Christie, Ashley and Noah followed us down to the Vendée in France in their car, along with Uncle Dom for Noah's first family holiday.This holiday was important to us all as we weren't even sure it could happen. But the doctors said "go - have fun" so that was the plan. Noah's first holiday was to include as many 'firsts' as we could reasonably include.One thing high on the agenda was swimming. Pools are often expensive and hard to get to in the UK. As with any baby, you only want to be introducing them for a few minutes at a time, so the prospect of a heated indoor pool was perfect for Noah.We didn't know how Noah would cope with a long road trip, but the prospect of flying was even more scary! So with the flexibility of travelling by car and fully equipped motorhome, the plan was that this would make the journey far less stressful. But did it??A 3 generation holiday can cause arguments and stress - so how did we all get along?#ags #motorhome #europeantravel
Noahs A.G.S. Story : A Rare and Life-Limiting Genetic Disorder The Hills Explore 2025-06-09 | This is a very personal, but important vlog.Our daughter and son-in-law share the story of their son Noah's recent diagnosis of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS).Our first Grandchild Noah was born in October 2024 and we have shared some insights in to his medical challenges and hospital visits, but this vlog shares the devastating news that we received in May.Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome (AGS) is a genetic disorder with variable signs and symptoms, but it primarily affects the brain, the immune system, and the skin.There is no cure.Christie and Ashley, Noah's mum and dad wanted to raise awareness of AGS and other Leukodystrophies.Leukodystrophy in babies refers to a group of rare, inherited neurological disorders that damage the white matter of the brain, leading to progressive loss of neurological function. Symptoms often appear in infancy and can include developmental delays, motor skill loss, and seizures. Unfortunately, Noah has displayed all of these symptoms from just a few weeks of age and his prognosis is not good.As a family, we are still processing the diagnosis. We are a close family and have chosen positivity and Riki and I could not be prouder of Christie and Ashley's resilience when faced with the worst news any parent can receive. Noah will have mental and physical disabilities that will worsen over time.Those with the most severe form usually do not live past 10 years of age.We are going to make the most of the time Noah has and give him the best of everything that we can - mainly our love and our time with him.The purpose of sharing Noah's story is to raise awareness as I have said, but also to reach out to any other parents and families going through anything similar.Going through the painful process of hospitalisations, repeated testing, advocating and researching is exhausting. Waiting for a diagnosis can be lonely and frightening.So please share this with anyone going through anything similar as Christie and Ashley want to be able to help other parents in the same way they have been helped by the very few parents who have children with such rare disorders.The community may be small, but it is strong.You can follow Noah's story on Instagram, where they share the highs and lows of the impact AGS is having on baby Noah.noahs_ags_story#Leukodystrophy#ags #geneticconditions
Does it give you more than any other Festival? The Hills Explore 2025-06-03 | We were invited to join Alko Aftermarket UK and Out & About Services Peterborough at ClubFest 2025 along with the fantastic@TheRollingRucks ALKO were sponsoring the K9 arena this year, so it was sad that our doggies have crossed rainbow bridge, or we could have put them through their paces! Mind you, as Jack Russell Terrier Rescues, they pretty much did what they wanted and would not score well on obedience!Since working with ALKO and Out & About Services, we have always had their blessing to be totally open and honest about the LevelMPro hydraulic levelling system.So it was a great opportunity to talk to existing and prospective customers of E&P about how it has changed our motorhoming experience.If we have had any questions Adam at Alko Aftermarket UK will go above and beyond with the trusted partners at their approved fitting centres to find the answer. We haven't yet had any issues (touch wood) but we have observed the way the the Aftermarket team really care about customer service and satisfaction. So it's not just about selling you a product. It's about matching the right product for your needs e.g. HY4 / LevelMPro and then ensuring ongoing satisfaction.This was our first time at ClubFest and we didn't know what to expect. There was live music all day on the MainStage. Activities for days for the kids and every stall you could wish for selling camping accessories and gadgets and all the catering offering was second to none.Join us for an overview of the festival.#clubfest2025 #camc #festival
Can a local show give value for money? The Hills Explore 2025-05-19 | With many shows and festivals to choose from and ever increasing ticket prices, we decided to get under the skin of The Southern Motorhome & Campervan Show at Newbury showground.Newbury is less than 30 miles from where we live, so we checked out the true value of our local Warners Show, delving in to what's on offer vs the ticket price.Does it represent good value for money?What's on?What is there to do?Who does is cater for?We show you all the highlights from the show and decide for ourselves if the ticket price is good value?#warnersshows#newbury #motorhomeshow
WE FIND A BIGMOOSE! Running for Mental Health The Hills Explore 2025-05-12 | After reading a LinkedIn post back in February calling for more people to take part in the bigmoose Ultra Fun Run, I finally persuaded Riki to let me sign us up!We are not known for our fitness... but this was a great reason to dust off the trainers and get out amongst like minded people to raise awareness and funds for Mental Health support.6069 people died by suicide in in England and Wales In 2023. bigmoose is taking action to to stop this figure from growing.The bigmoose Ultra Fun Run brought together 6069 people to represent each one of the lives lost and start the conversation about mental health and highlight what the charity can do to support those in need with all the funds raised.Bute Park, Cardiff was the location for the fun run and we managed to bag a last minute spot on a perfectly located campsite!What a find - we will definitely be back to explore Cardiff further and stay at this friendly site.For more information about bigmoose, please go to their website.www.bigmoosecharity.org#bigmoosecharity#mentalhealthawareness #cardifffunrun
Exploring Caen Hill Locks The Hills Explore 2025-05-05 | In this vlog, Riki has made a big promise - but can he deliver??We visit Caen Hill Locks in Devizes, Wiltshire. The locks form a dramatic and steep flight of 29 locks that raise the canal 237 feet over 2 miles.Why so many locks?The hill near Devizes posed a significant challenge to canal engineers. To climb it without a tunnel or inclined plane, they needed a long series of locks. Because of the steep gradient, the locks are closely spaced, especially the 16 locks in the central straight line.The canal declined in use with the rise of railways in the mid-19th century.By the mid-20th century, it was in a state of disrepair and Restoration began in the 1960sAfter decades of fund raising and work by volunteers, it was fully reopened in 1990.It is now managed by the Canal & River Trust, serving as a popular route for leisure boating, cycling, and walking.It's a breathtaking sight and we delve in to the history, we of course manage to find a cute little cafe along the way.#devizes #caenhilllocks #wiltshire
DEVIZES LEAVES RIKI SPEECHLESS 👀 The Hills Explore 2025-04-28 | We keep it local in this vlog and explore the first of the 'On Your Doorstep' locations - Devizes!Just 20 miles from our home, we explore a local town dating back to the 11th century. With hundreds of listed buildings and Blue Plaques noting important historical significance of many more locations, Devizes holds much more than a sleepy market town.In Part one, we take you with us as we explore the town centre. Of course this involves spending money with the local businesses in the form of lunch out and some treats from the market.Riki gets in to trouble before we have even arrived, but that's getting to be the usual for him.He becomes so angry he can’t speak. Guess what brings about such emotion?? Some big promises are made which will be revealed in part 2 next week…. Will he disappoint or deliver? #devizes #motorhome #wiltshire
DOES THE ITEHIL WATER PURIFIER REALLY WORK? The Hills Explore 2025-03-11 | In this vlog, Dora takes on the challenge of putting the ITEHIL water purifier through it's paces.We really hate using single use plastic and when Itehil got in touch and asked us to review this system, we were really interested to see if it would solve our drinking water problems, particularly when off grid or in Europe, where drinking water is hard to find.The system uses 2 types of filter to remove 99.999% or more viruses, not to mention bacteria, parasites, heavy metals, fluoride, chlorine, micro plastics and more!But how and can it really turn dirty water from our tanks and the garden bird bath in to safe drinking water?Watch to find out!* Plus.... we have an affiliate link for our subscribers to receive a 20% discount! *Use the below link and use code;Beth20uk.itehil.com/products/itehil-self-pumping-outdoor-water-filter?ref=THEHILLSEXPLORE&variant=42420407763112#waterpurifier #itehil #vanlife
WE DISCOVER A SECRET CLUB ON THE RIVER THAMES The Hills Explore 2025-02-26 | We travel to a remote location with friends, for a very relaxed weekend in early summer. Little did we know what secrets we would uncover about the area on an unexpected nautical adventure.We can't quite believe this location is here in the UK, as it feels very European. A lovely mix of history and modern touches was only mildly interrupted by the British weather letting us down.After an afternoon watching our son play American football, it's time for a change of location.We head to one of our favourite pub stops in the Midlands and we are made to walk to earn our breakfast.#henley #motorhome #thamesriver
NEW LEVELM PRO vs ORIGINAL E&P Hydraulic Levelling System The Hills Explore 2025-02-02 | We arrive at a lovely pubstop to spend a weekend with friends and go head to head with the old vs. new E&P Hydraulic levelling system olympics!In between some ruthless card games and great food and company, we test the systems side by side.Tash & Jon from @lifebeyondbricks have the original E&P levelling system fitted to their Frankia, so it gave us the perfect opportunity to compare old versus new.We looked at the speed of deployment, noise level and comfort in addition to the control unit design of both systems.There are pros and cons to both and the new features added to the LevelM Pro we were told would elevate the experience to the 'next level'. What do you think would be the biggest change and do you think the new LevelM Pro is worth it?14:52 for a full run through of the Control Settings16:12 for information of weight saving#motorhome #hydrauliclevelling #e&p
