The UK is filled to the brim with striking scenery and picturesque landscapes, making it ideal for extreme sports and outdoor adventures. 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. 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’ 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.

There is a poignant reminder of this at the Visitor Centre where 27 large stones stand like sentinels, each reminding us of the villages that were lost forever when the taps were turned on and the water filled the valleys. 27 standing stones, each representing a village in the Elan Valley that was lost under the water The old metal mines at Cwmystwyth 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. We’d already found out during a road trip through the Peak District that our old motorhome wasn’t too keen on going up hills with anything more than a 20% incline. And now, in the Elan Valley, we were faced with the same dilemma. 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.

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It led to an interesting discussion about which is best for road trips: motorhomes or cars. Assessing the pros and cons of each, for us the motorhome wins every time – until you come to a hill! Excerpt: ‘Not only has all this fresh air had a postive impact on our physical health, it’s been good for our mental health, too. It has given me a sense of adventure and freedom that I never imagined possible, and it goes to show that having a disability doesn’t have to be a barrier to getting out there and exploring new places. With determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.’

Runner up in this category was the very popular and well-known writer Peter Baber for his delightful touring feature ‘A Revolutionary Approach,’ which appeared in Practical Caravan Magazine. In the crowded genre of travel, Peter’s ‘high standard of literacy and engagement’ stood out. Nigel regards himself as a caravan enthusiast who writes about his lifelong hobby (having owned caravans for the best part of forty years and towed for a few more!), and lets his work do the “talking”. 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. 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. There is a sixth dam that never got finished, the one that was used in the famous WWII Dambusters film.

Both Michael & Frances are additionally members of the British Guild of Travel Writers, the Travel Writers Alliance, and the Yachting Journalists Association. This time, in the car, we’d chosen a great location for our stay, right in the heart of the valley at Penbont House. Just off the A465 you’ll find the village of Ystradfellte and the magnificent Brecon Beacons 4 Waterfalls Walk. 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.

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. The story of the dead airmen stayed with us for a few days. To help lay the ghosts to rest we did something Hobo Gav had been keen to do for some time; drive our old motorhome along the ‘Top Gear’ road where they test drive many of the cars for the TV show. This is where you need to know the limitations of your van. The weather hadn’t been favourable; the road was wet and even though there was no signpost indicating the percentage of the incline it looked damn steep to us! We sat there watching cars snaking their way up and around the hairpin bends in second gear.

After popping in to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre where we acquired a free map, we set off and spent a glorious autumnal day negotiating the tiny roads that led to the five dams: Claerwen, Craig-goch, Pen Y garreg, Garreg ddu, and Caban-coch. Little did we know that we’d got to within 100 yards of a crashed Wellington bomber that remained hidden from view in the mist! 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.