With features like an insulated bodyshell, heating and cooking on board, the Bailey Endeavour range of campervans makes it easy for you to stay warm on board year-round.

So, where are the best destinations to visit during winter? How can you find campsites? And what tips and tricks should you be aware of for your winter stay in a campervan with a pop-top bed?

This article gives you a guide to winter camping with a pop-top campervan.

The winter is a great time to hit the road and explore the UK, providing you keep an eye on road conditions.

Here are the top three reasons you might choose to head off in your campervan in winter:

1. It’s much less busy: While the summer months attract a lot of crowds, those in the winter often afford you a chance to visit some of the top attractions without the masses of people.

This also typically means you’ll get more options for entry times because the most popular ones won’t be sold out.

However, keep in mind that some attractions may have reduced opening times.

2. Entry prices may be lower: Depending on the kind of attractions you want to visit, they may have a reduced ticket entry price during winter.
While this can be a reflection of the fact that not every element of the attraction is operating, it can simply mean that they need to lower the price to attract visitors during the quieter months.

Check online communities before you travel to see what other visitors have made of their experiences.

3. Pop-top campervans are designed for it: The Bailey Endeavour range of pop-top campervans is ideal for winter campervanning.

They are fully equipped for all-weather touring with bodyshell insulation and a Truma Diesel Combi D4E heating (Grade III EN1646-I), meaning you can create heat all winter and retain it.

Furthermore, the Endeavour range has passed grade 3 cold chamber testing. This testing involves maintaining an interior temperature of at least 20°C when the external temperature drops to -15°C, meaning no matter how cold the weather gets, you’ll be warm inside.

The UK is a great destination for camping, especially the further south you go, where the weather is milder, and the threat of snow and ice on the open road isn’t so severe. Below are several tips for considering your campsite.

Check which campsites are open

Many people aren’t aware that some campsites are open to travellers all year round.

Generally, those closer to cities have a higher likelihood of being open in the colder months, but even some of the most popular rural destinations will be too.

To find campsites open when you wish to travel, consider booking through one of the UK’s two main campervan clubs:

• Caravan & Motorhome Club
• Camping & Caravanning Club

Both have site finder tools where you can filter by the kind of facilities you’d like. You can even search via a map view to find the closest campsite to the places you’d like to visit.

Choose where to go in the UK

While the UK has incredible sights, the length and breadth of the country, typically, the further south you go, the higher the likelihood you’ll have milder weather. This is good for helping you avoid snowy or icy conditions, which can make travelling by road slightly more challenging.

When considering where to holiday in winter in the UK, it might be best to narrow down by county and then find a place to stay. If you heed the ‘consider staying South’ advice, some of the top destinations might look like:

• Cornwall: Rugged coastlines, charming fishing villages like Mevagissey, and dramatic winter seas at Land’s End.
• Devon: Dartmoor’s misty moors, cosy villages, and coastal towns like Salcombe for bracing walks.
• Dorset: The Jurassic Coast with its iconic cliffs and peaceful countryside retreats.
• Somerset: Winter birdwatching on the Somerset Levels, visiting cultural Bath and historic Glastonbury Tor.
• Hampshire: The New Forest’s wild ponies, crisp woodland walks, and quaint villages.
• Wiltshire: Mystical Stonehenge, frosty Salisbury Plain, and historic market towns.
• Sussex: Stunning coastal cliffs at Seven Sisters, tranquil countryside, and festive towns like Lewes.

What to consider when choosing a place to visit in winter

Weather conditions: The weather can change rapidly, even on a good day in the UK, so make sure you have one or two backup plans in case your day doesn’t go to plan. If you’re planning to do an outdoor activity, consider having a backup indoor alternative because a day spent outdoors in the wind, rain and cold can be miserable.

Stay closer to home: While, in general, you may wish to head South, depending on weather its also important to consider staying close to home. If the weather changes or road conditions are poor, then you’ll find it easier to get to and from your campsite.

Stay closer to emergency services: While you won’t want to think about what could happen while on holiday, snowy or icy conditions mean accidents may be more likely to occur. In this case, you may want to consider staying closer to places with good access to emergency services. In general, staying near towns and cities during the winter can be a good idea.

Choose a campsite with good onsite facilities: In the cold and dark of winter you might like the option to be able to fall back on facilities provided on-site. In this case places with things like good shower blocks, electric hook-ups, on-site shops, a laundry and clubhouses can be a nice choice to make the colder nights and mornings a little more comfortable.

Much the same as if you were heading off during any season, winter has a few things you should consider doing before you leave for your holiday in your pop-up roof camper van.

1. Test everything

Make sure all of the leisure and driving systems in your vehicle are working. For leisure systems, this includes the heating, water, gas, electrics, and bathroom & kitchen facilities. For the driving systems, this means doing your usual vehicle maintenance checks.

For more guidance on this, check out the Bailey campervan beginner’s guides.

2. Pack warm clothes & extra blankets

You never know if you’ll get caught in a change of weather conditions when out and about. And there’s nothing worse than not having extra pairs of dry, warm clothing to change into. So make sure you pack enough extra clothes and blankets for the duration of your trip – and remember to pack enough base layers, too.

3. Pack other winter essentials

Make sure you travel with the usual winter driving fail-safes, including:

• Ice Scraper and De-Icer
• First Aid Kit
• High-Visibility Vest
• Jump Leads
• Torch and Extra Batteries
• Shovel
• Portable Power Banks
• Dash Cam
• Weather App or Radio

4. Prepare to stay inside

If the weather makes a turn for the worse for long periods of time, you may wish to stay inside more than venture out. In this case, make sure you’ve packed enough things to keep you entertained to wait for the weather out. These might include:

• Phones & tablets
• A portable TV
• Books & magazines
• Board games
• Laptop

How do I keep warm in a pop-top campervan during winter?

Keeping warm in Bailey Endeavour pop-top campervan during winter is easy. Our Endeavour models are made with an insulated aluminium bodyshell that has been cold chamber tested to -15ºC, able to keep your living space warm to a temperature of 20ºC. Alongside excellent insulation, our elevating roof campervans also come with Truma Diesel Combi D4E heating and hot water system.

Can I sleep in a pop-top roof in winter?

Yes, you can use your pop-top roof sleeping area in winter. And the Endeavour pop-top insulation has also passed EN-1646-1 Grade III classification the same as the main body of the campervan, so you can keep warm wherever in the vehicle you are.

While the Bailey Endeavour’s excellent heating and thermal insulation is designed to keep you warm, be sure to pack some warm bedding, such as an extra sleeping bag just for some extra comfort in the colder months!

The Bailey Endeavour range makes it easy to stay warm, comfortable and prepared for any weather with its insulated bodyshell and all-weather features.

 Explore the possibilities of winter camping with a pop-top campervan designed for year-round use. 

Discover the Endeavour Range Now.