Brian Clough takes to the road for the first in a motorhome and becomes a happy camper convert.

IT'S adventure holidays you're looking for then I can recommend one of the best. I'm not talking of those swim across the crocodile-infested river with lead boots on, or naked bungy jumping into Mount Vesuvius, but more on the lines of: "You'll never get me in one of those" holidays.

You cannot imagine the relaxing adventure you can have in a motorhome until you experience it first hand. I have to admit to being one of those doubters who generally likes nothing better than a complete chill out by a sunshine holiday pool with a glass of wine and a good restaurant nearby. Why, then, should I have to suffer driving from one place to another, packing things away, opening them up again, cooking meals, tidying up, washing dishes, fetching water, washing in a shower and toilet block with Herbert from Bognor and not being able to sleep comfortably in my bed at night?

The answer of course is that it is not like that, and that I have just spent one of the most relaxing holidays I've ever had doing something I thought I'd never do: holidaying in the Lake District in a motorhome - and I cannot praise it enough.

The greatest thing, of course, is being new to it and not knowing all the do's and don'ts: silly things like how to walk down hill with an aquaroll (a device for carrying fresh water), which end cover of the waste water trolley do you tip the waste from or when do you switch power from your hook-up electricity supply to your leisure battery?

The motorhome holiday was brought about by two things: the acquisition of a furry rescue canine called Benson and the thought of how to holiday with him. The motorhome seemed the ideal solution.

Sales records for motorhomes are soaring and this year are ten per cent up on last year's figures. The vehicles come in various varieties and sizes with prices from around £19,000 up to £60,000. The best advice is to contact the Motorhome Information Service, which will advise you on what will suit your needs.

Hiring a motorhome is probably the best idea for people who, like me, are first timers and prices range from a van conversion costing around £295 per week in low season to around £495 in July/August. A smaller coach-built van will range between £395 and £595 per week and a larger coach-built vehicle between £495 and £795 per week. These prices also include insurance and breakdown recovery.

What concerns I had about the length and height of the vehicle disappeared after travelling only half a mile or so. The comfort of these magnificent "beasts" has to be driven to be believed, with everything at fingertip reach and great overall vision through the side mirrors.

The interiors of the vehicles are superb with side seats doubling up as both single and double beds, and with an extra sleeping area above the driving cab (which is a great adventure getting in the first time). A gas oven works as proficiently as your normal household one and also is fitted with four rings.

Our home was also fitted with a separate shower, wash basin and toilet, and a heater for the interior. All worked absolutely brilliantly and, as you can probably gather by now, my initial reaction to camping on wheels was fast disappearing up the exhaust pipe.

We had prebooked three sites in the Lake District, all with the help of the Caravan Club, which provides site facilities throughout Britain and Ireland, and arrived at Braithwaite Fold in Windermere. Having checked in we were allotted our "hard stand" (I had read the book of abbreviations and now fully understood the meaning of the flat surface on which to park your vehicle) along with our "hook-up" point. In fact, I felt quite expert by the time I'd dragged out around 75 feet of cable and plugged one end into the supply point and the other into the motorhome without electrocuting myself or cutting off the whole of Bowness.

Every site has drinking water, grey water emptying points and chemical toilet waste disposal points. Apart from the reception, where you can buy basic provisions, most sites also have a centrally-heated block with showers, toilets, washbasins, hand dryers, hair dryers, shaver points and laundry facilities.

Benson settled quickly into the holiday, flopping on his rug while we travelled and finding new adventures every time we stopped. He not only learnt how to walk backwards down the centre isle of the motorhome but also managed to climb to the top of Cat Bells when we moved on to the beautiful Low Manesty site at the bottom of Lake Derwentwater.

Braithwaite Fold at Windermere offered the proximity of Bowness town and shopping facilities and lots of launch trips on the lakes. Park Coppice on the edge of Coniston offered a brilliant landscaped site set in 63 acres of woodland with some great walks and the chance to see the rare red squirrel, and the Low Manesty site gave peace and tranquillity and closeness to Lake Derwentwater.

For Benson, the latter was dog heaven as, although as at most sites, dogs must be kept on their lead, once through the campsite gate, he was free to explore the woodland and take a dip in the water.

Truthfully, the weather was not as kind as it could have been with almost 80 hours of constant rainfall but it did not impair our enjoyment of our new adventure. After all, what more can you ask for: a roof over your head, attached to wheels to drive into the sunshine when you want, the hospitality of helpful like-minded travellers and the happiness of man's best friend. I'm completely converted and would highly recommend it to all who want a great relaxing time with a wonderful sense of freedom, away from it all.

TRAVELFACTS

* Brian's motorhome was a Compass Avantgarde 300 built on a Peugeot Boxer chassis available from The Explorer Group, Explorer House, Delves Lane, Consett, Co Durham DH8 7PE

* Advice and information about buying or renting a motorhome from The Motorhome Information Service, Maxwelton House, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1BJ. www.motorhomeinfo.co.uk

* Site advice from The Caravan Club, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UA. www.caravanclub.co.uk