This was our first trip out in Darwin the campervan, our new 2022 Elddis Evolution CV40. Not only was it a new campervan, we were new campervaners. We’d never even been camping together, let alone rent a motorhome. This was all new, very new.

After having checked the van over once more at the dealership using a checklist from the Facebook group and noting just a couple of minor issues for Darwin with the dealer, it was off to the accessory shop and grab a coffee and croissant for the journey to the Cotswolds.

Travelling from Brownhills Motorhomes to Broadway in the Cotswolds was very straightforward and allowed plenty of time to get used to driving Darwin. Skirting round Leicester, Coventry and Royal Leamington Spa we were very soon not far from Broadway in the Cotswolds. A couple of miles before Broadway, just past Wickhamford we stopped at Wayside Farm Shop & Tea Room to buy supplies. A lovely shop but we weren’t able to fulfil our mission to get some sausages – unfortunately just chilli sausages were in the fridge. Half a dozen eggs later and we were on our way again and we needed to fill up with fuel for the first time.

Worried we wouldn’t find a petrol station in or around Broadway we decided to back-track some ten minutes to a petrol station we’d seen earlier, and added £102 of diesel (this could get costly…), bacon and milk to the shopping list. Fuelled up, we headed to the CAMC Broadway Campsite – of which opposite was a petrol station! We needed to plan better.

Our check in at the CAMC Broadway Club Campsite late afternoon was very smooth and a relief because as first-time campers, we were a little apprehensive. Very welcoming staff and we even had the option to drive the site and select our own pitch. Now whilst that sounds appealing, it was not to my wife. I’m that guy who drives around the car park looking for the perfect space. You know, the parking space where no one will slam their car door into your car. True to form having tried a couple of spaces we ended up parked conveniently close to the toilet block and motorhome service point – pitch 43.

Once set up and the heating working we headed off to walk around the village to find somewhere to eat; ending up in The Lyon Arms for baked Camembert, bread and chutney. Along with the required Neck Oil beer and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, lovely.

The following morning it was off to try the facilities at CAMC Broadway Campsite. As it happened, this weekend it was starting to get a bit chillier and I’m happy to report the shower block was cosy warm. Super clean too and very well equipped.

Back to the van as there were jobs to be done and it was raining, a lot. We’d taken far too much gear in another hire van to be loaded on Darwin at the dealership and now we had to sort it out.

Sorting out done and it was then time to figure out the security products we’d purchased. The Disklok was straightforward but the Clutch Claw was a bit of a head scratcher, though I got there in the end. We’d also bought a Nemesis Plus wheel lock which needed two bolts replacing on a non-driving wheel (the back wheels). It was still raining at this point and I didn’t want to set the Nemesis up in the rain but I also realised I needed to carry something else to help lever the tight bolts on the wheel – worth finding out now before getting a puncture. The other accessory we’d bought in advance was the insulated screen cover,  which worked brilliantly; not a drop of condensation. Not the cheapest but we felt that has been one of our best buys so far.

Later in the afternoon (after the rain had eased), we headed into the village, no more than 15min walk with a slight incline. We caught the village probably soon after the xmas decorations had been done and this added to a wonderful walk around but a little late for the shops, we’d go back in the morning before we set off home with a list from window shopping. Brilliant effort by all the shops on Xmas window decorations/dressing.

Back to Darwin for dinner, lasagne form the Broadway Deli – absolutely lovely. Now really quite windy and I realised that parking near trees not only made it noisy but I really thought there was a possibility of a tree falling on Darwin. 

Up the next morning with the new Disklok and Clutch Claw fitted I felt a bit better leaving Darwin though there were no worries about security at the CAMC Broadway Campsite at all. Popping into reception on the way out to double check what time we had to check out and because the campsite wasn’t that busy we were offered and accepted a late (2pm) checkout. With this extra time we were back into town to do some Xmas shopping.

We really enjoyed our short stay in Broadway which gave us a couple of nights to do a shakedown on the van which went very well. More than can be said for the first hour of the trip home.

Most of the way from Brownhills to Broadway was lovely ‘A’ roads but as soon as we got out of Broadway heading for the south coast, the Sat Nav took us down small country roads and lanes with trees sticking out, tractors to pass, very steep roads (slipping front tyres!!!), a few stalls and fortunately no damage to Darwin. Soon we were back onto better roads and well on our way. 

Overall, going to a campsite right after collecting our van felt a bit risky but it worked really well for us and enabled us to ‘cut our teeth’ right  away. We loved it and Darwin didn’t miss a beat.