September Newsletter
- Bob and Wendy
- Sep 6
- 8 min read
Welcome to the September edition of the newsletter.
The main feature this month is a full tour report of our Sweden & Arctic Circle Tour. This was the first outing for this exciting "expedition", which went out at the beginning of August and has only just returned.
We also have updates on bookings for 2026 and details of a discount code for the NEC Motorhome Show in October.
As usual we have another “cut out and keep” recipe and this month’s motorhome tips are about your driving licence when you get to 70.
2026 Bookings Update
Bookings are in full swing for 2026 and have been for some time now. As usual we do tend to get over-subscribed, but as I write we have limited places available on:
Brittany & Normandy: https://www.crossingsmotorhometours.com/brittany-normandy-2026
Tuscany & Rome: https://www.crossingsmotorhometours.com/tuscany-rome-2026
Lake Garda & Venice: https://www.crossingsmotorhometours.com/lake-garda-venice-2026
For the other tours, please contact us before booking. Although we do get full, we often put on extra tours to meet demand. We also get cancellations from time to time and operate reserve lists to offer these spaces.
NEC Motorhome Show Discount Code
Just a reminder that the biggest and best of the motorhome shows is on at the NEC from 14th to 19th October. We will be on Stand 9.34b in Hall 9 and we will also be doing presentations every day at the Inspiration Theatre. There may even be cookies!
We have a discount code that you can use if you are booking your tickets online. This is EX1, which you can use when you check-out. This saves you £5 off the door price and includes free parking.
Tour Report - Sweden & The Arctic Circle
This is the biggest and longest tour that we have put on! A big thanks to everyone who joined us and to Colin & Sue and Gary & Eleanor - our dedicated tour leaders.
Thanks to Sue & Colin for the following tour report...
Week One – the first 1,000 miles
We sailed away from Dover to Calais on a lovely calm morning in early August and were soon across the channel and onto European time to start our drive north towards Sweden.
Overnight stop overs in Holland, Germany and Denmark brought us to the two spectacular bridges that we would be crossing. Firstly, taking us across the strait from Zealand to Funen was the Great Belt Bridge – just over 11 miles long.
It was a beautiful day as we drove across with the sun glistening on the water. Once we were across the bridge there was an opportunity for drivers to take a rest at a parking area very close to the bridge on the fore shore which also gave an opportunity to visit a small museum explaining how the ice breaking boats used to work.
Then secondly, it was across into Sweden on the Oresund Bridge to our site near Malmo where we spent the next two nights. Malmo was hosting the Malmo Festival whilst we were there, a mixture of music, dance, workshops, food and more and the town was buzzing with activities and people. A boat trip round the harbour was a popular choice for guests to learn more about the city and see some of its buildings, parks and dockland area. Leaving Malmo, the tour set off to explore the South coast of Sweden.
The pace of driving slowed and there were plenty of opportunities to stop off and explore the history and sights of Sweden including, Smygehuk – the southern-most point of Sweden, the Ales Stones – ancient boulders set in the shape of a longboat, as well as some of the coastal towns.
The end of week one brought us to Karlskrona and a campsite which was set on one of the 33 islands which make up the town. Visits to see the naval history of the town and to visit the Maritime Museum were made by boat, cycling or walking. There was also an opportunity for some of the guests to take a dip in the Baltic Sea.
Week Two – Stockholm and beyond
Continuing our journey around the Southern coast of Sweden, we headed further north to a small campsite next to the Gota Canal. This gave the guests a chance to visit Sweden’s most famous Ice-cream parlour and sample some delicious desserts as well as enjoying cycle rides and walks along the canal.
The next part of the tour took us to Stockholm for three nights and what a busy few days we had. The days were still sunny and warm and guests used boats, trains, trams and buses to get around the city for visits to the spectacular Royal Palaces, watching the Changing of the Guards, visiting the famous Vasa Museum, and of course the Abba Museum, as well as wandering round the Old Town.
Leaving Stockholm behind, we continued up the east coast taking in stunning views of pine forests, beautiful lakes and sea and enjoyed quieter roads with plenty of stopping points to admire the views. Our next three campsites were all easily accessible from our route as we motored our way towards our goal – Santa and the Arctic Circle. On day three of these drives we crossed into Lapland making our goal seem ever closer. Amazingly the weather was still holding out although you could begin to feel a nip in the air and some chillier winds.
Week Three – 2,000 miles covered
There was plenty of opportunity on the way north for some Reindeer and Moose Spotting – a couple had been seen already and there were plenty more later in the tour. Our journey took us over the border into Finland; clocks went forward another hour and we were back to using the Euro.
This was where the tour reached its northern most point, Santa’s Village and the achievement of crossing the Arctic Circle. There were plenty of photo opportunities to prove that we had made it and even a certificate to be purchased to mark the event. Even though it was summer, Santa is always working and on hand to greet visitors. Great fun was had visiting the grotto, posting letters with special Arctic Circle Stamps and wandering through the numerous Christmas themed shops.
A few of our guests also took the opportunity to go on a night-time tour to see the Northern Lights. Although there is no guarantee that they will be seen at this time of year, it is the start of the season so there is a reasonable chance. The best best for seeing them to go on an organised local tour (which is what our guests did) and you have to be prepared to stay up into the small hours. Our guests were rewarded with some sightings and here are the photos to prove it!
After the excitement of reaching the Arctic Circle it was time to start our journey through the Western side of Sweden. We left Finland, gained back the hour we had previously lost and set off South back the way we had come. Following a one-night stopover we then headed into the forest area on the longest drive of the tour – but what a spectacular drive it was – guests spotted Moose and Reindeer at the roadside and wandering into the roadway, resulting in some great photos. At times, we drove for over half an hour without seeing another vehicle, through mile after mile of pine forests and birch forests and past beautiful lakes.
The journey south was broken with a two-night stop in a town on the shores of one of the lakes, this gave the drivers a rest day but also provided an opportunity to visit museums depicting the life of the Sami people. We also took an evening visit to a Moose farm which gave everyone a chance to get up close to several Moose and one lucky guest got the chance to feed the baby of the family.
Finally, our journey south brought us to a site close to Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg. Here, with another day of beautiful sunshine, guests enjoyed a relaxing day at the coast or ventured into the city on the bus.
Week Four – the final 1,000 miles
Sadly, it was now time to leave Sweden behind as we headed back onto the motorway which took us back over the Oresund Bridge. For our drive this morning the bridge was shrouded in mist which then turned to bright sunshine as we cleared the water, entered the tunnel and emerged into Denmark and the outskirts of Copenhagen.
A busy couple of days followed as we visited the attractions of Copenhagen – the Royal Palaces, including the changing of the guards, Tivoli Gardens, The Little Mermaid, and enjoyed boat and open top bus tours, with a visit to the Viking Ship Museum on the day we left. Then it was time to journey back over the Great Belt Bridge to our final night in Scandinavia. Bridges have certainly been a highlight of this tour.
Amazingly, we continued to enjoy sunny, warm weather as we moved into September and started our journey back through Germany and Holland to Calais. The journey through Holland gave people the chance to visit some of the Museums and Memorials around Arnhem which are always very moving and thought-provoking, as was the Blockhaus near our final stop near Calais.
The last day’s drive down to the site near Calais was a wet and windy end to the tour but by the time we were ready to go out for our final group meal the sun was back with us again for our final get-together. A thoroughly enjoyable evening was had and then it was off to the port in the morning for our return ferry crossing.
What an amazing month it had been - 4,500 miles driven, 20 campsites visited across 7 countries, new friendships formed and memories to last a life-time. Well done everyone on a fantastic achievement crossing the Arctic Circle and back again. Thanks for being a fabulous group – Sue, Colin, Eleanor and Gary.
Our Sweden & The Arctic Circle Tour will be running again in August 2026, although it is now fully subscribed. We do operate a reserve list. Full details of the tour are available on our website :
Please email us direct if you would like to add your name to the reserve list.
Coq au Van (the amusingly titled recipe feature)
One Pot Linguine
As we are off to Italy in a couple of days, we thought we would go native.
Ingredients
400g (13oz) linguine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 leeks, quartered lengthways and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
150g frozen peas
50g (2oz) Parmesan, finely grated
150ml single cream
2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Method
Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Cook the linguine and thyme for 5 minutes, before adding the leeks and garlic. Simmer for a further 5 minutes, then add the peas. Cook for a further 2 minutes, or until al dente.
Remove from the heat, drain, and then return to the pan. Discard the thyme sprigs. Stir through the Parmesan and cream.
Divide the pasta into bowls and scatter over the parsley and a little freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.
Motorhoming Tips
This month's tips might be of particular interest if you are of a certain vintage i.e. 70 or over. It relates to the driving license.
Up to the age of 70 you can drive motorhomes of any size up to 7500kg (providing you passed your test before 1st January 1997). When you got your licence it entitled you to drive various vehicles in different categories.
When you get to 70 you have to renew your licence and they take away your entitlement to the C1 category, which is larger vehicles over 3500kg and under 7500kg.
Therefore at 70 you have two options. One is to only drive motorhomes up to 3500kg. We know many folks who have "down-sized" at this stage. The other is to have a medical and get your doctor to fill in a couple of forms (D2 and D4 to be precise). If all is OK your doctor will sign you off and you can carry on driving larger motorhomes. They do typically charge for this service and you will have to renew your licence every three years on an ongoing basis.
Keep in touch
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Please feel free to contact us at any time. When we are away, calls will bounce to our mobiles at no expense to yourself.
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