Another unique guide from Vicarious Books which includes stopovers and campsites in the Spanish and French Pyrenees; Andorra; Austrian, French, Italian and Swiss Alps; also includes are Bavaria, Sicily, Tenerife, the Sierra Nevada and a section on LPG stations. In total 191 Aires and 81 campsites are listed

Most of the sites were inspected during the 2008/9 and 2009/10 ski seasons.

Of course the guide is written mainly for winter sports fans who want to visit the mountains during the winter with their motorhome but there is much useful information for summer visitors too.

The comprehensive introduction includes essential information for preparing, and using, your motorhome in mountain areas.

The layout of the mountains Aires guide is the same as the other guides published by Vicarious Books: All the Aires Spain and Portugal and All the Aires Benelux and Scandinavia. There are country maps at the beginning of each chapter. Sites are listed numerically against their corresponding map reference number, with two sites per A5 page. Each site has colour photos, on-site GPS, full directions, site descriptions and local ski and leisure information.

Countries covered and number of mountain stopovers:

Austria 42 entries - 11 stellplatze, 31 campsites.
Germany 49 entries - 37 stellplatze, 6 campsites, 6 motorhome/caravan Aires.
France Alps 58 entries - 47 aires, 11 campsites.
France Pyrenees 31 entries - 30 aires, 1 campsite.
Italy 50 entries - 33 Aires, 12 campsites, 5 motorhome/caravan Aires
Sicily 3 entries - 1 Aire, 2 campsites.
Spain 9 entries- 4 Aires, 5 campsites 1 in Andorra
Switzerland 34 entries - 15 stellplatze, 9 campsites, 10 motorhome/caravan Aires.

LPG filling stations are listed in a separate section at the back of the book, all have the location and GPS coordinates.

Each description of an inspected site is accompanied by at least one colour photo and two sets of symbols, one indicating the service facilities available, the other indicating other features such as overnight parking, hard surface, level surface, etc. Usefully, there is a symbol to indicate if access is difficult for large (over 7m) motorhomes. Clear directions are given, plus a short description which usually includes information about the locality and other services nearby. Charges, opening dates, GPS co-ordinates and postcodes (where appropriate) are also shown.

This is a unique guide for motorhomers visiting the mountain areas of Europe, and must surely be an essential purchase for experienced winter sports fans, and those new to winter camping with a motorhome.

2010 review by Andy Clarke

All the Aires - Mountains
Paperback - 208 pages - A5 format
£12.99 including UK postage.

Published by:
Vicarious Books LLP
62 Tontine Street
Folkestone
Kent
CT20 1JPM
0131 208 3333

Only available direct from the publishers [out of print]