As you’re no doubt aware, after a 14-year run at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse in Warwickshire, the last ever “Adventure Overland & Campervan Show” took place September 2024 … and what an event it was! Not a dry eye in the place as we went out in spectacular style. Strewth, even the sun made an appearance, a rarity last year. As for the feedback post-event, this alone confirmed that YOU, the event’s visitors were really sad (devastated even) to hear of the show’s demise.
Realising supporters of the event wanted more, over the weekend myself (Tom Mc) and the boss (Ash) formulated a radical plan that would hopefully ease their disappointment.
On the Sunday 16th September 2024 as folk were about to head home from Stratford, I began telling folk that in October next year, INSTEAD of a show, we would hold a ‘gathering’ of like-minded souls on the South Coast. This would then be a prelude to convoys setting off on Sunday afternoon to catch ferries to France & Spain. The crazy destination? An incredible venue called MiniHollywood Oasys in Almería, southeast Spain!!! This is where the Spaghetti Westerns were filmed in the 1960s/70s, and to this day the original movie sets still exist. This will be our base for a super special ‘gathering’ and perhaps even a mini-show involving Spanish traders. We’ll see, more about that later.
Now I’ve set the scene (no pun intended … okay, just a little), things have moved on a bit since then. The BIG announcement now is …
The NATIONAL 4×4 & CAMPER FESTIVAL (UK) will be held 14-15 June 2025, once again at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, Warwickshire as part of a 10-year plan. As previously it will welcome all forms of overland travel whether it be on two-wheels (adventure bikes) or sixteen (8×8 monsters), and every make & model of 2WD / 4WD vehicle in-between.
Two specialised zones – 4×4 and off-road motorsport, the other being overland travel including adventure bikes – no matter what you drive, ride or race, everyone is invited to the ONLY show in the calendar that’s “open to all”.
12-19 October 2025
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY
The Good, The Bad & The Fugly
UK / Portugal / Spain
+
19-26 October 2025
TREASURE ISLAND ‘ TREASURE HUNT’
Mojácar
Almería
Spain
Participating crews in THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY + TREASURE ISLAND ‘ TREASURE HUNT’ will depart from the CAMPERLIFE CAMPOUT event in Hampshire, afternoon of Sunday 12th October 2025 and head to the ferry terminal in Portsmouth, embarking on the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry to Spain.
Having arrived in Spain, the vehicles will split into four convoys heading down to our destination – MiniHollywood Oasys in the Tabernas Desert, Almería, backdrop to the Spaghetti Western movies of the 60s/70s – “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” being one of many – plus epics such as “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Exodus”, and modern favourites “Indiana Jones”, “Game of Thrones”, and TV’s “Doctor Who” and “The Crown”.
One convoy [titled ‘Vanlife Convoy’] comprising of 2WD campervans/motorhomes will take a tarmac-based route southeast via five Spanish natural parks to MiniHollywood Oasys. As this will be quite a direct route, this will allow participants a few days wild camping in Almería on some spectacular beaches!
The second convoy [titled ‘4×4 Convoy’] comprising 4×4 vehicles takes in Portuguese & Spanish off-road routes (also including natural parks) to MiniHollywood Oasys.
The third convoy [titled ‘Expedition Trucks Convoy’] will include 4WD and 2WD vehicles 7.5 tonnes and over. This convoy will take a similar tarmac-based route as the Vanlife Convoy southeast via five Spanish natural parks to MiniHollywood Oasys – the big difference is that it will travel at a more sedate pace, as the maximum speed many of the ‘biggies’ is around 50 mph!
Last but not least, the fourth convoy [titled ‘Motorbike Convoy’] will include bikes both road biased and those with off-road capacity. The reason is, depending on the type of bike, riders can join any of the other three convoys, or do their own thing and head straight down to MiniHollywood Oasys, which of course would be the fastest route of all. Totally their choice!
To make this event truly international, invitations to participate in THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY + TREASURE ISLAND ‘ TREASURE HUNT’ will go out across Europe, be they from UK, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, etc.
18-19 October 2025
FESTIVAL NACIONAL DE 4×4 Y CAMPERVAN (ESPAŃA)
NATIONAL 4×4 & CAMPERVAN FESTIVAL (SPAIN)
MiniHollywood Oasys Mediterranean Theme Park
Tabernas Desert
Almería
Spain
Website under construction, meanwhile see venue via www.minihollywoodoasys.com
Tickets available from February 2025.
To complete THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY road trip, on the final weekend we will hold a 2-day 4×4/overland show at MiniHollywood Oasys called FESTIVAL NACIONAL DE 4×4 Y CAMPERVAN (ESPAŃA). Open to the general public, all makes of 4×4, 6×6, 8×8 vehicle are welcome, together with all types of 2WD camper, caravans, adventure bikes and cars/tents. Overnight camping possible Friday & Saturday nights.
Along with MiniHollywood Oasys’ own attractions such as western cowboy shoot-outs, can-can shows in The Yellow Rose saloon (the bar scene in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”), a huge Zoological Reserve with more than 800 animals featuring 200 different species, swimming pools, restaurants & bars, plus Saturday 18th October will feature off-road driving in the Tabernas Desert for 4×4 owners.
19-21 [onwards] October 2025
TREASURE ISLAND ‘ TREASURE HUNT’
Nr. Mojácar
Almería
Spain
Website under construction. Tickets available from February 2025.
The optional dates of 19-26 October 2025? Following THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY road trip and ALMERÍA 4×4 FESTIVAL, crews lucky enough to stay longer in Spain will have the opportunity to ‘chill out’ on Treasure Island Beach for up to 7 extra days. This is location where they filmed the Walt Disney movie “Treasure Island” featuring the infamous pirate Long John Silver. Here we’ll hold a treasure hunt and daft activities such as ‘car golf’!
By the way, Almería is the warmest place in Europe over winter, boasting average daytime temperatures in October of 25°, so escape those winter (well … autumn) blues and join us in our ‘run to the sun’, details to follow shortly.
To be on the mailing list for either THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE FUGLY or TREASURE ISLAND ‘TREASURE HUNT’, email ashlingsans@hotmail.com Subject: Yeehaw!
Cheers you lovely people – “Onwards and upwards!” Yet another film quote, who said that?
Tom & Ash McGuigan, and all the Volunteer Events Team!