Accuracy is everything when you’re exploring the UK’s most scenic and secluded spots. Imagine if there was a tool that could point you where you needed to be, in clear and concise fashion… Well, there is! When you're heading somewhere difficult to find, somewhere ‘postcode-challenged’, travel app what3words is something you should have in your digital toolkit. In this edition of our blog we’ll give you the lowdown on how what3words can help streamline your motorhome lifestyle.
What Exactly is what3words?
What3words is an app designed to make locations really easy to find, navigate and share. The app divides planet Earth into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each square a unique combination of three words (hence the name what3words). This means that every spot on the planet, whether it’s a bustling city street or an isolated mountain layby, has a fixed and precise address for you to hone in on. For example, a remote motorhome campsite might be located at something like ///hammocks.restock.sprinter.
The what3words app was co-founded by a former music event organiser who, when staging festivals in remote areas, realised that postcodes and even GPS coordinates often fell short - especially when trying to guide people to exact points on the festival site, like entrances, ticket booths or camping areas. The resulting app was a simple but powerful system that now helps everyone around the world (from travellers to delivery drivers and emergency responders) find exact locations with ease. The other great thing about what3words is it’s free!
Why is what3words Ideal for Motorhome Travel?
Travelling by motorhome comes with the challenge of finding places that aren’t always well marked or particularly postcode-friendly. That’s when what3words becomes not just helpful, but essential.
- Campsites and rural locations: A common gripe among motorhome owners is that many campsites (especially the more rural or independently-run ones) don’t have a formal address or that they share a postcode with several surrounding properties. This can sometimes make finding your final destination rather frustrating, especially if you’ve had a long day on the road.
With what3words, the owners of campsites can provide an exact location via those simple three words. When you’re travelling that means no more circling narrow lanes wondering exactly where to go, and no more knocking on the wrong doors. You’ll arrive at the correct entrance, pitch or reception, no matter whether you’re deep in the Lake District or tucked away on the Northumberland coast.
- Emergencies: Safety is a top priority for motorhomer travellers, particularly those who enjoy off-the-beaten-track trips. Over 85% of UK emergency services accept what3words and use it to quickly locate people in distress, even when there’s no postcode or recognisable landmark. If you experience a breakdown or medical emergency, or simply get lost in a poorly signposted area, you can open the app and provide your three-word location to first responders. This makes it one of the most vital travel apps for motorhome users, offering peace of mind wherever you roam.
- Navigation: Many sat navs and map apps tend to struggle in rural areas. Postcodes can often cover wide geographic ranges and road names are few and far between. The what3words app bridges the gap by integrating with major sat nav. Simply enter the three-word address, tap ‘navigate’, and you’ll be taken straight there. You can download what3words from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Once installed, it's easy to use in conjunction with your vehicle’s navigation system or smartphone for seamless journey planning.
- Planning: Many experienced motorhome travellers use what3words not just for navigation, but also for planning ahead. You can save your favourite spots, download offline maps and even share exact locations with friends or fellow travellers. It’s ideal for group meet-ups or recommending scenic stopovers that might otherwise be hard to describe.
Scenarios Where what3words Excels
This app is particularly useful for motorhomers in the UK.
- Arriving late to a campsite: If a site is on an unnamed road, arriving in the dark can be tricky. With what3words, the owner can text you the three-word code for their entrance gate and you’ll be guided right there.
- Breakdown on a scenic route: Your engine fails on a quiet backroad in the Yorkshire Dales. There are no road signs and there’s zero phone signal. You move to higher ground, get a signal and send your three-word code to the breakdown service, and they are then able to find you with precision and without delay.
- Meeting up at a festival or event: Festivals often lack proper addresses. Instead of vague directions like “the far end of the field near the burger van” just send the exact three-word address of your parked motorhome, and your friends can meet up with you.
How to Use what3words With Your Devices
It’s possible to use the what3words website to search and share locations when you’re planning a trip from your desktop PC or laptop. It is, of course, more common for what3words to be downloaded as an app and installed on your mobile phone.
- Download the app: Head to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and install the free what3words app.
- Find a location: Open the map and tap on any spot to reveal the unique three-word address.
- Navigate: Tap the ‘navigate’ button to open directions in Google Maps, Waze or compatible sat nav systems.
- Share: Tap ‘share’ to send your location to others via text, email or social media.
In an era where connectivity is vital and precision matters, what3words stands out as something very special – in fact, a must-have app for motorhomers. With the ability to provide pinpoint accuracy, this extremely useful app empowers motorhome travellers to explore with confidence. If you’re still looking for a motorhome, campervan or caravan in which to travel, but you want to practise your what3words skills, Couplands Louth is ///bypassed.known.blemishes while Couplands Lincoln is ///toffee.locked.political and Couplands Worksop is ///planet.jeeps.gosh. See you soon!
