THE big Motorhome & Caravan Show comes to the NEC next week. Marcus Queenborough says you really shouldn't miss out on the attractions offered by German campsites.

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SETTING off at midnight for a family holiday after a day at work and school may not be every one’s cup of tea, especially with over 500 miles across Europe ahead of us.

But three hours later, we had made Dover and managed to catch an early ferry. And by 11am we were on the edge of Luxembourg, well on our way to Saarburg in Germany.

It’s here that Germany, France and Luxembourg meet, making it a great base for touring with a motorhome or pitching up your caravan for a longer stay and exploring by car.

We had booked in at Campingplatz Landal Warsberg, a five-star site featured in the official Campsites In Germany guidebook published by the German National Tourist Board.

The site is beautiful, set above the meandering River Saar and the pretty town of Saarburg. Surrounded by magnificent woodland with walks through pine forests, it’s ideal for families.

Ask the resident forester, and he’ll show you the most beautiful locations in the area. Not far away, the kids will love the summer toboggan run and fortress ruins found close to the campsite.

There’s a swimming pool, too, a lovely complex that’s quite simple but open from 9am to 9pm every day, with a slide, bubble bath, jets and Jacuzzis, although it is unsupervised.

It’s perfect for an early morning swim before breakfast, or for chilling out in the evening after a day’s exploring.

Saarburg itself is gorgeous – a medieval town with a stream flowing through the middle, crossed by small bridges and later dropping down a 20m high waterfall where it meets the Saar.

We loved it here and spent many hours wandering though the narrow streets, crossing the river over one bridge or another.

Little wonder that the centre of Saarburg is dubbed Little Venice.

Then, as the sun was beating down, we climbed the steps to the ancient castle and watched the mighty cargo barges sailing up the river to meet the Moselle, and later carrying on to the Rhine.

There are three ways to reach town from the campsite. The first is a drive down a twisting road with hairpin bends that looks like it will test your driving skills, but is actually a breeze.