In 2017 when we first decided to take the plunge and invest in our VW Campervan Nelson, little did we know how much it would change our lives. 4 years later and over 400 nights away, we look at some of the places Nelson has taken us and how it is possible to get the very most out of your Campervan and at the same time, not breaking the budget.
At this point, we have to disclose that we are both teachers and benefit from generous school holidays, but this is only part of the story. We always had a long held goal of buying a Campervan when we retired, but when both our children had gone off to university, we decided that now was the time, why wait? We took the plunge in late 2017 and bought a nearly new VW T6 Highline Kombi and had it converted to our own specifications by Nick at Autobarn Conversions in Stoke on Trent. Nelson was ready for our first trip in February 2018. From the start, we were adamant that we would get the very most out of our investment (Richard is a tight Yorkshireman after all!), looking to use the van as much as possible.
Top tips for week long getaways in the UK
Try and get away as soon as humanly possible on a Friday night, even if you don’t feel like it. The advantage of a Campervan is that it can be packed the night before and be ready to go the moment you are home from work. This enables you to make 5 days of work holidays into 9 nights of time way. You will always feel better waking up closer to your holiday destination, rather than having to set off in the morning and effectively waste a full day of the holiday on the road. For example, we planned for an 8 hour drive on a Friday night to Ullapool in Scotland so that we could catch the 9am ferry on the Saturday morning which gave us a whole day extra in the Outer Hebrides earlier in the year.
If you are travelling in peak times, always book sites and any ferries in plenty of time as the staycation boom continues to demand this level of pre planning across the UK. This is even more important if you are trying to book a block of time at a particular campsite. If you are touring, sites often have the flexibility to fit you in for a night at shorter notice.
We tend to base our UK breaks on guide books, our particular favourite being the Wild Guides that are available for various regions in the UK and Europe. They provide ideas and inspiration for getting off the beaten track and are a firm go to for us. In addition, we have a yearly digital subscription to OS maps that continues to prove invaluable for planning our outdoor adventures in the UK.
Finally, we have never been ones to mothball our Campervan over the winter months. We enjoy our winter trips just as much as our summer ones, but for very different reasons. Vanlife in winter is so much quieter in the UK, and in some respects so much easier to organise. Of course the days are shorter (and colder and wetter!) but that leaves more time for cozy nights in with a good book and a glass of wine! In summer, the days are longer with more time to spend outdoors and preferably around the campfire, however summer trips need pre-booking as there are more people out and about with campsites feeling tangibly busier.
Our favourite places for a week away in the uk
Cornwall. The spiritual home of VW campers in the UK for many years, Cornwall is a Mecca for VW owners. We always try to travel down overnight to avoid the inevitable traffic jams at peak holiday times, finding a quiet place to wild camp for a few hours upon arrival before the campsites open for business. Cornwall has the beaches, the coastal walks, outdoor activities and the hospitality industry for all visitors, whatever your interests. There are a wide range of campsites to suit all needs, from the mega sites with full on activities and entertainment, to pop-up sites that farmers provide with the most basic of facilities.
Welsh Coast. A weeklong tour probably does not allow time to cover all of the Welsh coast, so it is better to pick out particular sections to enjoy a week at a time. One trip we loved started at out favourite campsite- Cae Du and headed south down the Pembrokeshire coast. We did this in October which ensured everywhere we went was suitably quiet.
North Wales. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Snowdonia National park and still not really scratch the surface, but there are many more areas to use as a base in this region. We love Anglesey as an island base as well as the undiscovered parts of the Lynn peninsular. North Wales has a rich industrial heritage to discover, as well as some simply stunning mountains, lakes and beaches to explore. More than enough to fill a week of activity.
NC500. Simply a must do road trip at any time of the year. We hate bugs, so avoided the summer months of midgy hell, completing our first NC500 in February (during the storm season!). Ignore the doubters that like to critisise it as passé and too commercialised, just plan to do this trip in your own way. We were warned by many people that during the summer it gets very busy with our friends in big white boxes and the route can become very congested- you have been warned.
Outer Hebrides. If you fancy an adventure, that feels like you are at the very ends of the world in total desolation, plan to visit the Hebrides. The beaches here quite rightly justify their rankings as some of the best in the world. You do need to plan and pre-book your ferries, as it is a popular destination with limited ferry capacity both across to the islands and in-between them when you are island hopping. In winter, there is also a very real risk of being stranded due to the weather- ferries regularly get cancelled- make sure you factor this into your holiday plans.
Isle of Mull. One of our first island adventures in Nelson. Only a short crossing from Oban, Mull offers all the feel of the Hebrides without the desolate isolation. The villages, beaches and wildlife are beautiful, with the pace of life visibly slowing as soon as you drive off the ferry. We could not believe that in less than 5 minutes on the island we had seen sea otters putting on a show for us!
Norfolk coast. Depending on where you are based, this could be a weekend trip, but for us, the cross country route into Norfolk is never easy and the drive seems to take forever from Cheshire. The geography of this region is quite unique, offering a very different seaside experience to what we are used to closer to home. Long golden beaches, backed by moving dunes and tides that travel for miles makes for a great time to unwind and watch the world go by. A scattering of traditional seaside towns mean that you are never far from the essentials such as great fish and chips, or a good pint.
Lake District. For us, the Lake District is no more than 2 hours drive on a Friday night, so is a regular weekend escape. However to get the very best out of a Lake District experience, it is so much better to stay for a week or more. The chance to move from location to location is so easy in this relatively small National Park. We love the National Trust campsites that are in stunningly wild locations (Wasdale Head, the Langdales and Ambleside) and are relatively cheap with spotless facilities.
North Yorkshire Coast. With our Yorkshire roots, we just love this part of the world. The drive over the North York moors holds such happy memories for us both, and that is part of the appeal. We love Whitby as a town, but prefer to stay just outside the hurley-burly of this seaside resort. Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend are both thoroughly recommended if you fancy something a bit quieter.
After a particularly traumatic 2021 with multiple losses in the family, we have decided to follow their love of travel and have made the life changing decision to retire early in 2022. This could not have happened without the experiences and confidence that we have gained from our Campervan adventures over the past 4 years.
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