Exploring the Best Beaches in the New Forest
October 15, 2024
A Van Lifer’s Coastal Guide to New Forest
The New Forest is a stunning landscape of forest and heathland and boasts a beautiful coastline of some of the most picturesque beaches in the UK? If you’re a van lifer seeking the perfect blend of forest tranquillity and coastal adventure, the New Forest’s beaches offer an idyllic escape whatever the time of year.
In this guide, we’ll show you the top beaches you can explore in and around the New Forest, offering tips for the best spots to park your van, local highlights, and must-see attractions along the way.
1. Lepe Beach: Coastal Views and Historic Landmarks
Overview:
Lepe Beach is a favourite among locals and visitors to the New Forest. It offers stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Located within Lepe Country Park and stretches over a mile with pine fringed cliffs. this beach is not just about sun and sand; it’s steeped in history and natural beauty.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience:
Lepe Beach features a mix of pebbles and sand, perfect for a leisurely stroll along the shore. The waters are calm, making it ideal for a dip or some paddleboarding.
Historical Significance:
Lepe played a crucial role during World War II as a departure point for troops on D-Day. You can still see remnants of wartime structures, adding a historical twist to your beach visit.
Facilities:
The country park offers plenty of amenities, including a café, toilets, picnic areas, and a visitor centre. It’s also a dog-friendly beach, so feel free to bring your four-legged friend.
Dog Walking:
It’s a great place to walk your dog but please be aware that dogs are not allowed on the beach during the school summer holidays.
Van Life Tip:
There’s ample parking at Lepe Country Park, with designated spots for motorhomes and vans. There’s no overnight parking here but you can stay overnight at nearby campsites like Roundhill Campsite to enjoy both the forest and the coast. What more do you need?
2. Milford-on-Sea: One of our favourites in the New Forest
Overview:
Milford-on-Sea is a lovely little coastal village, with an awesome Fish n Chips. Making the seaside experience. It’s near Barton On Sea and you can walk out to Hurst Castle from the village. It’s a peaceful spot that offers breathtaking views over Keyhaven and the Needles on the Isle of Wight. It’s also an awesome fishing spot.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience:
The beach is a mix of shingle and sand. It has brightly coloured wooden beach huts giving that proper British Beach vibe.
Hurst Castle:
A must-visit while at Milford-on-Sea is Hurst Castle, a historic fortress built by Henry VIII. It’s accessible via a scenic walk along Hurst Spit or by a short ferry ride.
Local Eats:
The village has a selection of cosy pubs and seafood restaurants, where you can enjoy fresh, locally sourced dishes with a view of the sea. Treat yourself to a portion of Fish n Chips at Mr Pinks.
Van Life Tip:
Parking in Milford-on-Sea is straightforward, with plenty of spaces available at the beach car park. For an overnight stay, consider Shorefield Country Park or Lytton Lawn a nearby campsite offering full facilities.
3. Calshot Beach: Watersports and Adventure
Overview:
If you’re an adrenaline junkie or simply love watersports, Calshot Beach is the place to be. This shingle beach is located on a spit that juts out into the Solent, offering panoramic views of the water and passing ships.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience:
Calshot’s beach is perfect for both relaxation and adventure. While it’s not sandy, the views more than make up for it. The area is renowned for activities like windsurfing, kitesurfing, and sailing.
Calshot Activities Centre:
The nearby activities centre offers everything from climbing and skiing to archery and kayaking. It’s one of the UK’s largest outdoor adventure centres, making it ideal for families and thrill-seekers.
Historical Sites:
Explore Calshot Castle, another of Henry VIII’s coastal forts, which provides insight into the area’s maritime history.
Van Life Tip:
Calshot has a large car park that accommodates motorhomes, but it’s best for day visits as overnight parking is not permitted. They do have a campsite where prices start from £26 per night. That being said you do need a Calshot Camping Access Pass which will cost you £35 for an annual pass. Other nearby campsites, such as Roundhill Campsite and Denny Wood Campsite, offer a peaceful forest stay within a short drive.
4. Barton-on-Sea: Fossil Hunting and Coastal Walks
Overview:
Barton-on-Sea is a quieter beach destination known for its dramatic cliffs and excellent fossil hunting opportunities. It’s a great spot for those who appreciate nature’s quieter moments and scenic coastal walks.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience:
The beach is mainly shingle with patches of sand, backed by striking clay cliffs that are gradually being eroded by the sea. This natural process often reveals fossils, making it a haven for geology enthusiasts.
Cliff Top Walks:
The cliffs offer views of the coast and are part of the Solent Way, a long-distance footpath that runs along the Hampshire coastline. It’s a perfect spot for a leisurely walk with the sea breeze in your hair.
Relaxation:
Barton-on-Sea is less crowded than some other beaches, providing a peaceful retreat. The beach is also dog-friendly all year round, so it’s an ideal spot for a day out with your doggo.
Van Life Tip:
Parking is available at Barton-on-Sea’s cliff-top car park. While overnight parking isn’t allowed, nearby campsites like Holmsley Campsite and Setthorns provide excellent facilities and a forest setting close to the coast.
5. Highcliffe Beach: Sandy Shores and Coastal Charm
Overview:
Highcliffe Beach is one of the most beautiful stunning sandy beaches near the New Forest. With its golden sands and clear waters, it’s a family favourite and a wonderful spot for a day by the sea.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience:
Highcliffe offers a traditional beach experience with soft sand, making it perfect for sunbathing, building sandcastles, or taking a refreshing swim. The beach is backed by low cliffs, offering some shelter from the wind.
Highcliffe Castle:
Just a short walk from the beach is Highcliffe Castle, a Grade I listed building set within lovely grounds. Explore the castle and enjoy a picnic on the lawns with sea views.
Nature Reserves:
Nearby Steamer Point Nature Reserve is a hidden gem, providing a peaceful woodland walk with views over the Solent.
Van Life Tip:
Highcliffe has several car parks close to the beach, but spaces can fill up quickly on sunny days. For an overnight stay check out Lytton Lawn or one of the Camping New Forest sites.
6. Keyhaven: Tranquility and Scenic Walks
Overview:
Keyhaven is a small, peaceful hamlet located on the western fringes of the New Forest, offering a tranquil beach experience with stunning views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. It’s a perfect destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience: The beach at Keyhaven is more of a quiet, natural shoreline rather than a traditional sandy beach. It’s a fantastic spot for birdwatching, as the nearby Keyhaven Marshes are a haven for various bird species. Perfect for a walk whatever time of the year.
Keyhaven to Hurst Castle Walk:
One of the best activities here is the walk along the Hurst Spit to Hurst Castle. The spit stretches out into the Solent, offering breathtaking views and a unique coastal experience. There is a boat you can take from Keyhaven out to Hurst Castle if the walkout is not for you.
Sailing and Boating:
Keyhaven is also a popular spot for sailing and boating. The small harbour is picturesque and offers opportunities for a variety of water-based activities.
Van Life Tip:
Keyhaven has limited parking, so arriving early is advisable, especially during the summer. For an overnight stay, Lytton Lawn Touring Park offers good facilities and is just a short drive from Keyhaven.
7. Eling: Riverside Charm with a Historic Twist
Overview:
While not a beach in the traditional sense, Eling offers a unique coastal experience along the shores of Southampton Water. This quaint village is home to the historic Eling Tide Mill, one of the few working tide mills in the world. Goatee Beach has some fantastic views of over to Southampton.
What to Expect:
Riverside Experience:
Eling provides a peaceful riverside setting where you can enjoy a leisurely walk along the Eling Creek, watching boats sail by. The area is rich in history, with the Eling Tide Mill being the main attraction.
Eling Tide Mill:
The Tide Mill has been grinding flour since the 18th century, powered by the tides of the Solent. Visitors can tour the mill and learn about its fascinating history.
Eling Hill Walk:
For a bit of exercise, take a walk up Eling Hill for panoramic views over Southampton Water. It’s a serene spot, perfect for a quiet moment of reflection.
Van Life Tip:
Parking at Eling is available near the Tide Mill, but spaces can be limited. Since Eling is close to the New Forest, you can easily find nearby campsites like Ashurst Campsite for an overnight stay in a forest setting.
8. Hengistbury Head: Nature Meets the Sea
Overview: While not technically within the New Forest, Hengistbury Head is just a short drive away and is worth the trip. This headland offers a unique mix of beach, nature reserve, and archaeological site.
What to Expect:
Beach Experience: Hengistbury Head boasts a stunning, unspoiled beach with golden sands and clear waters, ideal for a swim or a quiet afternoon of sunbathing. The beach is backed by dunes and heathland, creating a beautiful, natural setting.
Nature and Wildlife: The area is a haven for birdwatchers, with a variety of species making their home in the diverse habitats. The headland itself offers panoramic views over Christchurch Harbour and the Isle of Wight.
Walks and Trails: There are several walking trails that take you across the headland, offering breathtaking views at every turn. Don’t miss the chance to explore the Iron Age remains that add a layer of history to your visit.
Van Life Tip:
Hengistbury Head has a large car park at the visitor centre, but like other spots, overnight stays are not allowed. Consider camping at Red Shoot Camping Park in the New Forest for a perfect blend of forest and coast.
The Best of Both Worlds
The New Forest’s beaches offer a unique opportunity to experience the best of both worlds—forest and coast. Whether you’re seeking the tranquillity of a hidden gem like Keyhaven or the historic charm of Eling, these locations cater to every type of van lifer. With stunning views, rich history, and a range of activities, the beaches and coastal spots in and around the New Forest are perfect for those looking to add a coastal twist to their forest retreat.
Pack your van, hit the road, and let the New Forest’s beaches and coastal treasures become the backdrop for your next adventure. Whether you’re exploring on foot, swimming in the Solent, or simply relaxing by the water, these destinations are sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.
Wild camping in a van: is it legal in the UK? Discover the facts, myths, and respectful vanlife tips for overnight parking around Britain.
On the east coast of Scotland, tucked away into a little peninsula this has to be one of the quietest and most remote beach spots we have found on our vanlife travels around Scotland. With a long sandy beach teaming with wildlife, forest walks and sand dunes this is both a nature lover and wildlife watcher's dream. Whilst there is also a car park closer to town (at £12.50 a night) we prefer to escape the hustle and bustle which this spot offers. With one-night authorised stays from the local council, this is a spot you won't want to miss. Funnily enough on park4night, the description for this spot describes it as not the prettiest of places which just goes to show the value of us sharing these spots with you as that could not be further from the truth. As you drive passed Golspie town/village you follow the road which runs along the side of the golf course into the trees. Heading down this road you will pass a number of laybys, please don't be tempted to park in then when there is a designated spot further down just waiting for you. Pulling off the road into the carpark (what3words:///hacksaw.steepest.pairings ) you are surrounded by sand dunes with a forest to your left which is full of deer! I mean a beach and deer watching right from your park up, what more do you need? The spot itself is facility-free aside from a bin so be prepared to come self-contained. The sand dunes which surround the car park make for a fantastic walk, you will even find a rope swing smack bang in the middle which young or old, is always so much fun. Heading over the dunes though is where this truly wild spot comes into its own with a huge sandy beach to explore you can expect to see Seals in their plentiful as they bob up and down on the entry to the estuary. This area is teeming in wildlife so its highly recommended to keep your dog on a lead if they like to bound off as you will see for yourself, there are animals around every corner. When night falls you will hear the hoot of owls right from your overnight parking spot and if you are lucky enough like we were you will even be able to spot one in the trees if you decide to take a dusk stroll through the woods. It's amazing what you miss in Scotland if you head straight to the NC500, so make sure you don't miss this blissful park up tucked into the East Coast of Scotland. If you are looking for more Vanlife travel inspiration and places to stay then make sure you check out our other posts where we share some of the best locations across the UK. We hope you enjoy it!
A secret we had to share, this beachside overnight spot has been a firm favourite of ours for years. With beautiful sea views, a long sandy beach, facilities and three colour-guided walks, as with most spots we share this is more than just an overnight parking spot. Let's start with the parking and facilities before we share the rest of the riches this spot has to offer. The car park itself is a mixture of flat-level grass and gravel, offering bay parking overlooking the ocean with the shade of trees, giving this a really wild diverse feel. Along the bay front you will find plenty of picnic benches to enjoy alongside 24-hour toilets and bins at the entrance. Part of the forestry commission for Scotland's ‘stay the night’ scheme it only costs £7 to park overnight, given the fact there aren't any local businesses to support in the vicinity of the car park this provides a great way to give back. The water itself is a fabulous wild swimming spot with beautifully clear waters. Or for those not brave enough, a sandy beach on which to sit and seal spot, we have seen many a bobbing head which makes this a wildlife watchers haven. If you have more energy or a dog that needs walking like us then you are spoiled for choice with not one, not two, but three colour guided walks including the addition of a 7.6km path which leads you all the way to Carrick Castle. The green coloured walk will take you along the waters edge of Glenfinart Burn with a variety of trees straight above as your shelter. This walk is 1.3km long, entirely flat and will take you approximately half an hour. Alternatively if you want something a little further with expansive views then you can choose from either the red or yellow colour graded walks, both with some hills to climb which result in breath taking views from high above. The red birchwood trail is 1.6km and will take you approximately 45 mins, the yellow Lairds trail is the furthers at 3.3k and will take you approximately 1 hour. Having walked all three trails we can highly recommend them all. With so many people heading straight to the NC500 these magical little gems are often missed, don't make the same mistake! This is a spot you have to add to your vanlife adventures, trust me you won't be disappointed. Don't forget to check out or other posts, where we share some of the best overnight vanlife spots we've discovered on our travels around the UK. We hope you enjoy!
Published: October 2024 Overnight parking by the beach is a vanlife dream, with very few campsites offering the same views and opportunity we are sharing our favourite spots all with ‘allowed’ overnight parking to not only give you peace of mind but also a cost-effective way to enjoy the magical coastal spots in Scotland. Starting in the South of Scotland we recently discovered one of our favourite beach side overnight parking spots, a breathtaking seaside setting, the Isle of Whithorn. Driving through the little harbour village to the end of the peninsula you will find a huge level car park owned by the Steampacket Inn which you pass on your way through only minutes before arriving at the car park. Here you are welcomed to park up overnight and truly enjoy all this little spot has to offer. When we stayed we were joined by fellow campervanners including cyclists who had pitched tents further back on the grass for the evening. Rich in history this spot offers not only expansive ocean views but so much to see and do, much more than you would expect from such a quaint little harbour. First let's cover where you stay then we will take you onto what you can do. Recently levelled with a gravel base, you will find both flat and plentiful parking. The car park has plenty of huge wheelie bins for both general waste and recycling, which as we all know is a huge plus when travelling in a van…rubbish really does build up, doesn't it! Just outside the car park you will also find, a fresh drinking water tap, a FREE chemical waste disposal point for your toilet, along with a singular 24-hour toilet for those without facilities. All the facilities you could need when travelling in your van around Scotland. Now we have to talk about the pub itself, without which this stay wouldn't be possible. The Steam Packet Inn is a traditional family owned village pub with two bars and outside harbourside seating. To ensure the continued use of this overnight spot we highly recommend a visit to the pub as a way to pay back for your stay. They offer an extensive menu which is fairly priced and the quality second to none. Plus incredible portion sizes which give exceptional value. I mean where else can you get an open lobster sandwich right by the sea for only £9! It has to be said though the jewel in the crown for us has to be the in-house micro brewed range of ales they sell both in the Pub and available as bottles or cans to take away. We tried a few whilst we stayed but the Summer Isle was our favourite. If you want more then sea views and a stunning pub visit then don't worry, there is even more to enjoy. From the carpark you only have to wonder a minute away for an almost 360 degree ocean view. With two bays directly opposite each other this is one of the only overnight spots we have found that offers beaches on both sides. If you enjoy cold water swimming, fishing or sea glass collecting, then you have found your heaven. Alongside these natural delights you will also find St Ninians Chapel built in 1100 where you walk in the steps of hundreds of pilgrims from years before. In part ruin this chapel still holds the magical feeling left behind by all those who have passed through before. Rich in history the St Ninian chapel was built for not only local worshippers but also to serve as a resting place for pilgrims on their way through to the St Ninian shrine in Whithorn itself. St Ninian was Scotland's first saint who brought Christianity to Scotland way back in 397, dying in 431, Whithorn became his final resting place. To truly immerse yourself in the historically religious spot there exists a modern witness cairn where pilgrams and visitors are invited to leave stones which many have done in their hundreds. With either messages for those passed on or affirmations for what will be this sacred spot holds a feeling you often only read about in books. Christian or not, a prayer feels like it holds power in this sacred space. Isle of Whithorn is more then just an overnight spot, its a whole adventure for the eyes, feet, heart and mind. We hope you enjoy and make sure to check out our other posts for more amazing overnight spots not just in Scotland but across the whole of the UK.
The New Forest in Hampshire is a mystical, sprawling woodland, full of life and tradition. Among its time-honoured customs, one of the many reasons we love the New Forest is the free roaming animals. They are literally everywhere in the New Forest. From the countryside to the towns and villages. But once a year a very special event happens. None is quite as captivating as pannage—the ancient practice of releasing domestic pigs into the forest to forage for acorns, chestnuts, and beechmast. This practice dates back to the time of William the Conqueror in 1079 and remains an essential part of the forest's delicate ecosystem today. For those visiting during the pannage season, the sight of pigs meandering through the trees is both charming and steeped in centuries of history.
The New Forest is a treasure trove of family-friendly activities that won’t break the bank. There are numerous beautiful villages. Or why not explore the ancient woodlands to enjoying the coastal views. The New Forest offers endless opportunities for adventure, learning, and relaxation—all without spending a penny. Whether you’re here for a day or planning a longer stay, here’s your ultimate guide to the top free family-friendly things to do in the New Forest.
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Details and Budget Hacks in the Caption ⬇️ These are our essential tools for Vanlife when travelling the UK in a campervan.
⛺Pitch up
The filtering tools allows you to find campsites suited to your budgets and needs. Top tip when finding a site you like, check to see if they have their own website. There's often more availablity on a companies own website you can also check to see if they are running any offers.
Sidenote: sign up to all and any email lists available, you will often be the first to hear about exclusive discounts.
🚐Park4night
Whilst this is great for wild parking they also advertise low cost campsites not normally found on Google and farmers fields. Top tip, use Google maps in conjunction with the app to see what's in the area to include additional images that might not be on park4night
🌲Forestry Scotland
They have opened a huge number of carparks across Scotland with a charge of £10 a night for a one night stay. Many come with facilities and are in some of the most beautiful locations.
💚Camping New Forest
With 11 campsites, completely in nature, across the New Forest with varying facilities which are reflected in the price. These are a collection of campsites we love. The perfect blend of wild parking and campsites and the ideal base from which to explore one of our favourite areas of the UK.
➡️ Britstops
An annual membership of around £45 that gives you access to over 1000 locations across the UK for overnight stays. Offers the opportunity to discover new areas and support local businesses in the process. Some spots are exclusive to Britstops so a worthwhile membership.
🚶🏼♀️All Trails
A catalogue of mapped walks which allow you the opportunity to explore the area you are in with guided walks. Discovering hidden gems is easier with a tour guide in your pocket.
💚National Trust
One of our favourite memberships. Discover the history and the wilds of the UK for brilliant days out, the carparks are also fab to use for the day with picnic opportunities a plentiful.
What tools, apps or websites do you use? Any we have missed?
We hope this helps with your own campervan adventures around the UK ☺️
7 Years of UK travel in a campervan and we've never left...we have discovered some real hidden gems on our adventures and we share them all with you. The UK has to so much to offer, you will be surprised what's right on your doorstep.
If you love nature, Vanlife, budget travel or simply exploring in the UK and don't know where to start then we have you covered.
Swipe left and follow along with our journey, we promise to share everything as we go.
Simple summer evenings 🍻 in the New Forest...Nature provides the fridge, so we bring the beers ☺️
When how you live veers off the path from the norm, it filters into everything you do. Friday nights out look a little different but that's what we love about it.
Taking something simple and letting nature make it magic...it doesn't get better.
I know travelling in a campervan our favourite thing should be seeing new places, the epic adventures, but honestly what we love most is taking old habits and turning them into new moments.
So this summer, let this be your inspiration...grab that picnic blanket and take yourself for a night out in nature 💚 Even better, get yourself to the New Forest 🙌🏽 its a trip you won't regret.
Lots of love
Old Gertie and the Gang 🫶🏽🚐
We are living proof you don't need a fancy expensive campervan to travel the UK...we are doing it in our 36 year old campervan, Old Gertie and she has taken us all over this little island! It's easy to think that Vanlife is all sprinter vans and VWs (we used to, in fact we had a VW before) but you don't need to worry, it's just hype. There are so many vintage Campervans touring the UK, you will be surprised. The parts aren't as hard to come by as people make you believe and the engines are so simple to work on, you can end up fixing things yourself! Why not swipe left and see where an old van like this can take you ❤️🚐
Why the rush to leave? After 7+ years of exploring the UK we are still finding absolutel gems on our travels. You have so many places to visit in England, Scotland and Wales...so much to explore and enjoy and we love sharing it with you all. Inspiring UK Travel is what we love and why we do what we do, there is so much adventure on our doorstep that so many people miss. If you have a campervan or just love the great outdoors then why not follow along on our adventures, hopefully we can help inspire or inform your very own travels of this little island ☺️🚐🫶🏽
Out on your campervan adventures this Summer? Then don't forget the New Forests epic coastline 🙌🏽 an area you won't want to miss on your visit to Hampshire...or England for that matter!
Sandy beaches, blue sea, what more can you ask for!
Whilst the countryside in New Forest is incredible, in part due to the free roaming animals you really can't miss the stunning coastline when you visit this area. It's as picturesque as you would imagine this area to boast.
📍Lepe Beach is just one example and possibly one of the best. With a huge stretch of coast to walk it's rich in history and spoiled in beauty.
A full day out is easily spent exploring this area, with platform walks, information points and world war remnants. It also has a cafe on stalks where you can pull up a chair with stunning sea views and enjoy a snack or a drink.
There is parking by the seafront (limited) or a huge car park just behind, with parking only costing £7 for the whole day it's easily a must see stop on your campervan adventures around the UK.
Travelling the UK for over a total of 7+ years we only recently discovered Lepe beach last year! How we missed it up until this point I will never know. Proof that even after all these years the UK still turns up hidden gems we knew nothing about.
One to add to your summer adventures...we hope you enjoy ☺️
- Old Gertie and the gang 🚐🫶🏽
Isn't the UK in summer such a vibe 🙌🏽 Campervan adventures around the UK are quite frankly magical in the Summer and if you have been following us for a while you know we are currently hooked on the New Forest 💚🧡
Can you blame us! So many cost effective places to stay (check out our recent reels) and so much to explore it's literally a giant nature playground.
Making the most of the great outdoors is what we love the most about this time of year. From sunrise to sunset, the UK is just the most awesome place to explore...we will eventually move on, but that's what we love about slow travel, we can take it at our own pace.
If you too, love all there is about the wilds of the UK then you are following the right account ☺️and if you aren't following along on our campervan adventures yet, then now's your chance 😉
One thing we've learned in living a simpler life through Vanlife is that you create a rich life when you seek the joy and celebrate it.
Life isn't perfect, the entire concept of that, a subjective ideal and not a reality.
However that doesn't mean you cant create a happy life inspite of the ebbs and flows. It's where you focus your energy that your life grows. If you constantly choose to shine a light on what goes wrong then that will become centre stage of what happens. Instead pay attention to what goes right. Seek joy.
Chase that sunset. Create that yummy food. Explore. Adventure. Live every moment like it's your last because as they say, life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.
This weekend we were very limited in what we could do in a hot van with two animals...but looking back it's hard to remember the sweaty struggle (which it was at times) when there were so many other moments of joy ☺️
We hope you all had a lovely weekend wether you were out adventuring in your campervan or keeping cool at home...here's to a great week.
Lots of love,
Old Gertie and the Gang 🚐🫶🏽
Save this post to find the £10 seaside campsite in Cornwall, Bude.
(A little reminder for those planning on going camping this summer in the UK)
If you like basic camping and prioritise location over facilities then this one's for you. A simple farmers field with the most epic sea view. The only facilities are one toilet and fresh water. Nothing else. But what more do you need? They allow Campervans and tents...even caravans but I warn you the farmers track you drive to access this epic spot is incredibly bumpy so be warned.
Pick up the west coast path (or the salt path as many now know it) and walk into Bude with it's free tidal pool or brave the more hilly inclines in the opposite direction.
No booking system, just pull up where you choose and in the evening the farmers will make their way around to pick up your £10.
We think this is the best campsite in Cornwall, we think you will too ☺️
What3words:///loose.gymnasium.visits
Anyone else? Or just me 🤷🏼♀️🤣 I see so many cool 'day in the life' Vanlife reels and every morning I vow to make my own...and fail! Living in a van, there is always something to be doing or seeing. Having not left the UK in two years I think it would be good for people to see what they day of Vanlife is in the UK but in all honesty I think the places we share are far more interesting ☺️Don't you?
If you haven't been to the New Forest in the UK then you do not know what you are missing! Free roaming animals go where they want and do what they want. It's truly one of the most unique places to visit in the UK, the kind of 'seeing is believing' type of place. Constant traffic jams but of a very different type happen daily here. Donkeys, cows, ponies...and sometimes pigs have the right to roam and roam they do. It's basically the UKs version of a free safari.
Seaside Suppers & Bargain Buys was the theme of this past weekend in Old Gertie ✨
Whilst the New Forest has a packed full countryside you don't want to miss out on the beautiful coastline too. Milford on Sea and Lepe Beach are our two favourite day spots. You can walk to Hurst Castle from the sea lane at Milford on Sea (it's free to park at the moment but charges are coming soon so now is a great time to visit). Lepe Beach is already chargeable but still makes the perfect place to park up in your campervan for the day to enjoy the area, worth every penny!
Which I think we've shown you how we save in the post 🤣but I mean, who doesn't love a bargain.
We didn't eat at a resteraunt but we had sushi by the sea. We didn't eat at a cafe but had a cooked breakfast in woods. Ok we did have a pint at the brewery but we also enjoyed a beer by the stream...you could call it a budget lifestyle but I see all the above as a luxury ☺️Value doesn't need to always be about price does it. Which just goes to show when we went to the bootsale, what someone was selling for 50p was actually worth sooo much more. We live in such a throw away world, people don't even know what they are missing out on.
I think what I loved most was when I picked up the red jug, the lady said how happy she was it was going to a good home. Which is exactly what our little ole Campervan is, a happy Vanlife home.
Oh and p.s. if you are travelling through Burley make sure you pick up some of their onsite brewed cider made from the apples in their orchard. It's delicious. If you checked out our most recent reel you will.also know it's a great place for a one night stop over.
Ok I think that's it from me ☺️thanks reading and we hope the budget luxury tips helped with your own campervan adventures in the New Forest.
Happy Vanlife 'ing
Lots of love,
Old Gertie & the gang 🫶🏻🚐
The UK has so much more to offer the people think. Holidays come around and everyone looks to book the first flight out of the UK without realising what they are missing. For the last two years we have explored the length and breadth of the UK in our campervan highlighting the value of budget travel and proving that adventures can be affordable whilst also feeling magical. Days out, overnight stays and good old fashioned camping are what we are about. So if you want to discover more of the UK this summer then why not follow along on our adventures, I think you'll be surprised at how much beauty is right on our doorstep.
Whilst we are a Vanlife channel that doesn't mean you need a van to enjoy what we do. Showcasing the best of the UK, you can choose to camp, air BnB or boon a hotel in any of the areas we share for your own extended visits or just rock up and enjoy for the day.
We hope it helps inspires your own holidays on this lovely little island 💚
This is one of our favourite overnight stays in the New Forest. A gorgeous field with so much space due to the limited number of Campervans allowed (two). Previously exclusive to Britstop members only (which makes this free with your membership) they have now opened it up to everyone for £10 a night. It's only available for a one night stay at a time but is bookable in advance.
Burley cider farm stay is a field which is next to their carpark where they allow overnight stays in your campervan. They have 24 hour toilets, fresh water, bins and electric hookup for an extra charge of £8.
This is a camp spot you have to add to your Vanlife adventures when visiting the New Forest. On the edge of Burley village this makes a fantastic stay if you want to explore but also the perfect location to just relax and enjoy the peaceful location.
The cider is made from apples in their orchard and comes in three huge barrels, dry, medium or sweet. You choose the size of your container and they fill it up on the spot. We went with the 4 Pinter for only £11.50...where else can you get a pint that cheap in a location like this!
The shop also stocks many more different bottled ciders and on our recent visit now also sells local honey in various forms.
With so much space and only two vans this feels like a private exclusive campsite at a fraction of the cost! Budget travel in the UK doesn't mean you need to sacrifice, this stay proves it.
I will add...mobile signal is very poor in Burley and the village so if you are a Bristop member we recommend screenshotting your details for check in.
& Make sure to call ahead, this a popular spot...which once you visit you will see why 💚
If you love slow travel Vanlife in the UK then I would humbley say...we might just be the account you've been looking for. Having lived and travelled for over two years now in our campervan Old Gertie we haven't once yet left the UK. Our slow travels adventures have taken us far and wide on this little island and we are still finding so much to explore. Taking our time, soaking it up as we go, it's amazing our rich the journey becomes once you slow the pace. If you too enjoy the calming moments that living in nature can bring and want to discover the UK through someone else's eyes, why not follow along with your journey?
Lots of love,
Old Gertie and the Gang 🚐🫶🏻
Welcome to Bucklers Hard in the New Forest, a spot you HAVE to add to your campervan adventures when in the area. This was our first time visiting and we have been to the New Forest sooo many times, don't make the same mistake we did and almost miss out on visiting this spot.
Bucklers Hard is historically a ship building village right on the banks of one of the worlds only privately owned estuaries, the river Beauliegh. Despite the many historical buildings you can enter for free and the array of picnic benches also available this is actually a living village. What a place to live! Wow.
You can even still get a drink or a bite to eat in the good old fashioned boozer right at the end of the village. A true transportation in time 🙌🏽
Alongside the free cottage, chapel and outbuilding you can explore there is also a museum at a charge...top tip, look out for the discount code as you explore for money off your entry to the museum.
Parking for your campervan is chargeable however if you don't mind a stroll through nature you can park in Beauliegh and walk the 2 mile tow path which connects the two villages.
Round the corner you also have Hatchets Pond which is one of our favourite places for a picnic as the wild animals LOVE this spot.
So many people who enjoy Vanlife skip this area due to the ban on wild parking but for us, a chargeable campsite is worth it when the free entertainment is plentiful.
I hope this helps when planning your own Vanlife adventures, it's stops like this that makes the journey so wonderful 💚
Lots of love
Old Gertie and the gang 🚐🫶🏻
July we have lots of plans but we are in no rush because I think we've unlocked the next level of slow travel this month 🤗We don't want to leave & can you blame us? Vanlife in the New Forest delivers everything you could want without hours or miles of driving in between.
Just this last week alone has shown us that yet again. This time we popped into Lymington, the old market town considered the gateway to the New Forest and explored the cobbled streets and stalls. We finally went strawberry picking which we've been promising ourselves we would do, at Goodalls farm. Picnic walks along the ornamental drive, evenings eating in the sunshine and wild animals for neighbours.
Vanlife living in it's perfection 🙌🏽Now this probably makes us the worst Vanlife travel account to follow as we aren't showing/sharing lots of new spots but hopefully it also shows you that this way of life doesn't need to be a race. You can take your time soaking up the moments and enjoying the campervan adventures as they unfold.
Where will July take us, we have an idea but if you've followed us for a while you will know...we are useless at sticking to plans.
The UK has so much to offer and so many places to explore, we are spoiled for choice 💚
Lots of love
The Old Gertie Gang 🚐🫶🏻
Home becomes more than just a campervan when you live Vanlife 💚 Living in a small space you find yourself spending more time outside then you ever did in a house. With the warmer evenings and the late setting sun, camping overnight in the middle of nature and relaxing until last light has been a daily occurrence for us recently. It's one of the many things we love about Vanlife living, the simple moments that feel the most magic. On Monday evening just gone, The New Forest free roaming ponies idled past us, without a second glance, just happily living their life undisturbed by everything around them. It was a contagious calming feeling ✨ one that reminds us why we chose this life in the first place. It wasnt to chase a rich life, instead a valuable one. With time over money & moments over things 💚🚐
Want to know the ins and outs, the ups and downs, the tips and tricks to Vanlife in the UK? Well we've been living it for two years now and have never left. I reckon that makes us pretty well versed on how Vanlife works in the UK, don't you? Check out our page to discover more? Are you wanting to explore the UK on your own campervan adventures? Then I think you will find, you've found the page you were looking for ☺️🚐
Why would we need too? Vanlife in the UK is incredible. You don't have to travel far and there is so much to see. From coastline to countryside the UK really does have it all & we love it. If you want to discover the UK in a campervan then we have all you need on our page to create your very own travel itinerary. Vanlife isn't easier then Europe but that doesn't make it impossible and we share all the budget ways to enjoy exploring the UK in your very own home on wheels. Check out our page and why not follow along on our journey. We share where we go so you can too 🚐
Slow Summer Days...this is what makes Vanlife for us 💛and the New Forest is just magical at this time of year. Everywhere you look there is something to enjoy. The flourish of nature and wildlife collide at this time of year to make you feel like you stepped into a living postcard. As my previous reel said...it's like taking your campervan on a free UK safari wherever you travel. Every carpark, every campsite becomes an animal watching dream. Added to the fact the forest is scattered with quaint little villages to explore you never run out of things to do. Have you been to Bucklers Hard yet? Wow! This one blew us away.
The one thing we love most about the New Forest is despite it being such a popular spot to explore in the UK you don't have to wander far to find your one slice of paradise. Be it a paddle in a stream, a beer under the dappled sunlight in the woods or just a picnic on the open heathland. It will feel like it's just you and the world.
Slow travel, simple living that's why we love Vanlife and the New Forest is just a dream. So for now we aren't moving because travel isnt just about how far you go, it's how much you soak up as you explore and we are living life like a couple of sponges 🫶🏻
Have you been to the New Forest yet? If not then let this be your sign to get yourself here. It's a destination no one should miss on your campervan adventures around the UK.
Lots of love,
The Old Gertie Gang x
A wild and free safari for the perfect day out in your campervan. With endless drives and free to park for the day nature and wildlife filled carparks 📍 The New Forest in Hampshire is a dream destination on your Vanlife travels. Its the only place in the UK where you will find free roaming Donkeys, cows, ponies and pigs. You will also see deer in their plentiful and seals in the middle of a village if you're lucky!
It's truly a wildlife dream. Without fences to hold the animals in they will cross the road right in front of your campervan. It's very much their land and you are just travelling through it 💚
Exploring the UK in your campervan, you will not find another place like this. It's truly a Vanlife dream.
For hundreds of years the 'commoners' of the New Forest hold the right to offer all their animals free grazing. Which you will find if you choose to stay overnight at any of the camping new forest sites, the animals will be your neighbours.
Experiencing nature so up close is something you have to experience first hand. We highly recommend visiting in Spring as you will also get to see the baby animals who are, quite frankly, just too cute!
Secure & wild camping hidden in the woods of the New Forest in the UK. Surrounded by free roaming animals. From only £12.30 a night, you get access, through a locked gate (details given when booking online through @campingnewforest , see end of caption) to a clearing in the middle of the woods. Choose to park your campervan anywhere and settle yourself into nature. This truly is a spot Vanlife dreams are made of.
Surrounded by trees the air is filled with bird song and wild deer, ponies and donkeys freely roam around you. A slice of peaceful, quiet heaven, where you can relax in the wild nature of the great British countryside.
It's overnight camp spots like this that set the bar in the UK. They have everything you need when out on a Vanlife adventure, bins, water and even a chemical waste point.
📍Longbeech Wild Campsite, run by Camping New Forest, ADULTS ONLY. *Chemical toilet is required to stay, if you need to put up a toilet tent that is included in the price - Save for your next campervan travels around the UK or share it with someone you think would love this spot as much as we do.
(P.S please abide to the New Forest code)
Our biggest lesson from Vanlife and not having left the UK in two years, is just how lucky we are to call this home.
Travelling around the UK fills you with so much gratitude at how much beauty this little island holds.
I know so many aren't happy with the time limits they face in Europe and how it impacts their Vanlife travels but I think that makes people forget how amazing it is to be able to spend as long as you could possibly want in the UK. Exploring, discovering, adventuring as far and wide as you choose.
What a privilege it truly is to call the UK home.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeadventures
Vanlife living makes you appreciate the outdoors in ways we never used too. Going for a drink takes on a whole new meaning 🤗 Especially when camped up right next to the sea. Countryside or Coastline, the UK is just stunning.
The simple life is amazing, it let's you see the luxuries in things you would have once never thought of. I think that's a part of Vanlife we love the most, you can make everyday a special occasion. Especially when you are parked up in places like this.
Whether it be taking a picnic on a walk, hanging some fairy lights around a picnic table for your evening dinner, sitting in the grass cooking a BBQ or just climbing some rocks to enjoy the view... romanticising simple moments is magical ✨
Another reason this way of life gets our vote, simple luxuries make you feel rich everyday ❤️
#simplehappylife
Vanlife living can fool you into thinking it needs to be an endless roadtripping adventure. It can make you think that unless your ticking off destinations then you are not giving the effort this life deserves. Yet this week was just another reminder to us why we love slow teavel. Slowing the pace creates the gratitude you need to fuel you forward. We've sat in the grass and cooked, we chased moonlight and sunrises. We've taken it slow but feel like we've lived so much. That's what happens when you slow everything down, when you give your presence to the moment. Every little thing becomes magic.
Setting out alarms for 4am this morning to see the sunrise on Friday the 13th felt like the perfect way to remind life...it can throw what it wants our way but our perspective remains untainted.
Tomorrow's problems are still waiting but for now we are living rich.
Rich in moments every single day.
Lots of love
The Old Gertie Gang
X
#slowtravel #simplehappylife #vanlifeuk
Wow, we were blown away. Not only is Cannock Chase in the Midlands of England one of the most beautiful places to visit, the Tackeroo campsite feels like it's best kept secret. For only £15 a night you can park up in the middle of the forest with bins, grey water disposal, fresh water and zero pitches...which means finding your spot amongst the canopy of trees be it next to one of the freely provided picnic benches or tucked away into a corner. Rich in World war 1 and 2 history, surrounded by nature, this is truly a gem for those who love the great outdoors. You can explore for miles by foot on the endless footpaths, visit memorial sites, old military training grounds or jump on your bike and trial the multiple mountain bike tracks that are readily available. A must stop spot for your campervan adventures in the UK.
#vanlifeuk #campinguk #campsitesuk #budgettravel #visitengland #cannockchase
Want Budget Friendly Campervan Travel in the UK? Then we have you covered. We live full-time Vanlife in our 36 year old campervan and we travel all around the UK sharing the best spots to stay overnight that are AlWAYS value for money.
Want to plan your own Vanlife adventures? Then why not check out our page and follow along on as we explore and share all the hidden gems of the UK.
#travekuk #exploreuk #vanlifeuk
*Only available to Campervans, this is the overflow carpark so is also used by patrons during opening hours so make sure you call ahead before arriving (also on park4night, search4sites and Britstops) - 📍The Saracens Head pub in Staffordshire know how to make you feel welcome...finding places like this is why we love Vanlife in the UK. You will see from some of our recent reels that we have been blown away with what the Midlands have to offer.
This pub allows you to stay overnight in their overflow carpark which has a gate directly into their gorgeous beer garden and a field filled with lamas right next door. Here comes the clincher...they even do a food and drinks takeaway menu so if you don't fancy eating or drinking in you can enjoy all the delights at your van. 2 for 1 pizzas run all week, with a steak deal on a Thursday. They even do cocktails to take away!
The staff were so lovely and they couldn't make you feel more welcome, the pub even opens for breakfast so if you didn't fancy an evening treat one is available in the morning.
What I love the most is they don't demand you spend to stay but when the offering is so generous it feels easy to give something back.
One to add to your Vanlife adventures...with the Shugborough Estate (free to NT members) only a 16 minute drive away this is a great stopover to round off a day out.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeadventures
SCOTLAND FREE VANLIFE OVERNIGHT PARKING CAMPING SPOTS WE COULDN’T BELIEVE EXISTED 😮🏴
Perched on the edge of the sea, with views you’d pay a fortune for… yet this Vanlife spot is completely free 👇
🚐 Vanlife Overnight park-up at Isle of Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway
✅ Free toilet
✅ Free chemical waste
✅ Free fresh drinking water
🍻 Pub with its own brewery
🎶 Live music on weekends
😋 Delicious food
…And it’s all vanlife-friendly.
This is just 1 of over many incredible locations we’ve pinned on our Scotland Google Map, created for campervan, motorhome, and road trippers who want unforgettable stops without the stress.
💥 Download our Scotland Vanlife digital map for £12.99
🗺️ Plan your entire Vanlife trip in minutes
🔗 Link in bio to get yours today!
#vanlifeuk #vanlifescotland
Bringing you up to speed...or slowing it down I should say 🤣 Slow Vanlife travel activated.
After an abrupt end to our midlands adventures and spending a week trying to figure out how to manage Old Gertie's issues (when you live in your campervan it's not easy to just drop it off with the mechanic. It's our home on wheels after all) feeling ill and reversing into a post we decided it was time to recalerbrate.
We've had some amazing offers of help with Old Gertie (I won't bore you with the details of her seized screw) which we are so grateful for and we know it's not a big problem. However sometimes lots of little things add up and thats when things can get overwhelming. All just part of living in a campervan, life still lifes at you sometimes.
So rather than scramble our heads more trying to work out the logistics we decided to just do nothing 🤣Probably not the best way to handle things but it works for us.
Being in nature is what we love most about Vanlife and slowing everything down and just loosing ourselves for a while is the quickest way to recharge our perspective and clear our heads.
I know a lot of vanlifers don't like campsites and more often than not, many are on the go, go, go. I just don't think we are cut out for the fast pace. Which kinda helps that we live in an old campervan...fast isn't in her vocab. We love a campsite to just have your own little space for a while. Plus it means we get to put the awning up which makes us feel spoiled with space.
For now, we are just taking each day as it comes. Taking gratitude from the simple life and enjoying the little moments.
Life will root you sometimes but it's your focus which feeds what will flourish. We are counting our blessings, of which there are many and enjoying the living part of what Vanlife offers.
Everything will get resolved and all the little niggles will be sorted...but for now that's a tomorrow's problem. We just haven't yet decided which tomorrow that will be 🤣
Lots of love,
The Old Gertie Gang x
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving
Full-time Vanlife for Two Years and we haven't left the UK. Living and traveling in our tiny home on wheels, we share the whole adventure with you. Where to go, where to stay, places to visit and things to do...along with all the ups and downs and ins and outs of what living Vanlife in the UK involves.
If you like the idea of an adventure lifestyle or want ideas as to how to get outside more and explore the UK then why not follow along on our adventures ☺️
#vanlifeuk #vanconversions #vanbuild #budgettravel #exploreuk #getoutsidemore
Days out are just as important on your Vanlife adventures as they are places to stay...at least they are for us ☺️ For only £8 per person or £13.60 for a joint monthly membership, the National Trust is a key part of our Campervan tool kit. Whilst you can't stay overnight, you are welcome to park up for the day in some of the most beautiful surroundings. We recently visited the Shugborough estate which was easily one of our most favourite days out on this trip. Set within acres of Greenland you can choose to roam the estate, keep your eyes peeled for wild deer. Visit the mansion house, if you don't have a dog with you. Or if like us you have a pooch in tow you can spend hours exploring the formal gardens which are filled with sculptures and so many flowering shrubs we lost count...this time of year is literally a rainbow of colour. They even have a farm onsite with a lovely little cafe. If that wasn't enough you can also visit the kitchen garden famous for growing pineapples all those years ago. Pack a picnic because it's easy to get lost for the entire day!
As we travel we love to support local businesses and whilst the National Trust may not be local your membership goes towards paying for the upkeep and maintenance of these beautiful sites, without which would and could be lost. By scanning your card for a day at Shugborough estate they are able to gain £3.87 towards these costs for this particular location.
We have had countless days out through the National Trust and they have been a key part of our Vanlife travels. We hope by sharing it helps you make the most of your own travels around the UK as you explore this fabulous island.
#vanlifeuk #campervanadventures #ukdaysout #nationaltrustgardens #nationaltrust #exploreuk #traveluk
Wow, we were blown away. Not only is Cannock Chase in the Midlands of England one of the most beautiful places to visit, the Tackeroo campsite feels like it's best kept secret. For only £15 a night you can park up in the middle of the forest with bins, grey water disposal, fresh water and zero pitches...which means finding your spot amongst the canopy of trees be it next to one of the freely provided picnic benches or tucked away into a corner. Rich in World war 1 and 2 history, surrounded by nature, this is truly a gem for those who love the great outdoors. You can explore for miles by foot on the endless footpaths, visit memorial sites, old military training grounds or jump on your bike and trial the multiple mountain bike tracks that are readily available. A must stop spot for your campervan adventures in the UK.
#vanlifeuk #campinguk #campsitesuk #budgettravel #visitengland #cannockchase
Full-time Vanlife living in the UK...we are proof it's not only possible, it's amazing! Exploring the UK from wild camping, budget campsites and more we share the best places to vanlife across the UK. Intrigued by the lifestyle or just got the taste for travel then why not follow along with our journey and discover all the UK has to offer 💚
#vanlifeuk #campervanlifestyle #vanlifestyle #uktravel
Vanlife in the UK is magical, you just have to know how to do it. We've been living full-time in our campervan for two years and haven't once left the UK. Sure it's not as easy as it maybe in Europe but that doesn't mean Vanlife in the UK is impossible. We share all the tips, tricks and hacks we use to make the most out of this way of life. Planning your own campervan adventures in the UK? Then our page might just be everything you've been looking for.
#vanlifeuk #traveluk #vanlife #vanlifedreams
It's easy to see why when you do 👀 Vanlife in the UK isn't as hard as people think. We share our magic formula with Vanlife friendly places to stay and amazing places to visit all around the UK. If you live or travel in your campervan and want to find out how to get the most from Vanlife then why not follow along with our journey. We've been living full-time Vanlife in the UK for two years now and we've been sharing it all with you ☺️
#vanlifeuk #exploreuk #vanlifeadventures #campervanlifestyle #vanlifescotland #takerisks #chaseyourdreams
We haven't left the UK! Vanlife in the UK has more to offer then you might think. If you want to know all the tips, tricks and life hacks to living Vanlife in the UK then why not check out our page. We might not have a life plan but we live everyday to the maximum and that's good enough for us. Who knows where we will be in ten years time, we don't even know where we will be tomorrow and that's all part of living Vanlife and we love it ❤️
#vanlifeliving #vanlifeuk #vanlifemovement #fulltimevanlife
📍Reedham Ferry Inn Camping in the 💙of the Norfolk broads.
For as little as £17 you get all the facilities including showers with the use of the slipway and river side fishing. Electric hookup is also available at an extra charge. Peaceful, tranquil, a little slice of heaven.
The sunsets are also a sidenote to mention, due to the landscape we caught so many absolute stunners 🧡
One to add to your campervan adventures around the UK, you won't be disappointed.
#campinguk #vanlifeuk #visitnorfolk
We haven't left in two years! We live and love Vanlife in the UK. This island is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!! So many hidden gems, so many unexplored spaces. Vanlife for us is so much more than being able to park for free. It's living a life of adventure, having the freedom to explore, discovering new and exciting places. The UK is rich in history and covered in some of the most beautiful countryside you could wish to visit, added to this a never ending shoreline that completely encapsulates this entire space. I mean how lucky are we to get to live and travel in such a stunning location. So whilst others like to complain, we will forever combat that perspective with our everyday living...because life isn't what's served to you, it's how you choose to eat it ☺️🤣 Happy Vanlife adventures beautiful people x
#vanlifeuk #nomadiclifestyle #ukvanlife
Follow the adventure 😎 because that's what everyday is, living in a van. It's a life of the unknown, no real direction aside from the one the van takes us in. We are taught to make plans, to follow specific paths but why? We all know life rarely turns out how you expect it too so why not just enjoy the journey. At 40, with my other half, cat and dog we decided to risk it all and live life for the everyday. Travelling around the UK enjoying the simple way of life Vanlife offers. Who knows where we will end up...follow along with our journey to find out ☺️
#vanlifeuk #takerisks #liveoutsidethebox
Full-time Living in a Vintage Campervan, meet Old Gertie. Our 36 year old home on wheels. Just a couple in our 40's with our dog and cat, trundling around the UK living life in the wilds of nature. We love slow travel and vintage vibes, takes you back to more of a simpler way of life and we love it. Why not check out our page to see what life is like living in a vintage camper...its an adventure in more ways then one ☺️
#vintagevibes #vintageinterior #vintagecamper #vanlifeideas #vanlifedreams
Living in a vintage campervan it only makes sense to fill it with vintage things. We've been slowly building our collection (of treasures as I call them) from scouring charity shops along the way on our vanlife travels. I love a bargain and I love oldy worldy things...hence our home on wheels 🤣. The quality is so much better than modern mass produced items and brings a uniqueness that I love. Poor Trist, he must look at these modern, sleek designed vans on the road and feel like he's living with his nan 😂, jokes he loves the vintage vibes as much as me (based on the fact he's had no choice 😉). What do you think? Bargains? Are you a secret charity shop scavenger too? I LOVE IT...and even manage to drag Trist along with me now as I introduced him to the upsale part of it. We found a 50s glassware set for £3 (not to keep) that resells for upto £60!
A huge part of living Vanlife is making memories and I feel like each piece has it's own little story ☺️ Who wants me to share future finds? Or shall I get back to the travel content 🤣😬
#vintagevibes #vintageinterior #charityshopfinds #vanlifestyle #vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving
Vanlife living in a nutshell for us 💛 Realising that no point is sometimes the whole point. We plan for big adventures but it's often the smallest moments which matter most. Never will you feel more gratitude for what you have then when you learn to live with less. Its not a trick, it's not magic, it's just fact 🫶🏻🚐
#simplelifehappylife #vanlife #simpleliving #simplejoys #littlemoments #vanlifeliving
The balance of Vanlife living in a 36 year old campervan...we don't make the plans, Old Gertie does 🤣
We last left you at our pub stopover in Chester where we had picked up the pace from our usual slow travel and were on a roadtrip. However the issues we suspected a few weeks back returned and Old Gertie has started grumbling a little more. A trip back to our mechanics revealed she needs her fuel mix adjusted however the screw is rusted in place. So we have some lubricant on it to see if we can wriggle it, if not it might be a whole new carburettor. She's still driving just with a bit of attitude so we have just been taking it slow, bimbling from one wild camping spot to the next.
The weather has turned this week and I (Kez) got hit with a stinking cold so we have just been taking it day by day. We will just figure it out as we go ☺️
Vanlife living, is a balance and a juggle, just all part of having a home on wheels. Sometimes we are living it up in fabulous locations whilst other times we are just working around obstacles.
This is an adventure way of life be it in a new or old van, having a plan or no plan, it's unpredictable which is kind of why we love it. You never know what's around the corner, what's next or where you are going and there's something quite freeing when you relax into that. It forces your perspective to focus on the little moments and then even when life is Life'ing you are still forever grateful for the life you're living.
Old Gertie we love you 🫶🏻
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving #vanlifejournal
#vanlifejournal
Vanlife in the UK still offers the chance to explore the world -📍Biddulph Gardens in Stoke on Trent
*Free with a National Trust membership
The perfect day out and a must stop spot to add to your campervan adventures around the UK. We feel, living or travelling in your campervan, it's as much about what you do and where you go in the day as it is about where you stay.
Top tip, we often use our Britstops membership for overnight stays when visiting a National Trust location as there are often a few close by.
#nationaltrustgardens #nationaltrust #ukexplore #exploreuk #vanlifeuk #daysout #visitengland
Our Home 🚐 and it's various set ups ⛺ Vanlife living can be as changeable as the seasons and that's why we love it. We have a few different set ups we use. When we are on a road trip adventure it's a simple set up of just two packaway camping chairs and not much else. It's all you need when on the go ☺️When we slow travel we use either our day awning or our bell tent awning, both work well for different reasons but give us the chance to spread our a little. We also switch it up with better chairs, a gas BBQ, make a bit of a camping set up.
That's also another benefit to living Vanlife solely in the UK, you can have additional Vanlife equipment in storage or left with a friend or relative which you can swap in and out when needed.
We are currently in our road trip era these last few weeks but feel some slow travel upon us, big question is do we go...bedroom in the bell tent or living room in the awning?
#vanlifeuk #campervanlifestyle #campinglife⛺️ #outdoorliving
Two overnight spots and two days out...we've packed it into this post ☺️. I honestly don't know where the time goes, one thing is for sure roadtripping over slow travel it's very easy to forget what day it is and for yesterday to feel like last week. Constantly moving there is so much to see and do it's both a treat and a test for the senses 🤣. These were a brilliant 48 hours where everything just seemed to work, the overnight spots we picked were incredible and even when we were faced with Frank not being allowed in the gardens the universe threw us a bone with the beautiful county park 💚🌿
📍Saracens Head in Stafford. They not only allow but welcome with open arms overnight stays in the overflow field carpark behind the beer garden. There's even a gate between the two so you can walk straight from your van into the pub. The staff couldn't be more welcoming and the pub was stunning. They have a grill night offer on a Wednesday, a burger offer on a Thursday and a buy one get one free offer on takeaway pizzas all week. Oh yes! They do takeaway food and drinks too so you can take your treats straight to your van if you choose.
📍The Plough in Chester. A lovely little quiet pub buried in the countryside where you are allowed to stay in the huge carpark opposite the beer garden. A quiet location with a lovely laid back atmosphere. The pub garden is huge and a real sun trap well into the evening. So quiet overnight it was one of our best nights sleep yet.
☎️ Call ahead for both of the above to check they have space
🌿Biddulph Gardens and Biddulph Country Park are two spots to visit as you travel in between these two locations...hands down one of favourite National Trust spots to date.
However as is always the way with us, this morning was the morning all our plans changed once again. We will fill you in on the next update 🚐☺️
Happy Sunday and we you are all enjoying your own Vanlife adventures 🫶🏻
Vanlife adventures around the UK are just as much about how you spend your days alongside where you stay. The National Trust do all the hardwork for you so no planning needed, just open your map, type in National Trust and voila you have a whole host of venues to choose from. For only 26p a day, cheaper if you have a joint membership, you get free access to so many incredible locations. This was Biddulph gardens in Stoke on Trent, a Victorian garden with themed sections throughout. A quirky playful paradise as the National Trust describes it ☺️. This one doesn't allow dogs however if you walk right from the entrance, up the road for about five minutes you will find the country park with rivers, bridges, waterfalls and more. The perfect way to tire out your pup before exploring the gardens.
Have you been here before? If not we couldn't recommend it enough, so much to see and do, it's the perfect day out 🚐
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeadventures #ukgardens #biddulphgrange #visitengland #budgettravel #exploreengland
📍Lotmead PYO farm in Swindon is an overnight stay exclusive to Britstops. Not on any other apps, you are only able to stay here as part of your Britstops membership which costs £44 a year, per vehicle. You aren't obligated to spend with the business which makes your stay completely free. However we have found the best stays make it easy to give back. For example this farm is a PYO farm that offers the opportunity to pay to pick your own strawberries which you can then enjoy back at your van in the middle of a huge grassy field. The field is used for general parking in the day but once the farm closes at 5pm, the gates are locked and you have it all to yourself with any other Campervans staying. There's also a farm shop onsite. With toilets, grey waste disposal, bins and fresh water this stop has everything a wild campsite would offer. You can also pay a fee for electric hook up if you need it! You can only stay for one night at a time but you can return as many times as you want throughout the year making this one of our new must stop stays on any of our adventures that take us through or near Swindon. Are you a Britstops member? We think 12p a day is worth it for stays like this, don't you?
#vanlifeuk #britstops #campervanuk #exploreuk #traveluk #overnightstay #britishholiday #budgettravel #ukholiday
Two years full-time Travel and we haven't left the UK. In fact in our five years of Vanlife travel we did before that we didn't leave the UK either. Whilst everyone else jumps straight across to Europe we have stayed on this little island, exploring, adventuring and discovering all there is to enjoy. You could call us outdoor lovers because that's where you will most likely find us 💚Somewhere out in nature, soaking up the wilds of the countryside. That's why we love our National Trust membership so much. It gives you access to some of the most fabulous locations and only a small cost each month makes each visit entirely free.
Discovering all the UK has to offer is a delight, being able to share it with you all is an absolute joy. Let's celebrate this little island...there is so much to explore.
If you want to see where our travels take us next then why not follow along with our journey 🚐
#uktravel #exploreuk #nationaltrust #nationaltrustmember #ukexplore #visitengland #traveluk #fulltimetravel
Catching you up to speed on our Vanlife adventures. This is why we love the UK, even after 5 years of Vanlife travel and 2 years living full-time Vanlife we are still finding unexplored places in the UK. We are guilty of bypassing the midlands many times on our way up to Scotland and I have no valid reason as to why. Apart from the fact we had no idea how much beauty it held. Everyday has been a oooo or an ahhhh day and we can't wait to share it all with you. Our first stop was the Tackeroo campsite which at only £15 in the middle of the wilds is a bargain and absolutely stunning with the loveliest warden on site (make sure you say hi to Adam from us ☺️). Chemical waste points, water, bins...what more do you need. So so quiet in the week when we were there, apparently a little busier at the weekend but it's easy to see why. So much to explore from one spot, we could have spent much longer there. A site we will 100% be returning too. However with so much to do and see in the area it was time to head on our way with a visit to our first National Trust spot in Staffordshire. The Shugborough estate was a treat for all the senses, a spot you can easily spend a whole day at so make sure you pack a picnic. Did you notice the deer on the drive in? After a stunning day exploring we found a business on park4night which allowed overnight stays for free in their field, right next to their lamas. No obligation to spend and the most welcoming staff. The midlands know how to do it. After two cheeky pints each we set up next to our van and enjoyed the evening sunset over the lama field. I will share all the details for this spot in an upcoming post so make sure you keep your eyes peeled ☺️
Happy Vanlife/Campervan adventures beautiful people x
#vanlifeuk #exploreuk #cannockchase #vanlifeadventures #traveluk #outdoorlifestyle
Wow, we were blown away. Not only is Cannock Chase in the Midlands of England one of the most beautiful places to visit, the Tackeroo campsite feels like it's best kept secret. For only £15 a night you can park up in the middle of the forest with bins, grey water disposal, fresh water and zero pitches...which means finding your spot amongst the canopy of trees be it next to one of the freely provided picnic benches or tucked away into a corner. Rich in World war 1 and 2 history, surrounded by nature, this is truly a gem for those who love the great outdoors. You can explore for miles by foot on the endless footpaths, visit memorial sites, old military training grounds or jump on your bike and trial the multiple mountain bike tracks that are readily available. A must stop spot for your campervan adventures in the UK.
#vanlifeuk #campinguk #campsitesuk #budgettravel #visitengland #cannockchase
The beautiful thing about having a home on wheels, you can go wherever your heart takes you. Which for us meant ditching our plans of touring the South coast and instead heading North...and we are so pleased we did as we have ended up in area we have NEVER been to before. Proof that there is still so much to explore. This area feels entirely untapped and barely shared by anyone which we intend to change. This is why we love Vanlife in the UK, just when you think you've seen it all, you discover somewhere new. We can't wait to share it with you all, a definite must to add to your Vanlife travel lists.
We are staying in this area now until Friday, after which...I mean who knows! We could end up anywhere 🤣In the meantime we hope you are all having a lovely week and enjoying this glorious sunshine May is delivering so far.
Happy Vanlife adventures from the gang (👫🏼🐶🐱) and Old Gertie 🚐❤️
P.S the campsite we stayed at in the New Forest is called Longbeech, it's £12.50.during the week and is adults only.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving #traveluk #exploringoutdoors #visitengland #vanlifeadventures
Vanlife living when we aren't slow travelling means we have zero direction, no plans and can end up anywhere we choose. I will be honest it's an incredible freedom but also one that can be slightly overwhelming. We often find ourselves in a park4night rabbit hole, even after living full-time Vanlife for 2 years...everyday is a school day! However it's a brilliant reminder to live fully present in the moment. Take each day as it comes and enjoy the adventure 🙌🏻 (and to always have back up spots, we found a gem shared in today's stories).
That's exactly why we love to switch it up every now and again. One month in a field then back on the road exploring. The change in pace makes you refocus your perspective and constantly challenge how you approach life.
In between the travel we like to soak up the day and morning coffees like this are something we find so much gratitude in 🚐💙appreciating the little things is exactly why we love Vanlife.
Where to next? Who knows but we will be sure to take you along for the adventure.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving #nomadiclife #morningcoffee☕️ #morningslikethis
We are off...Living in a van means your life can change shape as and when you choose. For us the past month that has meant living in a field. For now though (we left this spot on Sunday) it's back to the OG way of vanlife'ing and we are road tripping, wild camping. We've been loving it so far. Doing wild camping 100% of the time wasn't for us, after living this way for almost two years now you learn what you like. We like variety. Some slow paced travels at farmer fields or campsites then picking up the speed for little adventures wild camping and pub parking. So far we have been bimbling along the south coast. Old Gertie needed a new filter, which we fitted ourselves...that was a tricky one, figuring out where to go to pull out old Gertie's engine. Not ideal in a carpark 😂but we figured it out. As is always the way with Vanlife, nothing goes to plan but it always works out in the end ☺️.
We will share more of where our adventures take us and what things we find along the way...but for now, we hope you have a fab weekend 🚐❤️
#vanlifeliving #vanlifeuk #ourhomeonwheels #nomadiclife
It's not true what they say! Full-time Vanlife in the UK is not only possible, it's amazing. Using a mix of wild camping, farmers fields, incentivised parkups, budget campsites etc you can easily live this way full-time. We have for almost two years now, proof is in the pudding as they say ☺️ If you want to know what it's like living full-time Vanlife in the UK then why not follow along with our journey.
I'm Kez and together with my fiance Trist, our dog Frank and Murphy our cat...we live in a 36 year old Talbot express campervan. Old Gertie. Proving that not all dreams come with a high price tag.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving #vanlifeadventures #nomadiclife #campervanlife #campinglife #uktravel #ukexplore
Save this post, Details at the end of the caption 👇🏻...Farmers fields 🙌🏻(those that are opened to the public that is, not just every farmers field ☺️) The perfect middle ground for those who don't feel comfortable wild camping/parking and those who don't want the hustle and bustle of a full facilty campsite. Often without facilities or the basic ones if they do have them, farmers fields are the perfect option for overnight stays in the middle of nature. Low cost, they feel like a slice of luxury for those who have all the facilities they need in their van. We've found some absolute corkers in the two years we've been living on the road, many we've gone back to time and time again. Supporting local, enjoying nature and loosing the crowds they are a firm favourite of ours. We find all of ours through @park4night often listed under the tractor symbol but some under the tent symbol so make sure you check them all. Spring and Summer is the best time to visit as some do close for the winter. This one featured is a spot in Cornwall just up from Bude for £10 a night owned by the loveliest farmers you could wish to meet. It has a path straight to the beach and a porcelain toilet for those without and a fresh water tap. The 📍 What3words:///loose.gymnasium.visits
It does get busy at the weekends but as there are no allocated pitches it's easy to find yourself a stunning spot. During the week you have the field almost entirely to yourselves.
If you are visiting Cornwall and are looking for a place to camp then we highly recommend this spot. The south west coastal path runs right along the bottom of the field and in only 30 minutes you can walk to Bude which has a beach (voted one of the best in the UK) with it's very own, donation based, tidal pool.
#vanlifeuk #exploreuk #vanlifeadventures #vanlifedreams #cornwalluk #visitcornwall #explorecornwall
Tomorrow we are off again, but where? Living in a van doesn't mean you have to non-stop travel. You get to set the pace. For us, so far this year, that meant living in the woods for three months and then living by the sea for the past one. Constantly moving isn't why we wanted to live Vanlife, to have the option too is our why. We find stunning spots and live in them as long as our hearts desire. Then when we crave something new, we move on. We still get to explore, we still travel the UK, but with this being a full-time way of life and not a holiday...what's the rush ☺️
#vanlifeuk #slowlivingmovement #simplelifestyle
Hopefully this explains it 🤗🚐This is what we mean by sleeping in the carparks. I'm pretty sure they imagine us parked up in the local Tesco's 🤣This is the Glencoe ski resort carpark. It's donation based with toilets and hot showers for £1. They even have waste disposal at an extra charge. Driving the A82 is our favourite road in Scotland and being able to park up in the middle of it with 360 degree views of the mountains you can't ask for much more. With the Glen etive drive (Skyfall road) and the hidden valley hike only a stones throw away you are positioned perfectly to explore and enjoy all that Glencoe has to offer. There's also a dog friendly ski lift you can take to the top of the mountain or if you enjoy a hike like us you can follow the trail all the way up to the top where the views are even more spectacular if you can believe that. Lots more incredible places to see and visit just a stones throw from here, if you want any tips or recommendations then just let us know 🚐☺️
#vanlifescotland #glencoe #vanlifeuk #visitscotland #exploreuk #vanlifeadventures
Vanlife living in Cornwall for the month of April, we've had all the seasons and even a storm but we've also had some absolute belters of beautiful weather. A mixed bag, as is life 🤗 just grateful as ever we get to live it as an adventure. Almost into May, where does the time go! Who's got plans for the upcoming months? Where are you headed? With the whole of the UK as our oyster it can sometimes be hard to pick where to go...turning to you guys for some inspiration ☺️🫶🏻🚐❤️
#vanlifeuk #slowtravel #exploringuk #cornwalllife #cornwalluk
Vanlife living in Cornwall, a little dump of recent sunny days ☀️ When it's shone, we've made sure we are out in it. Crazy to think last month we were living in the woods and this month living by the sea. I don't think we will ever get used to the luxury having a home on wheels can give you. Cherry picking the best locations and making them your home for the time you are there, just incredible. Whilst we love Vanlife living all year round for different reasons, spring has to be up there as my (Kez) favourite. It's the Goldilocks of seasons not to hot, not to cold...it's just right 🧡🚐
#vanlifeuk #cornwalllife #vanlifeliving #nomadiclife
Almost two years of living full-time Vanlife in the UK, we have explored countryside to coastline of this little island and we share it all with you. We don't rush, we don't have too, we just slowly travel around. Living life in our tiny little home on wheels, escaping the crowds and exploring as much of the great outdoors as we can. If you too love the simple life and all that nature has to offer then why not follow along on our journey 🫶🏻🚐
#vanlifeuk #tinyhomeonwheels #exploreuk #simpleliving
June 2023 we started full-time Vanlife in the UK in our 36 year old Talbot Express campervan, Old Gertie. We've been all over the UK. England, Scotland and Wales, exploring all three and we still don't feel the need to leave this little island. We stay at campsites, we wild park, we use farmers fields and pub stops. Vanlife in the UK is entirely possible if you mix up where and how you stay. Oh and this old girl may break down from time to time but that hasn't stopped our adventuring. Proof that even these old campervans can be your ticket to freedom.
#vanlifeuk #ukvanlife #vanlifeadventures #lifeontheroad #talbotexoress #vintagecamper
Vanlife in the UK, living everywhere and nowhere, our tiny Talbot Express campervan is our home 🚐❤️ We know this life isn't for everyone but for us it's the dream. Who knew living in such a small space could give you such a huge life! Sure there are some stark differences between houselife and Vanlife. There are sacrifices you have to make and problems you have to learn to overcome. Nothing is ever easier, it's just different. Striking the balance is where you find the magic ✨ You just have to make sure what you're working for is worth it.
#ourhome #vanlifeliving #lifeontheroad
Living in a rusty ole camper (I say that with a lot of love) you definitely feel some kind of way when being judged by other people's opinions. Especially when cast under the light of comparison as to how others live and measure the scale of success of life. It bothered me at first, that was until we started LIVING Vanlife. Until we started seeing how rich our lives became in experience. Then I stopped caring because I started to realise that none of it really matters. Negative opinions are limited perceptions and our life is too large, to wild, to free for everyone to understand. You only get one life, don't waste it worrying, make it count ❤️🫶🏻...plus we love the vintage vibes of Old Gertie, she is exactly what we wanted and needed for so many reasons.
#vanlifeuk #lifeishort #livebig #livelifefully #dowhatmakesyouhappy #tinyhomebigliving #adventurelifestyle #lifeoutside
Life isn't perfect and that's ok. Living in Old Gertie has been the proof of that for us. She may be old, she may have a few battle wounds and imperfections. She maybe slow to start on cold wet days. Sometimes she decides to take time off 🤣. BUT she has made Vanlife living one hell of an adventure. A life with ups and downs is so much better then life on a perfect path. Without balance you will never truly appreciate what you have. So we will keep on patching this old girl up and pour our love into her because without her, these last two years would have been impossible and boy what an incredible couple of years they have been. Go live your imperfectly perfect life, you only get one 🫶🏻🚐
#talbotexpress #ourhome #campervanlife #vanlifeuk
We don't just show the best sides of living Vanlife in the UK we show all of it...because when you live in a van in the UK there is no escaping the weather, you have only one choice...embrace it. Which means cooking roast dinners on a BBQ in the rain, paddling though ice cold overflowed paths, finding a random swing in the woods and choosing to spend your Friday night drinking cider and playing until soaked to the skin. It gets cold, it gets wet...even in the Summer 🤣 learning to enjoy every second of it (because feeling is a choice) makes our lives feel like one great big adventure. And we love it!
#makethemostofit #vanlifeuk #vanlifeadventures #lifeoutside #rainydays☔️
A Tiny Home for a Big Life ✨that's what Vanlife means for us. The little things become the most valuable things, the moments once missed become the most special. Since moving into our van we experienced more just simply from being present in the moment and learning to appreciate all it has to offer. Date night in a forest carpark with nothing but the sounds of nature all around, yes please 🫶🏻🚐
#vanlifeuk #datenight❤️ #tinyhomeonwheels #magicalmoments #vanlifemoments
Bless little Old Gertie mixing it with the big boys 🚐 She still managed to nab herself a front row spot through. It did make Trist and I chuckle seeing Old Gertie parked in amongst all these fabulously spacious motorhomes/vans. Living full-time in our little ole 5 metre by 2 metre campervan 🤗☺️we are proof that great things can come in small packages. Small home, big life. Our tiny home on wheels ❤️🚐
#vanlifeuk #campervanlife #tinyhomeonwheels #talbotexpress #tinyhomeliving
Living full-time Vanlife for almost 2 years now we travel the UK, exploring the great outdoors. Finding budget travel locations and beautiful nature spots we share our Vanlife adventures as we go. If you want to see what life is like living in one of the UKs smallest campervans then why not join us on our journey and follow along 🤗
They say opposites attract ☺️ One of our favourite Vanlife Spring Summer parkups for two different reasons. Trist is half seal half human the entire time we are here whilst I take much more of a spectator role...I've tried to surf and will continue to attempt it, Trists passion is contagious. However it definitely takes me some time to pluck up the courage. Another reason we love Slow Travel Vanlife, there is no need to rush. Although the way Trist pulls his wetsuit on the minute we arrive tells a different story. Crazy to think only a week ago we were parked up in the middle of the forest with trees all around us and now our home is parked on a cliff with a seafront view. Man we love Vanlife, what a way to live 🙌🏻Grateful everyday 🚐❤️
Happy Sunday beautiful people xx
#beachlife #vanlifeuk #surflife #slowtravel #campinglife
📍Budes Summerleaze Beach in Cornwall was voted in the top 50 UK beaches in the UK (Sunday Times 2024) and this epic tidal pool makes it easy to see why! Refreshed daily by the seas natural tides you can experience natural, wild sea swimming without the elements of the ocean such as waves and tides. Free to swim, built into a backdrop of cliff with the stunning beach open to the front of you this is truly an epic spot to take a dip. Added to this, Bude itself is a lovely town filled with little shops, cafes, pubs and more to keep you entertained for a whole day. The pasty shops are alone worth the visit! Make sure you add this spot to your spring/summer travel adventures...as the weather gets warmer so will the water (at least that's what I keep telling myself ☺️).
#wildswimminguk #wildswimming #tidalpool #visitcornwall #traveluk #exploreuk #outdoorlifestyle #outdooradventures
Our Home 🚐🫶🏻 Vanlife living, some see it as a life lived with less whilst others (like us) see it as a life with so much more ♥️ (a phrase I've used before but the best way I can think to describe vanlife) Especially in this warmer weather. It feels like one never ending camping trip, except the holiday never ends. Walking barefoot, watching sunsets, salty skin and surf filled days, soaking up every inch of daylight. We honestly couldn't be happier. At the end of the day isn't that what's most important, being happy?
#campinglife #campingvibes #vanlifeuk #nomadiclife #vanlife #ourhome #lifeoutdoors #outdoorlifestyle
Send this to someone you want to drive off on a Vanlife adventures with 🚐❤️Vanlife living makes life an adventure everyday 🫶🏽
Follow @tristandkez if you want to see where our Vanlife adventures take us, all around the UK.
#vanlifeuk #vanlifeadventures #lifeisanadventure #liveforadventure #slowtravel #talbotexpress
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We hope this helps you to explore and stay and what can be only described as one of the most EPIC countries you will ever visit.
#vanlifescotland #scotlandtravel #vanlifeuk #explorescotland #visitscotland #uktravel #exploreuk
"No one lives in a van with a cat" was the comment we heard recently from someone who thought it was amazing that we did ☺️ BUT since living in our van the one thing we have learned is lots of people actually do! In fact I would go as far to say that it's easier living in a van with a cat over a dog. Sure you have to turn into 'one of those people' who walk a cat on the lead but it's soooo worth it. Murphy absolutely adores Vanlife, I mean why wouldn't he, he has the whole top floor of the van to himself. He picks and chooses when he wants to get outside and explore and the majority of the time it's at beautiful, peaceful places like this. When they say it's a dog's life I think I would have to disagree, it's more like a van cats life ❤️
#vanlifeuk #vanlifescotland #vancat #vanlifeliving #walkingmycat #catslife🐾 #itsacatslife
Here's how we do it ⬇️
Old Gertie (our full-time home on wheels) is a 36 year old Talbot Express campervan and despite her age and build we are still able to live off grid...thanks to the wonders of modern technology 🤗
Firstly we have a leisure battery which charges whilst we drive, whilst this battery isn't a fancy lithium one and doesn't hold a lot of charge it does mean we can run our lights and pumps for a day or two before needing to drive and recharge.
Next and most importantly we carry portable lithium batteries with portable solar panels. Now these are the game changer!
With varying wattage (Trist knows the details better then me so if you want more info just drop it in the comments) on both the power banks and the panels we are able to harness and hold enough electricity to power all our needs. This means two lap tops at full charge, phones, cameras... plugging the van in to top up the leisure battery, running a hand blender and recharging our LED lights. Oh and running a kettle and charging electric bike batteries. Basically everything you need.
(On super sunny days we also have enough charge to run our fridge on electricity. The rest of the time we run it on gas)
Now of course this off grid life is based on the provisions of sun however some of the batteries we carry are also fast charge (as does our @ecoflow in this video) therefore on the cloudier days it doesnt mean having to find a way to plug your van in for hours. Just finding someway to charge your power bank within an hour.
Of course this isn't full proof and there are some days in the Autumn/Winter you may not be able to avoid finding an EHU but for the Spring and Summer this is a pretty full proof way of living off grid Vanlife...I mean we should know, we live full-time in Old Gertie.
I hope that helps, if you too are thinking of doing Vanlife in an old campervan like Old Gertie...there's a solution to every problem ☺️
#offgridliving #vanlifeuk #solarpowered #ecoflow #portablesolar
Vanlife living in the UK 🚐🫶🏻we drove over 6 hours straight for this view yesterday and it didn't disappoint. Over the years we have explored so much of the UK and still have so much to explore but there are some spots we can't help but revisit. They steal a special part of our heart. I think it's easy to see why 🧡 Also a huge shoutout to our Old girl Gertie, she drove us here like a slow chugging dream ☺️ these old campervans are little adventure wagons, feeling grateful for ours ❤️
Happy Sunday beautiful people x
#slowtravellife #vanlifedreams #vanlifevirals #sunsetviews #simplelifehappylife #viewfrommywindow #vanlifejournal #vanlifeuk
Gray mares tail hiking to Loch Skeen high up in the Moffat Hills of Scotland 🩵 truly one of the most breathtaking hikes we have been on. An absolute must see stop on your Vanlife adventures. We first found this spot years ago and have been coming back ever since. The loch flows through a burne across the top of the hills before cascading into a 70ft waterfall right in front of the carpark. Wether you hike to the top or just stay on the ground surrounded by water and hills, you will be blown way by the beauty. So whilst everyone else heads straight to the NC500, make sure you take a little divertion and visit this spot when in Scotland.
You won't be disappointed 🩵
#hikinglife #ukhiddengems #scotlandadventures #vanlifeuk #ukhikers
Give the old girl some love ❤️ Old Gertie, our caravan on wheels and our much loved full-time home.
Living proof you don't need everything to start something. We've had our ups and downs with this old girl but without her we wouldn't have been able to live, love and experience Vanlife over the last two years.
She may be old but she's a good 'un.
Follow along at @tristandkez if you want to see where we've been on our Vanlife adventures and stay up to date with where our Vanlife travels are taking us next.
#vanlifeuk #lifeontheroad #tinyhomeonwheels #vintagecamper #campervanlife #vanlifeadventures
A Vanlife paradise all thanks to @forestryandlandscot who have opened select carparks for one night stays in your campervan. For a charge of £7 you can park right along the shore of Ardintenny Bay in little grass lined bays. With picnic tables along the shore and even toilets for public use this little slice of paradise is a spot we highly recommend you add to your Vanlife travel list.
The last time we visited, the sea was clear (and warm) the sky was blue and ahhhh I cant even begin to tell you how magical it was. There's more to Scotland then the NC500 and this right here proves it.
#vanlifeuk #ukhiddengems #visitscotland #vanlifescotland
We don't live Vanlife for the space we have inside, we live it for the access we get to the outside.
- Real life Vanlife. It's not always tidy, things loose their place, empty spaces become storage for the wrong things...but hey, that's just a Vanlife reality when you live in a small space. It's the closeness to nature we love. The views from the windows. The ever changing surroundings.
It's a small home but a big life ❤️🚐
#vanlifeuk #homeonwheels #tinyhome #minimalistliving
For those who can't travel abroad from the UK, don't worry, there is still so much to see on this little island that will blow your mind. We live and travel full-time in our campervan, exploring places, discovering hidden gems and sharing them with you. Follow along on our Vanlife adventures to see more 🫶🏽
#traveluk #wanderlustuk #ukexplore #exploreuk #thisisscotland
Whilst everyone chases the big waterfalls we found the most stunning mini waterfall walk in Wales you have to visit. Following the path from the carpark you cross and walk alongside a vast collection of waterfalls with soooo many little wild swimming pools. Nestled in the woods, you are completely submersed in nature with the soothing sounds of running water all along the hike. It's truly mesmerising. A little hidden gem in the Brecon Beacons you just have to add to your spring/summer outdoor adventures.
📍Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK
Carpark: Blaen y Glyn Isaf
What3Words: ///fidget.rapport.showcases
#exploreuk #traveluk #visitwales #waterfallwalk #outdooradventure #explorewales #vanlifeadventures
Must visit/see locations in the New Forest ⬇️
Some of our favourites...🫶🏽
- Walk the Northern commons, you will loose yourself for days.
- Or visit the Ornamental drive where you will discover the Tall Trees walk.
- If you want to see Wild deer then make sure you visit the deer sanctuary (but you will also spot them roaming the whole of the New Forest).
- Fancy more of a village vibe then Burley is steeped in History and there is a fabulous cider farm with homegrown apple cider made in barrels.
- Brokenhurst is also a firm favourite with it award winning bakery.
- If the beach is more your vibe then Lepe Beach is a stunner with miles of sandy coastline, cafe, play park and WW2 relics.
- To get there you will pass though Beaulieu where if you are lucky you may spot seals in the tidal river which runs through the bottom of the village.
The list is endless, so much to see and do, if you want anymore recommendations then just let me know in the comments ✍🏻
Oh and if you are thinking of camping then @campingnewforest have over ten wild campsites which allow you to stay within the forest and truly immerse yourself in nature, we can't recommend them enough
#uktravel #exploreuk #newforestnationalpark #visithampshire #newforest #scotlandvibes #outdooradventures
We can't comprehend 🙈 Not a Starbucks in sight, just the way we like it. When people ask how we take our coffee, the answer is always, with a slice of nature please 💚
Living Vanlife you get to experience such magical moments doing the most normal of things and that's exactly why we love it.
With the weather getting warmer we literally can't wait to wake up to mornings like this, a little slice of heaven before your day even begins. Living the Vanlife dream 🫶🏽
#morningcoffeeview #morningcoffee☕️ #perfectmorning #vanlifeuk #vanlifeliving
Slow travel isn't really a choice when your campervan is 36 years old ☺️
Whether we chose slow travel or it chose us we don't really know, what we do know is we love the fact that living in our campervan full-time means we can plod through life at our own speed. Never in a race or a rush on where to go next. Just enjoying each spot we travel too for as long as we want.
We love slow travel and even if she doesn't get us anywhere fast, Old Gertie always gets us where we need to be and that's all that matters 🚐❤️
#slowtravelling #slowtravel #vanlifeuk #exploreuk #traveluk
I heard someone say this the other day, on average (if we are lucky) we live 4000 weeks. How crazy is that. A number which highlights how short life really is when you quantify it into a relative block of time.
This is the very reason we live the way we do. Vanlife in Old Gertie. Present in every moment, maximising living through adventure and soaking up every moment.
This passed Saturday that meant heading out for a 8 mile bike ride until we were in the middle of nature, not a soul around. We cracked open a bottle of prosecco and gave a little nod of thanks to this wonderful life we live.
I've said it before but I will say it again, Vanlife living teaches you to be grateful for so much more in life. The little things become the big things in so many ways ❤️🚐
#lifeisshort #livelifefully #vanlifeuk #livemore #coupleswhotravel
Old Gertie...also known as Marmite. You either love these old vans or hate them, there never seems to be an in-between.
Old Gertie is a 36 year old Talbot Express campervan and our full-time home. Why did we pick Old Gertie is a question we get asked alot and our honest answer is cost. We brought when the campervan market spiked a few years ago and the price of vans went through the roof...making many priced way above their value if I'm honest. We didn't want to pay over the odds and I'm so pleased we didn't because the market has dropped alot since then.
However during that time we have learned so much from owning an older vehicle, in so many ways, so it felt like this was always meant to be🫶🏽 We love this old girl so much and feel so grateful to the years she has given us already as our first full-time campervan home. She has made us feel so much more competent in regards mechanical work which will only help our European Vanlife travels. She has taught us how to live in a small space and let go of what you don't need. She has taught us to be grateful for the little things.
She has been the life lesson we needed to truly appreciate every aspect of living Vanlife.
We love you Old Gertie ❤️🚐 (we also love marmite)
#vanlifeuk #homeonwheels #campervanlife #campinglife
Amazing what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.
🤣😂
As much as I love to push myself, I'm always brutally honest with myself too and this is challenge I think we can all agree I totally failed 😬🤣
One day, one day.
For now, I think I'm going to become pro at cold water paddling...is that even a thing? 🙈
#coldwaterswimming #coldwaterswim #failedattempt #funnyfails
The highlights from the last week of Vanlife living in the UK ⬇️⬇️⬇️
1. After-work sunset drinks and snacks (so much cheaper then the pub, the price of a pint now a days is insane isn't it?!)
2. A morning walk through the forest (holding ourselves accountable in the stories to hit 20,000 steps a day.
3. One of many bike rides this week. Honestly these electric bikes have been a game changer when it comes to exploring.
4. Spotted a horse which we worried was stuck. He was fine ☺️
5. Another walk..how can you tire of them with scenery like this. The New Forest is most certainly the gift that keeps on giving.
6. A walk with a view 🤤
7. Parked up at one of favourite wild parking spots on the coast.
8. Which meant another beginners fishing lesson for me.
9. Old Gertie 🫶🏽
10. Trist the fishing teacher drinking on the job
11. Some swans who mistakenly thought we'd brought them some breakfast
12. My little Friday treat, an oak milk latte from the coffee shop
13. A fallen tree
14. A cheeky little prosecco stop on our bike ride, because hey, why not
15. Not a bad place to create a pop up pub
16. A Sunday selfie
17. Where we braved a cold water paddle IYKYK 😆
18. A quick pic before the heavens opened
19. A cycle view point worth the pic
This week is our last in the New Forest, we leave Sunday ready for pastures new. Our slow travel adventures have given us a winter we won't forget, now to create some new stories in Spring.
#vanlifeuk #ouradventures #thisweek #outdoorlifestyle #vanlifeliving #vanlifemovement #campervanlife #vanlifeadventures #campervanadventures #newforest
The first day of Spring and our third spring since living in a van full-time. Today I (Kez) had my third attempt at fishing and I can safely say I LOVE IT!! Living in a van I have started many new hobbies and given up just as many. I have a short attention span and am an awful learner...but thankfully I have a partner with the patience of a saint and he has been teaching me ❤️
It's funny, looking online I see so many women drawing, painting, crafting, making and have tried all of the above yet nothing has stuck for long enough. At times it's been a little disheartening as I just don't seem to have the creative flair like many. However not a quitter I've continued to push myself out of my comfort zone (living in a van will teach you to do that) and realised that maybe my creative path looks a little different.
Being outside is my favourite thing to do and fishing allows me to do just that...whilst learning a new skill at the same time. Sure it might look a little different to the hobbies of the women I follow but isn't that what life's all about...living a little differently, in whatever way that makes you happy?
Today I didn't catch anything and I still don't have a clue what I'm doing but I am loving the process and that's enough for me.
P.S let this be your sign to try something new, something different. You never know what will stick until you try it.
#girlswhofish #vanlifeuk #livingwithless #newhobbies #fulltimevanlife #livinginavan #springishere🌸
And she cost £8000, our little home on wheels and our gateway to full-time Vanlife. She may not be perfect but she has allowed us to live in places we never dreamed and experience life in ways we could never have imagined.
Sharing this in the hope it helps others see, you don't need to have everything to get started. There is so much more to Vanlife than the actual van you drive. Its the life you get to live and the home you choose to make it and we are grateful everyday for both ❤️
Don't get me wrong, one day we do plan to step up from Old Gertie, although we still aren't sure what that looks like but for a starter van into full-time living she is truly all you need.
#campervanlife #vanlifeuk #vanlifejournal #tinyhomeonwheels #talbotexpress #vintagecamper #onelifebaby
Live your beautiful life 🚐However that may look to anyone else doesn't matter 🫶🏽 We are taught to chase what everyone else has without first considering if it's what we really want.
Some thought us crazy selling everything we owned to move into a van at 40. Some people thought we were brave. To some we are living the dream whilst to others Vanlife would be a nightmare. When you choose a different path, you can't expect to be understood. We just hope by sharing our travels and our adventures it helps plant the seed for others that life is what you choose and in turn what you make it.
Nobody's holding you back from the life that you want apart from yourself. Dream big and live large, you only get one shot, make it count 💪🏼❤️🫶🏽
#couplelife #couplesthattravel #vanlifeuk #liveyourbeautifullife #chaseyourdream #livebig
We can't wait to share all our spring Vanlife adventures with you that we have planned 🚐🫶🏽 This winter seemed to fly by! Living so close to the outdoors you get to live totally connected to nature. Wethers that living in the woods or parked up by the sea...spring 2025 we are ready for you ❤️Who's going to be following along on our adventures?
#springvibes🌸 #vanlifeuk #slowtravel #outdoorliving #outdoorlifestyle #surflifestyle
Small home = a big life 🚐🌎Don't you agree? ✨ Living full-time Vanlife in the UK for almost two years now we have fully confirmed what we believed to be true, when you are prepared to live with less you are able to experience so much more. Our little home on wheels may be tiny but she allows us to live in places we could only dream of. Our little campervan has taken us as far north and south of the UK as we can go, east to west and get we still have so much to explore.
We have no plans. No schedule. Just freedom.
💚Vanlife isn't for everyone but for us it truly is living the dream. Grateful every single day 🫶🏽
#tinyhomeonwheels #biglife #vanlifeuk #nomadiclife #adventurelifestyle
Better than any pub garden we've ever been in! How to create your own DIY pub stop in the New Forest 🤗
First stop is the Cider Pantry in Burley where they make their own cider straight from the Apples in their orchard.
Made in the traditional way they have three unpasteurised ciders to choose from, straight from the barrel. Dry, medium or sweet.
You can sample all three, then once you've chosen your preference, you need to select your container size. They have four to choose from.
We normally go for the 4 pint container at £10...which works out at £2.50 a pint!
Then, with your cider safely stowed you jump on your bike and head off into the forest.
Find yourself the perfect spot to sit and relax, they are plentiful in the New Forest.
Pour yourself a drink and sit back and enjoy 🤗
An added Vanlife bonus, if you are a Bristop member you can stay overnight in either their hard standing carpark at the back and in the warmer dryer months, stay on the little field they have also...plus you have the option of paying £8 for electric hook up if needed.
#newforest #visithampshire
#ciderfarm #daysout #outdooractivities #enjoythegreatoutdoors #thenewforest #vanlifeuk
Vanlife is a simple life and my oh my is it a happy one. You appreciate so much and feel grateful for even more. Rich in every moment ❤️
#vanlifemovement #vanlifecommunity #vanlifeadventures #happylife❤️ #simplelifehappylife
Vanlife in the New Forest...I don't think I need to say anymore 💚
#simplelifehappylife
Winter Vanlife in the UK 2025 is a few days away from ending and what an adventure it's been! We know people think we are mad for not escaping to Europe (we've been told more then once 🤣) but honestly we wouldn't have done it any other way. Embracing the seasons has made us learn to love this way of life even more. When the sun isn't shining it reminds you to look for joy in other ways, a great sentiment for life. We've bbq'd in the freezing cold, we've had picnics in the woods in the rain, we've waded through puddles and found sunshine even in the depths of winter. Slow travel to the point of almost staying in one place has allowed us to enjoy the part of living Vanlife we love the most and that's being outdoors. Whatever the weather, this winter has taught us, you make your own sunshine 💛
#wintervanlife #vanlifeuk #makeyourownsunshine
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