Nine nights, five campsites, one hand-drawn map and a lot of packing up. Our first Cornwall trip in the van, and everything we’d do differently.
Campervan vs Motorhome vs Caravan vs Tent: An Honest Family View
Everyone has their own perfect set-up. Here’s ours, after eight years, two near-adult boys and one memorable night floating in a French tent: why the VW California still wins. Mostly.
Awe, Awning, Yawning in the Morning
Land’s End, April 2026. It’s 4am, Storm Dave is battering the van, and our brand new awning is thinking about leaving.
Our Favourite UK Campsites for Sea Swimming: Walk-In Coastal Access, Tested by Us
Our favourite UK campsites where you can walk straight from the van into the sea — no driving, no parking, no fuss. From Cornwall to the Llyn Peninsula to the Isle of Mull, every site tested by us as a family of four.
Buying a VW California: what we wish we’d known
Thinking of buying a VW California? We've owned our T5 SE for eight years. Here's what we wish we'd known before we bought — from mechanical checks to model choices to who it's actually right for.
Our Favourite Wild Swimming Campsites: Lakes, Llyns and Lochs
Our favourite UK campsites with direct access to open water — lakes, llyns and lochs perfect for a wild swim straight from the van. From Coniston to Snowdonia, Loch Lomond to Bala Lake, with water safety tips and kit advice for dippers and distance swimmers alike.
Top UK Campsites with Surf Beach Access: Ocean Pitch, Tristram, Beachside, and More
To get the VanFam4 seal of approval, not only does the surf need to be epic (suitable for beginners and more advanced surfers alike), but crucially it MUST BE WITHIN SHORT WALKING DISTANCE OF OUR PITCH! This allows for Dan to escape for dawn patrol before having to prise the sleeping teenagers from their pits.
Half Term on the Lizard
The VanFam4 spent October half term in their blue VW campervan on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall. Read on for a review of Henry's Campsite and what they got up to in and around the area.
Competition Winners!
We won a holiday!