Campervan holidays are great, but only if well-planned and the weather cooperates. After having enjoyed several trips, I accepted the offer to spend two nights in a VW Campervan at Rockinvans in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire.
Campervan planning: Top tips
We knew from previous trips that you could easily enjoy a campervan experience just by driving a few minutes from your pick-up location (why spend money on fuel when it can be spent on something else? We decided to take a break in the nearby region of Dumfries & Galloway.
A campsite is a good option if your kids are energetic or you want to enjoy a camping holiday with them.
Ellen has provided this photo of a campervan dining experience.
On recommendation we booked the Loch Len Campsite near Castle Douglas. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was plenty of parking and the facilities included a modern, clean, and well-maintained shower and toilet, drinking water, and rubbish bins.
While we mums chatted and drank wine chilled from the fridge, our kids played, washed up, etc. (they enjoyed it!) The kids could play, wash up (they actually enjoyed this!) ).
You should consider your budget and location, as well as the flexibility and price of van hire. You can also search for campervans on Google and Transport Executive.
Dumfries and Galloway has lots to offer
We discovered a wide range of activities for families near Castle Douglas. D&G has been described as a hidden tourism gem, and it took us a while to decide which attractions we would visit in the daytime. TripAdvisor’s app directed us to Creetown Gem Rock Museum, and the award winning Cream of Galloway visitors centre.
The two trips lived up to their positive TripAdvisor reviews and the kids (ranging from 3 to 14 years old) thoroughly enjoyed them. One of the highlights of our short holiday was enjoying campervan-made lunches on the side of the road or in parking lots.
It was great to have the option to make lunch and then eat it in our campervans.
Organisation is essential when camping
This next section of my blog will make anyone who knows me laugh. It is important to store all items neatly if you want to enjoy your campervan trip. The van will be a mess if you have loose objects flying around.
It is vital that you keep your sanity because the space in the VW T4 compact campervans is so limited. You need to make the most of every cupboard and nook for all the clothing, bedding, and other items mums can pack with them.
Ellen has been known to be so meticulous in her packing that she forgets where important items like matches or tomato ketchup are stored. We agreed that we’d label all drawers, cupboards and containers if we had a campervan.
VW vans can hold a lot of gear. The space underneath beds and inside cabinets is used to its fullest. But patience is still required. The bed had to be folded away every morning so the space was freed up for a living area and dining space. It was also necessary to pack up the up-top bunk bed so that the roof of the van could be raised to provide enough headroom for living.
A few campervan features were excellent, including the passenger seat that can be swiveled around to face rearwards. This provides an additional seat when the van is in parked position. Dining table could be moved along the rod across the width of the room. The extra wood piece that was fitted in the bed upstairs to add an additional foot would have made it more comfortable. We did not discover this until we were back home.
Camping is not the same as campervanning
Campervanning may not be for you if you enjoy the creature comforts of a hotel. If you like camping and being outside, then campervanning is for you. You can even bring a tent to add extra space for living and sleeping on your campervan journey. The campervan can be a good place to relax when the weather’s not so nice. You can play games, watch movies or even use the Wi-Fi on the Loch Ken campground.
Rockinvans is a family-run campervan rental company that offers rates comparable to many other companies. VW vans have a loyal following. After having travelled in VW and Toyota vans, I am able to list both their advantages and disadvantages. Campervanning is something I’ve enjoyed on all my trips, so for me the company to choose would depend on price and where you want it.
A successful campervan trip?
The happiness of children is the key to a successful holiday. Havana stated: “I like campervanning, because it allows me to be on a camping site but still in the warmth and comfort of my van. “The rope swing was also awesome.”
Lucie commented: “It’s a real adventure and I loved being able to cook in the camper and sleeping inside. “I really liked the barbecues, and I loved the rope swing.”
Both of them loved Cream of Galloway, where they could run around in an indoor and outdoor adventure playground and go karts. They also enjoyed delicious ice-cream.
The trip was enjoyable because it allowed me to be outdoors and sleep in a van. I also liked the fact that we could cook, make tea and explore an area I had never visited before. It was a pleasure to spend time with Ellen and her children, as well as my teens.