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Campervan with kids – Our top tips for surviving a campervan holiday

Blog· Travel Tips· Van life

19 Feb

We have always enjoyed camping. Lets face it, it is an affordable option when you have a growing family…. and the kids just love it.  There are some wonderful places to visit in the UK and beyond, and we love the fresh air, family time, and the chance to visit the local attractions – whatever the weather.  We spent many months looking into  the best family campervan. We also considered a motorhome with kids as we know a motorhome or RV would grow with our family. We knew that we would need to also use our camp as our main vehicle, so we needed to buy the best small campervan that we could afford. We eventually settled on a T5 camper. We all love our converted VW campervan.  We all enjoy the novelty of camping holidays but with the added benefit of having all of our essential items with us at all times. There is nothing better than road trip or campervan holiday with kids. 

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Campervan with kids 

We have had our T5 camper for just over three years now. It is a real family campervan and gives us the opportunity to jump in our family campervan, take a road trip, or pitch up for a week or two and enjoy a campervan holiday.   One thing is for sure. Make sure you have your  campervan insurance for a converted van  and adequate roadside assistance. We had trouble driving back from our campsite in Spain, and I have to say it was really stressful. Road side assistance is definitely peace of mind- (make sure it covers you for all of your travels).

Converting a VW T5 campervan

My husband purchased a panel van, and came home with hopes and dreams of making it into a camper van perfect for kids.  I have fond memories of our first campervan trip  with our then toddler. We headed to my favourite place – Abersoch. Our ‘campervan’ bed was a mattress on the floor. We had makeshift curtains and a large plastic storage box with a few basics in.  Five years on after a lot of saving, we slowly converted the van to our beloved campervan for a family.

There are still a couple of things left to do, a wardrobe being one of them.. but we have learned a lot along the way, learning to adapt our packing and choosing our trips wisely – depending on the stage of our camper conversion.

You may find our camper tips and tricks post for storage ideas helpful

    • You may find our camper tips and tricks post for storage ideas helpful
  • Minimal packing
  • Research before you travel
  • Van life – Find a site that has local attractions on foot
  • Pack a pop up tent
  • Pack a large foldable bag
  • Pack a small activity box to keep kids entertained on the road
  • campervan with children? Limit Journey Times
  • Be Flexible

Road trips in a camper

It sounds idyllic doesn’t it? The travelling.. ‘wandering’ and adventures that van life brings. In reality we have also experienced long journeys stuck on the motorway, tired kids, dodgy campsites, and wet belongings whilst unpacking the van to prepare the beds in torrential rain 🙂 We have experienced the good and the bad, and therefore I wanted to share with you our campervan tips and tricks that we have picked up along the way to make for a stress free and happy family van holiday that you would happily experience again.

Campervan holidays with kids

Minimal packing

Okay this is really hard to write for someone that has taken 8 pairs of different flip-flops on a holiday. But when you have a campervan, limited storage and three kids – you have to really plan your packing. And packing for a lengthy van holiday can be hard. So what are the essential items for van life with kids? Pack rain coats or all weather clothing, wellies or walking boots for the kids, warm jumpers, shorts that you can wear if it is warm, and wear leggings or tights underneath if its cool …  dungarees that can be turned up if its warm – I think you have got the jist of it now. Do you really need those five pairs of shoes? I always take some washing tablets, and a mini washing line, safe in the knowledge that I can pack half of what I think I might need – and can throw a wash on if you run out of clothes.

Clever packing is also required, particularly if you are a campervan family. If you are camping with a baby or toddlers you need to bring more gear. Packing pods really help to organise all of the clothes, and I love the hooks that we place on the front seats, to keep items off the floor.

Research before you travel

Research your sites to ensure that they have good facilities for kids.  We have enjoyed some great camper van holidays and choosing the right campsites really help. We often look for camping sites, with local shops or a shop onsite, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, play parks, indoor games rooms and family bathrooms again all on site. It really does make for a pleasant stay if you have good amenities and the sites are safe and well equipped for families.

Van life – Find a site that has local attractions on foot

There is nothing worse than finally setting up camp, strategically hanging the bunting flags on the awning (yes those flags are what I consider an essential item!) Carefully placing the vintage tea lights around the van, and then finding you have to pack up and move the campervan every day for trips, days out at the beach, a visit to the shops, or a visit to the local town for a coffee. We quickly learned to research our campsites beforehand to make sure that we had a few nearby options where we didn’t have to pack everything up and move the campervan on a daily basis. We found some great sites with good facilities and activities on site for our Brittany road trip.

If you are looking for great holidays with young kids, you may find some useful posts in otis and us vanlife section

Pack a pop up tent

I am sure you are wondering why we possibly need a pop up tent when we have a campervan….? We have always taken one and stored items that are bulky and that we don’t need to use everyday. On the trips that we choose not to take the drive away awning, we use a pop up tent that is quick to put up and put down, to keep things out of the way and store items such as the children’s car seats, pushchairs, and the outdoor toys like scooters, bats and balls and outdoor chairs..

Pack a large foldable bag

We never go camping without the trusty blue bag and the large plastic storage bucket. The blue bag is really useful for taking laundry to the laundrette, or storing muddy wellies and wet clothes separately.

Pack a small activity box to keep kids entertained on the road

We try to pack a shared activity box with a few essential items in. Travel games, colouring books and activity books, crayons, reading books and baby rattles. It is always good to have a few things for those mornings when it is raining outside, or those cold evenings when the kiddies are feeling a little tired and lazy.  We have found the activity box is great to occupy the children during those long journeys. We are lucky enough to have a DVD player in the back. You may find our post about tips for a happy road trip helpful..

campervan with children? Limit Journey Times

It is easy to get swept away with the idea to keep moving… to travel…after all the campervan is a house on wheels. From past experience we try to have the ‘3 hour rule’ – no more than three hours travel on the road in one go. If the road trip is expected to last longer than three hours we stop for a few hours or even better – for the night. It makes for a stress free road trip and the little ones appreciate the shorter journey times.

Camping with toddlers?

So what are our trips and tricks for trips in the campervan with toddlers?  We have found that our large storage bucket is great for carrying essential items to the beach, storing all the outdoor toys, and it doubles up as a baby or toddler bath – perfect!

On our past campervan holidays with a toddler, we packed a highchair – we found a great foldable camping highchair  that has a useful tray – great for baby led weaning, and it has a really compact fold.

If you have a campervan with a baby, using packing pods to organise all of the baby items, nappies, wipes, and a plentiful supply of toddler clothes is definitely a win win. Packing pods have definitely helped me stay sane with all the things you need to pack.

We also have a great travel stroller with a compact fold, although we favour the carrier for longer trips as we find it takes less room!

We always pack a first aid kit and we keep this out of reach in the glove compartment where it is easy to find and access. This also includes a thermometer, plasters, antiseptic, and liquid paracetamol – as you never know when you may need it.

Be Flexible

We have come to realise that camping with kids involves leaving any established routine back at home.  It doesn’t mean that you can’t find a new morning and bedtime routine during your trip. Last year we took a wonderful road trip to Scotland which involved many a late night stop off on a secluded shore or beach and the kids loved it.

It didn’t mean that we didn’t develop a different bed time routine of last-minute trips to the shower block to save those night-time toilet visits, and reading our usual bedtime story by lantern cuddled up in our campervan. Be flexible and relax and embrace the newfound freedom that ban holidays with kids bring.  Binning the usual routines for a week or so isn’t the end of the world, and the late night evenings watching the children run around without a care in the world makes for some very special memories!

You may find my how to sleep five in a VW campervan post useful!

Read here for our best road trip quotes to inspire life on the road!

Thinking of converting a van to a camper you may find this post useful. Or why not consider a Mazda Bongo? 

Pin for later

Campervan with kids – Our top tips for surviving a campervan holiday

Campervan with kids – Our top tips for surviving a campervan holiday #Campervantips #campervanhacks #travelwithkids

What are your essential tips for enjoying a family camping trip? 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Should you click to purchase, this is at no extra cost to you, but I receive a small commission

You can also follow our adventures over on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Toddlers On Tour
Flying With A Baby
Potty Adventures

 

 

37 Comments

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Comments

  1. Wandermust mummy says

    April 4, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    I’ve never been camper vaning but my sister in law just got one so imagine we will go! This will be my go to if we do! #fearlessfamtrav

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 4, 2017 at 8:56 pm

      Ah thank you, we do love our camping, and we LOVE the campervan (enough to give him a name – Otis!) and I am looking forward to our first trip as a family of five. Hoping the little man enjoys it! Thanks for hosting x

      Reply
  2. mark wyld says

    April 4, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    You have some great suggestions here. We do some camping here in Australia with our kids aswell and they love it.
    #fearlessfamtrav

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 4, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      It really is wonderful and the kids just seem to love it don’t they!? I bet camping is amazing in Australia with your beautiful weather! Thanks for commenting 🙂

      Reply
    • Rebecca Khalifa says

      April 9, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      I just found this because we are hiring a camper in may to try and see if it’s something we want to buy! Thank you for these great tips! Funny enough we are heading towards Abersoch too!
      Will be reading on! Thanks again!

      Reply
  3. Tash says

    April 5, 2017 at 3:16 am

    Awesome blog, you have some really helpful tips and gorgeous photos. We’ve started planning a 3mth road trip around Australia (but in a caravan). I dread the limited packing part! #familytraveltips

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:28 am

      Thanks so much that is so kind of you to say. Wow 3 months in a caravan sounds amazing! what a wonderful experience!! Good luck with the packing part though 🙂 🙂

      Reply
  4. Carrie -Flying With A Baby says

    April 5, 2017 at 11:37 am

    I’ve often thought about doing something like this but not actually done it! Glamping is as far as we have gotten, which the girls love! Pinned and Flipped too. thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:30 am

      Carrie you really should our little ones love it! thanks so much for hosting this lovely linky! x

      Reply
  5. Sarah MumofThree World says

    April 5, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    This sounds fab! I’ve never been a fan of camping (although the rest of my family love it), but I think I would enjoy a camper van. My MIL has a canal boat, which is kind of similar, and I absolutely love that! I think the three hour rule sounds very sensible! Nobody wants to travel with kids for longer than that.
    I have three big kids (15, 11 and 13), so I’m not sure we’d physically even fit into a camper van right now. Something for the future when one or two of them have left home, I think!

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:33 am

      It is something that we have wanted to do for so long, and is great fun whilst the kiddies are so little! I would love to do the canal boat, sounds so lovely! Thanks so much for stopping by x

      Reply
  6. Plutonium Sox says

    April 6, 2017 at 1:11 pm

    Some brilliant tips, thank you! We are hoping to either buy a camper van or buy a van that we can convert this year. How would you rate taking a pop up tent vs a drive away awning? We were thinking we might buy an awning. Your photos are beautiful, you really capture everything we want from a camper van and it’s great to know what to look out for and how to pack too. Thank you for linking up to #familytraveltips
    Nat.x

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:42 am

      Wow you are looking at buying a campervan – I am a little bit excited for you!! We looked into it for so long and I am so glad we did it, you really won’t regret it! I have really enjoyed seeing it change from a van to a camper too over the three years. We had a Fiamma awning fitted which we use alongside a little pop up tent if we are just staying somewhere for a couple of nights or less, but if we stay somewhere longer than that we use the drive away awning. The drive away awning is great and a second living space – but kind of defeats the object of quickly setting up, packing up and moving on as it does take a while to put up – so we only use it if we are staying somewhere for any amount of time! Thanks so much for hosting this lovely linky. xx

      Reply
  7. Nanouk | Digital Nomad with Kids says

    April 6, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Great tips! We’ve been RVing long term but we travel with a separate caravan/RV so we have a car to go for groceries and sightseeing. Playground and a swimming pool or beach nearby are a must with kids!
    We also have a 3-hour travel rule. That’s enough for the kids and packing and settling takes time as well.

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:45 am

      Wow, I think as the kids grow up we will probably need to look for something bigger, but for now it is wonderful! three hour rule is definitely enough with little ones – especially our baby! I have just found you too on insta to follow your adventures! thanks for stopping by xx

      Reply
  8. Caz says

    April 7, 2017 at 1:33 am

    How much fun is camping with kids? Makes travel so much more affordable too. Some great tips! #fearlessfamtrav

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:47 am

      Aah I really love it! And the kids love to run around in a field in the onesies 🙂 Even better if the weather is great! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  9. Travelling With Our Kids says

    April 9, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    Great tips and i LOVE your pictures! Ive always wanted to go on holiday in a campervan but im thinking we would need a motorhome or an RV with our dogs and boys! Maybe one day we will give it a go! haha #familytraveltips

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 15, 2017 at 11:49 am

      We were only saying the other day how sad we will be when we grow out of it! We have managed to squeeze five of us in there 🙂 Thanks for stopping by have a fab weekend!

      Reply
  10. Lauren-The Helpful Hiker says

    April 16, 2017 at 8:44 am

    I love all of your tips, such great advice. We also try to break up the drive if travelling a long way, especially with a toddler. Also, I second the IKEA bag, they’re the most useful things ever! I would love a van, but it’s a bit beyond us at the moment so we’ll have to stick to our tent! We’re heading off tomorrow and I’m getting very excited reading all of these camping posts. Thanks so much for linking up to #adventurecalling

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      April 16, 2017 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks so much for hosting this lovely linky. You have such a lovely inspiring blog – it is so important to get outdoors. Enjoy your camping trip and I hope the weather is kind (what do they say – ‘there is no such thing as bad weather just a bad choice of clothing!’ 🙂 Have a great time !

      Reply
  11. Luke (age 9) says

    April 16, 2017 at 12:04 pm

    These are great tips, thank you. All this reading about going camping has made me really want to go again! As a child I think the activity box you say about is essential- I would also say marshmallows and hot chocolate!
    #adventurecalling

    Reply
  12. Annette, Four Acorns says

    April 18, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    Fantastic tips, I love this post! We are just back from our first camper van trip as a family of six, and we all absolutely loved it! We’re now wondering whether it’d be wise to get our own camper, and if we do, which one… Inspiring stuff!
    #Adventurecalling

    Reply
  13. Maid in Dartmoor says

    April 18, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Love this… would love to know some of the camp sites you recommend 👍

    Reply
  14. David - Potty Adventures says

    April 19, 2017 at 4:45 pm

    I’m very jealous of your converted van. We are currently looking for a transporter although we haven’t quite decided whether or not we want it as just the van or we want to convert it. Loads of good tips here. We often take a small pop up tent when we take the kids to festivals to put the festival wagon and other gear away quickly as you say. Thanks for joining us on #adventurecalling I hope you can again.

    Reply
  15. Lauren says

    April 26, 2017 at 8:34 am

    I loved this post. We had a campervan before our boy was born and I have really fond memories of the adventures we had.

    And the pop up tent tip is brilliant!
    #adventurecalling

    Reply
  16. Agness of aTukTuk says

    May 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm

    It seems like you had an amazing experience camping. Great tips and excellent van!

    Reply
  17. Jen from Jenography.net says

    May 18, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Do you really need those 5 pairs of shoes? YES! I say, make the kids take one outfit that they can turn inside out every other day and since when did my husband need anything other than 1 t-shirt, a jumper and some jeans? Seriously though, great list. We are only occasionally camper van travellers, but you seem to hit every important piece of advice.

    My one other piece of advice would be to pack a washing line or rope that can be used for line, for silly woodland crafts, etc. It seems like you always need to hang up towels/wet shirts/swimming costumes and I get tired of seeing them draped all over the inside of the Airstream!

    Reply
  18. shere says

    May 19, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    we have been on campervan trips since 2011 and we love it!! First without kids and now with a two. Our lesson is also to watch the driving times, sometimes it takes ages to drive what you think it’s a short distance, like last year in Norway. This year we are going to Slovenia in our recently bought second-hand caravan. Let’s see how we manage to get there

    Reply
  19. Anda says

    May 19, 2017 at 11:48 pm

    This is such a great way of traveling with small kids! We never had a camper van when our son was small and now that is is grown up it seems kind of late to get one. #TheWeeklyPostcard

    Reply
  20. Sally@Toddlers on Tour says

    May 20, 2017 at 6:24 am

    Love your space saving travel tip on taking a small pop up tent for all those extra bulky items.

    Reply
  21. Annabel says

    May 20, 2017 at 8:38 am

    Love the idea of late night visits to the beach with the kids. Camping somehow changes their routine completely without any of the usual associated problems I find, must be all that fresh air! #theweeklypostcard

    Reply
  22. Lolo says

    May 20, 2017 at 11:28 am

    Great tips! I used to love camping as a kid! We went all the time and the best recommendation is really finding things to see and do within walking distance! Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      May 27, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      It is definitely good to find places within walking distance…camping isn’t for everyone but we do love it with the little ones xx

      Reply
  23. Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) says

    May 24, 2017 at 2:31 am

    Great tips and insights. Took us back to the days of camping with our kids in their younger days. We did take a pop-up tent also. Somehow the kids always found that more fun to be in than the camper! Fun times. Thanks for sharing them on #TheWeeklyPostcard!

    Reply
    • otisandus says

      May 27, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      Aw that is so true, my eldest spends hours in the tent colouring! Campers are definitely fab for the little ones! They love it 🙂 Thanks for stopping by x

      Reply
  24. Naomi says

    October 8, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    I have just discovered your blog and subscribed. We have just moved from a caravan to a motorhome – we have 3 young kids and will be looking for tips! Especially any good tips for winter camping if you do that! thanks

    Reply

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Time to say our goodbyes.. 
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Vanlife (and travel) is not always insta perfect. It isn’t all sunshine and sunsets. Vanlife is about enjoying the journey as much as the destination, and all those little bits in between too. As I said last night, our mishaps and not so perfect trips for whatever reason - they are the memories I genuinely look back on with a smile (apart from the time our awning succumbed to a storm in Edinburgh and the campsite rang us whilst we were visiting Edinburgh Castle, to say ALL of our belongings were all over the field in the rain 😆) 

Reading your comments last night - if you manage to navigate a journey of vomit, Illnesses, emptied shelves, and missed ferries… well - you are winning at life 😆

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I think this picture was taken the same day that we realised we forgot to pack most of the parts for the camping stove, the day my son new best and wandered off and got stuck in some kind of muddy sand, and the the day the doggo snapped the tie-up rope trying to get to a huge lovable St Bernard.🤣

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📍 COL D'IBARDIN Biarritz region. We loved it h 📍 COL D'IBARDIN
Biarritz region.

We loved it here - a gorgeous campsite that appeared popular with families in the heart of the Basque country and a short drive from the beaches. 

With streams under small stone bridges, mountain views peeking through the magnificent oak trees that line the campsite, you will find a few open, some partly shaded and shaded pitches. There is a swimming pool, snack bar, pizzeria and restaurant, children’s play area and shop. There are also alternative accommodation rentals here too.

I absolutely loved everything about this campsite. The campsite is situated between the coast and the mountain range and when we stayed we found it to be charming, friendly and laid back. I’ll pop some more pictures on my stories for you ❤️

Another campsite to save for when you are planning your French road trip! 

(Some of the campsites mentioned were part of a previous collaboration with @campandcaravan and Glisten camping but remain our firm favourites and hope that they help you to plan your holiday)
Dissertation all passed! MSc complete 🙌🏻 now Dissertation all passed! MSc complete 🙌🏻 now time to piece my soul back together 😆

Out of office on! 

Let’s chase the sun ☀️ 

Who’s adventuring this bank holiday? 🏕 ☀️ 🏔 

#vanlife #vanfamily #vwt5camper
📍 Camping Mané-Guernehué Baden, Brittany Th 📍 Camping Mané-Guernehué 
Baden, Brittany

This one is a more lovely site in south Brittany, in the heart of the Gulf of Morbihan, and another one of our favourites.

There was so much to do for the children on-site. It has a brilliant pool complex, generous size pitches, and plenty of activities available including pony rides, fishing, archery, and a treetop adventure park.

We loved visiting nearby Auray too about 6 ish miles away. 

More pics in my stories for you. Another one to save. 

What do you tend to look for when booking campsites? 

(Some of the campsites mentioned were part of a previous collaboration with @campandcaravan but remain our firm favourites)
Ad/ Taking a break from the France content tonight Ad/ Taking a break from the France content tonight to bring you this wonderful opportunity to win a 2 night stay in the newly launched family wing including bed and breakfast, a delicious 3 course dinner one night of your stay, and a group llama trek!!!

You can enter on the @merryharriershambledon website and I have popped the link in my bio to enter. 

We loved our stay and the llama trek was such a treat! 

Who is up for a stay in the Surrey Hills? 🙋🏼‍♀️

Good luck ⭐️

T&Cs

Terms & Conditions

This giveaway is run by Merry Harriers and is in no way endorsed by Facebook or Instagram.
The competition begins at the time of posting and ends 23:59pm on Sunday 5th June 2022
Entrants must be 18 or above
The prize is subject to availability and valid on stays until 31st March 2023
Travel is not included
The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable
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The gram is such a funny thing. I have made some a The gram is such a funny thing. I have made some absolutely wonderful friendships over the years. Beautiful friends that are just my kind of people. Absolute sunshine.

On our recent girls van trip…. 

Me “girls just make sure I don’t lose my key - I always seem to misplace it.”

Time to say our goodbyes.. 
Girls “bye for now” - waving as they get in their vans.

Me. “Girls - I’ve lost my key”

One hour of searching and complete van emptying commences. 
 
I am that friend 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

Moral of the story. Find your tribe 😆

Anyone else that kind of friend? 
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.📸 photo credit @van_fam_andme 😆

#vanlifereality #therealitiesofvanlife #vangirl #vanfamtribe #vanlifeuk #vanfamilies #vwcamper #vwt5 #vangirls #vanfam #ukvanlife #ukexplore #wonderfulwildwomen #vanlifeinspiration #vanconversion #campervanlife #campinguk #campingfashionably #vanconversionproject #dubbedoutcommunity #socksandsandalsfam
Not insta perfect at all - I’m an absolute drown Not insta perfect at all - I’m an absolute drowned rat, spent most of the hour under the water, or trying to balance on the surf board on my knees or trying not to take the dog out who insisted on swimming in the path of all the novice surfers 😆

A brilliant weekend celebrating my beautiful friend’s surprise 40th in Scarborough with all the people who love her. What weekends are made for ! 🏄‍♀️ 🍹 

So hands up if you can surf because I think need a few more lessons 🤔 🤣

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#visitscarborough #surfshops #scarboroughspots #scarboroughbeach #scarboroughlife #visitengland #surfsup #surfinggirl #vancommunity #vanfamily #vanlifeuk #therealitiesofvanlife #surfinglessons #surfdaily #surfgirls #outdoorfamilies #getoutside #vanlifereality #surffamily #staystoked #seatherapy #seascape #surfuk #weekendparty #weekendstaycation
Ad/ My favourite thing to do 🤩 We only recentl Ad/ My favourite thing to do 🤩

We only recently got into paddleboarding and absolutely love everything about it …. Including the fact that the kit all fits in a backpack! 

This is important when you have three kids, a dog, twenty buckets and spades, more buckets full of sea glass and shells, snacks, more snacks, life jackets, wetsuits and beach towels, and a SUP all needing to get down to the beach 😂

We tried out the @ezshopperuk stand up paddleboard in Anglesey and absolutely loved it. I’ve written a review on my blog (link in stories). Can’t wait to get back out on the sea. 

Who else loves a paddleboard ?🙋🏼‍♀️
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#standuppaddle #standuppaddleboarding #sup #standuppaddleboard #paddleboardinguk #paddleboardingadventures #watersportsphotography #vanlifeuk #ukvanlife #therealitiesofvanlife #vanlifeinspiration #vangirls #vanlifecommunity #vanfamilies #outdoorrevolution #anglesey #angleseybeach #rhosneigr #visitanglesey #northwalestagram
Thank you 🙏🏻 Thank you so much for all you Thank you 🙏🏻 

Thank you so much for all your comments on my post last night, I’m still working through them but they are all absolute gold!!!!

Honestly I was literally crying with laughter at some of the funniest stories I have read in a long time -  you are all absolutely brilliant.

Vanlife (and travel) is not always insta perfect. It isn’t all sunshine and sunsets. Vanlife is about enjoying the journey as much as the destination, and all those little bits in between too. As I said last night, our mishaps and not so perfect trips for whatever reason - they are the memories I genuinely look back on with a smile (apart from the time our awning succumbed to a storm in Edinburgh and the campsite rang us whilst we were visiting Edinburgh Castle, to say ALL of our belongings were all over the field in the rain 😆) 

Reading your comments last night - if you manage to navigate a journey of vomit, Illnesses, emptied shelves, and missed ferries… well - you are winning at life 😆

Please carry on sharing more of your vanlife reality. Those real vanlife experiences. Mostly because your mishaps and stories make me howl 🤣

So I’m bringing you #therealitiesofvanlife 

Can’t wait for a giggle. Keep the chaos and laughter alive :) 
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#vanlifereality #vanlifetravel #vanlifeglobal #campingreality #campervanadventures #sunsetphotography #sunsetbeauty #roadtripping #vanlifedreams #vanlifediaries #vanlifewithkids #vanlifewithdogs #campinguk #ukvanlife #beachsunset #spaintravel #francetrip #vanlifespain #vanlifeeurope #europeroadtrip
Vanlife reality 🌊 I think this picture was ta Vanlife reality 🌊 

I think this picture was taken the same day that we realised we forgot to pack most of the parts for the camping stove, the day my son new best and wandered off and got stuck in some kind of muddy sand, and the the day the doggo snapped the tie-up rope trying to get to a huge lovable St Bernard.🤣

Why am I telling you this? Most people share the highlights, the bits they want to remember, but there is ALWAYS more to that perfect picture. 

In fairness there is ALWAYS a bit of chaos to our vanlife story and travel….. it wouldn’t be us without a story of a missed ferry, a two hour journey that turns into 10 hours or a forgotten packing cube. And even those bits I genuinely love to remember 😆

So now your turn. Do spill your #vanlifereality stories :) I’m ready for a giggle. 
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#anglesey #angleseybeach #ukcoastline #northwales #walesadventure #ilovewales #walescollective #ukshots #walesphotography #beach #bestbeaches #beachdays #seaair #ukhiddengems #freshairtherapy #reallifetravel #roadtripuk #vanlife #vanlifeuk #vanlifediaries #vanlifecommunity #vanlifewithkids #vanlifewithdogs #campinguk #camperlifewithkids #vanlifeglobal
This my friends.. is the face of freedom. No study This my friends.. is the face of freedom. No study. No work. Just one big beautiful beach a campervan and my family.

Our first week away in the campervan was amazing. Anglesey is one of our favourite places to visit. … and we got to spend time with our beautiful friends too. 

I packed fifty million jumpers, five pairs of dungarees, coats… walking boots and loads of fleeces (hello UK weather), and actually lived in my sandals and even applied suncream. Winner! 

How was half term for you? What did you get up to?

Hat @pandco_women 
Dungarees @fatface 
Cardigan @passengerclothing 
💚Ad - Sandals kindly gifted to me by  @keeneurope 
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#whatmamaworemonday #girlswhoadventure #outdoorwomen #adventureanywhere #thisgirlvans #vangirl #outdoorsgirl #vwgirls #exploreuk #5gocamping #dungarees  #whatiliketowear #whatimwearingnow #happytobe #fashionover40 #vanlife #anglesey #angleseybeach #campervanlife #campervanadventures #campinguk #surfgirls #beachfashion #wonderfulwildwomen #beachtherapy #freshairtherapy

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