Life on the open road is great, but you need to take a break now and then to enjoy the scenery. CHRISSY HARRIS finds 20 of the best spots for campervan breaks on the coast.
South Pool, Devon
Peace, quiet and stunning views across the Salcombe estuary make Wilton Farm a firm favourite for campervan breaks and small vans. It’s well tucked away in the South Devon National Landscape (formerly AONB) with a choice of coastal walks. The farming family owners have been here for 50 years and love sharing their knowledge about the local area, so you’re in good hands. A handy farm-shop on site means you can stock up on your barbecue fodder. wiltonfarm.co.uk
Mersea Island, Essex
“Mersea is a wonderful place to go in a van’, says Emily Arnold, co-founder of Vanlife Conversions (vanlifeconversions.co.uk). “There are lovely beaches, a cute town and plenty of fresh seafood. There are lots of free-park ups and campsites too.”
Despite being an island, you can access Mersea by a tidal road, called The Strood. It’s stating the obvious but check the tide times before you travel.
Fen Farm is a family-run campsite on the island that’s by the sea and close to a country park. fenfarm.co.uk
Traigh Bay, Isle of Harris
There are a couple of sites for campervan breaks here where you can enjoy ‘heaven on earth’ – sea and mountain views over the Highlands and all within a short walk to the beautiful white sandy beach. There’s also a nine-hole golf course nearby, if you’re that way inclined. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy the tranquillity and the wildlife. Herons and owls nest in the woodland behind. Otters are often seen playing and feeding in the bay. Whales, dolphins and basking sharks are also commonly seen. This is the (van) life.
Porthcawl, Bridgend
Seaside fun will be just outside the door if you pull up for a night or two at this bustling holiday destination on the south Wales coast. There are seven lovely beaches, plus watersports, amusement arcades, decent restaurants and ice-creams galore. Options for the van include the Hi Tide Inn on the seafront (hi-tide.co.uk). It has a large, converted car park for caravans, motorhomes and small campervans. Brodawel camping and caravan park is a peaceful, family friendly site set in open countryside, just a mile from the coast. brodaweltouringpark.co.uk
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Hooks House Farm is picturesque place to pitch. It overlooks Robin Hood’s Bay and is within walking distance to the village of the same name. Hook House regulars say the owners can’t do enough for their guests and facilities are well thought out and spotlessly clean. hookshousefarm.co.uk
Take the van out exploring this historic stretch of coast, an exciting place to be, whatever the weather. Whitby is only a 15-minute drive away to the north, while Scarborough is about 30 minute’s south.
Anglesey, North Wales
This scenic island is separated from the mainland by the formidable Menai Straits but is easily accessed along the A55 North Wales Expressway and the impressive suspension bridge. Once you and the van have crossed the water and taken in the views, it’s time to find a place to stay and make the most of sandy coves and sweet isolation. Tyddyn Isaf (tyddynisaf.co.uk) is an award-winning luxury five-star camping and caravan park overlooking Lligwy Bay. Penrhyn Bay Caravan Park, located in Llanddona, Penrhyn, offers great views of the sea and Snowdonia. penrhynbay.com
Lewes, East Sussex
Tim Voiter is operations manager at VW Kampers (vwkampers.co.uk) and runs the Brazilian VW Bay Campers Owners’ Club. He says if you want ‘a raw, cliff edge camp-out’ then Stud Farm campsite in Telscombe Village is a top choice. Pitches are for small campervans only (no caravans) and enjoy prime positions, overlooking the rolling Sussex hills and sea. The deliberately basic site is a 20-minute stroll to the coast. studfarmsouthdowns.co.uk
Putsborough, Devon
Ah, Putsborough. This beach really is the stuff of dreams – big Atlantic waves, miles of golden sands and an easy level walk to the bright lights of Woolacombe. A day trip here is never quite enough. Motorhomes and campervans can stay overnight on the hardstanding area at the top of the beach car park. You can’t book, but it’s rare not to get a spot. There’s a toilet block, access to drinking water and cold, freshwater showers on the beach. putsborough.com
Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall
Cornwall has and always will be one of the most popular destinations for campervans and the Lizard is a top stop. The most southerly point of the British mainland has a beautiful but rugged and treacherous coastline that has wrecked ships and hidden smugglers. Wilder and less polished than other parts of the county, this is a fascinating place to park up and spend a few days. Chy Carne has great pitches and is just a ten-minute walk from the spectacular Kennack Sands. chycarne.co.uk
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Wayne Rozak, owner of online community VanLife.co.uk, says the Somerset coast is a must-visit destination. Often overlooked, the edge of this rural county is home to some great beaches and seaside resorts, including Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-on-sea and Brean.
Uphill Marina (uphillmarina.co.uk) has a touring park on site. It’s a stone’s throw from Uphill Beach and in a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Channel View is on Brean Sands and has beachside pitches. somersetleisure.co.uk/channel-view-caravan-park/
Isle of Wight
Hit the road to enjoy a real island adventure. Attractions, amenities and isolation are within easy reach wherever you go here and there are several sites to stop at, from family-run farms to woodland havens. Grange Farm (grangefarmcamping.co.uk) is right on the coast, with sea and countryside views. The two-acre camping area has hardstanding pitches and hookups. Soak up the countryside at Heathfield Camping on the outskirts of the village of Freshwater. heathfieldcamping.co.uk
Many sites offer packages or discounts on ferry travel to and from the island.
Portland, Dorset
Another popular spot with the van life community, Portland is really out there, quite literally. The ‘tied island’ is a 15-minute drive from Weymouth but a whole world away. The wild and rugged scenery is the southernmost point on the world-famous Jurassic Coast. Fossils, rare plants and hidden coves are just some of the things to look out for. Sweet Hill Farm offers ‘nearly wild’ camping for you and the van, with views of the famous Portland Bill lighthouse. sweethillfarm.co.uk
12 of the best coastal places to visit in a campervan
West Runton, Norfolk
West Runton is well-known for its elephant. The most complete skeleton of an ice age steppe mammoth ever found in Britain, was discovered on the beach here in 1990. Fossil hunting remains a big draw and a good reason to spend a couple of days on this scenic stretch of the north Norfolk coast. Laburnum Caravan Park (laburnumcaravanpark.co.uk) is right on the cliff top which leads down to the beach. All of the pitches at Beeston Regis holiday park have a sea view. beestonregis.co.uk
Budle Bay, Northumberland
No frills and nature-filled is one of the best ways to experience this tranquil part of Northumberland’s coast. The bay, near Bamburgh, is home to a diverse range of habitats, including salt marshes, sand dunes and rocky cliffs. It’s a popular destination for birdwatchers, thanks to the steady sightings of seabirds, plus wading and migratory birds. Budle Bay campsite is just 200 meters from the wildlife-rich mud flats. It’s green in every sense (e.g. power and hot water is from renewable energy). It’s also a dark sky site, so good starry views. budlebaycampsite.com
Ravenglass, Cumbria
Visit the edge of the Lake District to beat the National Park crowds and discover this much overlooked part of the UK coast. The village of Ravenglass lies on the estuary of three mountain stream-fed rivers and has its own heritage railway. Roll up to Ravenglass Camping and Caravanning Club Site for a good base to explore the area (and the great pubs) by foot. tinyurl.com/yknnm2et
Llŷn peninsula, Gwynedd
Getting to the edge of Wales takes some doing but the rewards are worth it. This area is famous for its beaches, scenery and wide-open spaces. Just what you need after a hard day on road. If wetsuits, surfboards, swimmers, walking boots and climbing gear are included in your kit, then you’ll have a great time in a place that’s well set up for water-based activities. Bolmynydd is a small, family-run park in the shelter of Llanbedrog headland. bolmynydd.co.uk
Herne Bay, Kent
Fun-filled family days out are guaranteed here in Whitstable’s less polished neighbour. Bizarrely, Herne Bay has been named both the worst and best seaside town outside London! Go and make your own mind up. Hampton Bay is a well-established and well-run site that’s close to the coast and has a bar on site that hosts regular events. hampton-bay-park.co.uk
Kirkwall, Orkney
Explore the beauty of these incredible islands at your own pace. As long as you plan ahead, don’t rely on sat navs (they can send you down some unsuitably narrow streets) and organise your fuel stops, campervanning around Orkney is a great way to experience island life. Orkney Caravan Park is run by the Pickaquoy Centre, a sports, arts and conference centre in the historic town of Kirkwall. orkneycaravanpark.co.uk
Wild Atlantic Way, County Galway
The Wild Atlantic Way lends itself to a trip involving you, the van and one of the best coastal routes in the world. Stop at Clifden Eco Beach, Ireland’s first eco-certified, carbon-neutral site. Set among wild Atlantic the sand dunes, this special spot offers panoramic views from the private white sandy beach. With no games room and conditional wi-fi, this place allows you to get back to basics and actually talk to each other. clifdenecocamping.ie
Causeway Coastal Route
Another coastal corker, this well-travelled, way-marked route follows the coasts of Northern Ireland between Belfast and Derry. Highlights include the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge and the Bushmills Distillery. Regular van-lifers say the best time to visit this 120-mile stretch is during autumn because of the warm colours and scenic scenery. The award-winning Ballyness Caravan Park is the closest camping park to the Giant’s Causeway. ballynesscaravanpark.com
