Ten of the UK’s most experienced vanlifers have shared the memorable, out-of-the-box travel and camping goals that they recommend ticking off this year.
Contributors included van owners, converters, and enthusiasts from across the UK who have suggested waking up to a sunrise at the coast, going on a Leap Year adventure, watching the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, taking a camper off grid, seeing dolphins at Cromarty, and completing the Wild Atlantic Way Route, among other things.
The list has been collated by Quirky Campers, a British campervan hire service, which provides one-of-a-kind handcrafted campers. Their fleet of boutique hotel rooms on wheels include vans kitted out with wood burners, underfloor heating, luxury kitchens, double beds, bespoke interior decorations, and cinema projectors.
Top 12 vanlifer travel goals for 2024.
Take a trip completely off-grid. Travelling in an off-grid camper van gives you the ultimate sense of freedom. You can sleep wherever, eat wherever. And often without the crowds. It allows you to completely disconnect from the stresses of daily life and immerse yourself in nature. Something we could all do with from time to time, and one of the most popular vanlifer travel goals this year.
Catch a stargazing event. 2024 is a great year for sleeping under the stars – one highlight will be the stunning Eta Aquariid meteor shower, which will peak between midnight and dawn on 6 May 2024. Vanlifers advise jumping in a camper and heading away from light pollution for the best experience. Surprise View above Hathersage in the Peak District would be a good bet as it is one of the UK’s official Dark Sky sites.
Go on a Leap Year adventure. Mark the 2024 Leap Year with a road trip route that you haven’t taken before. You could head off on Thursday 29 February and spend the weekend exploring some beautiful new corners of the UK. The Quirky Campers site has several route recommendations, including the Ultimate Book Lovers UK Road Trip, if you’re looking for inspiration.
Complete the Wild Atlantic Way Route. The Wild Atlantic Way, 1600 miles (2600 km) in length, is one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It winds its way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. The towering cliffs, secluded beaches and sights such as the Baltimore Beacon mean it is a trip that many vanlifers have on their bucket list for 2024.
Wake up to a sunrise at the coast. There is something special about waking up before the sunrise and seeing the first rays creep across the sky. Vanlifers advise parking up near Benacre Broad in Suffolk, a beach that is mid-way between Lowestoft to the north and Southwold on the Suffolk Coast. Also known as the Sunrise Coast, the Suffolk coast faces east, offering uninterrupted views of the sun rising over the sea.
Take a solo trip. Take a lead from Julia Roberts in “Eat Pray Love” and make 2024 the year you book a trip for one (pets don’t count). Travelling by yourself allows you to explore without worrying about anyone else’s wants or needs, and you’d be surprised by how many unknown spots you can find just by striking up a conversation with someone new.
Go wild swimming. Wild swimming continued to grow in popularity in 2023 and for good reason – it has scores of mental and physical health benefits. If you haven’t given it a go yet, vanlifers suggest making 2024 the year for it. There are around 600 wild swimming locations in the UK, from Cornwall to Scotland. Consider purchasing a wild swimming map from a company like Salty Sea Sisters to pinpoint the best rivers and lakes.
Cook a three-course meal in a campervan. More than possible and super satisfying. Whether it’s for a special occasion or you just fancy treating yourself after a long hike in the countryside, vanlifers suggest taking on the challenge and getting your creative culinary juices going. You might surprise yourself.
Litter pick at every park up during your trip. Make a commitment to doing a few minutes litter picking during every trip. Our beautiful British green spaces and the wildlife that inhabits them will thank you for it.
See the Northern Lights. Something thousands of people dream of doing but never get around to – perhaps, 2024 should be the year to finally see this magical sight (the photos don’t do it justice). In the UK, vanlifers recommend heading up to The Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. Its proximity to the North Pole and its incredibly dark skies makes it an ideal location for spotting the spectacular Aurora Borealis.
Visit a hidden gem location. Plan a road trip to one of the lesser-known corners of the UK. Crystal Grotto, a cave in in Painshill Park, Surrey is one option. It appears quite rugged and unassuming on the outside but is full of shimmering quartz crystals. Or you could opt for the Devil’s Bridge, near Rhossili Bay Beach in Swansea. One of the most incredible rock formations in the UK, it can be accessed only 2.5 hours before and after low tide but is well worth the effort.
See dolphins at Cromarty. Take a campervan to Cromarty, near Inverness to see the famous Moray Firth Dolphins. Park up and watch them from land from around 1 hour after low tide, when the tide turns and the dolphins start to chase fish in.
David Ffrench and Lindsay Berresford, co-founders of Quirky Campers, have been working through their own campervanning and travel goals for more than 15 years.
“We always enjoy thinking about where we want to go and what we want to do at the beginning of the year, when we’re feeling fresh and inspired. It’s one of the best times to think about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, planning trips to new places and deciding on some activities that you’ve never tried before.
“There is also something about a leap year, which adds an element of excitement and encourages people to set more goals and challenges. We would definitely advise embracing that energy and using it to get out and experience some of the bucket list items that you’ve been thinking about but putting off. We certainly will be.”
Quirky Campers was launched by Lindsay and David in 2010, starting with renting out their own campervan, Bella, while they were travelling in Kenya. The family owned business acts as an agent for a collection of friendly and likeminded campervan owners, each with a vehicle that they have lovingly created and want to share with the world.
The business also supports people to convert their own vans with an extensive network of Quirky Approved converters who can help; and has a dedicated campervan sales page on the website as well.
For more information on Quirky Campers, visit quirkycampers.com.