50th Birthday Campervan trip.

[Whatjusthappenedthere]

We bought a campervan late last year. Poured all our savings into it. It’s DH’s 50th this year and we have two weeks off together over his birthday. What would you do and where would you go. Limited budget, looking for a round trip. All ideas welcome as we are inexperienced in these matters.

Not much point raving about the Hebrides when the op needs to go south as it's the dh's birthday not hers

For the record though the hopscotch tickets aren't exactly cheap and you need to plan carefully where you will stay as not that many pitches available. Also it's no place for a novice camper van driver. Single track roads predominate. I've spent many holidays on Mull and meeting somebody on a tiny road with a passing place 20 feet behind you uphill a 20% gradient and round a corner when they've got a passing place two feet behind them and can't reverse in to it is no fun for anybody.

Go down the coast to North Yorkshire, then head inland to York and Knaresborough, turn south down the A1 to Cambridge.

Go cross country to Oxford and then head south to Portsmouth.

On the way back head for Bristol and then either get on the motorway to get home quicker but stop off in the lakes before a final sprint home. Or go through the peak district then the Yorkshire moors.

Lots of history, nice country side, museums, coast and cities.

Pompey is Portsmouth. Pompeii is Pompeii. HTH. Isle of Wight is really just a day trip there is not loads to do. New forest definitely. So lovely. Then I'd go back up and visit the lake district etc.

If you are going South, I don't think that you can just park up in New Forest any more, but there are plenty of camp sites. Ive had a couple of holidays on Isle of Wight and have enjoyed. Join the caravan club for discounts

Depending on your budget you could have one night stay in helicopter on Windmill campsite on Isle of Wight. Or one night stay on No Man's Fort in the sea near IOW

If you book somewhere to stay on IOW they may offer you free or reduced ferry, even the campsites, so suggest asking

Unless you are en-route north/south I wouldn't do one-nighters! No time for relaxing or whole days out. We spent 3 weeks in the West Country in the summer campervanning and did 3 nights at each place. I would do a minimum of 2 then you don't spend 50% of your holiday, setting up, packing up, driving etc. Enjoy yourselves, we love it!

OUTER HEBRIDIES. But fill every crevice of your van with long life food or you will bankrupt yourself shopping locally. We went for the first two weeks of June and it was bliss. But you are going to Portsmouth, have a lovely time.

And get a Heritage New Zealand membership, much cheaper than NT or NT Scotland.

Thanks for all your replies . We still haven’t decided north ( my vote) or south ( his vote) but plenty inspiration.