LIFE ON THE OPEN ROAD

Christabel Smith explains why she fell for a Wendy house on wheels

- CHRISTABEL SMITH

My bedroom at home is spacious, my mattress comfortable, yet for a really good night's sleep I need to be squished into my little camper van, listening to the sea and wildlife outside.

For the first half of my life, the prospect of camping made me shudder. But the pandemic upended everything. I never wanted to share germs with 200 other people on a plane again.

I dreamt of the open road, and I was far from alone. During Covid-19, demand for camper vans skyrocketed - sales in July 2020 were up 71% on the same month the previous year*. I began following digital nomads on social media, envious of their freedom, gingham curtains, sun-bleached hair and wild swims.

EASY CONVERSION