Camper van CRUSH

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

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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 hunting for scraps.

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

Wild life

I dreamt of the open road. I was far from alone in my desire to roam. During Covid-19, demand for camper vans skyrocketed – sales in July 2020 went up 71% on the previous year*. On social media, I began following digital nomads, envious of their freedom, cute gingham curtains, sun-bleached hair and wild swims. With 'knowledge' acquired by scrolling, I knew it was possible to convert pretty much any vehicle, so I started to eye up trucks and vans. My husband Jonathan sensibly suggested we 'try before we buy', so to road-test our commitment, we hired a motorhome for a week's holiday in Scotland.