Busfest Or Bust

It’s time to pack the Van and set off for the Malvern Hills for the UK’s biggest VW Camper gathering

- Paul Knight

I f you’ve yet to visit ‘the big one’, as it’s known, you should really consider adding it to your 2020 calendar as there isn’t another Van-only show that comes even close to matching the scale of this immense weekend Camper festival.

Busfest covers everything from live music through to cookery competitions and a packed show ’n’ shine. But for many visitors, this event is all about the trade stands, and it’s probably the biggest collection of Van specialists you’re likely to find in one place.

Of course, as it’s an all-encompassing VW Camper event, there are swapmeet stalls and a large number of spares and accessory suppliers covering earlier models, but it was the vast array of conversion companies and T5 / T6 aftermarket tuning, styling and interior goody vendors that really appealed to the VWt crew.

We’re talking something like 300 traders in total, which equates to a lot of walking by the time you’ve worked your way through both the halls and outdoor stalls.

It was clear to us this year that the high-riding swamper / adventurer-themed Campers are now big business. Lift kits, mud tyres and beefy wheels aside, some of the more hardcore off-grid Campers featured some impressive kit, including high-power LED light bars and spotlights, heavy-duty ’racks, intelligent solar charging and advanced GPS systems (as used by mountain rescue teams!).

If you are more in the market for buying a completed Camper, or Van, I think it’s fair to say there was something on offer for everyone at Busfest.

Clubs ’n’ stuff