Fat Girl Fit

Be fearlessly unapologetically you

Category: Cycling, Hiking, Running, Sweden, Van Life

What Is There To Do On The Göta Canal In Sweden

The house we have purchased in Sweden is a 5 minute walk to Lake Boren, which joins part of The Göta Canal, also known as ‘Sweden’s Blue Ribbon’.

Borenshult Lock

This morning is the annual docking at the dry dock where the boats go out for the season. This is a 200 year old tradition where they add the water to the dry docks where boats are stored and there just so happens to be a cafe next to it, Mallboden, that sells tasty food whilst you watch it all unfold and they were actually the ones that told us about the docking today.

A Bit About The Göta Canal

The canal was historically the main waterway from the east to the west, starting at Söderköping on the east coast. The canal navigates some of the gorgeous Swedish countryside and goes past Lakes Roxen and Boren before joining the Vattern.

We knew of the canal from our previous visits to Motala to see friends and participate in the Vatternrundan bike ride. Now we have moved here and been exploring we were intrigued as to how far the canal is and where it goes.

The canal has 58 locks over the 190km distance that it spans and there is a lot to see and do with full information on this website. Given the distance of the canal this means that it also boasts the longest avenue of trees with circa 10,000 trees and as they need replacing there are around 50 trees per year planted by sponsors and should you be interested in being a sponsor you can find more info here.

Gota Canal

What Can You Do On The Göta Canal?

You can hike and cycle the towpaths or take a boat along the canal and even better it is completely car free!

There are events on the canal, including:

  • guided bike ride or you can hire bikes or ride your own and there are routes available here
  • boat trips on the canal and on the lakes that it passes
  • cruise on the canal over 3 days
  • rent a kayak or canoe
  • Kanallopet run in May with options for 5km, 10km or half marathon distances
  • stand up paddle boarding (and in the past there was a race for this, which could return)
  • part of the canal had an event for skiers in the winter as a one day event

There are many food and drink stops too, that include:

  • Mallboden – their tarta Flambé is one of our favourites and they also have a few pitches for motorhomes right next to the canal as well as hostel accommodation
  • Camarda – this is an Italian deli, which is on our list to visit but comes highly recommended
  • Cafe Baltzar – this is located in an old shipyard, which also has shopping and above a museum
  • Tva Sma Hus – this is located where the canal joins the Vattern and a perfect stop for an ice cream
  • There are many more to choose from here and I would love any recommendations you might have!

More Info…

There is a lot of information about the canal available on the West Sweden website here.

You can also divert from the canal to neighbouring towns to explore, for example it is 24km from Tividen National Park, which is one of the favourites we have visited here so far.

Category: Hiking, Van Life

The Camper Van Goes To The Isle Of Wight

We are always up for any excuse to have a weekend away in the van. Plus weekends away mean minimal holiday days need to be used allowing more time to go away over the year!

The crossing to Isle of Wight, with Wight Link, has several options for routes including:

  • Lymington to Yarmouth (40 minutes)
  • Portsmouth to Fishbourne (45 minutes)
  • Portsmouth to Ryde (22 minutes although this route is not for cars and only foot passengers and cyclists)

Booking the ferry was easy online, I downloaded the app, which gives a QR code for quick check in on arrival, however, the registration of the vehicle was recognised and we were through very easily. On the way back we were early and offered to go on the ferry due before us (they departed once an hour). Staff were very friendly and accommodating and it was good to see all the dogs on the crossing – we were not sure how April would be as she has never been on a boat and not the best with some floors but she seemed to love it! There was a poster on the ferry that estimated there would be 4.6 million passengers during 2023.

We had booked to pitch the camper van at Grange Farm in Brightstone. We managed to get a pitch right near the edge of the campsite overlooking the sea. We had an electric hook up grass pitch. The site had really good facilities with toilets, showers – even a bath which we have never seen before on a campsite, and more for kids including two playgrounds. There were also goats, pigs, alpacas and rabbits everywhere! They also have two street food options onsite – one offers breakfasts, fish and chips and drinks and the other wood fired pizzas. There is also a shop with loads to offer and you can pre order fresh pastries and breads the day before for collection the following morning. Staff here were lovely and couldn’t be more helpful.

You could walk directly from the farm down to the beach and walk along the front and it is located on Military Road, which stretches from Freshwater to Blackgang. The road has scenic sea views for the entire stretch.

There is so much to see and do on the Isle of Wight and something for everyone. We managed to pick a weekend where there were a few things going on:

  • an ultra walking/running challenge on where participants were completing a route the circumference of the island, which is 106km in total, either over 1 or 2 days
  • a cycling event much the same as the above with different distances on offer including the full 100km or the 55km option
  • a beer festival at the steam railway

We did a lot of hiking, found a delightful tea room called Tandem Team Room serving a lot of fresh homemade cakes and is also a B&B.

There are so many walking routes and friendly faces in local pubs. Some of the footpaths were not as maintained as we thought they would be, but roads are not overly busy – the coastal path was lovely with stunning views.

Of course I had to take the opportunity to visit the Mermaid Bar and will admit until we were there this weekend, I actually had no idea that this gin was made in the Isle of Wight.

If you are interested in a short break off the coast of England with stunning landscapes, beaches, and something for everyone young and old the Isle of Wight is definitely one to check out. The Isle of Wight is also very camper van friendly and we didn’t have an issue navigating any roads or parking. It does follow the same rules as mainland England so wild camping is not allowed unless you have specific permission from a land owner.

This was the third time I had been to Isle of Wight – once when I was at school, once when our son was younger and now this trip. We will definitely return!

Ferry crossing was gifted but all opinions are my own.

Category: Van Life

Christmas Gifts Ideas for Camper Van Life

Van life has well and truly become part of our life and if anything I would like more adventures in the van!

Before we purchased our campervan we had spoken to others who had vans and we were warned they can be a labour of love. We are lucky (touch wood) not have had major issues to date (and long may that continue) but had the odd thing, but what I have found is that there are always things to buy – some you need and some you just want.

I wrote a blog post previously on essentials for van life that you can read here. It is Christmas shopping time for sure and if you have a campervan and looking for inspiration or looking for a gift for someone with a campervan then take a look at some suggestions below:

  • Games – we always have some games on hand in the van and our favourites are normal playing cards of course but also Uno and Monopoly (much quicker than the board game Monopoly).
  • Tripod fire pit from Aldi, £44.99 – this was an amazing find in store and it doubles as a fire pit and grill and packs away so slim and easy in a bag with handles. We very often light at night and have used to cook on also.
  • Dry robes, from £140 – we both have Dry Robes and always have them in the camper van when we go away. They fold down relatively small and are useful for changing, after wild swimming, for toilet/shower runs on camp and for all year round.
  • Physion Mini Massage Gun, £59.95 – when we are on adventures in the van we often take our bikes or go hiking and this massage gun is compact, easy to take with us and use after being out all day.
  • Adventure journal, £25 – I don’t have this but have seen it online and looks like a great way to document adventures and memories.
  • Grounded book, £16.99 – my son got this for me last year and it is such a good book all about how having a connection with nature can improve our mental and physical wellbeing.
  • Camping and Campervan membership, from £45 – we are members (feels like a very grown up thing) and definitely has been worth it, giving access and information on campsites and discounts. We have found campsites where you have to be a member and all have been sites we would recommend.
  • Brit Stops, £32 – not a membership as such but by signing up you get access to stay at certain stopovers (not campsites) and I have used this in a pub car park when doing the King Alfred’s Way bikepacking. You announce your arrival and have somewhere safe to stay – there is no charge but as I found we got a drink and food ahead of staying.
  • Big Bobble Hats, £22 – always useful to have in the van for cold days and nights and to keep adventuring all year round. Use code FATGIRLFIT20 for a 20% discount.
  • Camping Blanket, £77 – not something I have but will be going on my list.
  • JBL mini speaker, £29.99 – we got this on one of our ferry crossings on our trip to Sweden in June and it is fab, small and compact, easy to carry/store, sounds great and can charge by USB.
  • Jet Boil, £139 – I looked at this for a very long time and finally purchased at the start of the year and it is worth every penny. We have used for cooking and for drinks both when we are pitched and also on hikes – fab item!
  • Ordnance Survey app, from £4.99 per month – my husband has this and we very often use when out and about, very handy!

Happy Camping!

Category: Van Life

Camper Van Trip To Sweden

Sweden is a country that my husband and I love. The people are lovely, as is the way of life with it being mainly centred around family and being outside, from our experience, and this is mainly why we are planning to move there at some point in the future.

When we got our camper van we had planned to do a long trip heading over to Sweden in it to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and my 40th birthday. But this was in the early months of Covid, postponed until the following year and then again until this year. Because of the unknown we had got a little lazy with the planning but once we knew it was going to happen we were straight on the case!

Booking three weeks off work was approved, bank holidays were announced and as they are later than usual meant we had even more time off and so planning began.

What Route To Sweden

There are a few options but we chose the following both out and back:

  • Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland (6.5 hours) with Stena Line
  • Hook of Holland drive to Rostock, Germany (7 hours)
  • Ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg, Sweden (5.5 hours) with TT Line

We had cabins on both ferry trips and unfortunately suffered theft of components of my husbands bike (on a bike rack, locked with multiple locks, whilst in the hold) whilst on the TT Line. Their customer service was quite honestly non-existent and over 3 weeks on we are still awaiting responses. The experience with Stena Line was the polar opposite and for this reason we would not travel with TT Line again nor recommend them to others.

What Do You Need For Travel?

When travelling through multiple countries you need to check both entry requirements and rules that need to be followed in each as they can differ. We had to do the following:

  • Passports
  • Download our Covid Passports
  • UK sticker for our campervan
  • Headlamp convertors (stickers for headlights)
  • Carry a red warning triangle in case of emergency
  • Reflective jackets
  • First aid kit
  • Breathalyser
  • Spare bulbs
  • Insurance certificate
  • V5 registration document

You can purchase a European Driving Kit, which contains most of the above, that we did.

What To See

When planning a road trip and researching, asking friends and trying to draw up some semblance of an itinerary it is difficult to narrow it down as there is always so much to see and do. So on the list was:

  • Tiveden National Park – we wild camped at Sorangs Bergsjo fishing lake. It was a beautiful spot with a little jetty, fire pit, firewood, shelter and picnic table. We hiked the Trehorningsrundan trail, which was a 9.5km loop around the lake and stunning.
  • Ekopark Omberg – we wild camped at Bokskogens, which was a small area for 5 campervans that overlooked Lake Vattern. It was stunning with a short stairway to access the lake for swimming, fire pits, firewood, shelter and several picnic tables. We have cycled up Omberg on the Tjejvattern and Halvvattern events so had seen the stunning views from the top and the hiking and off road bike trails. We hiked from where we camped on the trails to Omberg Touristhotell, that we cycled past on the previously mentioned bike rides. We then hiked back into the park to the viewing station at the highest point of the park, Hjassan.
  • Kvarntorpshogen stairs – 427 steps up one of Europe’s longest wooden staircase. At the top there is a sculpture park to look around.
  • Vatternrundan bike week.
  • Tisarstrand campsite – we decided to stay on this campsite by Lake Tisaren for a night. We hiked from here around the local trails and woodland and once again found many rest stops with picnic areas, fire wood and shelters. This campsite was great and right on the water, with all facilities you would need and many BBQ areas.
  • Linkoping – we stayed on a campsite by Lake Roxen for two nights called Sandvik’s. It was right on the lake with all facilities, however, you did have to pay for hot water but it was only 5 SEK for 5 minutes. We hiked from here around the local trails and my husband used the paddle board on the lake also. We then spent a day in the town exploring.
  • Motala – our friends live in Motala and this is where the Vatternrundan events start and finish. We spent weekends with them and love this little town. There may also have been some house hunting whilst we were there to see what we would be looking to buy when we eventually move there.
  • Amsterdam – my husband has been but I have not and was excited for this! We stayed at Camp Zeeburg, which was fab! Excellent facilities, on site restaurant, shop, bakery and goats! This is situated on the canal and the staff were great too! I would note that this is situated in an environmental zone and so if you have a vehicle that runs on diesel you need to check the emission class here and apply for a temporary exemption. The reality was that it is beautiful city in parts and some areas (as expected) not so much!

Swedish Wild Camping Rules

One of the main things we love about Sweden is the outdoor lifestyle, which is even better with Allemansratten (the freedom to roam) that is enshrined in Swedish law.

You are also permitted to stay overnight in a campervan providing you are off the road/parked safely.

Of course you should always leave no trace, no litter and not disturb the land/wildlife around.

Cannot wait to return!

Category: Cycling, Product Reviews, Van Life

Transporting Your Bike

Do you travel with your bike? I don’t necessarily mean abroad/by plan, however, I have written a post about travelling abroad with your bike that you can find here.

When it comes to travelling within the UK, or the same country that you live, there are many options to consider, and the below are some that I have experience of to share:

Roof Bars/Racks

For our old car we had the Thule roof bars added to transport our bikes on the roof of the car. For this you need both the roof bars and then also the bike bars. We upgraded when we changed to carbon bikes so swapped from the system that leaves both wheels on to the one where you remove the front and connect to the front fork mount as certain frame clamps are not recommended for carbon bikes.

Just don’t forget your bikes are on the roof and go under a height restriction – it happens!

Wheel Bag

When we moved to the front fork mount we got some wheel bags so that we can store the wheel safely inside the vehicle. These tend to be padded, have internal accessories pockets if needed, carry handle and for double wheel bags also have extra internal padding to protect the hubs.

Tow Bar Rack

For our camper van we decided to invest in a tow bar and Thule tow bar bike rack so that we could maximise space inside the vehicle for when travelling. We did need to get the tow bar added by a specialist and we do not leave on permanently. I would say this rack is heavy and can be a little awkward – it can definitely be a one man job but easier with two people!

Inside Rack

We found this rack advertised for storing your bikes inside your vehicle shortly after we purchased our camper van. We thought that this might make a good addition for when we were travelling with the bikes without an overnight stay and so didn’t need the space inside the van. This rack is from Bike Inside and is so easy to use – you literally extend to the right length, secure in place and connect your bike to the fork mounts. It is super easy to store and there are options for different lengths, adapters, extenders and other straps and accessories.

Thule Carrier

To go with the transportation, and this is an add on for the Thule tow bar bike rack mentioned above, we also invested in the Thule carrier and this is an awesome piece of kit! It attaches and locks onto the tow bar rack, is waterproof, lightweight, packs down when storing, and you can add a bike rack with this too.

Chuck It In

There was no fancy technical way of saying this, but let’s face it, we all do it and it is always an option to literally just put your bike in your vehicle! I know I still do sometimes. We have a connector in our camper van to tie the dog lead too and sometimes (minus the dog) I use this to literally put my bike in and secure with the dog lead. No judgement here – it works a treat!

Trains

There are of course booking tickets on trains for your bike, however, I have never (believe it or not) used this so cannot comment.

As you can see we are big fans of Thule items – they can be a bit of an investment but the quality is amazing and we’ve found their stuff lasts forever (maybe not literally forever but for a long time)!

How do you travel with your bike?

Category: Van Life

Essentials for Van Life

When we got our camper van we purchased it already converted you can read more on the spec of the van and upgrades we have made here.

For our first trips we would load up with things from in the house but soon realised our preference was to not have to move things to and from the house so we gradually started getting things that we leave in the van. The idea is that we are basically good to go whenever we want!

Our Van Essentials

Here are some of the items we have purchased that we use on every trip and find super useful:

  • Vango double sleeping bag – this was a bit of an impulse purchase as we had started by loading up the van with our duvet and pillows from home and then saw this in the bargain bin at Go Outdoors. This is a double sleeping bag and has another layer that you can either use as a mattress topper or for extra warmth. I have to say we love this sleeping system and it was a great investment.
  • 230V electric cable – to use when we are on sites and require electric hook up. However, we do have solar panels and have found we can camp for quite some time without the need for electric hook up but this is still good to have in the van just in case.
  • Mains convertor lead – to use with the electric cable.
  • Gas bottle – we don’t keep ours in the van when we are not using it but necessary for using the hob. They come in many different sizes so we opted for one that sites nicely in the cupboard out of the way.
  • Thule Levelers – these are amazing for when you have a pitch that may be on uneven ground and allows you to position under the wheels to make sure the van is level (and yes we have a spirit level in the van to check ha ha).
  • Fire extinguisher – for obvious reasons, compact and made for car/van use.
  • First aid kit – as above.
  • Carbon monoxide smoke alarm – you are cooking and using gas in a confined space so this is an essential in our view.
  • Plates/Cups/Glasses – we opted for melamine as it is durable and easy to clean and also got ours from Dunelm as we found the difference in price with normal shops and camping specific shops to be a lot.
  • Cutlery – we purchased some bamboo travel sets, which have been useful although we also got some stainless steel sets too as the wood is not best for all food.
  • Kitchen utensils – my husband stumbled on a travel set and it is perfect, and stores away neat and tidy.
  • Pots/pans – we have a small saucepan but also found a pan from Ridgeway, which is multi function and means we can make most things when in the van.
  • Camping mug – this has been with me on the bike also. I have one that I picked up in Starbucks but there are many out there that serve the same purpose.
  • Kettle – call me old fashioned but I love the sound of the kettle whistling when the water is boiled. My husband is more of a coffee drinker so we also have a hob top single cup coffee maker.
  • Windscreen wrap – once pitched this is an inexpensive way of covering the windscreen and keeping out light when sleeping and adding some more privacy for when you are in the van itself.
  • Tyre inflator – this is for the obvious times you may need to inflate tyres but also for terrain where you may wish to deflate slightly for better ground coverage and traction.
  • Recovery tracks – these are more one of those items you hope you will not need but ground is not always even and these can help if you end up on terrain where tyres get stuck.
  • Tupperware – we keep a lot of non-perishable goods in the van like coffee, tea bags, snacks and have these in tupperware containers to save any spills and keep them fresh. Plus they are easy to store and fit easily in the cupboards.
  • Cupboard essentials – things like fry light, washing up liquid we also keep in the cupboard.
  • Thule straps – we also attached Thule straps to keep certain things in place like the gas bottle and other items.
  • Chairs – we have a captains chair and also the bench seat but it is nice to sit outside and we purchased two chairs that we keep strapped in the boot area.
Category: Van Life

#VanLife with our VW T5 Camper Van

I have posted about our camper van and thought I would share some info on our set up that others may find useful. After all it is the year of the staycation!

We got our van from SW Vans in Wales.  They came recommended to us and offer vans for you to convert yourself, that are already converted, servicing and parts.  We cannot recommend these guys enough!  They have been helpful from the start, through the purchase process and post sale as they help answer all of our many questions and completed further work that we wanted done.

The Van Spec

We got a VW T5.1, 4 berth, short wheel base converted camper van, which included:

  • rock and roll bed
  • fridge freezer,
  • sink with water pumps
  • 2 gas hobs with gas pipe
  • 12 volt leisure battery
  • pop top with roof bed
  • folding/removable table
  • VW box buddy for additional storage
  • LED lighting
  • 240 volt hook up with sockets
  • USB 12v and 3 pin sockets
  • new MOT
  • gas and electric certificates
  • 2 year warranty

Upgrades We Have Made

During lockdown our first adventures were understandably cancelled and with money refunded we decided it was the perfect time to invest a little more and do some upgrades ready for later in the year when hopefully we can travel again and so we have since done the following:

  • solar panel added to the pop top roof (185 watt with Victron bluetooth controller) – installed by Planar Pete
  • internal 2kw diesel heater (taken directly from the fuel tank) installed – installed by Planar Pete
  • new sliding door panel with additional table integrated – purchased from iCamper Solutions
  • removed the double passenger seat and replaced with a single swivel captains chair – installed by SW Vans
  • additional leisure battery
  • side steps installed on both sides of the van
  • added an anchor point above the fridge freezer for the dog when we are travelling – a minor change but then she is closer to us rather than right at the back if we use the seats as an anchor point
  • new bumper sprayed with protective Raptor spray
  • awning installed on the side of the van – purchased and installed by Hill View Awnings 
  • purchased the Thule Residency room to attach to the awning  – purchased from Hill View Awnings
  • had a tow bar installed
  • purchased the Thule Velospace towbar bike rack and also  the Thule Backspace carrier that works with it
  • purchased a Bike Inside mount, which is so easy to use and you can purchase different adaptors to allow through axle to be mounted

Do you have a camper van and any advice or top tips?  We always welcome them!

Category: Van Life

Campsite Recommendations

We bought a camper van just before lockdown, which was not the best timing. It meant that plans were quite rightly cancelled but when restrictions were lifted we made plans to go away as much as possible. I actually started this post last year when we were allowed to go away and now we can again it seemed a good time to revisit it.

We wanted locations we could go to that didn’t require taking any leave from work so close enough for after Friday and to return Sunday.  I actually took to Instagram to ask for recommendations from people on my stories and the places that came up over and over again was North Essex, Suffolk and in particular Norfolk.

Here are some of the places we have visited so far and what we thought:

Haw Wood Farm, Saxmundham, Suffolk

Our friends had been here previously and so this was a return visit for them and first for us.  We were taking the bikes so this trip didn’t see the dog come with us.

  • Value for money – the premium pitch is £29 per night.  Each premium pitch is on pea shingle with its own 16 amp electric hook up, drinking water tap, place to dispose of grey (dirty) water.  There is also ample space to park your car if you are in a caravan or similar.
  • Cleanliness – The site was immaculate including all facilities, could not fault it.
  • Helpfulness – On arrival we were met by a member of staff on a bike who checked us in and then showed us to our pitch. He returned shortly after we set up to make sure everything was ok.  Everyone we met who worked on site was extremely helpful.
  • Facilities – There is a cafe, small shop, facilities to clean and wash up items, laundry, disabled and family bathrooms, separate male and female toilets with super spacious individual shower cubicles.  Dogs are welcome also if kept on leads.  There is a playground for kids too and information on the website of things to do on site and locally.  It also has a quiet policy after 10pm so was very peaceful too.  I also loved the little herb garden on site – very cute!
  • Add ons – we paid an additional £10 for fire wood and on arrival the staff came round to deliver the logs in a bag with kindling and also a log burner.  They clear up after also as it is less mess.  There were lots of changes made ahead of our visit in line with government guidance for Coronavirus and these were emailed in advance and clearly marked signs throughout the site.
  • Thoughts – will definitely go back to this site and would highly recommend to others.

Kings Forest Caravan Park, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

This was our first trip in the van with the dog and we were specifically looking for somewhere that was close to a wooded area for walking.  This site is just metres from Kings Forest and so was perfect location wise.

  • Value for money – we booked via Pitch Up, which is a website where you can search for a certain area, type of camping, local walks etc to make booking easy.  We paid £2.75 to secure the booking and then £12.25 on arrival for a one night stay.  This was for a non-electric/water pitch (as we have a solar panel an electric pitch is not a necessity for us). Water was available at different points around the campsite.
  • Cleanliness – Everything was kept very clean and each shower block had cloths and spray disinfectant for use too.
  • Helpfulness – On arrival there was no reception but we found a member of staff who checked us in, took the balance due, providing all information we needed and explained where everything on site was and the surrounding area also.  Very helpful although we didn’t see anyone else for the duration of the stay aside from once but were provided with phone numbers should we need anything.
  • Facilities – The site has toilets and showers – no wash basins in the toilets so you do need to use the toilet and then go into the shower facilities to wash hands and I would suggest small basins in the toilets better.  The showers are separate male and female with 3 showers in each and also and additional 4 unisex showers.  Area to wash up pots and pans, poo point to dispose of grey water and toilet waste from caravans etc, posh pooch warm wash for dogs if they’ve got dirty on walks (loved this)!  Dogs are welcome also if kept on leads.  This is an adult only site.  The site is on Wideham Farm which is an equestrian facility so lots of horses in paddocks next to the campsite.  It also has a quiet policy after 10pm so was very peaceful too and is adults only.
  • Thoughts – we actually ended up going back to this site the weekend after also with some friends and are booked up again for end of September too so would definitely recommend to others.  We were in the furthest field and they had an additional water tap there for use.  Initially I would have suggested bins elsewhere on the site and not just at the entrance though appreciate with local councils recycling one area is easier to manage but on our second visit this was actually in place.

Stroud Hill Park, Pidley, Cambridgeshire

This was another one where we had friends visit and was recommended to us.

  • Value for money – another one booked via Pitch Up and we had a serviced pitch, which can be either hard standing or grass with its own 16 amp electric hook up, drinking water tap, place to dispose of grey water it is £28 per night.  There is also ample space to park your car if you are in a caravan or similar.
  • Cleanliness – extremely well kept site and toilets/showers are closed daily from 11am to 1pm for cleaning.
  • Helpfulness – staff were extremely helpful including on arrival, in the restaurant and on site.  We went on a particularly hot weekend and the bar staff sold us a huge bag of ice as our dog was struggling in the heat despite being in the shade and with a cooling vest on.  They were also extremely flexible with regards to the restaurant menu as we didn’t want a roast on the Sunday because of the heat.
  • Facilities – There is a restaurant and bar, facilities to clean and wash up items, laundry, toilets and showers, tennis courts with rackets for hire and private fishing lake.  Dogs are welcome also if well behaved and kept on leads.  This is another adult only site.
  • Add ons – there is a tennis court you can use for £4 and if you have a licence you can fish in the lakes for £5 for a day ticket.
  • Thoughts – No fire pits allowed on this site, which was a shame but really not the end of the world, but BBQ’s are.  The toilets/showers being closed for cleaning daily from 11am to 1pm can be quite long if you are in a van/tent without toilet facilities!  I was pleased we were not pitched closer to the bar as it was noisier of an evening but not noticeable from the corner where we were pitched.  We were on a corner which had a cut through walkway from the adjoining field but it was not an issue.

New Lodge Farm, Bulwick, Northants

This was our first trip post lockdown number 3 and we were recommended this site by friends who had been previously.

  • Value for money – we booked via the campsite website.  We paid £62 for a two night stay.  This was for a fully serviced pitch.  You are not given an allocated pitch so you can choose your spot on arrival and there is the choice of both grass and hard standing pitches.
  • Cleanliness – Everything was very clean and with signs on the toilets to let you know when cleaning was taking place, which was at several times per day.
  • Helpfulness – On arrival you use an intercom to contact a staff member who comes out to greet you and explain about the site.  As we visited before full restrictions were lifted they clearly explained what restrictions were still in place.
  • Facilities – The site has toilets and showers although when we visited the showers were not open although I would say the bathroom area was very warm!  The weather was not the best so when a little cold and wet the warmth was nice! When the toilets/showers are being cleaned there are further toilets that are available to use.  Separate room for laundry and to wash up pots and pans – washing up liquid and sponges are provided and you are asked to use these as the farm is eco friendly.  Dogs are welcome also if kept on leads.  This is an adult only site.  The site also has a farm shop that has lots of local produce and enough items that you could easily visit with nothing and be able to get all you need, a cafe, outside marquee with seating and is close to lots of gorgeous surroundings for walking and cycling.  
  • Add ons – you can hire a fire pit for £2.50 per night and £10 for 10kg of smokeless eco logs for burning, which you can get in a trolley so it is easy to take to and from your pitch.  You can also pre book your meal on a Friday night if you are there during your stay.
  • Thoughts – we will definitely be visiting again and will take our bikes next time also – perfect for road, gravel and mountain biking.

If you have any suggestions to try let me know!

Category: Van Life

Start of our adventures with our camper van!

My husband and I have discussed getting a camper van for some time now and last year that became a reality.

We had been leasing a car for a number of years and as that came up to the end the discussions about getting a camper got more serious and we figured why not?

There are so many options when looking for a camper van and it’s so easy to get lost in it all so we decided to start from basics and focus on what we would be using her for (it would seem I have decided the van is a her).

Our son is now 21 (yes we were young) and so whilst a lot of our friends have young children we have more time on our hands.  We knew we wanted something we could travel, sleep, and relax in just the two of us but also with our dog and should our son wish to go with us to also have room for him too.

There are so many makes a models available and then there is the option of buying to complete as a project or buying already converted.

After many many many hours of research and you tube videos and discussions with other van owners (mainly by my husband I admit) we had a wish list and started looking with some seriousness.

We had decided on a Volkswagen T5.1 and knew we wanted one that had either already been converted or to find someone who could do this for us.  We have previously owned a Volkswagen Beetle that was a project but life got in the way and it never was financially possible 10 years ago, so we knew this option would be best for us and also mean we had it ready to use quickest.

We wanted the following:

  • 6 speed
  • air conditioning
  • electric windows
  • pop top but would have had the right camper without
  • not lowered (lowered versions seem to be more popular but we knew we wanted to be driving it off the beaten track sometimes and so we were looking more at the off road look with a higher ground clearance)
  • fridge/freezer
  • sink
  • hob
  • gas hook up
  • storage
  • double bed

We found someone who came highly recommended and they kept coming up in comments on social media and located in Wales – SW Vans and they were super helpful!  My husband explained what we wanted and what our budget was.  After a couple of months chatting with them they were unable to find the 4Motion van we wanted converting.  They were either reserved at the auctions or stupidly over priced.  Terry at SW Vans suggested for what we wanted a 2 wheel drive was more than good enough.  So after a short trip to wales and a test drive we had picked our van.

Since purchasing we have added the following:

  • black out blinds made and fitted
  • side steps on both sides
  • new wheels and off road tyres
  • wind defectors on the front windows and bonnet
  • dash camera and reverse cameras installed
  • new head unit (stereo)
  • additional lights on the front for better illumination when wild camping
  • this weekend we bought a fixed Thule awning at the camping show, just waiting for it to be installed.

So far we have used it for day trips and taken the bikes out in it too and have loved every minute of it.

We have the following trips planned so far:

  • Ireland to do the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail
  • Sweden for the Vatternrundan bike ride
  • Norway for one of the Styrkeprøven bike events
  • Ben Nevis for hiking
  • Scafell Pike for hiking
  • and who knows where else!

We have also had many trips to shops looking at items we need for the van and it seems we are creating an endless list – do you have a camper?  Any hints or tips on things that are essential?

Happy camping!