GREAT ESCAPES
One of the many joys of owning a VW Camper is you can take off at a moment’s notice on a Friday night and head to a beauty spot or local attraction and enjoy some instant downtime. The utter freedom it offers is unparalleled. But where do you set the satnav? Well, we’ve done some digging to unearth the following 50 fun suggestions...
CAUSEWAY COAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
If you’ve ever played Connect 4, you’ll feel right at home when you arrive at the Giant’s Causeway where you will see roughly 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns – the result of a ancient volcanic fissure eruption. Legend has it that it was once home to a giant called Finn McCool who, when threatened by Scottish giant Benandonner, ripped up chunks of the Antrim coast and chucked them into the sea. Either way, it’s an unmissable demonstration of natural beauty and the rest of the Causeway coast is just as breathtaking. The National Trust run the visitor centre. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
MUSEUM OF BRANDS, LONDON
Being VW enthusiasts, we’re into brands right? That being the case, a visit to The Museum of Brands in Notting Hill ought to be on your agenda. Comprising a collection of more than 12,000 original items from shampoo bottles and washing powder boxes to toys and food packaging, it’s bound to ignite memories of a bygone era and get you saying, “Jeez, I remember those!” as you walk around the exhibits.›Oh, and you can round off your visit by buying a load of whacky postcards, posters and retro sweets from the gift shop. Adults £9, children £5. www.museumofbrands.com
BUSHMILLS DISTILLERY, COUNTY ANTRIM
If you enjoy the odd tipple while relaxing at the end of the day in your campervan, then you’ll appreciate a visit to the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Located in County Antrim, just a stone’s throw from the rugged coast, take a guided tour of the Old Bushmills distillery where you will learn all about the entire production process of the firm’s triple distilled whiskeys – and even take part in whiskey tasting. Yum. www.bushmills.eu
NORTH WELSH BEACHES
Want to discover some of the most beautiful beaches our fine isle has to offer? Then head to North Wales. Prestatyn, for example, boasts an impressive four miles of magical sandy beach with dunes to explore as well, while the lesser known Llyn Peninsula towns of Abersoch, Pwllheli and Criccieth are all great places to enjoy windsurfing or walking the coastal path. There’s also the stunning island of Anglesey to explore, then further south the charming town of Barmouth with its huge stretch of continuous sand and stunning estuary. www.visitwales.com
COASTEERING IN WALES
Coasteering? What’s all that about, we hear you ask. Well, it involves scrambling around the coastline from rock to rock, navigating sea caves, clambering up to the craggy cliff tops and
