It was the Summer Solstice, it was Father’s Day weekend and the sun was actually shining!

After a few weeks of engine TLC, it was time to give it a bash.

We set off for Honey Cottage Caravan Park in the Etterick Valley in the Scottish Borders. We only had a night and there’s loads of the Borders we still haven’t explored so we kept it local – only 40 mins drive.

Handyman Stu spent the morning modifying a camp bed to become Milo’s new campervan bed. (It goes over the front seats, leaving more room at the back for the grownups – good plan, look into it!)

One very scenic drive later,

     

we arrived at the campsite, right next to the Etterick Marshes.

The setting was Scotland meets the Alabama swamps. We had a lovely sunny walk and dinner outside, and everything was pretty summer-tastic.

              

Milo crammed in some extensive rock throwing, tree climbing, mud splashing and bike riding – all the wholesome outdoor pursuits!

           

Sadly the weather took a turn for the worse overnight but it’s too late, Scotland can’t take it back – we’ve officially had some summer! Plus it turns out eating cereal in your pyjamas in a campervan, listening to the rain on the roof is a surprisingly enjoyable experience.

    

Important things we’ve learnt from our first excursion:

1. It’s helpful if you can charge your camera batteries and put your ice packs for the coolbag in the freezer the night BEFORE you leave.
2. Don’t forget essential items like bottle openers and COFFEE!
3. Three year olds find sleeping in campbeds for the first time extremely exciting. Expect a lengthy bedtime (and a couple of possible bed collapses under the bouncing strain!)
4. Same goes for chairs with cupholders.
5. Homemade, money-saving awnings you’ve just tied to various bits of your campervan look lovely in the sunshine but become less effective when the torrential rain kicks in.
6. Weekend mini-adventures are brilliant – not far to travel, you can leave once the terrible weather arrives but you totally get the holiday away-from-it-all feeling. A lot of campervan fun for not much effort or money!