Fun in the sun

CAMPERVAN CAMPOUT

I’m not long back from this year’s Campervan Campout and after last year’s torrential rain it was great to enjoy a dry and sunny weekend.

The highlight of our mini festival in West Sussex was Saturday night’s DJ set by Chris Moyles, who whipped up a storm with his selection of 90s bangers. And, for those of you not ‘down with the kids’, that refers to popular, danceable records, not clapped-out Ford Fiestas! It was brilliant fun, and I never thought I’d hear a festival crowd perform a word-perfect rendition of the theme to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

For us forty and fifty-somethings, it was a trip down memory lane. But Campout is not just about music. Fab food and a drink; axe throwing, archery and yoga; a shopping village and a silent disco... there was so much for the whole family to enjoy.

Throw in lots of sparkling new campervans to feast your eyes on and some essential vanlife advice and you had all the ingredients for a fantastic weekend.

I loved meeting so many readers, and everyone the Campervan team spoke to had a fantastic time – and I was delighted to see smiling faces of all ages everywhere. Because ultimately that’s what camping and festivals are all about.

The South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex, was again the venue for the second year of our campervan festival.

The fun started on Friday with live music on the main stage and a selection of bloggers, vloggers and podcasters – including our very own Tash Gooch and Peter Vaughan – sharing their campervanning experiences on stage in the Vanlife Hub.

Meanwhile, the Wellness Sanctuary offered visitors yoga sessions, breathing workshops and mental health talks.

Elsewhere, the artisan food and drink stands and local breweries offered up a wide range of tasty produce, including some craft beers, amazing vegan samosas and delicious curries you could either enjoy back at the ’van or take home.

The street food area had a variety of stalls selling cuisine from around the world, including Greek,