Writer Martin Dorey has spent a lot of time in the last few years travelling around the UK and Ireland by campervan for his Take the Slow Road series of books. Coast asked him to come up with a few ideas for amazing places to take a campervan this autumn. And here they are: 12 of the best in the UK and Ireland.
1. THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST
Pembrokeshire has long been a favourite place to since Covid-19 brought the whole world to this take a camper. But the rules have changed slightly
little corner of Welsh heaven. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority welcomes campervans but only if you stay at a campsite – and that’s no headache as they abound. If your idea of campervan nirvana is a coastal site with sea views, access to the Wales Coast Path and an easy walk to pubs and picturesque coastal villages, Pembrokeshire will oblige.
The island oasis of St David’s, Britain’s smallest city, has everything you might need, including restaurants, pubs, an incredible cathedral and, some say, the best ice cream this side of Italy. The city is served by a cheap, regular bus service, the Celtic Coaster, which will enable you to walk the coast path without worrying about transport. Tenby, perennial favourite, is bright and breezy while the beach at Barrafundle is said to be among the most beautiful in the world and the Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy is one of the best places to wild swim anywhere.
PITCH UP AND CHILL AT Caerfai Farm Campsite (caerfaifarm.co.uk) a good, old fashioned campsite with its own beach! Newgale Campsite, surfers’ favourite right next to a fabulous beach. newgalecampsite.co.uk
DON’T MISS OUT ON Exploring the coast. St David’s is the home of eco-pioneers TYF Adventure. They can take you and your family coasteering (they literally invented it!), SUPing, surfing, wild swimming and on days out to explore the coast by kayak. tyf.com
2. WILD WEST WALES
For me, travelling up the west coast of Wales in a campervan is where it all started. The journey, one of my all-time favourites, gave me the idea for writing my books, Take the Slow Road, after writing about it in this magazine. It’s a dreamy, slowcoach of a trip with stops at Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech and Portmeirion. Start with some crabbing in Aberdyfi then head north, as the road skirts the coast, offering incredible views.
At Fairbourne, leave the van and pick up the narrow gauge railway to the tiny ferry to Barmouth for fish and chips then walk back on the famous Barmouth Bridge. For those who like walking the Cambrian Coast Railway covers the whole coast and is one of the most scenic anywhere. Leave the van, hop on and hop off and walk the bits between.
PITCH
