A Month on the Road — We Went Together

York and the Lake District · Days 1–4

Starting Out

We collected the motorhome outside London and headed north. The first few days were about adjusting to the time difference, finding our pace and getting into the rhythm of campervan life.

Campervan life asked more of us as adults: cleaning, water and waste, beds, food, driving and navigation. But for the children it gave us a familiar place to return to each evening—the same beds, food from our own kitchen and space that was always theirs. It was more work, but a better way for the family to travel.

The children at a playground during an early stop

The family by Windermere in the Lake District — Lake District.

The children looking for puffins in the Farne Islands — Looking for puffins in the Farne Islands.

Edinburgh, Glencoe and the Highlands · Days 5–11

Home on Wheels

By Scotland, we had settled into the motorhome and it was becoming the centre of the trip: meals, movie nights, and arts-and-crafts time in a familiar space at the end of the day. It was small, but we were together and cosy. That was all we needed.

The family outside Edinburgh Castle — Edinburgh Castle.

The children resting on cannonballs at Edinburgh Castle — Resting on cannonballs.

The children sitting in the motorhome doorway

The children having movie night inside the motorhome — All-time favourite: movie night.

The children playing with bubbles beneath the Glencoe mountains — Bubbles in Glencoe.

Northern Ireland · Days 12–16

Across to Ireland

The ferry took us across to Ireland. We started in Belfast, at the place where Titanic was built, before making our way through the country at our own pace.

Sophie playing a computer game on the ferry to Ireland — The ferry ride to Ireland.

Family at Titanic Belfast — Titanic Museum, Belfast.

The children feeding chickens their leftovers — Feeding the chickens our leftovers.

Claire looking out in St Patrick's Cathedral — St Patrick's Cathedral.

The Irish Countryside · Days 17–20

A Wetter Ireland

The Irish countryside was colder and wetter, so the rhythm shifted: more time indoors, more arts and crafts, and a chance to watch a local Irish step-dancing performance.

The family riding in a pony cart on a wet Irish day — A wet and windy Irish day.

The children doing arts and crafts at a campsite — Almost every day, there was time for arts and crafts.

A local Irish step-dancing performance.

The family at Blarney Castle — Blarney Castle.

The children playing around Philip at Blarney Castle

Wales, the Cotswolds and Bath · Days 21–31

The Long Way Back

The route bent back through Britain: Shakespeare's house, campsites, gardens and places where the children could run ahead. After so long on the road, the family had found its rhythm.

The children inside Shakespeare's house — Shakespeare's living room.

Swans on the River Avon at Stratford — The River Avon at Stratford.

The children playing on a seesaw in the Cotswolds — Two nights at Cotswold Farm Park.

The children holding chicks at Cotswold Farm Park

A lavender field in England — Mayfield Lavender Farm.

The children looking at a ladybug in a lavender field — Up close with a ladybug.

Family dinner at a grassy motorhome campsite — Campervan life at its best.

London · Days 32–36

Back to the City

We finished with a few days in London. After a month of roads and campsites, the city gave the journey a different final pace before the flight home.

The children looking up at dinosaur bones in the Natural History Museum — The Natural History Museum.

The children outside Buckingham Palace — Buckingham Palace.

The family having a science-themed afternoon tea in London