CARRY ON GLAMPING

Reviews of yurts, camper vans and everything in between

Classic Camper Holidays, Scottish Borders Reviewed by Richard & Bea Bath, Edinburgh

My wife is one of seven siblings, so back in the days before elf ‘n’ safety took hold, all seven of them would cram onto the floor in the back of their VW campervan every time they went anywhere. It sparked a love affair with the original VW vans that continues abated and which made our trip to the Borders and Northumbria such a delight.

We picked up ‘Daisy’, a five-year-old VW van imported from Brazil, on Friday afternoon in Hawick. After a quick familiarisation lesson we were off. Driving Daisy was tricky: getting into gear was pot luck, and with the aerodynamics of a brick, the acceleration of a Robin Reliant and the turning circle of the QEII, it’s not the easiest thing to drive. The amount of admiring glances you get is mildly disturbing until you realise it’s just naked jealousy.

Nevertheless, off we headed for dinner in Ancrum, followed by a night in a friend’s highest field, waking up to an amazing panoramic view of the Eildons. Being 6ft 5in tall, I have to confess to not being as enamoured of the concept of a night in a tin can as my better half, but sleeping was incredibly comfortable. So, too, was our day moseying around Melrose, Jedburgh, St Boswells, Selkirk, and especially Kelso, home of Floors Horse Trials.

That night was spent eating in a Borders village within easy reach of Berwick, followed by a bolt to Bamburgh Sands to see where my wife’s aunt drowned (yeah, I know), then by a visit to the amazing Bamburgh Castle (think Edinburgh, but bigger). Another night on the cliffs outside Bamburgh was followed by a trip across the causeway to Holy Isle, a trip I heartily recommend.

From there, it was back to Hawick to hand back Daisy. Against all my expectations, it was an emotional parting – another couple of days would not have gone amiss. Retro Daisy, we loved you!