Bristol to Beesands in a campervan

There’s surely no finer way to start the day than perched on the doorstep of a campervan, coffee in hand, watching the waves roll into shore.

Mushrooms sizzle in a pan on the gas stove and the scent of bacon mingles with the fresh sea air in this peaceful, unspoilt part of south Devon, where Serenity – our four-wheeled home for the weekend – is parked.

It’s the first May weekend and the weather – in contrast to usual British tradition – is bright. While some might question the sanity of risking the infamous bank holiday queues to journey from Bristol down to the coast, the stars are clearly on our side and the trip is a dream.

Serenity parked up for the evening overlooking the sea at Beesands

Rented through Quirky Campers, a Bristol-based company that specialises in handcrafted campervan rentals, Serenity is the perfect mix of unique and practical.

A modern Ford that is a joy to drive, she has a beautifully ornate interior, crafted from repurposed whiskey barrel wood that is cosy and adorned with personal touches and clever fixtures just waiting to be discovered.

All the essentials are covered – a wooden wall-mounted wine rack comes complete with complimentary bottle of red and two plastic wine glasses, while the handy reversing camera proves a godsend on windy country roads.

The campervan came complete with a welcome hamper

The carved interior is beautiful and practical

Owners Marianne and Dannick take time to show guests around the compact, expertly-designed interior – including the pop-top that provides additional sleeping space – and send us on our way with a welcome basket of fruit, soap, chocolates and more.

An hour or so down the motorway, followed by around 45 minutes along Devon country roads, leads to the old fishing village of Beesands, an unspoilt, quiet location with long pebble beaches, rich with wildlife – and The Cricket Inn, a historic pub that’s been serving the community for more than 150 years that now boasts accommodation and award-winning dining.

Nestled behind thick green hedges, just up the hill from the village, Sugar Park Campsite is the perfect resting spot for a weekend away. Foregoing mod-cons in favour of location, this hidden gem has stunning views over the dazzling blue sea and rolling fields.

A basic two-field set up, with just two (very clean) toilets and a couple of cold water taps, has attracted a small number of campervans for the bank holiday weekend. The atmosphere is chilled out and friendly as we park Serenity, pop up the top, crack the wine and settle in for the evening.

The view from Sugar Park campsite

Settling in for the evening

A reusable barbecue was thoughtfully added to the campervan set-up, so after a brief shop en route, dinner is sorted – and you couldn’t ask for a nicer setting. Much later, as the coal embers finally start to fade and the chill sets in, its time to head in for the night, hoping (or wishing) that this is just the first summer night of many like this.

The campervan seats easily flip down to form a bed, and the mattress topper stored overhead makes for a supremely comfortable nights sleep.

Sunlight streams in when we open the curtains the following morning and, something surely no campervan owner ever tires of, you can open the rear doors, flip down a small table and enjoy a cuppa in bed with an unbeatable view.

Beesands is a quiet, unspoilt village

After a leisurely start on Sunday, it’s time to explore the South Hams. From the campsite, a short walk down the hill will bring you to Beesands, from where you can follow the coast along to Slapton Sands, a bit of a misnomer as it’s definitely all pebbles, but beautiful nonetheless.

The area has an unhurried, nostalgic quality to it as the walk ventures past hidden caves and a treasure trove of shells and pebbles.

At Slapton Sands, a small cluster of cafes and pubs line the beachfront and a Sherman tank stands as a memorial to those who died in Exercise Tiger – a practice invasion for D-Day that ended in tragedy and up to 1,000 soldiers are said to have lost their lives.

The tank stands as a memorial to those who lost their lives at Slapton Sands

Pause for some chips and an ice cream before heading back over the coast path towards Beesands.

Once the sun goes down and the evening chill sets in, The Cricket Inn offers a warm welcome.

The pub first opened its doors in 1867, when the village was a thriving fishing community of more than 100 residents, and now offers high end, good quality food within its spacious interior, full of polished wood and black and white photos of times gone by.

The portion of fish and chips is generous, crisp and packed full of flavour, wine chilled to perfection, while service is friendly, efficient and accommodating to all.

Fish and chips in The Cricket Inn were crisp and delicious

It’s a short stroll back up the hill to the campsite, where the opportunity to sink down within Serenity’s confines rounds off a pretty much perfect day.

The following morning, there’s just time to fire up the gas stove for a quick brew and breakfast before driving back to Bristol and, regretfully, bring our campervan adventures to an end.

Serenity’s interior is quirky and unique

The campervan is a joy to drive

For full details of campervan hire and costs, visit: www.quirkycampers.co.uk

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