Campervan Adventure: Discovering Dorset's Hidden Gems

Join us at the start of our 3 week campervan road trip to discover the Counties of the South West of England. We break up our journey south with an impromptu stop off at the magnificent World Heritage site of Stonehenge in Wiltshire. We then hit the coast in earnest, exploring the Studland Beaches, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. In between, we take time to seek out some of the historic, and beautiful sites around the county.
We are Richard and Jackie and we live in the UK. We retired from teaching at the age of 51 in the summer of 2022. Our plans for early requirement include relocating to the Yorkshire Dales, developing our forever home and travelling the UK, Europe and eventually the world in our VW campervan Nelson.
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Many thanks,
Richard & Jackie

[@audfeld]

Interested to know where you'll be heading to in Cornwall as I know it fairly well (walked the SWCP of 630 miles a few years ago) Can highly recommend the SE & in particular The Rame Peninsula.....it's known as Cornwall's forgotten corner ! There are some superb parkups over looking Whitsand Bay to wake up to. Portwrinkle is a cute little village on the Rame & you're welcome to park in my parking space save paying any parking charges (so long as it's not between 26.4 - 17.5 as we will need it ourselves then) Enjoy you're travels.....we're hoping to get away in our T6 soon 🤞

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Wow that was quite a hike! One of our friends did it this time last year after he retired. We will take a look at the Rame Peninsula as it is an area we have not heard of before and we are really enjoying finding some of the lesser known areas in Devon. Thanks for the recommendation 😊🚐

[@phil3600]

Just discovered your channel and it’s fantastic. If you come back via north Devon there is a cracking remote campsite near Hartland called Stoke Barton Farm. A nice pub and stunning waterfall nearby

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Richard has looked it up and made a note for next time - it looks great 😊 🚐 who needs more than a waterfall with a pub nearby ♥️

[@wessexevents]

Excellent well done Richard and Jackie We camped in that storm in Cornwall and was a "tad windy" Can recommend polruan fowey lantric bay area and the Hall walk if you are heading that way. also check out a stop at strawberry fields near lifton ifyou need a posh breakfast and an overnight stop. happy travels

[@onthetrail202]

Starting to catch up on these adventures on my break at work loving it. 😊

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We had a great time - we loved the coast but also Dartmoor which reminded us so much of the Dales!

[@jonathanmchugh5978]

As usual great video with some lovely scenic places. May I ask do you think I could get a camper van for 30K budget?? If so where would you recommend I look?? Thanks in advance and happy travels. Jonathan

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi thanks for watching 😊 having had our van for over 6 years we are not really switched on to costs anymore - but there must be loads of vans like ours that people are selling to trade to a bigger van. There are a couple of VW Facebook groups that may be off help for advice?

[@jonathanmchugh5978]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust many thanks for the reply

[@michellemcgoldrick7369]

Loving the vlog style, on the go filming. You two are absolutely my retirement goals! 😊 and yes Jackie, boeries on a braai, winning all the way!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks so much!! Looking for a campsite tonight so we can have a braai 🚐🇿🇦😊

[@nigeljohnson6596]

Hi thanks for the advice ref P4N, looks very good. I’m just about to have a van converted as like you I’ve taken early retirement, but recently on u-tube ,all I’m seeing are comments like, van attacked / they tried to get in the van / locals don’t like camper vans / why do I do this etc etc … It’s made me have second thoughts. Have you guys ever had issues ?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

You must be really excited having hour van converted - I know we couldn’t wait to get ours back! We have travelled for nearly 700 nights across UK and Europe and have never had a problem. Probably 300 of those nights were in P4N parkups not campsites. We do choose carefully and have turned up at a few places and just kept moving on as we didn’t like the feel of the area. I like it when there are a couple of other vans around as I feel there is an element of safety in numbers and we never stay in parking lay-bys off busy roads. We never park up in front of peoples houses and just personal preference, we don’t stay in big towns or cities. Many of the you tube titles are click bait to get you to watch the video or sound more sensational than they are! Hope you love your van as much as we do and happy travels when you get it 🚐

[@nigeljohnson6596]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Many thanks for that , my intention is to be away from cities and be in the country side. Just another 7/8 weeks to wait ! Thanks again ..

[@janitoronfire]

13:00 Rick Steves says England milks the tourists like no other😂. Cheers.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

🤣 it does feel like that at some of the south coast attractions!

[@allisonbennett641]

Hi guys, great vlog. Yes, love Gloucester services, always stop there en route to SW. Great dog walking there too for those with furry friends travelling 😊 Also recently visited West Bay which led me to watch all of Broadchurch again 😂, looking forward to next instalment of SW tour , safe travels both x

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Ah yes our friends showed us some of the broadchurch filming places - I will have to watch it. West bay was lovely. We have just spent a couple of nights on Dartmoor which was so much like being at home in the Dales!

[@janitoronfire]

I’m waiting for a livestream.

[@janitoronfire]

Can’t wait to visit the British Isles. My DNA is calling.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It is a beautiful place and we feel like we have only seen a fraction of it! 🚐

[@ITbod]

Thanks for the video, very enjoyable. May I ask what you use to film your videos?

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you - most of the filming and photography is done on an iPhone 11 Pro. We use a DJI action cam 3 for some of the outdoor hikes.

[@ITbod]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thank for reply. The photography is lovely. 👏

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@ITbod thank you ☺️

[@susanmckee8946]

Hi guys!! Just catching up with your latest videos! Glad the weather improved as your trip went on. We were thinking you would probably be out in Storm Kathleen...you'll laugh when we tell you we were on Fidden Farm Mull the night the storm was brewing😂 We actually got told to move our Belfast ferry forward a day so had to evacuate Mull pretty quickly before calmac stopped running too. Not one wink of sleep was had during that pre storm and all the VWs had taken their roofs down!! Anyway thanks for the insight into Dorset and Devon. Would love to head that way sometime but now addicted to the Hebrides lol😂

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Oh no!! We had a big storm on mull too 🤣 they lost all power and no water on Fidden. Hope you still enjoyed the beauty of Fidden though. One of our favourite campsites ever! We stayed put in the Dales until Kathleen blew through and the weather has been pretty good ever since ☀️we too are addicted to all Hebridean islands but are trying something new in the summer. We have a month on the Shetland and Orkney islands 🚐 😬 hope you got home ok?

[@susanmckee8946]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust Ah brilliant you can suss Shetland and Orkney out for us!! My parents went and said lots of jumpers needed even in summer. Cant wait to see your footage.We will be in Norway..5 overnight ferries from Belfast to Bergen. We loved Mull, Iona and Staffa but 6 days wasn't enough so plan to revisit on way back from a Skye or NC500 trip possibly next summer. We made it home via to rocky ships! Keep up your excellent work. Love your style of commentary and videos.❤️

[@susanmckee8946]

Two

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@susanmckee8946 thank you. Norway is on our bucket list in a couple of years - it looks amazing. I have been following Herdy Travels on Instagram who are in Lofoten at the moment. It looks stunning 🚐

[@FrugalMrB]

I've never been to Dorset, Devon or Cornwall, so this was a great introduction to the area and I look forward to the other videos in this series. Like you, I was shocked at the prices for parking and camping - I hate paying for parking!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We had never been to Dorset apart from to catch a ferry - it is lovely with a really slow pace of life. You would love Dartmoor which is where we are now 😊

[@davidlee4966]

Pleased you are in my favourite part of the UK ( I am biased as I live not too far from West Bay) best beaches, moors, rivers and clear sea, good to see you in abbotsbury and west bay, do visit the tropical gardens in abbotsbury; on a summers day it’s as good as being in the carribean, great tea room. Just pleased it’s on the door step

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

You have a beautiful part of the country on your doorstep ♥️ we loved Dorset and will return at some point for a proper visit, not part of a tour 🚐

[@sharonmayer7572]

Beautiful part of the world 😊 yes I’m slightly biased 😃 have driven past Stonehenge many times but never braved the pot holes 🚐🐾 planning to visit around where u were later in the year - but not school holiday time…. Enjoy 😉

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It truly is a beautiful part of the world 😊 the pot holes on the Drove were quite spectacular! We are having a great time 🚐

[@janetbowen7854]

Brilliant, wasn't expecting to see you in Dorset this morning, having completed your American RV series yesterday 😀🚐 We camped in St Leonard's, East Dorset last weekend, and got away with the storm. It was windy, but not as forecast. No rain. On the way home we went to the beach at Hengistbury Head near Mudeford. Next time you're in Dorset I would recommend a visit. Which campsite did you use in Dorset, it looked nice and clearly wasn't the price of Durdle Door! West Bay is lovely as is Eyppe. Hope you went up Golden Cap? Looking forward to your adventures in Devon. Cheers 🚐😀❤️

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We stayed at portesham dairy campsite which was really set up for caravans but was perfectly placed for us to visit Abbotsbury. The campsite showers were fab after a couple of nights of park ups 😊🚐 we really enjoyed Dorset 😊

[@louisesymonds9963]

Gosh those prices in durdle door! Were you parked along the drove for Stonehenge? I have that on my list for this year and apart from the potholes, it looked like a terrific stop. Enjoy the rest of your trip. X

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Yes it was on the drove - a great spot with stunning views but wow - the potholes 😳

[@ingonowack3839]

Hi Richard and Jackie, hope you’re doing well and keep enjoying your trips and tours around that beautiful country of yours 🤗🥰! I can’t really think of many more ways to start the day in better spirits and I am already looking forward to the next video from your trip to the beautiful south ❤😍🤩😘! Take care and stay safe sound and healthy and may all your travels be blessed 🖖🏻✌🏻🙏🏻! See you soon on your channel!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Ah thank you so much for your kind words 😊 we loved our time in Dorset. We moved onto Dartmoor for the next couple of days which was also beautiful in a different way, especially all the wild ponies ♥️ Devon is the next vlog destination 🚐

[@alannorman1773]

Lovely relaxing vlog thank you! Serious kudos for braving the weather. Re Gloucester Services, did you know that they also own Cairn Lodge on M74 just south of Glasgow? Have a great week and safe travels ❤.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Funnily enough we did know about the cairn lodge services as they have the best free showers that we use when we have been in the wilds of Scotland 🤣 tebay is also near where we live which is fab. The weather has actually been really good after Wednesdays downpour 🚐

[@SusanHarris-jn1pd]

Love the vlog and we are just back from Studland! Where did you stay near Durdle Door (completely agree about the price!!). You’re an inspiration - we are two early 50’s living for now - tomorrow is not guaranteed. ❤

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We moved around to portesham dairy farm campsite near Abbotsbury in the end which was £31 and great showers!! Thanks for watching

[@janehutchinson9999]

Really enjoyed this video. We go to Dorset every year so much to see and explore. Which campsites dud you stay on please. Have a lovely trip😀

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thankyou 😊 We stayed at a couple of parks ups off P4N and then Portesham dairy campsite - it’s mainly caravans but was nice with good showers and a pub in the village 🚐

[@robinhorne1146]

Your house style is improving. A great video. Thank you for sharing.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you ☺️

[@WendyPenny]

Thanks for the Dorset report, spectacular scenery. Tks x

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Many thanks- we are glad that you enjoyed it.👍

[@suewheeler5795]

Welcome to my neck of the woods! Unfortunately, these are the prices down here since Covid. Which campsite were you on? Drudge Door is definitely overrated IMO. Enjoy your journey.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

You live in a beautiful part of the country - we have been able to find some lovely, reasonably priced places to stay and some fab beaches. We stayed at Portesham dairy campsite in the end.

[@suewheeler5795]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust ah but I'm still a brown sauce girl at heart! 🤣🤣🤣

[@nigeljohnson6596]

Hi , which books do you use to choose overnight stops ….? Thanks

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Hi we use the P4N app for park ups and and google maps to find campsites. We have been using the Cornwall, Dorset, Devon wild guide to find interesting places to see along the way.

[@fionaridley5011]

It's always really annoying that Gloucester and Tebay are near home/near my parents in Lakes so our stops always end up being Knutsford/Stafford or similar. We're slowly discovering Dorset /Devon/Cornwall eventhough we've lived in the south west for 30 years we always avoided in school holidays. Now we're not tied by school holidays we've done several trips very similar to yours. Our van is big, a transit. We find it far better to not move it once we have found a spot, and our theory that once over 2m you're more restricted so may as well be able to stand up, has worked for us (very tall husband and carry bikes in garage under fixed bed)...so tend to use 5 van sites slightly inland and then cycle everywhere. Even on an August Bank Holiday the tiny lanes are very empty as everyone is crammed at the honey pots. once you get to Lyme Regis/Durdle Door/West Bay, just lock up the bikes and feel smug you've not been sat in jams and stalking parking spaces. The parking fees go on lunch instead! End of October we were parked in almost identical spot at Stonehenge. although we did go in as we were English Heritage members on the Saturday, the out of hours experience on the perimeter path and just watching the stones, sky, sheep from the van door were far superior. Great off road bike routes to local towns too.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Being able to park up at Stone henge and so close was a total revelation to us! We loved the experience! We haven't bought the bikes with us this time as the narrow lanes in the summer holidays used to scare me a tad when people were trying to overtake but driving so close to us. We have joined the Motorhome Club as we get discount on the ferries but have not stayed at any of the sites yet, particularly the 5 van CSL sites as we need onboard facilities - they are great though, there is one in the village we live in on a farm. Have a great summer of travels 🚐

[@fionaridley5011]

Many CLs have wc and even a shower! Worth looking out for them. We have a CL at the end of our village too!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@fionaridley5011 ooh I will keep an eye open 😊

[@wessexevents]

Ps Dingles Fairground Heritage Museum is also brilliant ride on vintage Dodgems etc

[@chriswilcox9215]

Badbury Rings is just up the road from me. Shame the weather was so bad because there are lovely far reaching views when you walk around the top ring. I think there's still more of Dorset for you to explore, so hope you make it back down this way somewhen.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

There is so much to still explore - we really liked our visit and will certainly come back just to this area another time! There were quite a few places around Blandford forum we wanted to visit. You live in a lovely part of the world 🚐

[@chriswilcox9215]

If you head to Blandford from the Salisbury direction, you have Salisbury itself which is worth a visit and just to the north Old Sarum, where the original cathedral was. If you were interested in Badbury, this should be right up your street.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@chriswilcox9215 thanks - there were quite a few places in the wild guide in that area that we will come back to visit 🚐

[@leannearnold8326]

Hi, any chance you can share the name of the campsite you stayed in after visiting durdle door please? The hard standing one with no mud lol

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

It was Portesham dairy campsite - a big caravan site with great showers that don’t keep stopping and a pub in the village. It is not close to the beach and about 1/2 hour from Durdle door but it was just what we needed 😊🤣

[@leannearnold8326]

​@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thanks - my friend lives in the farm opposite there ..very familiar with the pub 😂

[@jamesquinn6614]

I really enjoy your editing, well done.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thank you very much 😊 We really enjoy making the vlogs - Richard loves that you noticed!

[@alanbenham4139]

£61 a night! Wow! Thank you for your VLOG

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We certainly did not stay!! A lovely part of the country though 🚐

[@couplandsj]

We’ve just booked to stay at the Durdle Door campsite for £30/night on hard standing. Not much more than their car park…!

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@couplandsj that sounds more like what we were expecting. The only thing we wondered is that some schools were still on an Easter break!

[@couplandsj]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust indeed, never go away in school holidays....😊👍

[@nashsgt]

Hi love the videos do you book sites in advance or as you travel

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

We are just deciding day by day where to go at the moment as it is low season but there are a couple of Cornish campsites I am going to book today to make sure we get a pitch 🚐

[@nashsgt]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust thank you for your reply we're planning on travelling Cornwall Devon and possibly Dorset in may June but don't really want to book in advance because moving around daily or every other day so don't really know where we would be and we have not stopped at park for nights not really comfortable with that hopefully we'll be able to find sites Enjoy your trip Stephen

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

@nashsgt by May June you will have so much more choice as many only open up for whit holidays 🚐 have a great trip

[@nashsgt]

@@earlyretirementwanderlust thank you have a great time on your trip

[@paulwyatt4225]

Great to see you Guys ❤️🚐 always welcome see you again soon.

[@earlyretirementwanderlust]

Thanks for being a tour guide - you live in a beautiful part of the world 🚐