Postcards from Cornish Vanlife

Ah vanlife, what an awfully romanticised concept. Can there really be anything so truly idyllic as driving off into the sunset in a little silver van loaded with surfboards, wetsuits, climbing gear and cosy blankets? It has been my idea of perfection for a while, and I finally got to experience it last week when my boyfriend, Harvey, bought a van, threw together a bed in the back, and the three of us headed off on a surfing and climbing trip in Cornwall.

I fell completely and utterly, head-over-heels in love with the idea of vanlife during this trip. Perhaps it sounds cliche, but life really does slow down when your home is on wheels. Normally the two of us are rushing around trying to do and see as much as we can in as little time as possible, but on this trip, something changed. We cruised around, surfed a little, climbed a little, but mostly just enjoyed being together in this beautiful location, doing all the things we love to do. We parked by the ocean and cooked dinner at sunset with ocean views. We curled up in a duvet and watched The Bodyguard knowing the whole world was just outside and we only had to step out to see it. We ate fish and chips with friends, climbed on sea cliffs and paddled into giant waves knowing we could retreat back home in just a few hundred metres.

Vanlife was perfect; I can’t wait for more of it.