I’ve travelled over 15,000 miles this year, but a UK road trip taught me that the best adventures can be found right on our doorstep

Since I began working in travel, it sometimes feels as though my feet have barely touched the ground. As most would, I’ve jumped at every opportunity to escape the UK in search of sunnier climes, beautiful landscapes and adventure by the bucket load. Now, over three years into the game, I find myself leaning into the joys of exploring previously uncharted corners of the UK instead. Sunnier climes may not be a guarantee here, but there’s beauty and adventure in spades – if you know where to look.

Recently, I have found myself hankering after a good old-fashioned road trip. Not loving the idea of camping for the week, but wanting to immerse myself in nature nonetheless, I decided renting a campervan would be the best course of action. That’s when I discovered campervan and motorhome rental site, Goboony, an online network of owners across Europe who advertise their private vehicles on a pick up and drop off basis: like a sort of Airbnb for campervans, if you will.

A Goboony campervan traversing The North East 250 route in Scotland

Courtesy of Goboony

Murphy the campervan with back doors open in Sturdy Bank campsite, Cumbria

Lucy Bruton

Having never visited them before, I decided now was the time I’d finally explore the Lake District. A quick search of Goboony revealed an abundance of campers to choose from in the surrounding areas. Not being the most established van driver (my experience reduced to the odd Zip Van stint when moving flats in London), I spent hours deliberating which vehicle would be right for a first-timer like me. Eventually, I settled on a beautifully converted, dog-friendly Ford Transit in forest green, “Murphy”.

My partner and I, with greyhound Bunty in tow, pootled off to pick up the van from Burnley, an hour and a half from the first stop on our Lake District excursion, Windermere. A quick review of Murphy’s condition (Goboony protocol on pick-up) and we swapped our Kia for the Transit and hit the open road. When pulling together our road trip itinerary, I leaned heavily on a handful of locals I know to devise a plan that touched on both North and South Lakes, without trying to cram too much in.

At a glance: your four-day Lake District itinerary

Day one & two: Windermere and Grasmere

We made it safely to Windermere in the early evening, parking up in the leafy National Trust campsite, Low Wray. We sadly missed the on-site woodfired pizzas here, so instead settled for a dinner of Shin Cup noodles. Not the most seamless of starts, nevertheless, the excitement of cosying up in a kitted-out van was enough to keep our spirits buoyed: we’d made it this far at least.