Leaving London behind felt good. A few of us packed up and headed south to meet the Wildlife Vans crew in Newquay and spend a week exploring Cornwall in their latest build, The Bluebird. The plan was simple. Travel slowly, live out of the van, and see what off-grid life really feels like on the Cornish coast.
The day started at the Wildlife Vans workshop. Watching the team put the finishing touches on The Bluebird was a reminder of how much thought goes into every build. These vans are designed to be lived in. Compact but clever, built for real travel, and ready for whatever the weather throws at you.
By late afternoon we were on the road to our first camp. Retorrick Mill sits hidden in a wooded valley outside Newquay. Getting there is half the fun. Narrow lanes twist through thick forest before a shallow river crossing leads you into the site.
It is the kind of place that feels both tucked away and alive. A small bar and music hall sit at the centre, a fire crackles outside, and a pop-up kitchen serves good food without fuss. We parked up next to the river and cooked a simple meal in the van while the sun cut through the trees. Music drifted over from the bar and the smell of woodsmoke hung in the air.
Later we wandered over for pizza from the evening pop-up and stayed longer than planned, talking with locals and sampling a few too many ciders. At one point we met Pete Abell, who runs King Surf at nearby Mawgan Porth. He offered to take us out for a surf the next morning, a plan we quickly agreed to.
It was strange to have the whole campsite to ourselves in the middle of July, but the quiet suited us. With only the sound of the river and the occasional owl, it felt like the first real breath after leaving the city.
This was just the beginning. A week of surf, fishing, hiking and slow travel lay ahead. But that first night by the river, with the van settled into the trees and the sky still holding on to a little light, felt like the right way to start.
