South West England is one of the most popular van travel destinations in the country, and for good reason. It combines spectacular coastline, wild upland moors, a rich heritage of fishing villages and market towns, and a year-round appeal that makes it attractive to van travellers in any season. From the rugged cliffs of Land’s End to the pastoral beauty of the Somerset Levels, the South West offers more variety than its coastal reputation alone would suggest.
The region contains several national parks – Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest – as well as the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and hundreds of miles of South West Coast Path. For van travellers who like to combine overnights with walking or cycling, the South West is particularly well suited.
Overnight stops vary enormously across the region. The busiest parts of Cornwall and Devon can be congested in summer, with parking restrictions increasingly common in the most popular coastal villages. Travelling outside peak season, or pushing beyond the well-known spots to quieter parts of the peninsula, consistently rewards. The moorland roads of Dartmoor and Exmoor offer some of the best free overnight van stops in southern England.
The South West posts on this site cover specific stops, routes and experiences from real van trips across the region – first-hand accounts designed to help you get the most out of van travel in this exceptional corner of England.
I’d heard Halletts Camping at Portland Bill mentioned a few times by fellow travellers, mostly for the views and how close it is to the lighthouse, so I was keen to see whether it really was as simple and scenic as people said. This isn’t a polished campsite with neat pitches and long lists of … Read more
Tucked into the far west of Cornwall, near Sancreed on the Land’s End peninsula, Carn Euny Ancient Village is one of those places that quietly pulls you out of the present. It is less about spectacle and more about atmosphere. You arrive expecting a historic site, but what you really find is a place that … Read more
A campsite close to Torbay’s beaches but with Dartmoor on the horizon, this review looks at what the stay actually felt like in practice.