Things we love about spring:

• Crocuses
• Getting to use the good handbag
• Malteaster Bunnies
• Walking home when it’s still light
• The return of Doris!

So we’re getting a little bit excited that better weather is just around the corner and camping season is almost upon us. We’ve been busy making plans in Doris’s absence, and these are the must-do’s of the 2010 season…

Volksfling

As far as we know this is the only VW show in Scotland and it takes place in Biggar. We went for the day last year when we’d just started thinking about buying a van and it really whetted our appetite! We probably won’t stay over as we’re only half an hour down the road but we’ll defo take Doris out for a little day-trip to visit her mates.

Lindisfarne and the Holy Isle

This was on the list last summer and we never quite made it. There’s apparently a great little campsite right next to the causeway and it’s close enough for quick weekend trip so we’ll definitely try and make it down this year.

Ben Nevis

One of us has got it into his head that he wants to climb Ben Nevis. The other one of us isn’t overly fussed but she’ll do it so as not to feel left out. We like the look of a campsite at Achindarroch so we’re scheduling it in as one of our more energetic weekends away….

Vanfest

Apparently the biggest and best of the VW shows, we’ve had this in the diary for months. It’s a bit of a trek for us but we’ll make a long weekend of it as we’re quite intrigued to see hundreds of other campervans in the one place. We’re also on the lookout for any original Westfalia bits and pieces, vintage suitcases and the like so we’ll be no doubt be scouring the trade stands.

The Big Tour of England (and a little bit of Wales too) 2010

This is the biggie. We had originally planned to take Doris over the Channel to la belle France, driving as far south as we could and back again in two weeks. One of us spent a rather fabulous Erasmus year in Aix en Provence and we wanted to re-visit (and be introduced to) some old student haunts. That’s definitely still on the cards for another year but 2010 has now become The Year of Saving for the Wedding so for a cheap and cheerful holiday we’ve decided to staycation in the UK instead.

We have up to 14 days and the very vague plan is to make our way down one side of England and then back up the other. We’ll definitely be camping outside London for a few nights – we need our city fix and want to catch up with friends there. Other potential stop-offs include a night in the Peaks, a few days in the Bath area and a cheeky theme park day at Alton Towers. We’re kitted out with a copy of Cool Camping England and as far as possible we’d like to stay on smaller, non-commercial sites, even if the facilities are a bit basic. Now all we need is some sun…