Caravan holidays take on a very different slant when you are in Cumbria, UK as you can truly step back in time to a much less pressurized lifestyle. You have absolutely no choice but to slow down. There can be no racing from place to place, using computers and technology. Instead, it is a slow, short journey exploring the natural surroundings in a very beautiful part of the country. This is caravanning old style – using horse drawn vardos (authentic bow top gypsy covered wagons).
And it is proving extremely popular. Wanderlusts owner Barny Maurice says, “We get people flying from Taiwan and America just to do this holiday. We get a lot of celebrities such as Jay Jopling, Kate Mosse and Jade Jagger. We never expected this when we set the business up!”
“I have been working with these caravans for years, building, repairing and selling them at fairs. In 2011, me and my partner were brainstorming what else we could do to make a living and from that came the idea of Wanderlusts holidays. It’s back to basics and very down to earth.”
He continued, “You don’t need any experience of horses, we harness them, drive the horses and take you and the caravan to a new site every few days. The pitches are on private land, not official campsites. It is very private, and we vary the routes and the logistics. It is not a guided tour, we just let people explore as they like. If they want to get off the caravan and walk a little to see something in the hedgerow – they do. We aim to give a genuine feeling of travelling in a wagon. We don’t sit down with a map, and say we are going there and there, we just ramble, travelling at the horse’s speed.”
Above all, it is a slow, relaxed experience. Participants are expected to travel light with just a few bags. It is the horse that determines the speed and length of every journey, and at times you have to walk rather than ride. When going uphill, everyone walks beside the horses. Time stops!
“When people arrive, we take their bags to the van and trundle down the road for about five miles to give them time to acclimatize and get the feeling of rambling. When we come back the next day, we can see people slowing down, relaxing and enjoying life,” comments Barny.
Every journey involves quiet country lanes within one of the most beautiful parts of England. The Eden Valley is on the edge of the Lake District, with pretty sandstone villages that date back to Viking times over a thousand years ago. Whenever the wagon is camped overnight, you can stroll through the countryside, paddle in clear streams, cook over an open fire, or walk down to the little villages. Some routes may even offer vistas of one of the most scenic railways in England – the legendary Settle to Carlisle Railway.
The wagons provide accommodation for up to four people. There is a double bed, and sleeping mats. Sometimes larger groups bring tents, which they put up beside the wagon to provide additional sleeping space. Every camping site is exclusive to Wanderlusts, and can be situated in very isolated spots beside a forest, beside a stream or on a hillside looking out towards the Pennines. Your only companion overnight is a beautiful horse who enjoys the company. Food and drink can be purchased along the route, or you can walk into nearby villages to find local cafes and pubs. Sit and relax at night watching the campfire burn wood for which you have foraged during the day.
The experience is incredibly relaxing and enables participants to appreciate the traditional gypsy life, and the skills that go into making these beautiful wagons. All the wagons used in the Wanderlusts holidays have been made or restored by Barny. For those who prefer a more static camping experience, Wanderlusts has an eco-camp where visitors can stay in a wagon on a specific site without moving on.
“I started travelling when I was 15 and this is basically the life I know. I want to give others the chance to enjoy it and discover the countryside. It is nice to see people losing their stress and truly relax. People love it. They come from all walks of life and get really loosened up by the whole experience. They enjoy the adventure. We have had people telling us that their grandparents were brought up in gypsy caravans just like these,” says Barny.