Top UK Summer road trips: Thousands of campervan holidays reveal where Britain really travels

"Cornwall books out first. Scotland is the trip everyone plans - but not everyone commits to. And the single most-requested feature in any British campervan - above solar panels, above bike racks, above everything - is a kettle."

As the UK's fastest growing van-hire marketplace, Camplify sees thousands of campervan adventures head out every summer. And when you're part of a community where passionate van owners and first-time adventurers are swapping stories, tips, and honest reviews year after year, you start to notice the patterns.

Which destinations people dream about versus the ones they actually book. Why festival season completely reshapes the calendar from June to August. And the real reason so many first-timers come back and book again.

Here's everything our community has taught us about how Britain really does summer on wheels — the hotspots, the hidden gems, the trends, and the owner tips you won't find anywhere else.

The best news? With thousands of campervans, motorhomes, and caravans ready to hire from local owners right across the UK, Camplify makes your next road trip easier than ever — no matter what your dream summer getaway looks like.

Browse all vans: 400+ RVs available →

TL;DR: How Britain holidays by campervan in summer

• Cornwall — Books out first, every year. The UK's default campervan holiday.

• Scotland & the NC500 — The trip everyone dreams about. Owners say: don't rush it, and go before the midges.

• Festival season — Roughly a quarter of summer bookings. Glastonbury and Silverstone lead, but dozens of smaller festivals drive huge demand.

• Hidden gems — Lizard Point, Plockton, Red Wharf Bay, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 3 Cliffs Bay — the spots owners actually recommend.

• Two-thirds choose delivery — Van set up and waiting when you arrive. Average fee: ~£128.

• Off-grid is booming — Solar, leisure batteries, and wild camping capability are the fastest-growing requests.

• First-timers love it — Nearly half end up booking, and the jump from "never done this" to "I want my own van" happens fast.

• Kids, dogs, and rebookings — Families and four-legged travellers are the backbone of summer hiring. The rebook rate is exactly what you'd expect.

The hotspots: Where Britain actually road trip in Summer

Cornwall gets the bookings. Scotland gets the daydreams.

The majestic coastline of Cornwall: home to dozens of spectacular campgrounds & our most popular summer destination every single year.

Surf, cream teas, harbour towns, narrow lanes — it's the first place people think of when the words "campervan holiday" enter their head. One of our Cornish owners, who's been sharing their van on the platform for years, put it simply: "We've had a many vans go to Cornwall, and I'm sure you'll love it."

Scotland is different. Scotland is the trip people plan for months. The NC500 in particular has become something close to a pilgrimage — the kind of trip people describe in their reviews as "our dream" and "the big holiday of the year." Couples, families, mates — everyone seems to have the Highlands on a list somewhere.

Our Scottish owners have learned to manage expectations early. The advice is always the same: don't rush it. One owner, fresh back from the NC500 himself: "I've just come back from Scotland in this vehicle. Look at the NC500 — IT'S AMAZING!!! You'll need a bit longer but it's well worth it." Another: "The NC500 is most people's go-to, but four days isn't enough. Most take seven and wish they'd allowed ten."

And on timing: "Scotland in April and May is possibly the best time to go, before the tourists and midges." That line alone has probably nudged more spring bookings than any advert we've run.

One couple's review after their trip captured something we hear a lot: "For us, everything was perfect — we visited Skye and spent the last day in the Cairngorms." The people who resist the urge to cram in everything tend to come back happiest.

Festival season runs the show from June to August

This is what makes the UK unlike anywhere else we operate. Roughly a fifth of all summer bookings are to festivals.

Glastonbury accounts for hundreds on its own. Silverstone pulls another couple of hundred. Then there's Latitude, Camp Bestival, Leeds, Reading, Kendal Calling, CarFest, and dozens of smaller ones that collectively reshape the booking calendar every year.

The tent-to-van upgrade is one of the most reliable patterns we see. People try a festival in a tent, swear never again, and show up on Camplify the following year looking for a proper bed and somewhere to charge their phone. It happens every season.

One owner on Glastonbury: "Our vans have been to a few festivals already and everyone who has taken one has said how amazing it was to have a nice warm and comfortable place to sleep between the fun!" Another, accepting a Glastonbury booking: "I'm happy to accept — the van has yet to go to Glastonbury, so I'm quite jealous!" A third: "Glastonbury is my favourite festival — every time I go I always say this year was the best."

The festival-specific advice from owners is the kind of thing you'd never get from a hire company. One owner, recommending a particular van for Glastonbury: "I personally think this van would be a bit better for you at Glastonbury — it has 3x the battery capacity with a bigger converter, allowing the use of hair dryers and straighteners without worrying about killing the batteries." Another confirmed their van's credentials: "This van is set up for off-grid. It managed to do Glastonbury for six days with three people using all the appliances, including the fridge, in 30-degree heat."

Silverstone regulars tend to be more organised — often rebooking the same van year after year. One owner: "Silverstone has such a great atmosphere, so you've picked a fantastic event for it." For a lot of families, the motorhome is part of the race weekend tradition.

Delivery is a big deal for festivals too. Getting a motorhome in and out of a festival site is a skill in itself, and our owners who do it regularly know the drill — access points, timing, where to park. It takes the stress out of something that could easily ruin your first day.

Read more: Camplify's ultimate guide to festival van hire.

Where our owners actually send people

Cornwall, the Lake District, the Jurassic Coast — they don't need an introduciton. The more useful tips come from owners who've driven these roads themselves - and know the spots that aren't in the guidebooks.

When you book through Camplify, you're not just getting a van — you're getting decades of local knowledge from someone who's driven these roads hundreds of times. Here's where they actually recommend:

Lizard Point, Cornwall — "I'd strongly advise Lizard Point — it's a lovely spot and waaay nicer than the highly overrated Land's End." That's from one of our Cornish owners, and we've heard similar from others.

Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey — "Really recommend Red Wharf Bay. The pub, The Ship, is great for food. Beautiful."

Berwick-upon-Tweed — "Very much underrated, as people generally just drive past for Edinburgh." Dramatic coast, castle ruins, almost nobody there in summer.

Plockton, Scottish Highlands — "Incredibly charming." A tiny village before the Skye Bridge with sheltered waters and — improbably — palm trees.

South Devon — One owner rattled off a full itinerary when asked: "Kingsbridge area, beaches like Slapton, Bigbury, Burgh Island, Mothercombe, East Prawl. Quirky pubs and inexpensive campsites nearby."

3 Cliffs Bay, Gower — "We've stayed at 3 Cliffs Holiday Park — camper-friendly, access to a lovely beach. Great views!"

Aviemore with kids — One Highland owner's go-to family recommendation: "Loch Morlich, Lochan Uaine, Landmark Adventure Park, and Cairngorm Mountain."

The Moray coast — "Visit the Moray coast near Lossiemouth for dolphin spotting." Not a sentence you'd expect about Scotland. But there it is.

These are the kinds of tips you get from someone who actually lives there and drives these roads every week — not from a search engine.

Beyond the destination: how Brits are travelling

First-timers? You'll be fine.

A huge number of summer bookings come from people who've never hired a campervan before. The good news: owners who've been through the process dozens of times are brilliant at settling you in — sending handover videos in advance, compiling user guides, and allowing plenty of time on collection day. One tells every first-timer: "Please allow at least an hour for the handover — there's a fair bit of info and we want to make sure you're comfortable."

Nearly half of first-timers end up booking. The worry beforehand is almost always bigger than the reality. And one owner's promise to nervous newcomers tends to land well: "I can confidently say, once you've experienced van life, you will definitely want one — and the kids will love it!"

The reviews from first-timers bear this out. "Had a lovely time, fantastic van. We definitely want one now" is about as typical as it gets. The jump from "I've never done this before" to "I want my own" happens faster than anyone expects.

"Try before you buy" - the UK's biggest campervan trend

If there's one pattern that runs through UK campervan holidays more than any other, it's this: people use Camplify to test whether they should buy their own van.

Owners see it constantly and actively encourage it. As one put it: "Hiring is always best before buying — that way you get to test the waters and see what you like."

It works. We regularly see people go from a first weekend away to buying their own rig within a year. One couple even cancelled their next Camplify booking because they'd bought their own van — and asked if they could transfer the booking to a friend. That's a success story, as far as we're concerned.

The trips that mean something

Birthday surprises, retirement trips, anniversary weekends, wedding-adjacent adventures — people choosing a campervan trip to mark a moment that matters.

The reviews from milestone trips tend to be the most memorable. One traveller, back from what was supposed to be a birthday weekend: "It was my birthday whilst away, and we also got engaged. So yeah — best trip ever!" Another, after a family trip: "We've got such happy memories of that weekend, which feels like a dream now."

11% choose delivery (and it changes everything)

A growing proportion of UK campervan bookings come with owner delivery — the van dropped off at your campsite or festival, set up, and ready when you arrive. Average fee is about £128.

The owners who offer delivery go well beyond just parking up. "I'll take care of delivering, setting up, and packing everything away — so all you need to do is arrive and enjoy your stay." Another: "I'll set up the caravan so it's ready to use and give you a quick walkthrough. I'll also be available over the phone 24/7 if you have any questions during your stay."

For first-timers, it removes the biggest barrier: the anxiety of driving an unfamiliar vehicle. For festival-goers, it means arriving at Glastonbury or Silverstone with everything sorted. For families with young kids, it means the holiday starts the moment you pull up — not after an hour of reversing onto a pitch.

Off-grid is having a moment

Solar panels, leisure batteries, water capacity — these were niche questions a couple of years ago. Not anymore.

Off-grid capability is one of the fastest-growing things people ask about, particularly for Highland trips and festival bookings.

One owner described their setup: "The van can be completely off-grid — it has solar and recharges when driving. It also has electric hook-up, but if you can live without that, it's not essential!"

For wild camping, owners give honest assessments. One: "Yes, you won't have any issues wild camping. I'd recommend getting an app called Park4Night — it'll show you where you can camp." Another, more candid: "These types of vans are not really set up for wild camping for more than a night or two, as the shower is small. I love this type of van, but it's very much a campervan rather than a luxury motorhome." That kind of honesty is worth more than any spec sheet.

The weather. Always the weather.

British summer doesn't guarantee sunshine. It comes up every year, and our owners are well-practised at putting minds at ease.

One on their heating system: "The van has full independent central heating. The whole motorhome is heated, including the toilet and shower. You can set the thermostat and go to bed and it will keep a constant temperature all night." Another: "You can rest assured you'll have a fantastic time. The heating, hot water, fridge/freezer, lights and TV all work off gas or 12V battery. We have a kettle that goes on the gas hob, so you can still have a cuppa!!!"

Always comes back to the kettle.

Scottish midges? A real concern from July. The consensus from owners who deal with the question every summer: go in May or June if you can, bring midge spray if you can't, and don't let it stop you. "Scotland in April and May is possibly the best time to go, before the tourists and midges!" remains one of the most-shared tips on the platform.

Taking the van to Europe

A growing number of travellers take their Camplify vans across the Channel in summer. France is the most popular destination, followed by Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

One owner confirmed their van is well up to it: "It's a great van and we've taken it on long trips to Sicily and Sardinia, so we know just how comfortable it is." Many owners have their vans set up for European travel, with insurance and documentation ready to go.

Top tip from the community: book the Channel crossing early. Eurotunnel and ferry prices climb sharply through the summer, and leaving it late can add hundreds to the trip.

The people behind the vans

Camplify vans aren't fleet vehicles. They have names — Biffy, Lotti, Gwen, Angie, Alma, Iris, Sweeney, Blue Bodhi, Annie the Ambulance. They've been bought, converted, maintained, and often loved to the point where owners talk about them like members of the family.

One owner on the work behind their build: "It took 600 to 800 hours of hard work and a significant sum of money — it's been a labour of love that I want as many people to enjoy as possible."

Another: "You won't find any problems with Sweeney — she's our pride and joy!"

And: "The main thing is that you have the best time and enjoy our motorhome as much as we do!!"

The care shows in all the little things. Videos sent before handover. User guides compiled and laminated. Weather texts mid-trip. Campsite booklets left in the glovebox. It's a completely different experience from picking up a vehicle at a hire counter, and the reviews reflect it — people come back talking about the owner as much as the trip.

Ready to road trip?

Camplify has thousands of campervans, motorhomes, and caravans available from local owners right across the UK. Pet-friendly options, delivery setups, festival-ready rigs, and owners who'll happily spend an hour walking you through everything if it's your first go.

Browse all vans: 400+ RVs available →