As you walk along the sea front, with the brisk wind kisses your cheeks with cold intentions, your eyes may notice a line of vans parked up along the road. The view is breath-taking to wake up to, but is it worth the freezing temperature and attempts to stay warm? The van life appeals to many people, the idea of being free to go anywhere whilst taking everything with you and being comfortable in a place which feels like home. Waking up with indescribable views of sunrises along the coast all whilst tucked up cosy in bed.
Ellen O’Rouke parked up in Cornwall
I spoke to Ellen O’Rouke about her journey as she lived in a van for a year and what made her decide this was the life for her, but also why she chose to then close this chapter.
Q: What made you decide to stop your van journey?
“Life just happens. My journey into the van life began! After a year of being nomadic and not having routes, my life changed, as it does, and I felt the need to settle back down into my life in Cornwall. This is when I parted ways with the van; which was both heartbreaking and absolutely the right call for me.”
Q:What enticed you to experience this way of living?
“One of the beauties of having no roots is that you become much more aware of relationships with others, as they can be fleeting.I was also quite intimidated by having to ‘settle’ in one place, and the van acted as a great stepping stone back into living in Cornwall after spending my time travelling.”
Q:What were the best parts?
“The ability to wake up to a different view each morning; the feeling of constant adventure! I really enjoyed the sense of independence living in a van gave me, and I think it hardened me to a degree. It makes you a hell of a lot more resilient and resourceful.”
Q:What are the downsides?
“With no shower in my van, I was tied to parking near gyms with 24/7 access and showers. There’s also the toilet situation… but I would invest in a composting toilet, just to be on the safe side!”
Q:What was it like as winter hit?
“Keeping warm in the winter months was a challenge at first, but like most of the ‘van life’, became an adventure. Angus, my van, was kitted out with all of the essentials I needed to keep relatively warm; a diesel heater, gas stove for heating water for hot water bottles, decent insulation, and multiple thermal blankets to be on the safe side.”
Q:Where would you say is a ‘must see’ spot?
“Cornwall is a beautiful part of the world, and I’ve been lucky enough to park up in some beautiful spots. I think one of my favourites has to be Bassets Cove near Portreath, mainly because it is so quiet and you rarely see another soul there.”
Q:Did you find it was cheaper living in a van?
“Absolutely! One of the beauties of only being able to carry what you need in a small van is that you become minimalist by necessity. Equally, you don’t need to pay rent, utilities bills or council tax, which is why this lifestyle is so scrutinised by many. That being said, insuring, servicing and running a large older van wasn’t the cheapest way of living the van life, but it was more accessible than renting or paying a mortgage on a one-bedroom flat in Falmouth.”
Q:What advice would you give to someone about to start their journey into van life?
“If you’re searching for a van to live the van life in, the most important thing is the foundation. It doesn’t matter how many shiny features a pre-built van has, or the aesthetic of the build – you need to build from a decent base. Prioritise looking for vans with lower mileage, and as little rust as possible. You don’t want to find yourself unable to live in your home in the depths of winter, because it’s stuck on a garage ramp with more leaks than you can count!”