Woohooooo! Finally, I am able to share pics with you of Myrtle, my self-build VW T4 campervan conversion. It has been a labor of love getting her adventure-ready. Stage one of her build is officially complete and she is packed and ready to hit the road for our first major road trip. Excited doesn't even come close! Squeeeee!
Myrtle parked in front of a wooded slope.
On May 1st, Jonny and I will be embarking on a 661.3-mile journey to Inverness, followed by an entire month exploring the Scottish Highlands. It'll be a busman's holiday for me, as I still intend to create yummy recipes for you guys and my YouTube channel. But I also want to step away from the gadgets and explore one of the wildest remaining places in the UK.
Interior layout - Myrtle's cozy home.
During this trip, we aim to climb mountains, swim in lochs, canoe down rivers, and fish for our dinner at every opportunity. And, of course, my personal plan is to sleep in and enjoy the blissful tranquility for a whole month. This trip has been planned for well over a year, with May being the chosen month for kinder weather and zero midges. Fingers crossed on both accounts!
Myrtle's Transformation
Myrtle, originally an egg delivery van, was bought by me in December 2015 for £1000. She's a 1995 VW T4 with an impressive 240,000 miles on the clock. From Sussex to Cornwall, Myrtle journeyed to live out her adventurous retirement. And since then, I've poured a ridiculous amount of money into transforming her into our perfect adventure wagon.
Myrtle - A work in progress.
The restoration and respray were the first steps, followed by a self-build conversion to create a YouTube-friendly kitchen and a comfortable living/sleeping space. We utilized pallets and a lot of scrap wood from the farm, keeping the build costs relatively low. A huge thanks to Jonny for taking on the conversion and doing such a beautiful job. He literally saved me thousands.
Interior under construction - A labor of love.
Throughout the months of owning her, I resisted the urge to splurge on all the pretty bits that I knew would make her feel like home. I wanted to get a feel for the space and figure out exactly what I needed. As the build came together, the guys at Homesense & TK Maxx offered to sponsor the kitting out of Myrtle. It was the perfect union, as I am a HUGE fan of their stores.
A meal for 2 set out on the table by a window.
In a whirlwind day, we traveled over 300 miles, visiting three Homesense stores and two TK Maxx's across the southwest to fill Myrtle with the most beautiful treasures you could imagine. We got everything we needed, from bedding to fairy lights, storage bags to a can opener! Utterly exhausted but triumphant, we now have a permanently kitted out kitchen in Myrtle.
The Journey Begins
So, that's it! My beautiful van is now ready to hit the road. Although we're keeping our fingers and toes crossed that she makes it to Scotland and back with no drama. If you're interested in finding new camping and campervan friendly recipes or following our adventure to the Highlands, why not subscribe to my YouTube channel? I'll be posting a heap of tasty content over there.
Mascot - Ready for the journey ahead.
I want to extend a huge thanks to Homesense/TK Maxx for sponsoring Myrtle's big reveal. I was a huge fan of their stores beforehand, but now I think I could be classified as a zealot! There aren't many shops that could make this girl as excited as they do. As always, all thoughts in a sponsored post are my own.
Jane x
