This page offers a little insight into another of my favourite pastimes, camping. Two years ago I bought this Talbot Express AutoSleeper camper van. It is in superb condition considering that it was built in 1984. It still has all the original upholstery, fixtures and fittings.

After spending almost two years living in camper vans whilst touring Australia, I really got bitten by the bug. It is fantastic to be able to pull up anywhere that the van will take you and be brewing a cup of tea within minutes.

This photo shows the van set up at Oulton Park race circuit, I was there for the British Superbike races. I no longer use the drive away awning shown here as I found it a little too small for my requirements.

by Mike Turner

This a good example of how I generally set up now. Using a toilet tent means that any nasty smells etc. are kept away from the inside of the van. The garden gazebo offers much more in the way of space and shade when needed. I have also just bought a small tent which I intend on using for storage and sleeping. This will enable me to keep the inside of the van set up for day use only and saves me having to repeatedly move the seating arrangements around to form a bed. The windbreaks offer privacy as well as comfort. Anybody spotted the guard dog?

This is a photo of the view from my favourite campsite, Shell Island, Harlech, North Wales. The photo was taken from the front of my camping pitch, this is the view I had for three glorious days, the weather stayed the same too.

Apart from the peace and tranquility that Shell Island offers, it has a massive, safe and sandy beach where dogs are allowed. The bay is also visited on an almost daily basis by a small pod of porpoises. The fishing is pretty good here too.

These are photo’s of some of the friends that Buster has made whilst traveling around with me in the campervan.

The two top photographs were both taken at Shell Island, but on separate visits. In the top photo, you can see that the long legged crossbred bitch made a big impression on Buster. They would play outside our camping pitch for hours, rolling around, chasing each other and generally having the best time.

The next photo down is of Buster and a lovely little Springer Spaniel who we met very briefly whilst she and her owners were walking past our camping pitch. They stopped for a chat and for the two dogs to get aquatinted, which, as you can see, they did with no problems whatsoever.

The third photograph down shows Buster with his mate Huck,  short for Huckleberry (yes, I know). We were on a camp site just outside of Whitchurch, Shropshire. It was called the Canal Side Caravan Park, suitably named as the campground sit’s directly alongside the Shropshire Union/ Llangollen Canal and the Sandstone Trail. We stayed at this campsite for three days, giving Buster and Huck plenty of time to get to know each other. There are some beautiful canal towpath  walks from here too, either into the countryside or into Whitchurch itself. As with any towpath walk, they can be as short or as long as you wish. There is also the fascinating sight of the Staircase Locks at Grindley Brook, only a brief stroll away from the camp site. These consist of 3 locks that were built in 1795. They are placed in sequence, enabling canal longboats to get up or down what is a fairly steep incline. There is a pleasant little shop and restaurant here too.

The fourth and final photograph down shows Buster playing with Loui, another Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel. This was also on yet another separate visit to Shell Island.

Unfortunately, we only met Loui and his owners, Mark and Jane, just as they were packing up to go home. Because the two dog’s got on so well, Mark and Jane decided to come for a walk with us along the beach. This worked out well as Buster encouraged Loui to have a swim in the sea for the first time. Buster has never had a problem with swimming in the sea, he even surfs the waves.

This photo was taken from a cracking little camp site that I discovered, a few miles West out of Bettws Y Coed on the A5. I cannot remember the name of the site but the entrance to it is up a very narrow lane opposite the Fairy Glen turn off and hotel.

As you can see, the views from the camp site are magnificent. The site is spread out over a few different fields, all on the side of a hill, so every camping pitch enjoys this wonderful view.

The facilities at the site were excellent, yet they are in the process of being upgraded by the current owners. Even so, a peaceful and relaxing time here is guaranteed.