It is a truth universally acknowledged that a man in possession of two small children will eventually be in need of a VW Camper van. And so it came to pass in our house.

Scarlett & Fin have been angling for a taste of a moveable holiday experience for the past year. So, after a couple of days in a lovely BFB property on the Isle of Wight (see below for more details), Jane and I decided to let their four-wheeled dreams come true by hiring Penelope, a winsome pink little vintage VW Camper.

She was a bit of a minx to handle – no power steering and a 1970s gear box that was like stirring porridge with a long metal stick – but she captured our hearts instantly as we toured the beaches and country lanes of the pretty island that sits a stone’s throw across the Solent from Portsmouth. Cuddled up each evening in our surprisingly expansive fold-out beds, sipping hot chocolate, grinning at a moon-lit beach, we all knew we were embarking on a long-term family love affair.

To find out more about Penelope – or one of her 11 friends – take a look at http://www.isleofwightcampers.co.uk/

Baby Friendly Botlhole nearby:

Scallop Shell Cottage, Niton, Isle of Wight

http://www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk/scallop_shell_cottage-child-friendly-accommodation-18475.htm