Why go?
Helen and Frazer Cunningham’s 13 vintage US Airstream trailers are permanently sited in a field near Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and attract a loyal band of happy campers who return year after year to enjoy a blast of caravanning nostalgia. The trailers have been restored, not refurbished, so much of the original Formica detailing and wood panelling remain. Added to these are additional retro touches: a bottle of Babycham greets you on arrival, as well as vintage crochet blankets and board games.
Activities
The Airstreams are positioned around the perimeter of the field giving children free range to make new friends, eat outdoors (barbecues are sparked up nightly) and muck about without constant supervision.
Accommodation
The four Overlander Airstreams are best for families: 26 feet long they sleep four people (one fold-out bed and two singles). Why not get several families together, book two or three Airstreams and have your own mini festival? Vintage Vacations also operates four family-friendly idiosyncratic properties dotted around the island including The Shack, located near Cowes in a cluster of chalets, cabins and railway carriages yards from the beach; and The Scout Hall, in Chale, a recently-restored building on the south coast of the island.
The lowdown
US Airstream trailers sleep four people; prices start at £460 for seven nights. How to get there: You can get to the Isle of Wight on various ferries from Southampton, Southsea, Lymington and Portsmouth, which arrive at various locations across the island. To get straight to Ryde, you can get a passenger-only ferry. If you’re taking the car, get a car ferry and drive to Hazelgrove Farm, Ryde, PO33 4BD. Hovertravel (01983 811 000) run a passenger only ferry from Southsea to Ryde. Wightlink (0871 376 10 00) run a car ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Fishbourne, and a passenger only ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde. Red Funnel ferries (0845 330 88 89) run a passenger only ferry from Southampton to Cowes and a car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes. Travel time: Driving from London to one of the ferry ports takes between 1 hour and 30 minutes and 2 hours. Ferry trips take between 20 minutes and 1 hour. Whichever way you decide to travel, the Isle of Wight is only 22 miles long – so it won’t take you long to get to your destination from the ferries.