Minnie's Fiction Addiction

I have a dream — one that sits in the back of my mind every time I scroll through Instagram vanlife accounts, watch travel vlogs, or stand in a bookshop thinking, “Where would I read this if I were somewhere beautiful?”

I want to buy a camper van.
Not just any camper van, my home on wheels. A cozy, tiny, mobile haven where I can travel across the UK and Europe, taking long walks in stunning places and reading books everywhere I go.

This dream is about more than just the van. It’s about freedom, discovery, and feeding two of my deepest loves: reading and walking.

🚐 Why a Camper Van?

For me, the appeal of a camper van isn’t luxury.
It’s not about Instagram-worthy interiors or fancy setups.
It’s about flexibility.

A camper van means I can wake up by a Scottish loch one week and sip coffee on the French coast the next.
It means I can chase good weather, explore hidden countryside spots, and pull over when a view takes my breath away.
It means no rigid schedules, no hotel check-ins, no worrying about sticking to one place for too long.

In short: it’s the perfect setup for someone who dreams of wandering — with no ties and no plan except where the road leads.

📚 A Journey Built Around Books

Part of this dream is deeply tied to my love of reading.
I don’t just want to see places, I want to read in them.

Imagine:
– Finishing a mystery novel on the cliffs of Cornwall, the sea crashing below.
– Reading a historical novel inside a medieval walled town in France.
– Sitting under the stars in the Lake District, wrapped in a blanket with a fantasy book in hand.

Every stop would become part of my reading journey, blending story worlds with real ones.
My van would carry a carefully curated bookshelf, packed with paperbacks and maybe a Kindle loaded with backup titles (because let’s be honest, one shelf won’t be enough).

Books would be my travel companions.
They’d shape how I see each place and each place would shape how I experience each book.

🥾 Walking Through the World

Alongside reading, walking is my other great love.
For me, a good walk is more than exercise, it’s meditation, exploration, and freedom.

In my camper van dream life, every morning starts with a walk:
– Through ancient forests in Germany.
– Along misty coastal paths in Wales.
– Across sunlit vineyards in France.
– Up craggy mountains in the Scottish Highlands.

Walking lets me slow down and connect with the land in a way no bus tour or car trip ever could.
It’s how I clear my mind, reflect on the stories I’m reading, and soak in the small, quiet details of the world.

💭 What Would Life Look Like?

I picture my van, maybe a Citroën Relay or a Fiat Ducato, something not too big but roomy enough for comfort.
Inside: a bed with soft blankets, a little kitchenette, shelves lined with books, a reading lamp, and space for hiking boots, maps, and a folding chair for outdoor reading spots.

Each day would have its own rhythm:
Wake up with the sunrise, make a cup of coffee, take a long walk.
Come back, cook something simple, sit with a book.
Drive a little, maybe to a lake, a forest, a pretty village.
Spend the afternoon exploring or curled up inside if it’s rainy.
At night, read by fairy lights, listen to the wind or waves, and fall asleep knowing tomorrow holds another adventure.

It’s not a fast-paced life. It’s not glamorous or perfect.
But it’s mine, shaped by what I love, done at my own pace.

🌍 Why the UK and Europe?

I love the idea of traveling across both the UK and mainland Europe because there’s so much variety packed into a relatively small area.

The UK alone offers endless landscapes:
– The rugged beauty of the Highlands.
– The peaceful rolling hills of the Cotswolds.
– The dramatic coasts of Wales and Cornwall.
– Hidden countryside villages with ancient pubs and walking trails.

And then, hop across to Europe:
– Wander through alpine towns in Austria.
– Park by lavender fields in Provence.
– Explore crumbling castles along the Rhine.
– Walk along Portuguese cliffs or Italian vineyards.

Every few weeks, the scenery changes completely, new language, new food, new history.
But my little van stays the same, a home base that travels with me wherever I go.

💸 The Practical Side (and the Dreaming)

Of course, dreams like this don’t come cheap.
Buying and converting a camper van takes money, time, and planning. There are insurance costs, campsite fees, ferry tickets, fuel, maintenance, and the endless small costs that come with long-term travel.

But dreaming is the first step.
For now, I’m researching, learning, saving, and figuring out what would make this dream real.
Maybe I start with short trips, a few weeks here and there.
Maybe I work remotely on the road.
Maybe I find creative ways to make it happen over time.

The point is: the dream is there, and it’s something I’m working toward.

💬 Why This Dream Matters

For me, this dream isn’t just about travel, it’s about living in a way that aligns with who I am.

It’s about creating a life where I can read, walk, explore, and breathe, not rushing from one obligation to the next, not being stuck in one place or one routine.
It’s about embracing curiosity, following where stories and roads lead, and making memories shaped by books and landscapes alike.

Maybe one day, I’ll look back and think:
That was the year I made the dream real.
That was the year I turned the road into my home.

And when I do, I hope my bookshelf is right there with me, packed into the van, ready for every page and every mile ahead.

💬 Do you dream about life on the road? Have you ever wanted to travel in a camper van or take your books and boots on an adventure?
Share your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to hear your travel dreams and maybe swap some inspiration!