Great Spots to work from...in the van

[Sunstoner]

Hi All

I think this is my first new thread *gulp*

Managing an internet business for the last 5 years Im mostly homebased with some travel to meet suppliers around the UK when early this year it struck me that something like a Cali would be thee ideal.

Although running the business for 5 years I have been been working from home full time for the past 10 years and I've realised that practically not leaving my house over this period has me going nuts!

So....out of nowhere early this year my wife and I started looking at the idea of a Campervan and I quickly realised that it ticks many many boxes from a work perspective but also having 2 young children it presents some new fabulous opportunities for getaways too.

Apologies about the background there! The reason im posting is because my plan is to work from different locations a few times a month from the van to break up the monotony of being homebased . The priorities of which would be :

1. Great view, scenic spot
2. Good mobile reception
3. Nearby public loos
4. Safe secure spot

+ anything else anyone can think of whilst working away for the day!

There are tons of info and advice on campsites and places to visit and stayover online but ive not come across a great deal that caters for days away working in/from the van.

I quite possibly have not looked hard enough so I do apologise if this is staring me in the face. If so, it would be fab if someone could point it out to me or I thought we could maybe start a new something. I know there are many mobile Cali workers so it'd great to see a list of good places to work from.

To be sure that this viable, we have hired 3 VW campers earlier this year, 1 conversion and 2 Californias and I've found at least 2 places to which are fab to work from :

• The sea front at Cleethorpes - Cleethorpes Seafront
• Filey Country Park - Beautiful cliff top spot overlooking Filey beach

It would be great to hear if anyone has other suggestions for where to work from. It could/would be very useful for those seeking to work away for the day (or longer).



Steve

 

[BeagleMum]

Hi All

I think this is my first new thread *gulp*

Managing an internet business for the last 5 years Im mostly homebased with some travel to meet suppliers around the UK when early this year it struck me that something like a Cali would be thee ideal.

Although running the business for 5 years I have been been working from home full time for the past 10 years and I've realised that practically not leaving my house over this period has me going nuts!

So....out of nowhere early this year my wife and I started looking at the idea of a Campervan and I quickly realised that it ticks many many boxes from a work perspective but also having 2 young children it presents some new fabulous opportunities for getaways too.

Apologies about the background there! The reason im posting is because my plan is to work from different locations a few times a month from the van to break up the monotony of being homebased . The priorities of which would be :

1. Great view, scenic spot
2. Good mobile reception
3. Nearby public loos
4. Safe secure spot

+ anything else anyone can think of whilst working away for the day!

There are tons of info and advice on campsites and places to visit and stayover online but ive not come across a great deal that caters for days away working in/from the van.

I quite possibly have not looked hard enough so I do apologise if this is staring me in the face. If so, it would be fab if someone could point it out to me or I thought we could maybe start a new something. I know there are many mobile Cali workers so it'd great to see a list of good places to work from.

To be sure that this viable, we have hired 3 VW campers earlier this year, 1 conversion and 2 Californias and I've found at least 2 places to which are fab to work from :

• The sea front at Cleethorpes - Cleethorpes Seafront
• Filey Country Park - Beautiful cliff top spot overlooking Filey beach

It would be great to hear if anyone has other suggestions for where to work from. It could/would be very useful for those seeking to work away for the day (or longer).



Steve

Hi & Good thread, it would be useful to have a rough idea of mileage you’re considering for a day venue

 

[Sunstoner]

Hi & Good thread, it would be useful to have a rough idea of mileage you’re considering for a day venue

Being based in Nottinghamshire, near Doncaster. I wont be day tripping down to Cornwall . But Id say a maximum of about 3 hour drive.

It'd be great to try and build a list of places round the UK for Cali mobile officing (rubbish word alert) types to refer to.

 

[Ting Tong]

The loo requirement will be your limiting factor: I’d drop that and take a washing detergent bottle or something and pull the blinds down if necessary. Otherwise you’ll be stuck to busy areas with parking charges and meh public loos. There’s always the pub car park option though if you can find one with a view: you’re not far from the Peak District or Lincolnshire coast. We go away a lot in ours for extended periods and get some work done most days: it’s a brilliant office inside or out.

 

[Sunstoner]

The loo requirement will be your limiting factor: I’d drop that and take a washing detergent bottle or something and pull the blinds down if necessary. Otherwise you’ll be stuck to busy areas with parking charges and meh public loos. There’s always the pub car park option though if you can find one with a view: you’re not far from the Peak District or Lincolnshire coast. We go away a lot in ours for extended periods and get some work done most days: it’s a brilliant office inside or out.

Great points re Loos. .Ive so much to pickup so its great to get advice from those who have been there, done it and are still doing it!.

Are those portable loos an option?

We have often spent time on the Lincolnshire coast. We do love a bit of Mablethorpe and 'Skeggy' plus Filey and Whitby further north too and yes we're less than an hour away from the Peak District so theres lots of places to discover.

Roll on next year when we get our van!

 

[Ting Tong]

Are those portable loos an option?

People say so and even keep them in their kitchen cupboard and do No 2s in them : personally we don’t have one and I’m sure you could manage with a bottle or a folding bucket.

 

[Big Ted]

I had a pleasant afternoon working sat next to Chew Valley lake (South Bristol)
The only problem I had was the quacking from the ducks when I was on a conf call!!

 

[dave6779]

Hi All

I think this is my first new thread *gulp*

Managing an internet business for the last 5 years Im mostly homebased with some travel to meet suppliers around the UK when early this year it struck me that something like a Cali would be thee ideal.

Although running the business for 5 years I have been been working from home full time for the past 10 years and I've realised that practically not leaving my house over this period has me going nuts!

So....out of nowhere early this year my wife and I started looking at the idea of a Campervan and I quickly realised that it ticks many many boxes from a work perspective but also having 2 young children it presents some new fabulous opportunities for getaways too.

Apologies about the background there! The reason im posting is because my plan is to work from different locations a few times a month from the van to break up the monotony of being homebased . The priorities of which would be :

1. Great view, scenic spot
2. Good mobile reception
3. Nearby public loos
4. Safe secure spot

+ anything else anyone can think of whilst working away for the day!

There are tons of info and advice on campsites and places to visit and stayover online but ive not come across a great deal that caters for days away working in/from the van.

I quite possibly have not looked hard enough so I do apologise if this is staring me in the face. If so, it would be fab if someone could point it out to me or I thought we could maybe start a new something. I know there are many mobile Cali workers so it'd great to see a list of good places to work from.

To be sure that this viable, we have hired 3 VW campers earlier this year, 1 conversion and 2 Californias and I've found at least 2 places to which are fab to work from :

• The sea front at Cleethorpes - Cleethorpes Seafront
• Filey Country Park - Beautiful cliff top spot overlooking Filey beach

It would be great to hear if anyone has other suggestions for where to work from. It could/would be very useful for those seeking to work away for the day (or longer).



Steve

I've thought about doing this myself, I'm a software developer so don't need to be in the office, most days I'm working on servers in another country anyway. We got our van about 6 months ago, not had chance to work from home recently but plan to soon. Post some pics if you end up going for it.

 

[dave6779]

View attachment 52226
View attachment 52227
I had a pleasant afternoon working sat next to Chew Valley lake (South Bristol)
The only problem I had was the quacking from the ducks when I was on a conf call!!

Omg, living the dream!

 

[beanz52]

Bridlington Park and Ride south of the town is a great location for a sea view and beach. Unfortunately closed from now until the spring.
When open has loos and ice creams.
Sorry about the picture, not sure why it’s on it’s side!

 

[jmcneil]

Love to work near a beach. We have a great remote working policy. This is another reason for getting the Cali

 

[SailSki]

For the portable toilet question, various forum members seem to use (in increasing size)
- Bog-in-a-Bag
- Bivvy Loo (

)
- Thetford Porta Potti 355
And since the group is such an inventive lot, quite a few other solutions too I suspect
I ended up with the first two above and find them basic but fine.
Plenty of forum posts on the options if you use the search feature.
The feeling of inspiration from finding a great place to park up does wonders for work productivity

 

[jmcneil]

This is also a must for using the van as an office or indeed just in general use to charge devices like laptops and tablets.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077T4QKX1/?tag=eliteelect-21

 

[andyinluton]

What’s wrong with the built in inverter? That only offers 50 watts more.
Pointless converting 12v to 240v just to use usb points

 

[jmcneil]

What’s wrong with the built in inverter? That only offers 50 watts more.
Pointless converting 12v to 240v just to use usb points

Northing wrong with that at all. That works on a hook up. I use this to charge mine or the kids laptops when driving about

 

[andyinluton]

The whole point of the built in inverter is that it works when not on hook up.

 

[Sunstoner]

View attachment 52226
View attachment 52227
I had a pleasant afternoon working sat next to Chew Valley lake (South Bristol)
The only problem I had was the quacking from the ducks when I was on a conf call!!

Now youre talking! That looks just the ticket. Even with the ducks

 

[Sunstoner]

Love to work near a beach. We have a great remote working policy. This is another reason for getting the Cali

View attachment 52238

There is just that something about a beach. Love it. Fab outlook

 

[Skylark2.0]

What’s wrong with the built in inverter? That only offers 50 watts more.
Pointless converting 12v to 240v just to use usb points

How does the inverter work? Does it just work off the leisure battery? We haven't got used it but it would be really handy for remote working. Great tip thanks

 

[andyinluton]

Yes connected to the two leisure batteries, limited to 150watts

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

Sunstoner - not sure if there are rules against it but you could join the National Trust and use their car parks/visitor facilities free of charge. Clumber Park is a good example near(ish) you.

 

[Sunstoner]

Sunstoner - not sure if there are rules against it but you could join the National Trust and use their car parks/visitor facilities free of charge. Clumber Park is a good example near(ish) you.

Great idea! Id not thought of using National trust sites. I am a member and usually they are set in lovely ample grounds such as Clumber Park.

They can be pretty relaxing places to be too. Only 1 BIG issue with Clumber is that its a signal black spot. There is possibly somewhere there where a signal can be found. Great idea if I can make it work though. Needs investigating further

 

[Martin]

I do this a lot especially this time of year now that all the tourists have gone home. I prefer beach side locations and I often pop over to Woolacombe beach, Widemouth bay (near Bude) , Appledore and also up on Dartmoor.

All of these places I get better interet than at home so ends up being more productive going out!

Edit: Just realised these are a bit far for the OP ..sorry

 

[Sunstoner]

Edit: Just realised these are a bit far for the OP ..sorry

Perhaps i can 'work' my way down the country! . With those views it would definitely be worth it.