​A familiar, colourful sight along the North Norfolk roads are the traditional Volkswagen camper vans.
​VW vans have been part of the British scene since the early 1950s when military personnel, who had got used to driving them while serving in Germany, brought their vehicles into the UK.
Gradually a dealer network developed and the Transporter panel vans and Microbus people carriers became a familiar sight along with the already established VW Beetle saloons.
Many of those cherished original vans have been lovingly maintained, continuing to do great service and provide their owners and hirers with the spirit of freedom the vehicles have come to represent. ​

​​On the road again
North Norfolk's road system, using the A148 and A149 as spines, offers great opportunities to explore the delights of the coast and countryside with lots of B roads and unclassified country lanes to explore.
An alternative to using the A roads is to turn right at the roundabout next to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, and head along the B1145. This is mostly a 50mph maximum road (slower through some villages). If you went east to the end of this road you would eventually get to Mundesley and the east coast. Along this route are some lovely villages such as Gayton and Litcham, and inviting towns like Reepham and Aylsham.
One of my favourite cross-country routes using the B1145 sees me turn on to the B1110 at North Elmham that brings me to the A148 at the roundabout outside Holt. At weekends in season, it is worth a diversion to County School Station Tea Room.
There are several other lovely routes. For example, turn off the A149 at Cley and make your way towards Kelling and Holt on the roads across Salthouse Heath, that offer great views towards the coast.

Taste and try before you buy
For many people, owning their own VW camper van is a great ambition, something to dream about. To be fair, it is not a vehicle that everyone takes to – there's no power steering on the originals for a start. Campers not only demand a high purchase price, they require regular maintenance, preferably by experts who know what they are doing with the specialist air-cooled engines and equipment. Some original parts are now difficult to source too.
There is an alternative to buying your own camper van – hiring a camper from the established companies that run and maintain fleets of lovely vehicles. Even if you do, in time, get one of your own, hiring a camper makes great sense as a first step or occasional treat.
Retro Campers Norfolk, based at Terrington St Clement, near King’s Lynn, has a fleet of  T2 campers hire, named after period pop hits. The vehicles are right-hand drive and fully equipped with essential items for your journey, with insurance and breakdown cover included in the hire price.

Things to consider
While you will, without doubt, be having the time of your life driving your cherished campervan, not everyone on
the road may feel the same. Some drivers can't wait to get by slower vehicles such as these, sometimes without much consideration to other road users. Your author has on occasions been overtaken in his camper while indicating a right turn into a campsite – so remember to use your cab mirrors!
Since the introduction of E10 fuel, many petrol stations in North Norfolk do not stock the unleaded E5 grade most suited for early VW campers, so be prepared and make sure you have sufficient fuel of the right grade in thetank for your journey.
​​For those who need more space, there are some spacious awnings available, some of which enable you to drive your camper away and leave the awning standing, ready for your return.
Once I’ve set up my camper at a site, I often take advantage of the coastal bus services that operate between King’s Lynn,
Hunstanton, Burnham Market, Wells and Fakenham (Lynx Coastliner 36), and Wells, Cromer and Mundesley (Sanders Coasthopper), that make travel along the coast road so convenient. I use myBus Pass and the dog has a £1 Day Rover ticket! Guide dogs travel free of charge.

​More than 75 years after the idea of VW campers was established, for many it will continue to be the first choice for a holiday home on wheels.  
Happy camping!

An article written by David Brown
published in Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine, March 2026