Not listed in chronological order, the following events are run by the 'good guys' in the event's scene!
The Badlands Convoy Rides Again - 2nd October 2026 - be a part of it!
ALL CAMPING VEHICLES WELCOME!
Big trucks, motorhomes, campervans, 4x4s ... and all levels of experience.
Ticket prices are only £200 per vehicle incl. driver!!
Passenger is only £100 extra.
Ideal for solo travellers, first-time-abroad campers, and fully fledged world wanderers.
Some comments from the crews who became part of the pioneering 'The Good, The Bad and The Fugly' Convoy of 2025, folk who set the record for the biggest camper convoy to Spain ... ever!
"The best trip ever and met so many amazing people" NJ.
"Was a fantastic trip, can't wait for the next one" DM.
"A huge thank you. We wouldn't have dreamed of coming to Spain. Our trip has taken us so much further than we expected" CA.
"Thanks to all for an 11 out of 10 experience & tour that will be talked about for a long time to come" MB.
This year, the Badlands Convoy is called "The Starlight Express", the first convoy departs on the 22.00 ferry Friday 2nd October 2026 from Portsmouth to Santander, northern Spain. From here, the road trip will embark on the El Camino Route, ensuring you get the maximum experiences with the shortest amount of miles.
You can do the whole trip within 2 weeks annual leave!
Yes indeed, that's because we have worked really hard to present you with the El Camino Route, ensuring you get the maximum experiences with the shortest amount of miles.
At the end there will be a Treasure Hunt on the beach in Mojacar, SE Spain, and then you can either return via the same route, with your new found travel buddies. OR, you can also set off for Morocco with our bolt on convoy doing The Route to Taghazout. More info below.
Departing on the ferry, meet up with fellow convoy travelling companions by wearing stars or sparkly things, you can have a ton of fun finding each other!
In addition we will all be on the 'Starlight Express WhatsApp Group' which will make things a lot easier. You will also receive a daily Captain's Log every morning, which will confirm the route and conditions of the day. There are support crew including first aiders and a mechanic, they are there in an advisory capacity, but will help if they can, along with other highly experienced travellers.
Importantly, there is a 24hr bilingual advice hotline, just in case you need it.
Your Convoy Captain, Ashling Sans, lives most of the year in Mojacar, and understands the system in Spain, which can be very different to the UK. Medical system, wild parking laws/what’s tolerated or welcomed etc.
Our daily plan: We will set off around 10-11 am, have a break at a specified location, then some exploration, before settling into camp in the evening for a musical jam lead by the incredible talents of Hokum and Hooch and Dave Manning. Bring your instruments and your voices, it's gonna be magical!
Also, why not be part of the 'Convoy Camera Club' and share your pictures of your day with the group, imparting knowledge to get the most out of your phone's camera?
We’ll be staying our first night near Sad Hill Cemetery, where they filmed the last scene in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, an epic start! We’ll leave there together, all vehicles travel to the next stop at their vehicles comfortable speed, meaning small groups naturally form, rather than us travelling in one mentally long line of vehicles. All meeting up in the evening for the jam!
Your ticket includes membership of the convoy, exclusive (wristbanded) activities, helpline access and the full El Camino Route details - these are top secret and only available to convoy members, the route is not to be shared.
In addition to the El Camino Route, we will also provide links to the campsites for you to book, travel info and advice, and assistance when we can. Please note you are responsible for your all travel costs, ferry, camping, travel insurance if required, etc. You are also responsible for your behaviour, and adherence to the law, and whether you take our advice.
The ferry is going be your main cost, we looked at coming through France, but when you factor in the time, fuel and expensive toll roads, it's no real difference in cost to arriving in Spain and heading straight for the sun!
Our main ferry leaves at 22.00 Friday October 2nd from Portsmouth to Santander, with Brittany Ferries.
As mentioned, our main ferry leaves at 22.00 Friday October 2nd from Portsmouth to Santander, with Brittany Ferries. If you cannot make this particular ferry (you may for instance prefer to travel down through France) - no problem, instead just start your convoy route from Sad Hill Cemetery which is approximately 1 hr due south of Santander. The El Camino Route allows for independence in your planning, as it's the fastest most scenic route heading south, which of course also saves fuel ... any which way you can!!!
If you cannot make this particular ferry, no problem, instead start your convoy route from Sad Hill Cemetery - any which way you can!!!
The El Camino Route, the fastest most scenic route from Sad Hill Cemetery: Save precious hours, miles and money by not wasting time 'winging it' abroad.
Sunday 4th Oct: Ferry arrives at Santander, head to Sad Hill Cemetery for a meet up and the first campstop. We’ll all meet up, and you will be given the exact route for the Treasure Hunt to Mojacar, via the Tabernas Desert.
Monday 5th Oct: Setting off from Sad Hill Cemetery near Burgos, there’ll be stunning limestone landscapes and the forests of the Sierras de Urbasa y Andia National Park.
Tuesday 6th Oct: The otherwordly landscapes of the Bardenas Reales semi-arid desert, location for many films and TV series such as James Bond's 007 and "Game of Thrones".
Wednesday 7th Oct: Deep gorges, cliffs and beautiful rivers in the Alto Taco National Park.
Thursday 8th Oct: Mountains and forests in the Sierra de Baza. Including a natural thermal lake if you fancy a cleansing muddy dip!
Friday 9th Oct: The stunning Lake Negratin, a more beautiful place on earth would be hard to find. There'll be a lakeside BBQ at sunset, with music from Dave Manning.
Saturday 10th Oct: 'The Desert Stars Experience'. Located in the Tabernas Desert, a unique UNESCO site boasting no light pollution, the moon will be new, so the stars will appear as bright as you can possibly see them.
We have a telescope, but feel free to bring one. Our convoy musicians will provide the magical atmosphere in an awesome natural limestone amphitheatre. For camping, there's the choice of the Desert Stars Campsite, or Fort Bravo for the wild west experience where the Spaghetti Western movies were actually made.
Sunday 11th Oct: Head for the beach to the palm trees of bohemian Mojácar. Tito's Beach Bar hosts our Convoy Welcome Party, music by the incredible talents Hokum and Hooch.
Monday 12th Oct - Sadly, this is the final night of The Starlight Express, with a BBQ at Maui Beach Club, and The Treasure Hunt!!!
From here, convoy members can either enjoy the superb beach life of Mojácar ... or ...can return to the UK at their leisure ... or ... if you have be back in time for work on Monday 20th, you can leg it back to Santander for the Wednesday crossing.
Or even ... carry on adventuring wherever the wind takes you!
There is also the option of a week long bolt-on convoy from Mojácar, Spain to Taghazout in Morocco. If you've got the time, come with us via Chefchouen, the Blue City, to the spectacular surfer's paradise on the Atlantic coast that is Taghazout. The cost of this optional bolt-on trip is only £150 per vehicle including driver, £50 for a passenger.
The Moroccan bolt-on convoy departs Monday 19th October from Mojácar, a full week after the "The Starlight Express" convoy finishes. That leaves ample time to sort out doggie paperwork, recharge the batteries by the beach (both vehicles and human), take in activities such as quad-biking, horse-riding, mountain-biking, jet-skis, paragliding, snorkelling, etc. Or simply visit stunning Mojácar and surrounding areas. Mojácar Pueblo for instance is consistently voted in the Top 5 most beautiful villages in Spain. Then there are the flamingos in Cabo de Gata national park, Europe's largest crystal caves in Pulpí Geode, hiking routes in the surrounding mountains to see eagles, wild boar, ibex, lynx and even tortoises – the list is endless!
Remember, our convoys are adventurous road trips, not package holidays. We provide the above itinerary with links to the relevant campsites for you to book (or wild camp nearby if you like), plus we'll help out as much as we can, but, end of the day it's an adventure. Expect the unexpected, that's the best part! There will be challenges and untold joys, and of course, travelling by convoy means we're all in it together!!!
You can bagsy a ticket until 31st March 2026: If you like, to guarantee a place on the convoy it's possible via a £50 non-refundable deposit to book and reserve your ticket now, then pay the balance by the end of March. This way, as ferries can fill up rapidly, you can book the Portsmouth-Santander ferry straightaway and start smiling, knowing that later in the year when the temperature plummets in the UK, you'll be heading to the sun on the adventure of a lifetime!
Please do check our Facebook page 'Badlands Adventure Convoys' for more information. We don't do Insta or any other social media, we’re not great at technology. Besides, that takes time and money, so we'd rather concentrate on keeping the ticket price as low as possible.
Any questions, just email us at badlands.convoys@gmail.com or WhatsApp 07305 011515.
Alternatively, just click on the Ticket Tailor logo below for tickets and more info:-
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VanFest @ the hall
Scampston Hall, Malton North Yorkshire YO17 8NG
19-21 June 2021
The event features ..
- Live Music: Get ready to groove to live bands and artists. Our diverse line-up guarantees you’ll find the perfect tune to enhance your enjoyment.
- Trade Village: Explore a wide variety of campervan accessories, outdoor gear, and artisan crafts at our trade village—a must-visit for campervan enthusiasts.
- Family Entertainment: VanLife Fest is dedicated to family fun. Enjoy a diverse range of activities, including climbing walls, a circus, archery, and more. Ensuring everyone in the family is entertained is our top priority!
- Fully Licensed Bars: Savour your favourite beverages at our fully licensed bars. Raise a toast to a weekend filled with camaraderie and celebration!
- On-site Cuisine: Don’t fancy cooking in the van? Dine out or have a takeaway from our incredible variety of street food vendors, here to cook just for you!
- Coffee Club: A brilliant, brand-new zone where guest speakers from the vanlife community will be giving talks, demonstrations, and swapping stories all day. Grab a brew and get involved!
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this year’s VanLife Fest. This event is not just a gathering; it’s an opportunity to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime. So, pack your bags, gather your family, and let the adventure begin.
We can’t wait to welcome you at Scampston Hall from June 19-21, 2024, for an unforgettable campervan festival experience.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.vanlifefest.co.uk
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The UK’s Most Loved Vanlife Weekend!
Thruxton Race Circuit, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8PN
18th - 21st June 2026
Recognised as the 2025 Vanlife Festival of the Year and now coming into our fifth year, Vanlove is the UK's favourite vanlife and campervan festival for those who love to escape, adventure and party. From micro campers to overlanders, campervans and motorhomes. Whether you're full time or just curious, Vanlove is your space to connect with like-minded individuals and celebrate the freedom of life on the road. Everyone is welcome at Vanlove.
This year, the UK’s most loved and award winning vanlife festival is turning everything up to 11! Bigger space, bigger vibes, and a whole new trackside edge.
After four unforgettable years at Elvington, we knew it was time for the next evolution. A space that kept the freedom, the atmosphere and the community energy you loved… but gave us the room to grow, play, and bring even more of the Vanlove spirit to life.
Thruxton - the UK’s fastest race circuit, steeped in airfield heritage just like Elvington - is that perfect next chapter. A place where epic views meet iconic motorsport history, and where Vanlove festival can really come into its own.
This year, Vanlove lands on the track for a bolder, more immersive experience than ever before. Think open-road freedom with a full-throttle backdrop, all wrapped in our signature #peaceandvanlove vibes.
Expect trackside energy. Expect community spirit. Expect new experiences, live music, demos, talks, food, bars, pit parties, sunsets, party nights… and the kind of moments that stay with you long after you leave the trackside behind.
Four days. One incredible location.
The ultimate vanlife celebration remixed for 2026.
Will you be joining us?
www.vanlove.com
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