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Earlyretirementwanderlust
Великобритания
Добавлен 28 янв 2022
Hi, we are Richard & Jackie. Join us as we take our first tentative steps of early retirement at the age of 51. After a series of life changing traumas in 2021, we made the scary decision to pack in our careers and take time to explore what the world has to offer.
We hope to share with you our travel and adventures in our VW Campervan, our new house renovations and all the highs and lows of early retirement.
We would love it if you would subscribe to our channel and join us as we move into early retirement adventures.
Check out our blog at www.earlyretirementwanderlust.com for more about what we do and why we do it.
Resources discussed in our videos can be found here: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/earlyretirementwanderlust
Please be aware that by using this link, we may receive a small affiliate fee from Amazon to help support the channel. The price you pay to Amazon remains the same as the price if you were to search it directly from the Amazon store.
We hope to share with you our travel and adventures in our VW Campervan, our new house renovations and all the highs and lows of early retirement.
We would love it if you would subscribe to our channel and join us as we move into early retirement adventures.
Check out our blog at www.earlyretirementwanderlust.com for more about what we do and why we do it.
Resources discussed in our videos can be found here: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/earlyretirementwanderlust
Please be aware that by using this link, we may receive a small affiliate fee from Amazon to help support the channel. The price you pay to Amazon remains the same as the price if you were to search it directly from the Amazon store.
Shetland's Hidden Beaches: Island Hopping in a VW Camper
In this video, we explore the remote and stunning coastlines of Shetland, uncovering secret beaches and breathtaking views that you won't want to miss. From island hopping to discovering secluded spots, we take you along on our adventure as we navigate Shetland's rugged beauty.
Heading north, we explore the smaller and remote islands of Yell, Unst and Fetlar. As well as finding the Puffin colony at Hermaness, we delve into the history of these Viking isles and in sharp contrast stumble upon the the new Spaceport Project.
Whether you're planning your own campervan trip or just dreaming of Shetland’s wild landscapes, this video is packed with inspiration and practical tips for making the mo...
Heading north, we explore the smaller and remote islands of Yell, Unst and Fetlar. As well as finding the Puffin colony at Hermaness, we delve into the history of these Viking isles and in sharp contrast stumble upon the the new Spaceport Project.
Whether you're planning your own campervan trip or just dreaming of Shetland’s wild landscapes, this video is packed with inspiration and practical tips for making the mo...
Просмотров: 3 615
Видео
The Kelpies Campervan & Motorhome Aire: What you need to know
Просмотров 2,6 тыс.9 часов назад
Planning a trip to The Kelpies Aire? In this video, we’re giving you a complete rundown of everything you need to know before you arrive. From location details and amenities to insider tips for making the most of your stay, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a seasoned campervan traveler or a first-timer, this guide will help you prepare for a smooth and enjoyable visit. Discover what makes ...
Discovering Wild and Remote Shetland in our VW Campervan
Просмотров 5 тыс.14 часов назад
Join us in the first part of our 4 week Shetland and Orkney road trip. We have made it north and spend our first few days on Shetland mainland and have our very first up-close puffin experience. We venture out to find the hidden beaches and rich history of this beautiful part of the world. Who knew Shetland has some of the most stunning beaches in the world...and they are deserted! We are Richa...
Our Early Retirement Journey: What We Have Learnt in 2 Years
Просмотров 15 тыс.21 час назад
Join us as we reflect on our early retirement journey and share the valuable lessons we've learnt over the past two years. From the joys of newfound freedom to the unexpected challenges, we'll give you an honest look at what it's really being like for us to retire early. In this video, we cover: Adjusting to a New Lifestyle: How we transitioned from full-time work to a life of leisure and explo...
Packing Hacks for Our Extended Campervan Road Trips
Просмотров 6 тыс.День назад
Planning a month-long campervan adventure? In this video, we share our ultimate packing guide to help you prepare for an unforgettable extended road trip in a small campervan. From essential gear and clothing to smart storage solutions, we'll cover our top tips. Whether you're a first-time campervanner or a seasoned traveler, these tips will ensure you have everything you need for a comfortable...
Shetland Campervan Adventure- Heading North on the Overnight Northlink Ferry
Просмотров 6 тыс.День назад
Join us on an unforgettable journey as we take our camper van north to the stunning Shetland Islands! In this video, we share the excitement and challenges of our 300 mile drive north from the Yorkshire Dales followed by the 13-hour Northlink ferry crossing to Shetland. Join us as we break our journey with a stunning overnight stop at the Kelpies, a visit to the historic Dunnottar Castle before...
Our lives in weeks... Why Contemplating Death Can Lead to a Meaningful Life
Просмотров 4,1 тыс.14 дней назад
What if thinking about death could enhance the way we live? In this video, I explore the concept of Memento Mori - remembering that we must die - and how it can lead to a richer, more meaningful life. Join me as I delve into the wisdom of ancient philosophers and modern thinkers to understand why contemplating our mortality can be the key to truly living. In This Video: Introduction to Memento ...
Cadac Safari Chef 30 BBQ Full Review (AKA Safari Chef 2)
Просмотров 4,8 тыс.14 дней назад
We have been using our Cadac Safari Chef 30 (previously known as the Safari Chef 2) for the past 6 years in our VW Campervan, and we thought it was about time that we shared our thoughts on this compact gas BBQ and versatile cooking system. In this video we look at the various components of the system, how the cooking system works and some of the various accessories that are available to enhanc...
Budgeting for Adventure: Total Costs for a 6-Week European Campervan Road Trip
Просмотров 8 тыс.21 день назад
Dreaming of a long campervan journey across Europe? In this video, we break down every expense from our 6-week European road trip to help you plan and budget for your own adventure. From fuel and food to campsite fees and unexpected costs, we cover it all! In This Video: Fuel Costs: How much we spent driving across multiple countries. Campsite Fees: The price of staying at various campsites and...
6 Weeks on the Road in our Campervan: 12 Things We Couldn't Live Without
Просмотров 27 тыс.21 день назад
After 6 weeks on the road in Europe and covering more than 3500 miles, we reflect on some of the essential items we really could not have lived without. In this video we take you through some of the things that made our time on the road so much easier...and most of them didn't cost the earth! We are Richard and Jackie and we live in the UK. We retired from teaching at the age of 51 in the summe...
Early Retirement-Top 5 Myths...
Просмотров 31 тыс.28 дней назад
Are you thinking about early retirement but feeling overwhelmed by the myths and misconceptions? In this video, we break down the top 5 myths about early retirement and share our personal experiences and insights from our 2 years of early retirement. In This Video we look at: Myth #1: You Need to Be Extremely Wealthy We'll discuss how careful planning and budgeting can make early retirement ach...
Why Alsace Should Be Your Next Campervan Destination
Просмотров 4,1 тыс.Месяц назад
Our 6 week campervan road trip is coming to an end and we are heading home. Join us as we drop into Liechtenstein, a new destination for us and we we then head to the beautiful Alsace region of France. After a couple of days exploring, we reflect on the top 5 reasons why the Alsace should be on everyones travel bucket list. In this video we will cover: The beautiful architecture of Colmar and t...
Summer Alpine Vanlife: Discovering Austria's Lakes, Mountains, and Meadows
Просмотров 4 тыс.Месяц назад
Coming into the final weeks of our 6 week European Campervan road trip we drop into Austria to discover the summers charms of the Tyrol's Alpine Lakes, Mountains and Meadows. Join us as we hike, bike and swim across the ski centres of Mayrhofen and Fieberbrunn, taking in the wild beauty of the alps and enjoying the heat of summer in the mountains. We are Richard and Jackie and we live in the UK...
Lago di Braies vs Backcountry Dolomites in our VW Campervan
Просмотров 3,3 тыс.Месяц назад
In this video, we take you on an incredible journey through the Dolomites, comparing the stunning Lago di Braies with the hidden gems of the backcountry. Join us as we explore these breathtaking locations from the comfort of our VW campervan and discover what makes each destination unique. Experience with us the beauty of the iconic Lago di Braies with a twist as we experience the lake before, ...
Mid-Year Check-In: Reviewing Our 2024 Early Retirement Goals
Просмотров 4,4 тыс.Месяц назад
Can you believe we are 6 MONTHS into 2024??? As we reach the halfway point of the year, it's time for a mid-year check-in to review our early retirement goals. Join us as we reflect on our progress, celebrate our achievements, and adjust our plans for the next six months. We find setting annual goals helps us stay on track in our early retirement and keeps that sense of purpose that can sometim...
Vanlife in the Dolomites: The Summer Snowy Trails of the Tre Cime
Просмотров 4,6 тыс.Месяц назад
Vanlife in the Dolomites: The Summer Snowy Trails of the Tre Cime
Discovering Slovenia: Too Many Reasons to Fall in Love
Просмотров 6 тыс.Месяц назад
Discovering Slovenia: Too Many Reasons to Fall in Love
Lake Bled by Campervan- A Bucket List Destination?
Просмотров 4,3 тыс.Месяц назад
Lake Bled by Campervan- A Bucket List Destination?
Discovering the Plitvice Waterfalls: Croatia's Natural Wonder
Просмотров 3,6 тыс.Месяц назад
Discovering the Plitvice Waterfalls: Croatia's Natural Wonder
Istrian Adventure: Vanlife on Croatia's Beautiful Coastline
Просмотров 6 тыс.2 месяца назад
Istrian Adventure: Vanlife on Croatia's Beautiful Coastline
Venice for Under €100: Our 2 Day Campervan Challenge
Просмотров 4,9 тыс.2 месяца назад
Venice for Under €100: Our 2 Day Campervan Challenge
Exploring Italy's Lakes: A Campervan Adventure
Просмотров 4,4 тыс.2 месяца назад
Exploring Italy's Lakes: A Campervan Adventure
Atomic Habits Book Review...Tiny Changes = Big Results!
Просмотров 3,7 тыс.2 месяца назад
Atomic Habits Book Review...Tiny Changes = Big Results!
Our 1000 mile TOLL FREE drive to the Alps
Просмотров 9 тыс.2 месяца назад
Our 1000 mile TOLL FREE drive to the Alps
12 retirement tips from retirees...did it work for us?
Просмотров 12 тыс.2 месяца назад
12 retirement tips from retirees...did it work for us?
The Dales Way...81 miles of Early Retirement Adventures
Просмотров 4,9 тыс.2 месяца назад
The Dales Way...81 miles of Early Retirement Adventures
Top 6 Reasons We All Need CHALLENGES in Early Retirement
Просмотров 2,9 тыс.2 месяца назад
Top 6 Reasons We All Need CHALLENGES in Early Retirement
Behind the Scenes: Planning Our European Campervan Road Trip
Просмотров 8 тыс.2 месяца назад
Behind the Scenes: Planning Our European Campervan Road Trip
Cornish Coast Calling: Campervan Road Trip to Mother Ivey's Bay & Beyond
Просмотров 4,5 тыс.3 месяца назад
Cornish Coast Calling: Campervan Road Trip to Mother Ivey's Bay & Beyond
Less is more: How we try to resist the urge to buy...
Просмотров 6 тыс.3 месяца назад
Less is more: How we try to resist the urge to buy...
Beautiful video! Thanks for taking us along!
Lovely video, you really hit it off with the weather. We are a week into our Lewis & Harris trip and the wind and rain has been poor. No awning or pop top so far. Lesley my good lady has asked if you watch the Shetland series on the BBC with Douglas Henshall? Good to see the ridge monkey in action. I’ve made Haggis and cheese toasties twice this trip so far. Yum yum. Keep the great videos coming.
If you work, even part time, then you are not fully retired. So anyone that tells me that are retired but work, I tell them - you are not retired then.
Do you have to pay for each ferry as you get on or can you bulk buy?? What sort of costs are the ferries? Sorry for the questions, would love to Island hop.
I just retired as a high school teacher last May at age 58. 33 years in the public schools. This is the first video of yours Ive seen thanks to the YT algorithm bringing it to me. Congrats on being successfully retired and doing it just the way you want. I loved your thoughts about stress, worrying about worrying (It’s like I’m now manufacturing things to worry about), and finally being able to put your physical and mental health as a priority. I’m learning all these things now. Thank you! Looking forward to following along and going back to your earlier videos. If you’re ever in Colorado US, I’d love to offer travel recommendations or share a glass of wine.
Thanks for the video. Interesting to hear about the free park-up you found in Leichtenstein, we're looking for places to stay there on our upcoming Europe trip! Do you think a 15yo VW campervan could make it up that hill??
Been there..done that...and Pass d'etape card ..costs about 5e for life !!!!
Another great video as expected. May I ask can you park anywhere with in reason in Shetland or are there restrictions?? Thankyou.
Thanks for this Jonathan. We always use the P4N App for recommendations, but in our opinion some of the sites listed on Shetland were not appropriate as they were too close to houses or on grassy Machairs. All of the places we stayed were on the App, and we used a lot of the community provided facilities that were just fabulous. It was quite usual to visit a community site, stay, use the the power and facilities and not see anyone. It all runs on a honesty box system that we loved and freely contribute to. It was actually really forward thinking of the communities and felt really welcoming. There weren't too many vans travelling around, and everyone seemed to adhere to similar values of respecting the islands. Long may this continue 🙏
@@earlyretirementwanderlust thankyou again for the reply
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Thanks Alan👍
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Thanks Alan👍
Great video guys. Myself and my partner retired just over two years ago. We just love the freedom! Like you both, we love travelling, off to China in October! Keep up the brilliant communications!
Thanks for this Neal- wow what a trip to China! That will be amazing. Glad that you are loving retirement- it's great isn't it! Have a good one👍
Hello Richard and Jackie from Ontario, Canada! I'm Barry, also a retired teacher (high school). Yeah, I decided to leave in June '22; just wasn't motivated to return for another year! I was 57 at the time. My wife (Salve), a few months older than me, continues to work part-time hours as a Cashier. Congrats. on your own retirement and your channel, etc. Good for you both (and family)! We don't have kids; just nephews and nieces. I've seen some of your clips (so far); all well-done! One of your messages, in particular, caught my attention - the idea of having experiences over physical things! You're absolutely right with this! There's certainly a big world out there that we should explore, enjoy quality time with family, etc. while we're still not too old and pretty much in good health! Salve is a Filipina and we've been to the Philippines several times (married there, actually, years ago). I'm from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Atlantic Canada, but have been here in Ontario (central Canada) for more than 20 years. I have Irish ancestry (Hennessey). We made our first trip across the Atlantic this past May to the U.K. (England and Wales); Salve has cousins in London and north Wales. It was an excellent time sightseeing, etc. The weather was great for almost the entire trip! Do you have any plan to visit Canada? Well, bye for now..! Take care. Barry H.
Thanks for this Barry and regards to Canada. We love your country! When I was teaching I led a couple of rugby tours to BC and Victoria Island and had a blast. We had the privilege a few years back of watching our son play rugby in BC on tour and then road tripped around BC and Alberta. We intended to go back as a family in 2020, but Covid put paid to those plans. We definitely want to get across and spend some time in the US and Canada, but it will probably have to wait a few year yet. Glad that you are enjoying the channel and welcome along. Have a good one👍
@@earlyretirementwanderlust good to know you've visited out west (at least) over here. Yeah, some great scenery, etc. Salve has a sister and family in Seattle, Washington. We've flown, different times, out that way through Vancouver (including enroute to the Philippines) and we've driven from here back in '08/back later by train. Like yourselves, we enjoy camping during our summers! Are you folks familiar with Norm and Tina (older British couple) who have a channel "This is our Retirement"?; it's been a favourite of mine. They moved to Canada, years ago, and are seasoned travellers! All the best..! Barry
Absolutely stunning 😍 I’m loving these videos 😊
Thank you - it was the most incredible trip with Zion National Park being one of the highlights. Seeing the Grand Canyon covered in snow was also an amazing experience
Another great vlog and stunning countryside. 2 Qs if I may: what about the dreaded midgies- were they an issue (when were you there) and, as an owner of a larger MH, do you think the roads ok for a 7M Motorhome? Obviously easier in a small camper.
Hi Peter thanks for this. Midges were only a problem on one isolated evening when the wind dropped and conditions were perfect for the little blighters. Apart from that, we didn't even notice them. Mainland Shetland roads are really good, but the further you get off the beaten track, the tighter they get. We hardly saw any 7m+ vans on Shetland. This may be due to the higher ferry prices? Life for us in a small camper meant that we could go pretty much anywhere. Thanks for the comment. 👍
@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thanks.
Breckon Sands was my fave in the video, absolute beach perfection 🥰 I would visit the Shetlands just for that 😂 Do you think a 7.5m motorhome could get around the islands ok? I didn’t see any mohos at all in the video…is it more suited to campervans like yours? Thanks for sharing the beautiful scenery. Magic ❤
Thanks for this. To be fair, we didn't see many MH's at all, particularly on Shetland. The ones we did see were quite small. This may be due to the extra costs on the ferry (we count as a small van). The roads on Shetland mainland are really good, but the more you get off the beaten track, the tighter they get. Unst was very tight in parts for a 7.5m van. Hope this helps?
Thanks so much for that, appreciated ❤
Absolutely fantastic! You guys look like you’re having the time of your lives. What beautiful scenery and beaches. I’m very envious. 👍
Thanks Peter- we have been genuinely surprised at how good Shetland has been- far surpassing our exceptions. The opportunities for wildlife spotting, the history and the beaches have been amazing. We have been particularly surprised with the beaches that were not really mentioned in our research. They are world class! Thanks for the comment👍
Wonderful, looked lovely 👌 Cooking demo, beautiful scenery and that handstand Jackie , great stuff 👍 😍
Thanks Allison- gotta do a handstand on a beach just to keep checking that we can do them😂 Glad you enjoyed the cookery- we never going to be master chefs, but do love our food and cooking together. 👍
Great reflections on your first two years of ER. Where has the time gone. You're both amazing and inspirational. We look forward to the spring of 2025 for the next chapter of our lives 😀❤️🚐🐾 xx
Thanks for this Janet, your support is always really appreciated. You must be getting really excited for 2025. We loved the prep for our retirement, but the result has turned out to be even more enjoyable than the prep! Have a good one👍
Any trees?
Not really...feels quite odd when you think about it. The only time we saw a few trees were when they were planted around the odd homestead. Even treeless, it was a wonderful place to visit. 👍
@@earlyretirementwanderlust yes it looks beautiful, in some of the old buildings I see lumber and the old Viking ship but no trees. Very beautiful thank you Richard and Jackie
Apparently, historically the islanders relied on driftwood that came across the ocean from North America/Canada. Found this really interesting. The neolithic sites had excavated holes that archaeologists surmise were for roof poles.
@@earlyretirementwanderlust Wow cool thanks for the info I was wondering where they got the lumber from👍
10/10 for the handstand! Nature, beaches, cooking and that bacon sizzling shot with the door open! Left my body at that point 😂 What an adventure and feel all the better you shared it. Magic. Thank you. 🫶🏻
Thanks Angela...everything is better with bacon😂 Glad that you are enjoying what we are doing. We are having so much fun exploring this amazing place❤️
It’s great. Enjoy!
Hi. Can you say where you bought the fly screen for the sliding window? Really enjoying your videos particularly now we've just bought a campervan. Thank you for the inspiration, trips and great ideas/tips.
We got them from CSI parts on Facebook years ago. They have a link on Facebook to their website. The product is very well engineered, secure when in place and does the job of letting air in and bugs out! Thanks for the comment. We are glad that you enjoy. 👍
Looks like you're having a great time and it's enjoyable to watch your adventures! It's very beautiful.
Thanks Graham- we have had a wonderful time exploring this amazing part of the world. Glad that you are enjoying. Many thanks for the comment.👍
Fantastic, great tip re the overnight stop over at the Kelpies. I need to check out if a sog friendly cabin is possible on the ferry ⛴️ 🚐😀❤️ xx
There are dog friendly cabins on the ship, but be aware, like on most boats the cabins are limited in number and book out very quickly. Dog owners confirmed this on all of our crossing. Good luck with your plans👍
@@earlyretirementwanderlust thanks, we will have a mega planning process once we retire and decide when we want to travel.😀
Thanks for the review really helpful. Can I ask, can you use the high pressure version (canister gas) with a low pressure hose? I would like to be able to use a canister or gas bottle dependant on location.
Hi Emma, not sure at all about this. Please check on the Cadac Website for further information. Sorry we couldn't help out.
@@earlyretirementwanderlust many thanks for the reply. I'll let you know if they respond to me.
25,000 Puffins! Jackie you must have been in euphoria! To hear them singing and to be so relatively close to them - what a beautiful trip!
Oh I was! TBH most of them were a distance away, but the ones hoping around me in the sunny evening are the ones I will remember most fondly. Their groaning little voices warms my heart❤️
Whow!! What a beautiful combination of nature, culture, making of headstands (well done Jacky) and beating a dissapointing walking experience with humor & honesty. 😂 Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks Lena- we are happy to accept that life isn't always sunshine and rainbows- and it definitely wasn't on that boggy walk 😂 Even if we are grumpy, in our hearts we know it will make the next lovely experience even better! Thanks as always for your support. 👍
You were so lucky with the weather which up there can be awful
Thanks Peter- that's what we thought, although the locals said it was like that all the time😂😂😂 We were more pleased to get a smooth crossing on the boat- apparently it can be horrific at any time of year🤢
Superb video, we saw puffins whilst on a boat trip to the Farne Islands (Longstone) towards the end of July, but they were either on the sea or flying at low level. Your experience was wonderful. We look forward to following in your campervan steps to the Shetland islands one day soon 😀🚐❤️ xxx
Thanks Janet- it really was magical at this time of year. The Puffins combined with the weather and the long hours of daylight was wonderful. We are going to find it hard to resist a return journey in the future.
Packing cubes shout out, again 😀 We have two sets, different colours. Game changer. Try Tesco vegetarian Bolognese in a tin, brilliant for camping. There is also a wider range including meat products. Great quality and reasonable, we needed an emergency meal on our way south two weeks ago, tin of Tesco VB, a packet of Bachelor's golden vegetable dried rice, frozen peas, left over lentils, greated cheese, yummy ❤️🚐😀 Great video as ever. xxx
Thanks Janet- we have had our eyes opened to the tinned food emergency options. Great shout out for Tesco and their range. Packing cubes are seemingly becoming inevitable- thinking of investing for our Thailand backpacking trip👍 Thanks as ever for your kind words.
Beautiful, thanks so much for bringing us along. Do you think it would be OK to tent camp in the places you're showing us, it seems so deserted & tranquil. I ask, because we only have a tent at the moment & yet want to get away to Northern Scotland before the summers out.
Many of the community facilities had spaces and catered for tent campers so that would seem fine. On our travels we did see lots of tent campers dotted around, but I guess the normal "rules" of wild camping would have to be adhered to, such as leave no trace, arrive late, leave early, no campfires, avoid populated areas and housing, etc. Is there an app similar to P4N for tent campers that you could use?
Superb as ever. I did laugh when Richard admitted he was "grumpy" on the bog-trot walk (as we call them.) You are genuine travelers and not putting on a silly show for the clicks on YT like the majority do. Finding those spectacular park ups and supporting/respecting the local community is especially admirable. More Puffin envy!
Exactly my thoughts, well said 👍
Hi Fiona, many thanks for these kind words- they are very much appreciated! We do try to be honest in everything we do...and we both get grumpy once in a while😂😂
Wow, that look amazing and so fortunate with the weather. That will definitely do…..
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Very nice! Great pictures and videos! Shetland is definitely a place we will visit!
I know we caught it with an amazing weather window that definitely helps but we absolutely loved the Shetland islands - it was truly beautiful and we met some wonderful people in the communities that we visited.
Fabulous video guys. Shetland is just so beautiful and you’ve shown it to its best. Those beaches are stunning. Keep safe. Irvine & Karen.
cheers - we have definitely left a piece of our heart on the Shetlands. Looking forward to a day of catching up on your USA videos now we are home 😊 🇺🇸
@@earlyretirementwanderlust Yeah I know what you mean. It’s difficult to be watching RUclips videos etc when you’re away in the van and spending so much time creating your own videos etc. Glad you got home safely. Keep safe. Irvine & Karen.
Looks amazing... how much were the ferries please? Love the ferry Bigga.."Looks like we're gonna need a Bigga boat" (Jaws) 😂
Thanks for watching - We did a round trip of Aberdeen to Lerwick (12 hr overnight with a cabin) then Lerwick to Kirkwall on Orkney and finally Stromness to Scrabster on mainland Scotland. The total cost including the van and cabin was £610 which may seem alot but we got a lot of ferry for that price!! The island hopping on the Shetlands cost us £19.30 return to go to Unst, Yell and Fetlar which was amazing value.
@earlyretirementwanderlust thank you a trip to consider doing in my camping car and tent. A VW van one day is the dream. Keep up wirh the videos, love em!
High cost of the ferries?
We did a round trip of Aberdeen to Lerwick (12 hr overnight with a cabin) then Lerwick to Kirkwall on Orkney and finally Stromness to Scrabster on mainland Scotland. The total cost including the cabin was £610 which may seem alot but we got a lot of ferry for that price!! The island hopping on the Shetlands cost us £19.30 return to go to Unst, Yell and Fetlar which was amazing value. We were on the islands for 4 weeks so we thought it well worth it 😊
@@earlyretirementwanderlust Thank you so much for the detailed answer, much appreciated. A thank you from Sweden
You are both an inspiration and have completely revolutionised our own retirement plans. Love the channel
Thank you so much - such kind words! Hope your plans are going well 😊
You've been so lucky with the weather. Fantastic.
We had a van packed full of wet weather winter hiking gear that we never got out in the 4 weeks we were on the islands - I can't believe what a great weather window we had. We found the Orkney Islands very windy but that was fine and we had 2 days with rain which is quite remarkable!
There is no better place to visit than Scotland especially if the sun is shining.
We have visited many parts of Scotland over the past 7 years in our van, and absolutely love it - both in the sun and the howling gales of winter. We love getting out in the mountains and the stormy skies of the coast in Autumn 🚐
Interesting ! We didn't realise how many extras you can purchase for the Cadac - we have not been using ours to its full potential. Thank You
Neither did we really! We have used it as it is for the last 6 years. Cadac have very kindly sent us a Paella pan after seeing the video so we will see how we get on with it - it looks fantastic and will double up as a great big frying pan for stir fry's.
Few in the UK private sector can retire early only public sector workers have those gold plated pensions. Best of luck for the future the rest of us need to grind a little longer.
Great video, just starting at semi retirement at 52. Were going to be traveling January to April were not beach or sun lovers, spent last 20 years in Canada so snow and cold is great. Will we be limited to the road closures and snow, were hoping to do Germany, Austria, Italy . I've just started watching videos so i'm sure I will learn lots more.
Hi Angela- thanks for reaching out and welcome to the channel! If you can cope with Canadian winters, Central Europe will be nothing😂 Be aware that many of the big European passes do close in winter and become ski runs! We love our winter travel and will be out in the Alps again this winter. Have a great time planning and enjoy the retirement👍
Don’t buy the cheapest packing cubes as the zips break but we love them too. That’s a posh kettle you have there 😂. We got a collapsible kettle this year. I was a bit dubious about it but actually so far is been great ( and folds down small)
Thanks for this...there are so many options out there that look the same...it's a minefield- but we feared what you have confirmed👍 Jackie is very proud of her van kettle...we imported it personally from our last US trip😂 Imagine the security X-ray of that particular bag😂 Thanks for the comment.👍
I do this crossing 4 times a year,,its brutal in winter force 9 or 10 all the way
We had a little taster of what the crossing could be like on our second leg from Lerwick to Kirkwall! Wow - I don't think I want to imagine what it is like in the howling winter gales!
@@earlyretirementwanderlust its very rough lol
Hello! Love the channel - inspired. One thing I really want to hear about is your thoughts on the height of the van. We did 2 weeks in Ireland in a borrowed VW California which is 1.95 meters - this meant we could get under all height barriers of which there were many, and often get you to the better and quieter camping spots!! We didnt realise it at the time, but looking back we would have missed out on so many great spots has we been any higher. Obviously the trade off is less space but I would be interested to hear from you both, having travelled for so long and to so many different places. Are height barriers an issue? Thanks. Keep on travelling..😊
Hi Thanks for watching 😊 At the moment we can pretty much travel anywhere in the van as it is no bigger than a Range Rover which is great as it is our daily drive. We do not tend to visit cities which is where we come across must height restrictions. We have found places like Cornwall have many carparks height barriered which is pain if you are just visiting for the day from a campsite but the P4N app is great at highlighting carparks that you can use both for overnight or if you just want somewhere to fit the van to park in the day. In general height barriers have not been an issue to us and our van is 2.10 with the pop top roof and solar and the type of places we visit I can't see it being an issue when we swap to a slightly bigger van that will be much taller as we want the standing up height. Hope this helps a little 🚐
A great summary of your first two years of retirement. Watching your channel over the last few months has really got me thinking. I'm 54, wife is 51, but with a university-bound daughter from Sept 2025, we'll keep working to help fund her, and then go for it!
Thank you - It is amazing how quickly those university years pass by and they were actually a great transition for us to have the house to ourselves and get away for lots of weekends and holidays while we were still working with no guilt about abandoning the children 😂 Hope she enjoys her time at Uni - ours both went to Cardiff and loved it!
Great Video Very thought provoking Richard. I'm taking early retirement aswell whilst hopefully being able to do the things on my bucket list.
Thanks Mangal- it's not really a thing we tend to talk about, but there is one certainty in life that we are not going to live forever. We have loved our early retired life so far and everything that it has given us. I am sure you will love it! Many thanks for the comment. Have a great week👍R
Shetland is stunning. You got great wildlife! Have you been to Mull? Great "puffin therapy" on the trip to Lunga in the Treshnish Isles 🙂
Thanks Bryony- you can probably tell that we had a brilliant time with all the wildlife opportunities. We have been to Mull a couple of times and absolutely loved it, but not to Lunga- we will look into it as we are already thinking of the location for our Puffin fix for next year😂 Have a great week👍
Excellent summary of the book. Thank you!
Many thanks Ian- glad you enjoyed.👍