Why the fuck would you want a caravan in Wales?
That’s something people say to me all the time—and honestly, it’s what I used to think before I met my wife.
We met around 18 years ago, and after a few months together, we visited her caravan in Wales. At first, I was like—what is this? Why would you have that? Weather’s shit and what are we supposed to do here? But over those 18 years, I’ve completely fallen in love with the place. We’ve bought our own caravan and now spend about 10 weeks a year here.
It’s become one of the best gifts I can give my kids. If you’ve ever thought about buying a caravan—or you’re just curious about it—this might be worth a few minutes of your time.
Where Is It?
Our caravan’s in the Gower, Swansea—honestly, it’s one of the most beautiful parts of the world.
There are a few sites like ours. I won’t tell you exactly where (just in case some weirdo gets their hands on this newsletter), but I can tell you this—it’s stunning.
We live in Surrey, so it’s a good 4–5 hour drive. But it’s worth it. Every time.
We are very lucky that my wife is a teacher and I can work from here, so every time the kids are off, its straight in the car.
The Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredible for the kids – They spend so much time outside. They’ve made great friendships here. It’s healthy for them. In a tech-driven world, this place balances things out.
- Community feel – Keep coming back to the same place and you build connections you wouldn’t get elsewhere. Proper, genuine people.
- Sense of calm – Something about being here just resets me. Nature? Simplicity? No idea—but it’s good for the soul. And way easier to keep tidy than a house, which helps the stress levels too.
- It’s bloody beautiful – We’re right next to a beach that’s genuinely world-class. Rhossili (just down the road) is regularly featured in the top 10 beaches in the world.
- Beautiful Walks – We love a good walk here. The beauty and the fact that all of them seem to lead to a lovely pub with nice Guinness is a huge bonus.
Cons
It’s not cheap – Obvs, there’s a cost involved. I’ll break that down in a sec.
The weather’s a gamble – Last week we were sunbathing (in April). Today, I nearly got blown back to England taking the bins out. You don’t come here for guaranteed sun—but we’ve still had some amazing summers.
Less flexibility – Once you’ve got a caravan, you feel like you need to use it. Our kids only went on their first all-inclusive holiday last year because we usually just come here instead. If you’ve got a shitload of cash, you can do both. That’s not us—yet.
Not ideal for your liver – Caravan life has a holiday vibe. That often equals more booze. You don’t have to drink, but most do. If you’re here for a week or two, no biggie. Six-week summer stretch? Your liver’s going to feel it. Mine does.
Not Open All Year Round – Our site is open from March 1st till late November. This is different for every site. I see this as a con as I would genuinely have Christmas dinner in the caravan.
How Much Does It Cost?
- New caravan: £40–70k (depending on size/spec)
- Site fees: £4.5k per year
- Gas & electric (10 weeks' use): ~£500/year
- Yearly pro clean: ~£300
Our site also has a rule: you have to change your van every 15 years. When you do, you’ll get around £1.5k back on your old one toward the new one.
So, quick breakdown on a £45k caravan:
Depreciation: £3k/year
Site fees: £4.5k
Cleaning & utilities: £800
= £8,300/year
Basically, it’s the cost of a family holiday a year. You will also need a few quid to kit it out, add a shed etc.
Final Thoughts
It’s not for everyone. But for us? 100% worth it.
The kids never want to leave. They’ve built solid friendships here. Their fitness and strength levels are top notch for their age—and I put a lot of that down to the time we spend here.
Not everyone can have a place like this, I know that. But if you do? You’ll never look back.
If you’ve got questions or want to know more, drop me an email—I’ll happily chat.