Travel: Loch Skeen and the Scottish Borders IF YOU could select the weather in which to experience your first time in a campervan, then I'm guessing the wettest June on record would not be your first choice. Sadly the unpredictable Scottish climate has dictated conditions for us. It did however bring out the Dunkirk spirit in us. We gamely overcame flash flooding, en route to the Bo'ness depot of Bunk Campers, where we had to collect our van, though they can pick you up from the airport if you want. If you have ever hired a van to move house, then driving the campervan is a pretty similar experience with the high vantage point giving a different perspective on familiar roads. We aren't roaming far, exploring some of the wilder parts of the Scottish Borders. The check-in process is fairly swift, with form-filling kept to a minimum. The toughest part is the hefty insurance deposit required, but it ensures no David Coulthard-style manoeuvres. Next comes the fun part, the guided tour of our luxurious home from home. It's got all mod cons, equipped with heating, electrics, a fridge, a gas cooker, a shower and a loo. Once we set off, our daughters Eve and Hope, can barely contain their excitement. Being stuck in Highland Show traffic couldn't dent their enthusiasm. A word of advice, we took far too much luggage. Pack the barest essentials possible and then chuck out half of it. Keep in mind, breadbin-sized storage compartments. As complete novices we didn't feel up to launching ourselves straight into the wilds, so book ourselves into Tibbie Shiels campsite near Moffat. We opt to take the scenic route there, skirting alongside the Talla Reservoir. There we discover sheep sauntering along the road without a care in the world, and are rewarded with breathtaking views and Victorian engineering at its best. We pass a vintage mini, with a cheerful wave, and it seems as if we have travelled back in time. When we arrive at our destination we park up, squeezing carefully into our allotted space. It isn't quite how I'd pictured our stay. I imagined the girls playing by the lochside on a balmy summer evening and us sampling some of the fine ales in the pub, but a plague of midges and even more rain stop play. Slightly despondent, we start getting ourselves set up for the night. Campervans are ergonomically tricky, you have to move things to transform chairs into sofas or beds. But once you've done it a few times, it runs like a well-oiled machine. Worn out, the girls democratically negotiate bunk bed sleeping arrangements, agreeing to take turns in the top bunk. Soon we are cosily ensconced in our berths, as the rain batters down. Light sleeper Graham does not have a good night. He wants to throw in the towel first thing the next morning. However the girls and I sleep blissfully. We are discovering a holiday in a campervan is more of an adventure that you have to stick with, trusting it will turn out good in the end. Seizing the day, we head along the edge of Loch Skeen and park up at the National Trust Grey Mare's Tail waterfall. Spirits are very much improved by a cup of tea and a biscuit, before we hit the road again making for Moffat. Here we discover the vintage mini we had seen previously, which is part of a vintage car rally. We are treated to a parade of immaculate vehicles rumbling down the high street, before we indulge in knickerbocker glories at Cafe Ariete, a must if you are in town. Next we work off some calories by pedalling on the swan boats in Station Park. As we head back to our van, we spot a full-sized Spitfire in a garden down a side street. It turns out Hugh Dowding the Battle of Britain genius was born in Moffat. Local enthusiast Dr Ian Hamish Macleod takes time to tell us how this reconstruction ended up in his garden. We have abandoned any thoughts of cutting short our break, realising that a campervan holiday is more than a journey, it's an emotional rollercoaster. I urge you to hit the road and experience it for yourselves. A 4 person delux Vista campervan costs £140 per day to hire for a minimum 7 days during high season. For further information tel: 0845 0755 843 or visit www.bunk campers.com