As a young child I always had a lot of time for quirky creatures like snails and hermit crabs.
They were independent, foraged for their food and carried their home on their back. That appealed to me – and still does.
As a teenager with a passion for angling, my father’s engineering creativity produced a trailer for my bicycle that gave me a similar freedom to those misunderstood creatures and drag around everything from a bivouac, bait and a ton of tackle, to food, stove and sleeping bag.
Now the combination of age, limbs that complain a little more loudly than they once did and a simple desire for a cushier life, produce demands for serious amounts of comfort on every level for a weekend wanderer.
And there are few ways of travelling in more cosy luxury, not to mention style, than the ingeniously clever, compact and capable Volkswagen California.
Based on the Transporter T6 with prices starting at about £47,000, it is literally a home from home.
It comes in two trim levels, starting with the Beach, which offers up to seven seats and sleeping space for four. The bench seat easily folds to convert to a two-berth bed across the width of the vehicle, while a manual pop-up roof gives access to a further double bed. A fold-out table and two seriously large camping chairs are cleverly stored in the sliding door and tailgate, while an integrated awning adds extra comfort and practicality.
The California Ocean driven here replaces the SE model from the previous generation and adds an electro-hydraulic pop-up roof with in-built lighting, a kitchenette with two rings, a sizeable fridge and a useful-sized sink.
If, like me, you take it to a friendly, well-managed campsite like Hurst View, near Lymington, with its spotlessly clean washroom and shower blocks, you won’t notice the lack of a lavatory and shower that come with much larger motorhomes.
Continuing a campervan tradition which spans more than 60 years, the Volkswagen California is the only vehicle in its class to be designed, engineered and built in-house.
It comes with a choice of three 2.0-litre engines ranging in power from 102 to 204 horsepower, and there is even a 4x4 version, but speed and handling are not the point here. This is a vehicle all about creature comforts and taking life easy.
In the cabin the California gains a new upmarket dashboard with a wide centre console and car-like feel, plus the latest infotainment system, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and new multi-function display.
New fabrics, leathers and plastics enhance the premium feel and there are lovely touches like roll-out blinds for all the windows and a cigarette lighter that has been cleverly transformed into a tiny torch.
The tempting list of options fitted to the test vehicle ranged from a kitchen cupboard, wardrobe and drop-down compartment with outdoor shower connection (£258), to front and rear parking sensors (£420), and a less essential, but lovely nonetheless, leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel and gearknob at £330.
Volkswagen needless to say, takes safety seriously and the new generation California adds a host of safety, comfort and convenience features.
These include everything from a driver alert system to prevent you nodding off at the wheel, to options such as city emergency braking and adaptive cruise control for safer and more relaxed cruising.
But in a nutshell, the California delivers freedom and that is priceless.


Auto facts
Model: Volkswagen California Ocean
Price: £50,491 (as tested)
Fuel consumption (combined): 44.1mpg
Top speed: 121mph
Length: 489.2cm/192.6in
Width: 228.3cm/89.9in
Fuel tank capacity: 15.4 gallons/70 litres
CO2 emissions: 169g/km
Warranty: Three years/100,000 miles

Travel facts
Hurst View Camping and Caravan Site
Lower Pennington Lane, Pennington
Lymington, Hampshire SO41 8AL 
Tel: 01590 671648
hurstviewleisure.co.uk


The Camping and Caravanning Club
Membership from £37 offers access to 108 sites
Up to 30% savings on club site fees
Over 60s save up to 25% on pitch fees
Free technical and legal advice
Up to 10% saving on ferry crossings
campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk


Motorhome and Caravan Show 
NEC, Birmingham, October 11-16, 2016
caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk