California Ocean Northumbria Ltd - Wooler

James W.

Myself and my wife hired the van during the summer of 2021 and had a fantastic experience. We travelled around the Scottish Highlands for 2 weeks following most of the North Coast 500 (Scotland's equivalent to Route 66) to celebrate our honeymoon. The places we visited, views we saw and food we experienced were all incredible. The van gave us the flexibility to decide where to stay on what night and at what time. The sense of freedom was amazing. Whether it was torrential rain, sunshine, battering winds or midges, the van gave us the option to choose how we wanted to experience the landscape. Whilst some could argue the same could be said for a standard car, the comfort afforded by being able to prepare a meal, plus the space to relax back with a drink and some entertainment away from the elements, is unparalleled. One of our favourite aspects (as simple as it sounds) was the ability to park up anywhere and enjoy a cup of tea and some snacks whilst staring out over some of beautiful landscapes. It's also surprising how good this is at diffusing any 'hangriness' during long journeys; particularly useful if you have kids.

Paul and Lizzie made the entire process a breeze. They whole experience is very professionally put together and the communication with them throughout was great. Prior to our departure date they invited us to visit the van and get to grips with all the various functions and features. On the day we set off, they gave us a quick refresh and had packed out the van with all the essentials to start our journey including complementary tea, coffee and milk. They also very kindly added a bottle of fizz and some chocolates to help us celebrate our honeymoon in style and a lovely card which was very thoughtful of them. On board were a number of easy to follow guides for various aspects of the van, which gave us the freedom to explore and enjoy it at our own pace. We were left completely to our own devices throughout the 2 weeks without any intrusions, which ensured we felt completely relaxed. It really felt like a home from home.

The van itself is amazing. The camper element aside, the large field of view and 4-wheel drive makes it the ideal vehicle for any adventure. Seeing so many struggle across uneven ground and tight bends in low down hatchbacks and huge motorhomes only reinforced that we had made the right decision. The van is of the highest specification which is evident in the quality of all the fixtures and fittings. The onboard fridge has lots of capacity and both the hob and tap work great for preparing simple meals. Paul and Lizzie have thought of everything when it comes to maximising the enjoyment of the experience, with handmade foam inserts to prevent all the cups, plates, etc. rattling around whilst you drive, to heavy duty bags to store dirty wellies and wetsuits until you get back to a campsite or hotel. The option of the two beds works a charm. We camped in the roof bed most nights leaving the downstairs area as a static living room, making it very easy to move between the two. On one particularly windy night, we camped in the downstairs bed which we found just as comfortable with the added bonus of having a fully stocked fridge right next to your bed! Whilst we didn't get the opportunity to use every aspect of the van's features (such as the pop-out table and chairs for outdoor use), it was great to know it could cater for every eventuality.

Overall we had a great time hiring the VW from California Ocean Northumbria. We would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to explore the great outdoors with added comfort (like glamping on wheels!). Whilst we don't have children ourselves, I can imagine it would be an unforgettable experience for young kids as well.

We are looking forward to taking it out again in future for another adventure.

Mick L.

If you’re looking for an amazing campervan hire experience, then look no further! Paul and Lizzie’s top of the range California Ocean is fully loaded with just about every option possible! From the moment we first dealt with Lizzie, the whole experience was professional, friendly and informative. The booking process is very easy, and the level of detail around additional services on offer is second to none.

The handover process was very comprehensive so don’t worry if you’re first timers (like we were), as Paul goes through everything you need to know in minute detail.

The additional benefit is their location. Only a stones throw from the beautiful Northumbrian coastline. Lizzie also recommended some great places to stay and restaurants to visit. We ate at The Joiners Arms, at Newton by the Sea, which was lovely.

All in all, we couldn’t fault the whole experience. So much so, we’ve just placed an order for one ourselves!

Thanks again to Paul and Lizzie.

Clare G.

We have just returned from a 3 night break in this California Ocean and would highly recommend this company to others who may wish to try this experience too. We had never driven or stayed in a campervan before but Paul and Lizzie were warm, welcoming, informative and reassuring from the very first moment we made contact. The booking process was easy and personable and the information sent prior to the break was very helpful. The handover induction does take time but this is very necessary to ensure a full comprehension of safe use of the vehicle. The very generous welcome pack meant that all our needs were provided for. The auxiliary heater meant that despite the adverse weather we were very cosy and warm at night. We certainly have been bitten by the campervan bug!

Peter J.

Lovely van and lovely people to deal with.