A former London public relations executive has revealed how she traded a high-pressure career for a life of freedom in a campervan on the Devon coast, where she now spends as little as £10 for an entire weekend of adventure.
The Pandemic Pivot: Falling Out of Love with London
Suzy Greenwood, aged 39, had dedicated 15 years to building her PR career in the capital before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020. During lockdown, she stayed with family in Devon and faced a pivotal moment when considering a return to her flat in Shepherd's Bush. She realised she had "fallen out of love" with London. While her twenties in the city were great, she noticed friends settling down and found she was no longer doing the things she loved, increasingly escaping to the coast at weekends.
A Bold Move to the South Hams
Enamoured with the "beautiful" South Hams region where she had stayed at her grandparents' bed and breakfast, Suzy made a life-altering decision. She sold her two-bedroom London flat and bought the family B&B business. After initially living in an annexe for what she describes as a "slightly strange two years," she embarked on a major renovation, transforming the former bungalow into a guesthouse featuring two hot tubs.
Having invested her savings, Suzy needed an additional income stream, so she rented out the annexe. Her solution for her own accommodation was a converted Volkswagen Caddy campervan, kitted out with a laptop desk and shower. "The van itself is tiny, which is great because I can park up anywhere," she explained. "It looks like a workman's van, so I can sleep in a lay-by, or at beautiful spots overlooking the sea." She admits the solitude can sometimes place her in sketchy areas, but insists nothing terrible has happened during her travels.
A Richer Life on a Smaller Budget
The financial and personal contrast to her old life is stark. "Where I once spent maybe £200 on a fancy dinner, I can now spend £10 on a whole weekend and be having the time of my life," Suzy stated. Her low-cost adventures in her VW Caddy include trekking the entire South West Coast Path, wild swimming, and trying her hand at fishing.
Initially worried about being lonely and making friends in her thirties after the move, Suzy found her fears were unfounded. She has built a new, diverse social circle through activities like yoga, rambling, and wild swimming. While she initially worked remotely in her PR role after moving, she is now preparing to leave her corporate career behind completely to focus full-time on running her Devon guesthouse, embracing a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle.
