Van Miles

We decided to make the most of Kendal Calling by paying the extra for Thursday entry, and I’m so glad we did. It was also my very first music festival, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

We arrived at around 12.30pm and, to my surprise, there were no queues at all. We drove straight onto the Vehicle Frontier campsite and were pitched within minutes, making for a really relaxed start to the weekend.

One thing that immediately stood out was how much space there was between the campervans. There was plenty of room for outdoor chairs, tables and even awnings without feeling cramped. The site also had everything you needed, including portable toilets, fresh water taps, a grey waste area, a chemical toilet disposal point and even a washing-up sink, so it felt well set up for anyone staying in a campervan. Unfortunately, there were no showers on the Vehicle Frontier campsite itself, with the nearest shower block being around a 25-minute walk away.

The walk from the campsite to the festival arena took us around 25 minutes. If you don’t fancy the walk, there’s a shuttle bus running between 10.30am and 1.30am, although it’s worth knowing there’s still around a 10-minute walk from the bus drop-off point to the arena entrance. The route is across grass, stones and, depending on the weather, mud, with a steady uphill climb towards the entrance, so sensible footwear is definitely recommended.

After going through security, you arrive straight into the heart of the festival with the main stage directly in front of you. One thing I really liked was the layout. The stage sits at the bottom of a natural slope, creating a natural amphitheatre, meaning you can see the stage well whether you’re standing near the front or relaxing further back on the hill.

Around the edge of the arena were dozens of food vendors offering plenty of choice, so there was never far to walk for something to eat. Turning right from the main stage opened up another area with more bars, food stalls, children’s rides and another large tent hosting live music throughout the day.

We spent the evening watching The Kooks from near the top of the hill. It was a brilliant atmosphere, with families spread out on camping chairs and picnic blankets, children playing and even people pulling their gear around in festival trolleys. As someone attending my first ever festival, I loved how relaxed and friendly it felt. I’d expected huge crowds and chaos, but instead it felt welcoming, well organised and suitable for all ages.

At the end of the headline set, we headed back to the shuttle bus rather than walking, which made getting back to the campervan really easy after a long day.

One thing that really surprised us was just how much walking we did. By the end of our first day alone, we’d clocked up around 9 miles. Between walking to and from the campsite, exploring the arena and moving between stages, the steps soon added up. If you’re planning your first Kendal Calling, comfortable waterproof footwear is an absolute must.

After such a smooth arrival and a fantastic first evening, we knew we’d made the right decision arriving on the Thursday.

If you’re thinking about taking a campervan to Kendal Calling, I’d definitely recommend paying the extra for Thursday entry if your budget allows. It meant we avoided the main arrival rush, got settled at our own pace and could simply enjoy the festival from the moment we arrived. As a first-time festival-goer, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.

Friday – Exploring the Festival

Friday morning saw plenty more campervans arriving, but everything continued to be incredibly well organised. Traffic was managed efficiently, and despite the extra arrivals, everything seemed to flow smoothly.

We headed into the arena early to catch a band on the Calling Out Stage at around 1pm. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, with warm sunshine and dry conditions making it perfect for wandering around and exploring everything the festival had to offer.

One of my favourite areas was the woodland. The trees were decorated with colourful installations and artwork, creating a completely different atmosphere from the open festival fields. It was well worth taking the time to wander through rather than just rushing between stages

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As we explored further, I realised just how much bigger Kendal Calling is than it first appears. Beyond the Main Stage, there were several more areas to discover, including the large Parklands tent, the lively Oktoberfest area, smaller bars tucked away around the site and even more food vendors. Every corner seemed to have something different going on.

Rather than spending all day at the Main Stage, we enjoyed watching some of the smaller bands performing in the tents around the edge of the festival. They created a brilliant atmosphere and often felt much more intimate than the larger performances.

Later in the afternoon we headed back to the campervan for tea and a chance to recharge before returning to the festival in the evening. We caught the shuttle bus back into the arena and finished the night by enjoying a few more bands before ending up at the Desert Disco, which was one of the most fun and unexpected parts of the evening.

By the end of Friday, we’d covered another 10 miles on foot. Between exploring every corner of the site, walking between stages and travelling to and from the campsite, the miles soon added up. Comfortable footwear definitely became one of the most important things I’d packed!

Saturday – Music, Silent Disco and Lots of Walking

Saturday started with a quick trip off site to stock up on a few essentials. One thing we found really easy was leaving and re-entering the festival. We drove to the local Morrisons, picked up some more alcohol supplies and treated ourselves to breakfast and coffee before heading back.

As there weren’t any showers on the Vehicle Frontier campsite, we decided to make the most of being out and stopped at Tebay Services on the way back, where the showers are free to use. It was well worth it and we returned to the festival feeling refreshed and ready for another full day.

Our plan was to be back in the arena in time to watch Gabrielle on the Main Stage at 4pm. The atmosphere was fantastic and, even standing fairly close to the front, it never felt uncomfortably crowded. After Gabrielle, we stayed to watch Jamie Webster, who had the crowd singing along throughout his set.

As the evening went on, the temperature dropped quite noticeably, so I’d definitely recommend taking a warm jumper or coat into the arena, even if the day starts off warm.

Later in the evening we found ourselves taking shelter in the Soapbox venue just as Bongo’s Bingo was starting. We hadn’t planned on staying, but it turned out to be one of the funniest parts of the weekend, with everyone getting involved.

At around 11pm we headed into the woodland for the Silent Disco, and this was probably my favourite experience of the whole festival. The woodland is transformed after dark with colourful lights, creating a completely different atmosphere from the daytime. Hundreds of people were wearing headphones, singing at the top of their voices and dancing beneath the trees, with two DJs playing different music channels that you could switch between. It was such a unique experience and one I’ll definitely remember.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that we missed the last shuttle bus and ended up walking all the way back to the campervan. By the end of Saturday we’d covered another 11 miles—probably helped by all the dancing!

Over the weekend we ate from several different food vendors, including delicious Canadian cheesy chips and Japanese street food, both of which were excellent. There was an impressive variety of food available throughout the festival. Most main meals cost between £10 and £15, while drinks inside the arena were around £6.50 for a can of beer and approximately £32 for a bottle of wine, so it’s worth factoring food and drink costs into your budget before you go.

Sunday – Making the Most of the Final Day

After three busy days, we decided to have a slower start on Sunday. We spent a relaxing morning around the campervan before heading into the arena at around 3pm.

Our first stop was to watch K-Klass, who were brilliant and had everyone dancing. Afterwards, we found a spot outside the Parklands stage to sit and enjoy one of the DJs before wandering over to one of the quieter pub-style venues for a change of pace.

As the evening arrived, we made our way back to one of our favourite places from the weekend – the Desert Disco. The atmosphere was just as good as the night before, and afterwards we headed back into the illuminated woodland for one final Silent Disco.

If you’re planning to do the Silent Disco, the headphones cost £12 to hire, with a £25 refundable deposit. You keep the headphones for the whole weekend and simply return them before leaving the festival to receive your deposit back. I’d definitely recommend it – it ended up being one of my favourite experiences of the entire weekend.

The toilet facilities across the site were mainly portable toilets and, as you’d expect at a busy festival, their condition varied throughout the day. My biggest tip would be to carry a small pack of tissues and some hand gel with you at all times. There were also female urinals available, which really helped reduce queue times if you’re happy using them. I gave the compost toilets a miss, but plenty of people were using them.

After another brilliant evening, we made the walk back to the campervan one last time, adding another 10 miles to our step count. Looking back over the weekend, I was amazed at just how much walking we’d done, but every mile was worth it.

Final Thoughts

As someone attending my first ever music festival, Kendal Calling completely exceeded my expectations. I expected huge crowds, long queues and a stressful weekend, but instead found a friendly, relaxed and incredibly well-organised festival with something for everyone.

For campervan owners, the Vehicle Frontier campsite worked really well. The pitches were spacious, the facilities covered everything we needed and the shuttle bus made getting to and from the arena much easier, even if there was still a short walk at either end.

The festival itself felt much bigger than I imagined, with multiple stages, woodland experiences, great food, family areas, bars and entertainment running throughout the day and late into the night. The Silent Disco in the woodland was the standout highlight for me, closely followed by watching live music from the natural amphitheatre of the Main Stage.

My Top Tips for First-Time Kendal Calling Visitors

• Pay the extra for Thursday entry if you can – arriving early made the whole experience much more relaxed.

• Pack comfortable, waterproof footwear. We walked around 40 miles over the four days.

• Bring warm clothes for the evenings, even if the daytime forecast looks good.

• Carry tissues and hand sanitiser for the toilets.

• Budget for food and drinks, with meals generally costing £10–£15 and alcoholic drinks around £6.50 for a can of beer.

• Don’t just stick to the Main Stage. Explore the woodland, smaller venues and hidden entertainment areas—you never know what you’ll find.

Would I go again? Absolutely. For a first festival experience, Kendal Calling set the bar incredibly high. I’ll definitely be back.