We’d barely unpacked our hand luggage from Iceland before we were back on the road again. With the rest of half term stretching ahead and some sunshine on the forecast, it didn’t take long to decide: we were off on another adventure in Gandalf, our trusty VW campervan.

A Quick Escape to York

York was calling — it’s one of those cities we never get tired of exploring. We’d actually planned to visit a few weeks earlier, but our beloved pooch had suffered a stroke. Thankfully, he’s made a full recovery — what a little soldier! 🐾

Every time we go to York, we end up staying somewhere new. This time we booked into Willow Caravan Park, a Caravan and Motorhome Club CL site on the outskirts of the city. It’s a brilliant find — with electric hook-up, showers, and even a bus stop right outside. Perfect for autumn camping.

💷 Cost: £24 per night (October 2025)

🚌 Location: Wigginton Road, York YO32 2RH

🚍 Transport: Bus stop right outside (Number 40 into York city centre)

At £24 a night, it’s also a real bargain compared to most other options in York — the main C&MC Club site currently comes in at a whopping £75 per night!

Ale, Cheese & Chilled Evenings

The journey north was smooth, and by mid-afternoon we were sat outside Gandalf with an ale in hand and a baked cheese dipping bowl bubbling away — simple but perfect.

Dinner was a homemade spaghetti Bolognese from the freezer, and we spent a cosy night relaxing in our happy place, feeling very content.

Hunting Ghosts in the Garden

The next morning, we caught the number 40 bus straight from the campsite into the city centre and headed for the York Visitor Information Centre to pick up maps for the Ghosts in the Garden Trail — one of York’s most creative seasonal events.

There are 60 ghostly sculptures scattered across 27 locations, and we managed to track down about 47 of them! We started around 10:45am and wrapped up at 6pm, when the light started to fade and the ghosts became too tricky to spot.

The sculptures are hauntingly beautiful — made from mesh and wire, semi-transparent so they appear to hover in place. Each one is unique and thoughtfully linked to its surroundings: the Nurse giving an injection at the old hospital, the Judge outside the Judges Court, and many more.

The trail also led us into hidden corners of York we might never have found otherwise — peaceful courtyards, cobbled lanes, and tucked-away gardens.

💡 Tip: The trail is free and runs annually around Halloween. Start early if you want to find them all before dark!

Ghostly Pubs & Proper Yorkshire Comfort Food

Of course, no trip to York would be complete without a few pub stops! We refuelled along the way with Old Peculier ale, Yorkshire pudding turkey roast wraps, and hearty sausage and mash — proper comfort food for a crisp autumn day.

There’s something about York in October — the mix of golden leaves, gothic architecture, and ghostly goings-on makes it the perfect autumn getaway.

Final Thoughts

Our short break in York was just what we needed — relaxed, atmospheric, and full of little surprises.

The Ghosts in the Garden trail is completely free and usually runs every year around Halloween, so if you’re looking for something a bit different to do in York next autumn, we can’t recommend it enough.

Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don’t overthink — just pack up, head off, and see where the road (and Gandalf!) takes you. 🚐🍂