Pierre

About the area: Pierre is located on a quiet residential street in the charming seaside town of Whitley Bay on England's North East coast. Whitley Bay is famous for its sandy beaches, independent shops, bars, eateries and friendly locals. Just a short 20-minute hop on the metro from bustling Newcastle City Centre, the town is the perfect gateway for trips to the stunning Northumberland National Park with its rolling hills, rich history and famous dark skies. The Pennines, Lake District and Scottish borders are just a stone's throw away, making Pierre the perfect companion for your adventures in the North of England and beyond. Description of Beds: Pierre sleeps 2 adults very comfortably, with a memory foam fixed small double bed measuring 120 cm wide and 190 cm long; the fixed bed means you'll never have to make your bed at the end of the day. The sleeping area is complete with bedside shelving, dimmable lighting and USB ports for charging your devices while you sleep. Open the skylight in the evening to enjoy sleeping under the stars! Description of Seating: Pierre has 3 belted seats in the front (including the driver) all with headrests, ideal if you want to bring a friend along for the day. In the back, you'll find a comfortable lounge area which easily seats 2-3 people. A detachable wooden dining table can be found under the seating area, perfect for indoor dining. Description of Electrical Setup: Pierre has full off-grid capabilities, with 260AH of AGM batteries which can be charged via the 390W solar panel on the roof, whilst the engine is running via the DC to DC charger, or when connected to an electricity hook-up at a campsite. Under normal use, this is sufficient power to remain off-grid as long as required. Pierre is equipped with 4 USB outlets and 3 AC socket outlets which are powered by a 2000W Viktron inverter, meaning you can charge your laptop and other non-USB devices. Parking: If you drive to collect Pierre, you can leave your car parked safely on our driveway in Pierre's usual spot. If arriving by public transport, take the metro to West Monkseaton where we can arrange to collect you, or provide directions for the short walk to our street. Cooking Equipment: Pierre has everything you need to cook up a feast on your trip, including 2 internal gas hobs and a 90L fridge freezer to keep everything fresh. In the drawers you'll find frying pans and pots, 4 dinner plates, 2 bowls, 2 mugs, 2 cups, a chopping board, cheese grater, colander and toaster, cutlery for 4 and all other large utensils including sharp knives, a tin opener and bottle opener. Pierre comes with a stovetop kettle and coffee pot, as well as 2 each of wine and whisky glasses. Tea towels and washing-up equipment are also included. Water and Sanitation: Pierre comes equipped with a functional locking bathroom including an indoor hot water shower and flushing cassette toilet (to be emptied and cleaned before return.) There is a fixed sink in the kitchen area with running hot and cold water, fed from an 80L underslung freshwater tank which can be easily refilled via the external inlet. You'll also find 3 additional water canisters in the back, allowing an extra 60L of freshwater storage for those times you want to go truly off-grid. The water is heated via Pierre's trusty Truma combi boiler which uses LPG gas to provide hot water and heating at the flick of a switch, making Pierre the ideal year-round camper van. You also have the option to plug into electricity at a campsite which will give you unlimited access to hot water and heating. At the rear of the van you'll find a cold water tap with a spray nozzle for rinsing off after a day exploring in the sand and mud. Type of Heating: Pierre's Truma combi boiler can provide heating via LPG whilst off-grid, or can be easily switched over to run on electricity when you have the option to connect to power at a campsite using the van's external electricity hook-up. Conversion Story: Pierre began life as a commercial van before we found him in 2022. Having converted smaller vans ourselves previously to travel Europe and Australia, we knew that we wanted something luxurious and comfortable that we could happily spend extended periods of time in. Pierre took around 4 months to convert, using the knowledge and skills acquired on our previous builds to make Pierre the ideal all weather van. Pierre has taken us all across the UK and Europe. In 2022 we drove him all the way from the UK to Albania and in 2023 we spent several months touring the UK, ending up with a 6-week trip around the top of Scotland in Autumn. Now we're both working full time we hope that other people can enjoy Pierre as much as we have! About the Owner: As a couple, we met many years ago backpacking in South America; we both loved to travel and wanted to find a way to be able to continue to do so together but in our own home and this is how we found van life! We love the freedom of going where you want when you want and without having to plan too far in advance. Since then, we have converted and travelled in 3 different vans - each with its own personality and quirks. Pierre is by far the most luxurious van we have owned and that's how he got his name; he's French (a Peugeot) and he's fancy! One of our favourite things about Pierre is being able to come home after a long day out, have a hot shower and sit in the lounge with a cold glass of wine watching the world go by. Extra Information: Pierre has a large storage area at the back of the van where you can find an outdoor table and comfy chairs.