Retro Staycations

You never forget a vintage Airstream trailer when you see it – the shiny, American classic home-on-wheels, a sleek silver bullet that offers a hip, retro take on the camping caravan. You'll see them on film sets, hotel roof-tops and chic, pop-up restaurants – and now, in a pretty rural meadow on the Isle of Wight, where Retro Staycations boasts a fleet of gleaming Airstreams. It's a beautiful sight, overlooking the downs on the UK's sunny holiday island. Surrounded by countryside on a small, working farm at the end of a no-through-road, it's a far cry from Route 66, that's for sure.

These are authentic, mid-century machines with original features, but restyled and refurbished for a spot of very cool caravanning. There are half a dozen of the babies, sleeping from two to six people, and each is different, depending on age and style. The 1949 'Humphrey' (named after cinema icon Humphrey Bogart) has a traditional wooden finish inside, for example, with classic late-1940s Formica worktops, and cupboards and drawers with Bakelite handles. The '62 'Little Eva', named after the American pop sensation who had a hit with 'The Loco-Motion' in the same year – is the largest, great for a family. She has an original Sixties cooker, enamel work surfaces and a separate bathroom area. The 1954 Safari Airstream Lucille (named after Lucille Ball of 'I Love Lucy' fame) has been carefully renovated to include UK plug sockets and USB ports as well as a safe, floor heater and other mod cons.

Beds tend to be doubles, singles and fold-outs; they've all got fully equipped mini-kitchens with fridges, hot-water showers, power and heating, and there's a heated, well-maintained toilet facility with extra showers just a short walk away.

The extra touches make the experience so much more than just a caravan holiday, whether it's retro radios inside the Airstream or the barbecues and firepits, picnic benches and parasols outside. They provide a delicious breakfast basket filled with local produce and there's a well-stocked farm shop on-site for all your essential needs. There's tons of field space, and some goal posts and other games for the kids, sheep and cattle in the nearby field and a whole bunch of visiting wildlife, from pheasants to red squirrels, plus gorgeous views from every angle. The bubbling brook that surrounds the site adds a soothing accompaniment to frequent birdsong and the whistle of the occasional passing steam train.

The site is just outside the seafront town of Ryde, with its miles of golden sand beaches – a six- or seven-minute drive in the car. It's got some fine pubs and restaurants, and independent shops. Recommendations include No64 Ryde, the Fleming Arms and The Duck. You can jump on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for a vintage day out from a different era – rattling through the glorious countryside in Victorian railway carriages.