Van Life, But Make It Middle-Earth: Meet the Couple Living in a Hobbit-Inspired Home on Wheels

When Jessica and Risi first imagined van life, it wasn’t a whimsical fantasy of winding mountain roads and endless sunsets. It was a practical, necessary shift—born from exhaustion, illness, and the high cost of simply existing in modern Britain. Today, the couple—along with their rescue dog, Heidi—travel full-time across Europe in Bilbo, a Hobbit-inspired Citroën Relay van they converted themselves.

There was no single defining moment that led Jessica and Risi to leave the 9-to-5 grind—instead, it was a gradual process shaped by a series of events and realizations.

Jessica had been working since the age of 14, continuing through university. Over time, she began to understand just how unlikely stable housing would be without family support. “I realised that with the price of housing and the fact that I couldn’t rely on family support, there was no way I could have a stable home of my own.”

Then the pandemic hit. Jessica contracted long COVID and was seriously ill for two years, unable to work much. During that time, she found solace in the outdoors and a slower, quieter pace. “What truly helped me was getting out in nature, slowing down, and removing stress from my life,” she says. That experience would become the foundation for a major lifestyle shift.

Risi had long lived minimally and frugally, and together they started planning for van life. They downsized into a tiny flat, worked multiple jobs for a year, and saved diligently—all while Jessica was still recovering. “It was quite tough,” she admits, “but it was so worth it for us in the end.”

The Build

In July 2023, they purchased Bilbo for £12,000. “It was more than we were hoping for,” Jessica says, “but because people were going crazy for vans post-COVID, it inflated prices quite a bit.” They opted for a 2016 Citroën Relay XL wheelbase with a high top—one of the largest vans you can drive on a standard UK license. It also qualifies for low-emission zones, saving them money and hassle when driving through cities.

The conversion process took five months. “Mostly because we weren’t able to afford a workshop,” Jessica explains. “We converted it in my partner’s family’s driveway. It was an exceptionally rainy summer which prolonged the process quite a bit.”

With no prior experience, they had to teach themselves everything—from electrics to carpentry. “The water system definitely took us a while to figure out,” Jessica says. “Luckily, we found another van lifer nearby who helped us a lot with the basics.”

They also built all their furniture from scratch. “The cabinets and drawers in particular were quite tricky to get right.”

Sustainability at the Core

From the start, they were determined to keep their environmental impact low. “We reused a lot of the ply lining that our van came with,” Jessica says. “We used scrap wood from the local tip for a lot of the structures. We sourced sanded-down pallet wood cladding from a seller on Etsy.”

Because of the van’s size and weight restrictions, they couldn’t use just any salvaged materials—they had to be lightweight. Hemp was chosen for insulation, and the countertops were made from reclaimed wood salvaged during house clearances. A family friend made the linen curtains and mattress covers, and other fabrics came from charity shops or small businesses. “All of our handles are vintage,” she adds, “a few of them passed down from my partner’s family.”

They even foraged for materials while traveling—natural wood for the bookshelf, archway, and food storage shelf above the sliding door, bringing nature into the very bones of the build.

The most significant investment was their electrical system, which made up nearly half the overall cost of the build. Since they wanted to be fully off-grid, having a robust setup was essential.

Life on the Road

They officially hit the road in January 2024. Since then, they’ve travelled extensively: through Spain—including Catalonia, Valencia, Andalucía, and Mallorca—across France’s Pyrenees and Alps, and into Germany, Italy, and Luxembourg. Back in the UK, they’ve explored the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye, West Wales, and the South West.

Both work part-time from the van. Jessica is an environmental campaigner and YouTuber, while Risi works as a sustainability researcher for a content creator. Good internet is essential—but only for part of the week. The rest is intentionally unplugged.

Inside Bilbo, the space is cozy, rustic, and filled with character. The high roof allows both of them to stand comfortably, and the layout includes a kitchen, composting toilet, low-water shower, and a bed that converts into a U-shaped sofa. Storage is cleverly tucked into every corner.

“We wanted Bilbo to feel like a cozy corner of Middle-earth,” Jessica says. “And honestly, we think we pulled it off. Baggins would be proud.”

Advice for Aspiring Van Lifers

Jessica has learned a lot since hitting the road and is quick to offer advice. “Everyone does van life differently, and that’s the beauty of it—you can shape this lifestyle around your wants, needs and interests.”

She also emphasizes the importance of preparing for off-grid life. “Unless you’re planning to stay mostly at campsites (which is expensive), make sure your vehicle is off-grid ready. It will make your life so much easier to have a larger water tank and battery capacity.”

Staying organized is another must. “Keep decluttering even once you’ve hit the road,” she says. “Every time we passed on possessions we didn’t use, it made our lives easier.”

Her final tip? Slow down. “If you’re doing van life full-time, slow travel is the way to go. You’ll be a lot less likely to experience travel burnout—yep, it’s a real thing.”

A Life Reclaimed

Van life hasn’t just been a change of scenery for Jessica—it’s been a turning point in her recovery. “Living in a van has definitely played a key part,” she says. “I can now work less, be outside a lot of the time, and I don’t have the stress that comes with landlords and living in an urban area.”

From the driveway where Bilbo was born to the mountain roads of Europe, this humble, handcrafted van represents far more than mobility. It’s a symbol of resilience, simplicity, and choosing to live life on their own terms.

Bilbo is a 2016 Citroën Relay with an extra-long wheelbase and a high top. Owners Jessica and Risi purchased the van for £12,000 and turned it into a beautiful house on wheels reminiscent of The Hobbit. It’s set up for off-the-grid living with an electric and water system.

You may also notice the unique brown and white color scheme. Jessica and Risi were inspired by vintage VWs and also wanted colors that would blend in with the natural environment.

The living and sleeping area of Bilbo certainly gives The Hobbit vibes. The bed is where Jessica and Risi spend most of their time because it’s a large, cozy bed at night and a comfortable U-shaped sofa during the day. Devon-based Naturalmat made the mattresses for their bed/sofa with wool, organic cotton, and coconut fiber. The hemp bedding and wool duvet on top complete the look and offer unparalleled comfort.

Old-world, mystical charm is certainly apparent throughout this house on wheels. The living area has beautifully crafted curtains on a natural wood rod hanging below overhead cabinets framed with reclaimed wood.

The overhead cabinets are the perfect foundation for spice jars cleverly secured in place by their lids. The handles on the cabinets are vintage, some of which have been handed down by family members. There is a surprising amount of storage space in this cozy van.

The kitchen is compact but fully functional and all-electric. Even after living in Bilbo for a year, Jessica and Risi never felt like they were short of space. They custom-built all the furniture for the area because of the van’s unique dimensions. While their lack of experience meant some things came out a little wonky, it all added to its Hobbit-like charm.

The cooking pots are mounted on a log wall made from fallen trees, and they even incorporated a preserved bark panel with mushrooms and moss that was created by an artist in Canada. The details in this kitchen are outstanding, including botanical tiles handmade in Poland that sit behind the heavy, large Belfast sink.

There are hints of nature everywhere you look. From sanded-down pallet wood and fallen branches to wood from torn-down houses  – every piece tells a story and has lived a life before ending up in Bilbo.

As comfortable and aesthetically pleasing as the bed is, it’s not the only drawcard in the living/sleeping area. Jessica and Risi love opening up the back doors in the morning to admire the breathtaking views. They enjoy parking by forests, oceans, and snowy mountains and fully immersing themselves in nature.

Storage is a convenient addition to the living/sleeping area. They built a bookshelf above the bed, bedside storage for camera equipment and laptops, and overhead cabinets with reclaimed wood framing. There are also hanging bags, which Jessica and Risi use for vegetables, bread, and fruit. As the walls are insulated with hemp, the van stays cool in summer and warm in winter.

Jessica and Risi enjoy a much better work-life balance now that they live in their van. They can travel slowly, take in new sights, and live affordably. They get to wake up to new, spectacular views from their bed every morning.

The archway guides you into the van. Jessica and Risi made this themselves. It sets the scene for the Hobbit-inspired interior you can’t help but love. It also pairs beautifully with the carved owls that form part of the kitchen space.

As you enter the van, you’ll find the bathroom straight ahead. Bilbo has a full bathroom with a shower and composting toilet. There is a bidet attachment to control the water flow, which means they only use 100 mL per shower compared to 11L per minute in a traditional shower. Jessica and Risi also shower in rivers and lakes.

The Nature’s Head composting toilet holds up to a month’s worth of waste before they need to empty it. They use coconut fiber and coffee grounds to accelerate decomposition and eliminate odors.

The fully equipped kitchen has plenty of storage space, including both cabinets and drawers. These are multi-purpose for everyday essentials and kitchen goods.

Everything needed to prepare meals is within easy reach. The kitchen is also home to a 50-litre fridge and freezer that can hold up to 10 days of food, an air fryer, and an induction cooktop.

Washing dishes in the kitchen is a breeze thanks to the practical water system. Bilbo has a 96-litre fresh water tank under the van that lasts them about a week. The average Brit uses 150 liters per day.

While Bilbo enjoys plenty of natural light through the rear windows, there are other lights installed that work on their pre-made electrical system from EcoFlow. This system also powers the 5-kilowatt lithium-ion battery and the kitchen appliances.

Jessica and Risi opted for a fully electric setup, rather than gas, for safety reasons and to enjoy the convenience of not having to refill propane while traveling between the UK and Europe.

Alongside being a relaxing haven, the living/bedroom is also where Jessica and Risi work. Their van has a 4G router. So, they simply find a strong signal on the two days a week they work.

Follow Jessica and Risi’s journey on the road over on Instagram and YouTube, where they share van life updates, travel tips, and behind-the-scenes moments from life in Bilbo.