A student who converted a former delivery van into a 'writing retreat on wheels' so she could study in Edinburgh is set to star in a new documentary following those who live life on the road.
Diorbhail Wentworth told how she used offcuts of wood from home to turn the white Mercedes into a mobile base for her PhD which also enabled her to travel between the capital and Glasgow.
The vehicle, previously used by courier firm DPD, has been kitted out with a sink, shower and gas hob - as well as areas for sleeping and storage.
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It is now set to feature in the BBC Alba programme ‘Beatha sa Bhan,’ or ‘Vanlife,’ as part of the Trusadh series this week.
Diorbhail said: “I’d considered getting a van for a long time, probably a couple of years,
“I used to speak about it all the time with my family and friends but I’d thought it was maybe something that would happen at some point.
“When I found out I had been accepted for my PhD and I had to travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh for it.
“It was actually my mother who suggested that was the time to buy a van so that I could stay in Edinburgh during the week and go back to Glasgow when I wanted.”
After purchasing the van from the company in October 2020, Diorbhail spent months refurbishing it into a living space.
She stripped out the plywood interior and replaced it with wood planning with room to store clothing and a gas hob to cook meals.
A clever bench system, which she used as a “haven” to work on her studies, can be converted into a bed, allowing her to travel to Edinburgh and stay overnight when restrictions eased and the university reopened.
Diorbhail admitted she had been inspired by those who had undertaken similar projects posting their results online, but worked hard to keep her costs down.
“It had plywood on the sides and on the floor,” she recalled.
“I got advice from people I knew who owned vans and I asked them what they would do if they had to do it all over again. It was good to find out the mistakes others had made.
“I had a rough budget when I started and kept costs to a minimum so I have a few unusual items in the van, bits of wood from home that I used rather than buying things.
“I’m pleased with what I spent, I managed to keep the costs down.”
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She added the vehicle also made it hard to ‘stay in one place,’ crediting it with inspiring her to explore more of Scotland.
“Sometimes you require large screens with good wifi, at other times you are reading and writing, but I like doing that in the van,” she said.
“It’s like a writing retreat which can be anywhere. All I need is a laptop. I have power and a light. I have everything I need.
“I find myself doing something almost every weekend. When you’ve put so much time and energy into converting the van, you want to make the most of it.
“When the weekend comes and you feel lazy and sometimes don’t feel like doing anything, the van gives you the incentive to go out and you always feel the benefit afterwards.”
Beatha sa Bhan (Vanlife) airs on BBC ALBA on Monday 18 April at 9pm and is available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards.
