0:00:02 > 0:00:07Today, I take my campervan into one of the most beautiful forests in Britain.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09It's so great to be back here in the New Forest.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11I go foraging for my dinner.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13That's an absolute cracker.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16But one mistake and I'm a dead man.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19If you've got the wrong one, I'm afraid it's all over.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23'And was I about to come face to face with my worst phobia - snakes?'
0:00:23 > 0:00:28It is the sort of place you would find, unfortunately, a nice big fat adder.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30And will my tiny campervan kitchen allow me
0:00:30 > 0:00:35to make a classic French dish with a rather unusual local twist?
0:00:47 > 0:00:49So here I am,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53one man and his campervan, back on the open road. I've left my home county
0:00:53 > 0:00:55of Devon and I'm driving across Southern England
0:00:55 > 0:01:01to the beautiful New Forest that spans Hampshire and Wiltshire.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05So I've done about 146 miles since I left North Devon.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10Trouble-free miles as well, which is great. So far the old girl is doing us proud.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14You know, we've got 1,500 to go, so really anything could happen.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17But so far, so good.
0:01:17 > 0:01:23The van is doing so well, in fact, that the heater that was stuck open has managed to right itself.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26It's just as well. The weather is glorious.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Time to wind down the windows and check out the local wildlife.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36New Forest ponies. Hello, Neddy!
0:01:36 > 0:01:41I used to come here as a kid, and I just have such brilliant memories of it.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44New Forest ponies and the beautiful countryside.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47So it's really, really excellent to be back.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52The New Forest is huge.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Over 500 square kilometres.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00And the word "new" in New Forest was actually added 1,000 years ago by William the Conqueror
0:02:00 > 0:02:04who took the whole area for his private hunting ground.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10There are still deer here today, but they tend to be rather shy and remain hidden deep in the forest.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13More sociable are the famous New Forest ponies.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16They're given free rein here, unlike me.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Unfortunately, I can't pitch camp where I like.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22So I'm heading into the village of Brockenhurst.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Well, we're off to a campsite, which I'm really looking forward to seeing.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Apparently the campsites in the New Forest are pretty special.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32And I'm going to meet a guy called Gary.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35He has promised to take me foraging.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37There must be all kinds of great stuff out there.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39I'm really looking forward to it.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44The only thing is that obviously if we don't find anything, there won't be anything for tea.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47So I really hope Gary knows what he's doing.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Right, here we are. This is super.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56Wow! Nice place.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Oh, look at that van there!
0:03:03 > 0:03:06So I've arrived at the Hollands Wood campsite where,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09fingers crossed, I'll be cooking a foraged dinner for Gary.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14Loads of people think that wild camping is the only way to go
0:03:14 > 0:03:17because it's natural and among the elements and everything.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20But, when it's as nice as this, why would you not want to stay on a campsite?
0:03:20 > 0:03:23No time to enjoy the view though.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It's mid-afternoon already, and I've got my dinner to pick up.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30And I mean literally pick up.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31- Are you Gary?- Hi, Martin.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- How are you doing?- Nice to meet you. - Yeah, and you.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37- You found us all right? - Yeah, I know the forest quite well.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39- Good.- Yeah, it wasn't too difficult.
0:03:39 > 0:03:40Good stuff, good stuff.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Great van. Love it.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43- Come and have a look.- Oh, great.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46'I'm never one to miss the chance to show off my pride and joy.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Welcome to home from home.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52- I've been after one of these for years.- Have you?
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Yeah, absolutely. It's been my dream.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Everything you need is here.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02So if I step inside, I'll give you a quick tour of the van.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- So here we have a little two-ring cooker.- Excellent.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Do you think we might be able to create something nice on that?
0:04:09 > 0:04:10Oh, I'm sure you will.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13It could do with a bit of a clean, Gary.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I'm a bit embarrassed by that now I've lifted that up.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17'Moving swiftly on...'
0:04:17 > 0:04:19And also, of course, I have in here
0:04:19 > 0:04:22a full set of pressed wardrobe.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Just because you're out in the countryside, having fun
0:04:25 > 0:04:31and foraging and doing whatever you're doing, doesn't mean to say you should forget a little decorum.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33A pressed shirt is always essential!
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Talking of the foraging, I think it's time we got out into the forest
0:04:37 > 0:04:40and let's see what we can find for a bit of supper tonight, eh?
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Well, I'm hungry, so let's do it.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45So, looking suitably attired,
0:04:45 > 0:04:49Gary and I head off into the forest to find some food for tonight.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54I'm hoping to cook succulent chanterelle mushrooms to have on a bed of wild salad leaves.
0:04:54 > 0:05:00But everything will have to be foraged and there might be a bit of a problem.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02OK, so it's been quite dry recently.
0:05:02 > 0:05:08So the chances are that we might not actually have any dinner.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11We'll have salad, but the mushrooms?
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I'm afraid it is pot luck.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Now, potential foragers beware.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Most of the New Forest is National Park
0:05:20 > 0:05:22with very strict rules.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27You can pick mushrooms, but nothing else, however tempting it might look.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30There's some wild thyme growing on the side of the road.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- This?- Yeah, all of this is thyme. - We're not allowed to pick it.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37No, you're not, but if you scrunch it up, you can smell it on your fingers.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- It's wonderful.- Yeah. - That's really lovely.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41And it just grows everywhere.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45'This was torture! Beautiful, fragrant thyme and we can't pick it.'
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- Beautiful. Beautiful. - Lovely, isn't it?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Rules are rules, I won't argue with them.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But how on earth were we going to get our dinner?
0:05:53 > 0:05:57Luckily, parts of the New Forest are privately owned. And this is where,
0:05:57 > 0:06:01with the permission of the landowners, you can forage to your heart's content.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Every forager has his own special patches.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08And this one is particularly good for salad stuffs.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10So you're lucky that I'm bringing you here today.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12This is really special.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15'Forget the veg aisle at your local supermarket -
0:06:15 > 0:06:18'this field has everything you need for the perfect salad.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21'But will we be able to track it down?'
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Right then, so...
0:06:23 > 0:06:26into the salad bowl we go for our foraging adventure.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31'As I obeyed the Country Code and remembered to close the gate, Gary steamed on ahead.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33'And he had already made a discovery.'
0:06:33 > 0:06:38- We've got loads of wild camomile. - So what would you do with this, dry it out?
0:06:38 > 0:06:42No, you pick the flowers, and steep about 10 flowers in boiling water in a cup.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45You'll get the best night's sleep you've had.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50'Under Gary's trained eyes, this ordinary looking field soon came alive with edible potential.'
0:06:50 > 0:06:55Another couple of steps and look - all this little broad leaf, bright green, that's chickweed.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Show me which one I'm looking at.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Well, any of this. - This one?- This is chickweed.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02It's got a nutty freshness.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It tastes like...
0:07:04 > 0:07:06- when you've freshly mown the lawn. - Yep.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10- That's lovely. - That's the base of our salad. - OK, let's pick away.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- So pick without pulling the roots out.- OK.- You don't want it too long.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15- About that. Perfect.- OK.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19'So far, so good. But I was about to discover
0:07:19 > 0:07:24'that foraging for edible leaves can be like playing Russian Roulette.'
0:07:24 > 0:07:26What are we looking for next then?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28We can look for one of the orachs. This one here.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31'Gary shows me an innocent looking patch of orachs.'
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Looks great, like a spinach.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37- OK.- Really superb flavour, and absolutely stuffed with vitamin C.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- You can eat it raw?- You can, yeah. Great in a salad.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45But be careful - leaves like these can be deadly.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50You have to make absolutely certain with this. With your chickweed, it's not a problem.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55But with this, you have to know what you're doing. There are some deadly poisonous leaves
0:07:55 > 0:07:56that look quite similar.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00- So this one, we're pretty sure, is going to be safe?- Safe as houses.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03- It tastes good anyway. - It's a good one.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Let's see what happens later!
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I trust you. I place my life in your hands.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09Let's go on and see what else we can find.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13'Gary told me that if I had eaten a poisonous leaf, in half an hour,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17'I could be suffering with severe nausea, or at worst, organ failure.'
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Goodness me, look at the size of that!
0:08:21 > 0:08:22That is a chicken of the wood.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26When you slice a piece off, it actually tastes a bit like chicken.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28So you can eat that?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- Yes, but no.- Right, OK.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35It does contain a lot of toxins and you have to be careful.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Some people can eat it with no ill effects whatsoever.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Some people, a piece the size of your thumbnail, you will be violently sick.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43It has the same texture
0:08:43 > 0:08:46as the breast meat of chicken. Look at that.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47It really does. Look at that.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49I'm actually tempted to...
0:08:49 > 0:08:51No, you cannot eat this one raw.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53It has to be blanched, and then you can pan fry it.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55If you really want to go down that road.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I don't advise anybody to eat this mushroom.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- So the man who knows says, chicken of the woods...- Leave it alone.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Leave it alone. Fair enough. Let's move on.
0:09:05 > 0:09:11'So we had our salad leaves, but as the chicken of the woods fell foul of health and safety regulations,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14'it was time to get back in the van and head deeper into the forest
0:09:14 > 0:09:18'in search of some chanterelle mushrooms
0:09:18 > 0:09:23'for my mushrooms fried in butter, on toast and served with a foraged salad.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27'But we had to hurry, I didn't much fancy being out in the forest after sunset,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31'and of course, these cows weren't making it any easier.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35'Luckily, there was still plenty of daylight when we arrived,
0:09:35 > 0:09:42'which is just as well, as mushrooms are not the only things lurking in these woods.'
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I'm absolutely terrified of snakes.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Right. Well, yes, the forest has got a lot of snakes.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53You have got the adder, the grass snake and even the smooth snake.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57'So, three types of snake could be lying in wait for us.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02'But we still didn't have a main course for tonight's campervan dinner.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06'So it was time to conquer my fears and find those chanterelles.'
0:10:06 > 0:10:11- What are we looking for?- They won't be very big, they might be as big as that. They are bright orange.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Now here we go, what's this here?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16That is chanterelle.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19These are tiny, but they are not going to get any bigger.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22They're too dry, they're just going shrivel up
0:10:22 > 0:10:24and just die away. So we may as well take them.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29'Unlike the wild thyme we saw earlier, you are allowed to pick mushrooms in the New Forest.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31'Within reason.'
0:10:31 > 0:10:34The Forestry Commission allow you to take a kilo and a half per visit.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Well, there you go, look at that. My very first chanterelle.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40Potentially, if we find a few more of these,
0:10:40 > 0:10:44I think we might have ourselves a forager's dinner.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49'This is what I love - the dappled late afternoon sunlight,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52'birdsong, foraging for delicious chanterelle mushrooms.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55'I should have known it was too good to last!'
0:10:55 > 0:10:57A good place for chanterelles here?
0:10:57 > 0:11:02Anywhere around this moss is always a good place to look for a few chanterelles.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- Where there's a bit of shadow as well.- OK.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09'It seems where there are mushrooms, there can also be snakes.'
0:11:09 > 0:11:13If you sort of take a look inside the hole in that tree...
0:11:13 > 0:11:15What are we going to find in here?
0:11:15 > 0:11:20I'm not putting my hand in there, I have to say.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22That is one thing I'm not going to do.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27It is the sort of place you would find, unfortunately, a nice, big, fat adder.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31I will actually jump a mile, seriously, if I find one!
0:11:31 > 0:11:35If I was going to turn that log over, I would tell you to stand back,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39because that is the sort of place that is perfect for snakes.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44'Despite my terror, Gary regaled me with some horrific facts.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:48When the females come out in spring, they're full of venom and very dangerous.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51They can kill a dog and they can kill an elderly person.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I will just fake a few steps back...
0:12:01 > 0:12:04And there's no snake, that's brilliant news, look at that.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08To be honest, Gary, I would go surfing in six foot waves, I will do anything
0:12:08 > 0:12:12you ask me, but go looking for snakes...
0:12:12 > 0:12:13My heart is pounding!
0:12:15 > 0:12:19'Gary reassured me that there aren't actually that many snakes in the New Forest,
0:12:19 > 0:12:23'and they are apparently a lot more scared of us than we are of them.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26'Back to the chanterelle hunt.'
0:12:26 > 0:12:28Oh, here's one. Oh, yes!
0:12:30 > 0:12:34Looks like we're going to have dinner after all. How about that?
0:12:34 > 0:12:38I cannot wait to have that on MY piece of toast!
0:12:38 > 0:12:40THEY CHUCKLE
0:12:40 > 0:12:44'Two hours of foraging had produced plenty of mushrooms
0:12:44 > 0:12:46'and not a snake in sight.
0:12:46 > 0:12:52'But little did I realise that I was about to lead us into the path of potential danger.'
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Here we go, Gary! Look at that,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58that's nothing like any of these chanterelles. What's that?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01That is one of the amanitas - the most dangerous mushroom.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04There are so many poisonous amanitas.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08- So is this is one poisonous? - This could be the blusher.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Which is an edible amanita.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12But you cannot tell the difference between this
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and the deadly panther cap.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18If you got the wrong one, I'm afraid it's all over.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21It's as simple as that - if you get the panther cap
0:13:21 > 0:13:23mixed up with the blusher, it's the end.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26You just don't touch it. You don't pick it, you leave it where it is.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Even I couldn't tell you exactly what that is.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31That's with all your experience.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36There are chanterelles here, we know they're chanterelles - nothing we can mistake them for?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- Even the chanterelle has a lookalike.- Oh, right!
0:13:39 > 0:13:44They all do. Every single edible mushroom has a poisonous lookalike.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47'So just like the Queen and David Beckham,
0:13:47 > 0:13:51'most mushrooms have a lookalike, but these can be deadly.
0:13:51 > 0:13:57'My advice? Don't go foraging without someone like Gary.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59'We headed back in the van with our basket of delights
0:13:59 > 0:14:04'and these chanterelle mushrooms were just crying out to be slowly fried in fresh butter.'
0:14:09 > 0:14:14'But first, we had to clean them. According to Gary, you should never wash mushrooms as good as these.
0:14:14 > 0:14:20'It makes them fill up with water and can ruin the taste. So we sat there,
0:14:20 > 0:14:26'gently brushing the dirt off them whilst the ponies sauntered by.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28'The salad, of course, must be washed.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30'I decided this was a job for Gary,
0:14:30 > 0:14:36'as I had one more thing to prepare, using one of my trusty jam jars.'
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I've whipped up a quick dressing - a few chilli flakes,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41garlic, some wholegrain mustard... and some thyme in there,
0:14:41 > 0:14:47as a celebration of the fact that we found some wild thyme and weren't allowed to pick it.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Give that quick shake - balsamic,
0:14:49 > 0:14:51olive oil, a little bit of sesame oil to
0:14:51 > 0:14:54finish it off, a little bit of brown sugar, to sweeten it up a bit.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56There it is - simple, good stuff.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59That's going on the salad.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Right, now, chance to get cooking.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Chance to get back in the van, back to my lovely little kitchen.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Here we go. I've got my mushrooms.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Light the gas. Tip for butter, stick it in a jar
0:15:14 > 0:15:18and then when it gets warm, it won't melt all over
0:15:18 > 0:15:22your kitchen. And we could cook them with all kinds of stuff - herbs,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26garlic whatever, but today we'll keep it simple, we'll keep it fresh.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29And it doesn't get much fresher than this.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32From the ground to the pan in just a few hours.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35All I need now is some toast to put them on.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38So in case you thought that camper-van living was just
0:15:38 > 0:15:44two-ring cooking, we also have another method - which is our fabulous grill.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47A tiny cute little grill pan that takes two slices
0:15:47 > 0:15:51of bread, thank goodness, cos obviously I've got a guest tonight.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59And under they go. Keep my eye on them.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Meanwhile - oh!
0:16:05 > 0:16:10Look at that! Don't they just look absolute gorgeous?
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Cook's prerogative. Oh, my word.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19They are...
0:16:19 > 0:16:24sensational. And I won't use words like that very often about my food.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26That is absolutely fantastic.
0:16:26 > 0:16:31They are so delicious, they are just soft and sensational.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- Here we go, Gary.- Superb.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37You get the big one. A bit of salad.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42'Chanterelle mushrooms on toasted doorsteps with foraged leaves.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46'The salad - which could so easily have been dangerous without
0:16:46 > 0:16:50'a positive ID from Gary - was wonderfully crisp,
0:16:50 > 0:16:57'with the spiciness of the leaves complementing the nuttiness of the succulent Chanterelle mushrooms.'
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Thanks to Gary, who has just brought
0:17:01 > 0:17:06something really special to my plate today and to the van, which is being
0:17:06 > 0:17:08out in the countryside and being so comfortable with what to find
0:17:08 > 0:17:12and where to find it, where to look, all that kind of stuff.
0:17:12 > 0:17:19And we have ended up with two plates of really fantastic, really simple, absolutely delicious grub.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23So, cheers to Gary and cheers to the New Forest.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29I still don't believe there are any snakes around here. I think you're kidding me.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Look out behind you!
0:17:35 > 0:17:39'Still to come: I try my luck with milking goats.'
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Oh, she's put her foot in the bucket.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44I've barely got enough for my cornflakes.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49'And tackle a classic French recipe, putting my camper-van kitchen to the test.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07'Luckily, last night's mushrooms didn't kill me
0:18:07 > 0:18:12'and I woke up to a quite breathtaking New Forest morning.'
0:18:12 > 0:18:17First thing in the morning, after a night in the van, the most essential thing
0:18:17 > 0:18:19after a yawn and a stretch is a cup of tea.
0:18:22 > 0:18:28Also, in case you hadn't noticed, it is essential when camping,
0:18:28 > 0:18:29to have a whistling kettle.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33It is one of the cornerstones of camper-van living.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36And camper-van living without a whistling kettle...
0:18:36 > 0:18:38is not living at all.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44'After my morning cuppa, it was time to hit the road again to track down the ingredients for my next meal,
0:18:44 > 0:18:50'potatoes dauphinoise made with fresh local goat's cheese.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54'But the New Forest rush hour was in danger of making me late.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57'Time for a camper-van tip.'
0:18:57 > 0:18:59We have a cow-in-the-road situation.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03The thing to do here is to be as bold as you possibly can
0:19:03 > 0:19:06and just keep going because they will move out of the way.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10A lot of people make the mistake of sitting and waiting for the cows
0:19:10 > 0:19:12to move, but they are not going to move, why should they?
0:19:12 > 0:19:14There are sitting in the road having a nice day out.
0:19:14 > 0:19:20There's a glorious view! 'With the cows successfully avoided, it was just me and the open road again.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24'Plus a queue of cars forming behind me.'
0:19:24 > 0:19:30It is quite nice, because every day in a camper van is a bit like being a Sunday driver.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33You can't do anything else but Sunday driving.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36You just do the Sunday driving thing.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41Bom diddly-om-pom pom, diddly-om-pom-pom, diddly-om-pom-pom!
0:19:41 > 0:19:45Clear road in front of you, miles and miles of traffic behind you.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46King of the road.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54'After driving across the New Forest to the village of Sway,
0:19:54 > 0:19:58'I arrived at a farm to collect my ingredients for tonight's meal.'
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Hello, look at you.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Hello. Do you have a name?
0:20:06 > 0:20:10No? What a beautiful thing you are.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'The New Forest Goat Dairy is something of a local success story,
0:20:13 > 0:20:18'and the cheese these lovely goats produce is sold across the UK.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21'Four years ago, the owner, Clare Holmes, and her husband Jason
0:20:21 > 0:20:25quit their jobs in the marine industry for a life as goat farmers.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29We started off with three goats, just to have a bit of milk for ourselves,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33and we have got a bit chaotic now and ended up with 55.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36How old are they when you're able to milk them?
0:20:36 > 0:20:38We'll leave it 18 months.
0:20:38 > 0:20:45This year, they have a year growing up, and we call it the ASBO year because they just get up to mischief!
0:20:45 > 0:20:51- Then we put them into kid and we start milking them the following spring.- Are they quite naughty, then?
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- Do they get into trouble?- They do get into an awful lot of trouble.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57'Clare very kindly agreed to let me park up the van in her field.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02'As camper-van etiquette dictates, I had to return a favour with a favour.'
0:21:02 > 0:21:06I'd be honoured if you would allow me to cook for you this evening.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11Thank you very much, we'd love to see what you can rustle up, it'll be great.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13The pressure's on!
0:21:13 > 0:21:19'These goats are famous for their cheese so I wanted to make it my key ingredient for tonight's meal.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22'Goat's cheese dauphinoise.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26'I like to know where my food comes from so it was time for a bit of goat milking.'
0:21:26 > 0:21:29These are the working girls.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31Hello, ladies, aren't you lovely?
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Maybe not a lady, this one?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36No, this is George Clooney, our billy goat.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39George Clooney? Is he popular with the ladies?
0:21:39 > 0:21:42He's very popular and very fertile.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- Hello, George, how are you? Hello. - Shall we go in and meet the girls?
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Hello, you.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'I entered the arena brimming with confidence.'
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Ladies, who's first?
0:21:53 > 0:21:54I think it will be Violet.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Violet, come on, girl, I'm coming for you.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01'If George Clooney can do it, surely I too can work my charms on Violet.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03'What could possibly go wrong?'
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Hello, Violet, you're lovely, aren't you?
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Give her udders a little wipe. We don't want any germs.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11She's a bit feisty.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15- Am I going the right way? - Yes, that's fine.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Yeah? She's not too keen on that.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21'Not a good start, and not even a drop of milk in my bucket.'
0:22:21 > 0:22:27Put your hand on the udder and you'll work in a downward motion, starting with the first index finger.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- Good girl.- She doesn't seem to like me, does she?
0:22:31 > 0:22:36The thing is with goats, they get used to the same people milking them.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Come on, Violet. 'Violet might have been full to bursting,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42'but there was no way she was going to let me anywhere near her.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45'My dinner plans were not going well.'
0:22:45 > 0:22:47Do you know what, Violet?
0:22:47 > 0:22:54I think that we ought to find somebody else, somebody who wants to be milked.
0:22:54 > 0:23:00'Violet may have been less than enamoured but there was one goat who only had eyes for me.'
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Hello. Hello, George, how are you?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Are you friendly?
0:23:05 > 0:23:10I think Martin is being eyed up as a potential part of his harem.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Do I look like a long-haired goat?
0:23:13 > 0:23:15He finds you very attractive.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21'Having escaped the charms of George Clooney,
0:23:21 > 0:23:26'Clare took me to meet Plan B, a more compliant goat to milk named Lottie.'
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Start with your index finger and squeeze down.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Squeeze down with each of your fingers.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Nothing yet.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38'My whole credibility as a country loving soul hung in the balance.'
0:23:38 > 0:23:41Here we go. Look at that.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44I am officially now
0:23:44 > 0:23:47what you might describe as milking a goat.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51You can kind of feel
0:23:51 > 0:23:54- the teat filling up, can't you?- Yes.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58Then you can force it out. Oh, she's put her foot in the bucket.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03'Even good-natured Lottie had had enough of me.' I barely got enough for my cornflakes!
0:24:03 > 0:24:09'It was time to concede defeat and let the goats be milked by someone who knew what they were doing.'
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Stay away from the van, stay away from the van.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16'Having successfully guided the herd away from my paintwork,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20'I headed off to prepare dinner for Clare and Jason.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22'A potato classic but with a goatie twist.'
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I'm going to make goat's cheese dauphinoise.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27I make it at home, usually cook it in the oven.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Can you cook it in a camper van?
0:24:29 > 0:24:31We'll give it a go.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36'And to go with my goat's cheese treat, locally-reared rump steak,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'grilled on my trusty bucket barbecue.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44'Back to my French classic dauphinoise sauce of cream, garlic,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48'nutmeg and pepper, which is poured over my almost-cooked spuds.'
0:24:48 > 0:24:52Instead of parboiling the potatoes, I've cooked them until they're almost done.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57I'll put this under the grill and then the last thing I need is the goat's cheese.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Hi, Clare.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Hi, Martin. Here we go.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03- Great stuff. - The plain fresh cheese that we make.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07That is exactly what I was after, brilliant. Can't wait to get started.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10- Will your husband be joining us? - I'm sure he'd love to.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Excellent. I'll need another chair.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Give me half an hour and it will be ready.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- Give us a shout, thanks.- Cheers.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23I'm going to slice it as thin as I can. A little bit crumbly but it's not falling apart.
0:25:23 > 0:25:28It's got really lovely texture. That is really fresh.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31It's only been made a few days ago, and it is going to
0:25:31 > 0:25:33cook really, really well.
0:25:33 > 0:25:40'I don't have an oven in my camper van, but after 10 minutes, the grill had worked wonders.'
0:25:40 > 0:25:46Out come the potatoes, all that garlicky cream has had a chance to
0:25:46 > 0:25:48work its magic.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51On goes the goat's cheese.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55I think that is looking pretty good,
0:25:55 > 0:26:00all I have got to do now is whack the grill up and whack it back in.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05'With Clare and Jason on their way, it was time to plate up.'
0:26:05 > 0:26:09OK, so, lovely bits of juicy steak.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Handful of rocket.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Tiny drizzle of balsamic.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Nice dollop of beetroot chutney,
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and we are ready for the dauphinoise.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Hi, guys, how are you doing?
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Just finishing up.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29- Absolutely lovely.- About to plate up the dauphinoise.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Sir, a job for you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:38'The moment of truth. Will Clare and Jason think I've made good use of their award-winning cheese?'
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Here we go.
0:26:41 > 0:26:47'Rump steak and rocket salad served with goat's cheese daupninoise potatoes.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:51See if we are doing your wonderful goat's cheese justice.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56- It's amazing what you can do in a camper van. - That is the challenge, isn't it?
0:26:56 > 0:27:02To create something, favourite dishes, without having to resort to baked beans on toast.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Pull up your chairs, and let's try it out.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09'Time to taste my evening's work.'
0:27:09 > 0:27:13- It works really well with potato, doesn't it?- It works all right, doesn't it?
0:27:13 > 0:27:18The sweetness of the chutney with the sharpness of the goat's cheese.
0:27:18 > 0:27:24Absolutely. Beautiful, beautiful cheese, and it's really made this dish for me, so thank you.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- Thank you.- There you go, I'm quite pleased with that.
0:27:26 > 0:27:32Some of it is my work, of course, the rest of it is the work of Lottie, Kerry,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35and of course none of it would be possible without our George.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Here's to curious George and...
0:27:40 > 0:27:44camper-van goat's cheese dauphinoise.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Thank you very much, I've had a really great time.
0:27:46 > 0:27:53'The moon was out, it was getting late and I was exhausted, but the kids were still wide awake.'
0:27:53 > 0:27:56- Hello, you guys! - What are you up to?
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Shouldn't you lot be in bed? Eh?
0:28:02 > 0:28:06'Next time, I take a camper-van trail to the north Norfolk coast.'
0:28:06 > 0:28:12The landscape is flat and big and wide with the most enormous skies.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15'I'll show you the best way to open a crab without all the fancy tools.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20'I have a go at roadside roulette.'
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Here's one, let's see what they've got.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24'Cooking food only from roadside stalls.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27'A camper-van gadget saves the day.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32'And I do battle with the finger-snapping main course.'
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Look at the size of those claws, they are amazing.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Ow, ow, ow, ow! Have I got a pot that's big enough?
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:58 > 0:29:01E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk