The little island of Candlewick lies somewhere off the coast of England. It has a castle, rolling hills (well, one rolling hill), lots of heather, seagulls, some rather interesting rocks, a work-in-progress chalk picture on the hillside, and, of course, beaches. Perfect, so Reginald and Blodwyn Winterbottom think for a spot of camping. With unremitting cheerfulness the couple cope with the eccentricities of the island inhabitants. These include the amorous ninety-year-old Baron with his penchant for naturism, Hephzibah Fidget the painted lady of the local pub who is intent on adding a new dimension to the term "merry widow", Milligan Shovel, wild-eyed priest of the island who weekly harangues his congregation for their sinful waywardness and who is determined to exorcise the evil spirit he just knows is haunting one of his parishioners and whom he is convinced has it in for him, and Hieronymus Hubbard, secretary to His Lordship whose job is to track down an heir to the baronetcy as soon as possible. In the face of some indifference and a great deal of outright hostility, the ghost, what appear to be vampires, and quite possibly a lost Yeti, it would seem that any hopes the Winterbottom's may have of enjoying a peaceful holiday are doomed.