12. May Hook's House Farm Robin Hood's Bay

May 2011 Hook’s House Farm, Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire

I’d read site reviews and thought this would be a good place to stay as all the reviews were good. It’s in a wonderful position, above Robin Hood’s Bay with superb views. The facilities are spotless but the field slopes a lot. The owners were on hand when we got there helping us position on big blocks and they hitched our friends' caravan up and manoeuvred it for them so it wasn’t a problem. The problem was the high winds which disturbed sleep and we didn’t even take the bikes off the rack.



sheltering from the wind- with added tequila



The walks around here are super with the coastal walk to Whitby nearby and a disused railway line and cycleway close though downhill. In true pioneering spirit, we walked down over the fields into Robin Hood’s Bay to check out the hostelries and got a breathless on the way back up. We also went into the Fylingdale Arms, ( turn left at the bottom of the field) for really nice food and beer but didn’t get so breathless on the way back as it was only two fields down and not right down the steep slope into the village. The bus stops outside about every half hour so we went into Whitby for fish and chips in Mr Chips- always a highlight of a trip there though everyone has their favourite chippie in Whitby.
We managed a barbecue despite the wind but I felt so sorry for people trying to put up tents there. It seemed that tents were pitched furthest away from the facilities too but the owners had put a kettle and microwave into the campsite kitchen but it still looked a long walk up the field to go to the loo and wash up.

We had a great time here and in Northumberland with our friends Tom and Lucille. However, despite the fabulous views, I don’t think Pete and I will be returning, as there are other  sites near Whitby which are more motorhome friendly.

Whitby

Robin Hood's Bay

Whitby

11. May River Breamish , Powburn, Northumberland

May 2011 River Breamish Caravan Club site, Powburn, Northumberland

About an hour’s drive from Newcastle, my hometown, this site is wonderful. It’s got a great ‘away from it all’ feel though I wouldn’t say it was completely peaceful because of all the bird noise. There are low flying geese coming from the old quarries nearby and so many other sorts of birds. (There are also low flying RAF planes too) There’s an abundance of wild life- it’s not every site where you can see a hare calmly lolloping about  and the nature walk by the river Breamish  has pheasants and rabbits and you feel as if you are miles from anywhere when you’re walking there. There’s a pub in Powburn about a mile away but it’s a nice walk and a well-stocked Londis supermarket and garage about half a mile from the site if you need newspapers or shopping. You’re in the National Park there and the scenery is fantastic- I am a bit biased- but you can cycle and walk the Breamish valley, the Cheviots, go to Alnwick and the coast and castles of Northumberland from here. We were lucky with the weather and the sea looked so blue, you could feel like swimming in it (but only if you wanted hypothermia!)  We bought kippers in Craster and had envious looks from other campers as we cooked them outside for breakfast. We had friends staying with us in their caravan so we had trips out with them to Berwick and along the coast. We spent time in Alnwick – a super little place for poking about shops though we didn’t go into the castle or Alnwick gardens….the price was a bit off putting. Alnwick castle is magnificent however and a good view can be had from down by the river. The castles of Northumberland are well worth visiting, even if you don’t go inside them  and we went to Dunstanburgh and  Bamburgh . You can get a boat trip out to the Farne islands from Seahouses but we’ve done that before and also go to Holy Island ( check the tide tables first)
 
.

River Breamish

We were so lucky- we saw a lamb being born. The black face ewe is helping the mother clean it.

Where we saw the lamb- and talked to the shepherd

Alnwick Castle

Farne islands from Seahouses

Bamburgh Castle



A well earned rest after cycling and walking to Linhope Spout waterfall



Linhope Spout



Dunstanburgh Castle







Seahouses

                                                    



This is a video of the sheep cleaning the new born lamb- isn't nature wonderful?
 ( apologies for the backgound wind noise)

10. April Oxford Camping and Caravan Club site

April 2011 Oxford Camping and Caravan Club Site

What a handy site this is. It’s on the edge of Oxford over the road from Redbridge Park and Ride and behind a Go Outdoors shop. It’s not very big and it’s grass pitches with clean though dated facilities but the proximity to Oxford is great. You can walk in to the centre along the river or cycle that way, catch a bus, walk along the main road…….it’s easy. We went to see a Greek exhibition at the Ashmolean museum and partner Pete was in his element.  We’ll be going back to spend more time in the galleries and museums. The Go Outdoors shop was very convenient but we didn’t buy anything- just looked to see what we liked then checked the prices online to order later. We cycled to Iffley along the canal, found the Prince of Wales pub and sat in the sunshine. Another bonus with this site is the pub down the road, The Duke Of Monmouth, which is very welcoming with good food served at  tables with  tablecloths............It’s worth noting that you can go in the Ashmolean for free and it has a wonderful sun terrace for coffee or lunch.

where's my bike? .........oh, I remember.....I came on the bus!



pub stop



9. April Ayr Park, St Ives, Cornwall

April 2011 Ayr Park St. Ives Cornwall

We came here last year for a few days and had such good weather and such a good time, we thought we should repeat it. I’ve read site reviews for Ayr Park which say it isn’t worth the expense but to  us it’s money well spent. The views are astonishing and it’s so close to the town centre – downhill ten mins, back a bit longer….. and if you wanted those views from a hotel or B and B it would cost such a lot. Okay, you get a bit spoiled if you have a service pitch where you can drain your water, hook up and have water, and no-one really needs fabulous loos and showers with hairdryers and underfloor heating but it’s nice to have a bit of luxury now and again. We got the train to Penzance and had a day out there, went with friends to the gardens at Trebah, had a day out around Helford and ate loads of pasties.

This is the view from our pitch. The walks from the site along the coast to Zennor are stunning, even if you only walk a little way to Clodgy Point and watch the seabirds and the waves. I could go on about the attraction of St. Ives but there are better places to read about those than here. It’s a charming place and the light is amazing- ‘nuff said (except that we had fantastic weather again and we extended our stay!)

trip planning with friend Dawn

evening light

glass windbreaks

   

8. Broad Park Caravan Club, Modbury , Devon

April 2011 Broad Park Caravan Club site near Modbury, Devon

We’ve been here before as it’s near Modbury and relatives. It’s a lovely site, well tended and typical Caravan Club standard. It's very quiet with good facilities. The drawback for motor homers is that it’s about a mile and half from Modbury along a narrow lane which isn’t good for walking. It’s uphill on the way back too which isn’t great for cycling though this is when my power bike Windsor comes into it’s own!
After a meal and some good real ale in the White Hart in Modbury  (where the food is really good and the landlord is super but sadly there’s nowhere near to park a motorhome) we did a rather unsteady cycle back to the site.

delivering flowers for mother in law.

7. April 2011 Tongue End CL near Okehampton

April 2011 Tongue End, Okehampton , Devon

This is a Caravan Club CL near Okehampton just off the A30 so it would make a good stopover. It's  a lovely grassy field, slightly sloping with views over to Belstone and the moor. It's run by a charming gentleman who welcomed us and showed us the tap and emptying point. We chose this because of it's proximity to Sampford Courtenay where we have relatives and there's absolutely nowhere to park the van as the only place is the pub car park with an unfriendly landlord. The CL  is £6 a night with an electric meter taking £1 coins- brilliant!
We were able to cycle from here to Sampford Courtenay  and they lent us some better front bike lights to cycle back to the site with- made my life a lot easier……..


view towards Belstone



laid back

6. An overnight in Overseal , Derbyshire

April 2011 Robin Hood Inn, Overseal Derbyshire

This pub is mentioned as a motorhome stopover however it had been taken over by someone else in January. When we went in - small car park so no large motor homes possible- they hadn't heard of motorhome stopovers, didn't do meals but were quite happy for us to park and pointed us in the direction of two chip shops and another pub that did food. We walked the mile or so to the other pub only to find out it stopped serving at 7pm. The barman recommended the chip shop nearest to the Robin Hood so we went there and got whale and chips! We shared the chips but even so there were too many and the fish was huge! They were delicious. We had a quiet night but were woken early by the people who stay bed and breakfast in the pub going off to work very early. We set off for Devon

5. March 2011 RAF Wickenby and Norwich

March 2011 RAF Wickenby , Lincs (www.rafwmm.flyer.co.uk)

My Dad, Bill Ruddick, was in 626 Squadron of the RAF and he flew as a flight engineer in Lancaster Bombers out of RAF Wickenby in Lincolnshire between June and September 1944. As it was his 90th birthday on 12th March, we decided to take him to the museum there so he could donate some artefacts. We thought we'd go in the motorhome- so handy for travelling. We didn't have to stop to find loos or buy cups of tea.
Dad last flew into RAF Wickenby when he was 80 as a kind friend took him for a flight there. This time we stopped the motorhome at 'Icarus'- the Wickenby memorial to those fallen. It was very emotional for Dad. As we stood, paying respects, local pilots were taking off and landing and doing acrobatics- one flew directly at us- upside down! What a fly past!   
We then went up to the Control Tower, which was the same building as in 1944. There's a cafe on the ground floor frequented by pilots and people going to the museum.  We were met by two volunteers who run the museum as I'd arranged it beforehand and they were so kind to Dad, they really made his day.
There's so much more to see in the museum than when we were last there. There are fascinating things to see that I'd only read about in Dad's life story that, at 90, he's still in the process of writing. He's computer literate; starting at age 80, he's learnt to use the computer and internet, has a web cam and 'flies' Lancasters on his Flight Simulator. I only hope that I'm still learning to do new things when I get to his age. He gave his flying suit and other things to the volunteers and had a good old 'chin wag'- it was so good for him to have his stories appreciated by people who know and understand what he and his colleagues went through. I got to see for myself the compasses made by cutting uniform buttons off and putting one on top of the other, the flying boots that became ordinary boots by cutting the tops off (if you were unlucky enough to get shot down in enemy territory, boots were one thing that gave away your identity), the escape kits with rice paper maps in and lots more.
It's a good place to visit if you're in the area and if you're interested in RAF history, there are so many airfields around. We'd previously been to East Kirby, where there is a restored Lancaster, Just Jane. Dad went for a taxi ride in Just Jane for his 80th birthday and it was fabulous to hear the Merlin engines and see it taxi down the runway at dusk. It really brought it home to me that the last time he'd been in a Lancaster, he didn't know whether he would be returning................so many didn't.
Well, after the emotional, then the prosaic- a cup of tea and a sandwich in the motorhome then a journey to Norwich so that Dad and Mam could see their new great granddaughter, grandchildren and daughter. Fish and chips and a birthday cake with sparklers ended a great day.
 We parked the motorhome on my sister's drive- even got hook up! I wouldn't recommend it as a CL though- too close to other houses and too far from a pub...........

the memorial at RAF Wickenby

Wickenby memorial museum

the 90th birthday boy

3 February, Losehill, Castleton, Derbyshire

 February  Losehill Caravan Club site, Castleton

We got itchy feet after spending January at home so we headed off to Losehill Caravan Club site at Castleton in the Peak district. It's only an hour from home and despite the grey weather,  it cheered us up just thinking about going. Castleton is so lovely even in rotten weather - I think there's a sign in a shop in Keswick which reads  'there's no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothes' or something like that and wrapped up warmly we did a walk round the lanes behind Castleton in the rain. If only I learned from my mistakes and realised that even a short walk would make my jeans soggy
 ( the wrong clothes)........good job there's retail therapy and warm trousers available in Castleton. The rain was so heavy we had to take refuge in The George.... and again in the Castle. A couple sitting near us ordered the Sunday roast- o- it looked so good that we just had to see if it tasted as good as it looked….. it did.
We had a wet walk to Hope (The Old Hall pub and the Traveller's, then the Woodruffe Arms) then another day we walked to Hope, got a train to Edale (the Rambler’s) and walked over Harden Clough back to Castleton. It was dry but cold and luckily the Peak and The Cheshire Cheese were warm and welcoming! Losehill is a good site for walking and cycling and we really like staying there- whatever the weather. It’s a favourite.


Harden Clough with Edale in the background



Pete in Edale

                                                    

2. So where did we start?

January 2011 Burrs Country Park. Caravan Club Site , Bury, Lancs

  or to be absolutely correct , we arrived in December. We were supposed to be going to Berwick upon Tweed for the New Year but nine inches of snow there forced a change of plan and after scouring the net for somewhere that could take five vans/ caravans at short notice, we ended up driving along the cobbles to Burrs Country Park. There was still quite a bit of snow about there but the wardens had done a sterling job of snow shifting and by the time New Year's Eve arrived there were a lot of vans on the site. Fortunately the showers and loos were lovely and warm with lots of hot water, as we all got pretty muddy walking round the country park in the melting snow. Our friend's dogs had a great time. I was fascinated watching canoeists hurling themselves into the freezing waters of the river Irwell there but preferred to hurl myself into a comfy seat at the Brown Cow- the pub next to the site.( good pub grub and very welcoming).  We walked into Bury town centre (we could have caught the 476 bus which comes near to the park) It's about a mile and a half to the market and shops, market....and black pudding!!!!!!

One of the lovely things about the site is that the East Lancs railway passes the back of it. It's not noisy and it's great to see a beautiful engine steaming past though diesels run too. We just had to have a ride  on a steam train so we walked into Bury to catch the train through to Rawtenstall. We picked a Sunday to go which was a bit of a mistake because Rawtenstall was shut! The journey was really good though, chuffing along- especially when we realised there were no lights in our first class compartment and when we went through a tunnel it was in blackout! We decided to cut our losses and save the Rawtenstall exploration for another time so we got a diesel back to Ramsbottom- also shut- but somehow we managed to find a convenient place to wait for the next steam train back.  ( yes, it was a pub)

We had a good time- especially on New Year's Eve when we gathered in a caravan awning for a celebration barbecue- it wasn't too cold outside for the brave chefs. As 2010 came to a close, we raised our glasses to more travels in the New Year and to our good friends.


there's never too many sausages- or mugs of  mulled wine





okay- it got a bit cold...



1. Travels in a motorhome.

Maggie and Pete’s travels in 2011


My plan is to write about where we  (husband Pete and me) get to in 2011. We've done the progression from small tent, trailer tent, family caravans, and smaller caravan to motorhome over years and we're now on motorhome four. 


We have an Autotrail Apache 632  which has a fixed transverse bed and is around 6.5 metres. It's almost perfect for the sort of travels we do- a mixture of short distance and long distance, UK and Europe, all year round, with and without friends, on campsites and not.  It suits me not to have to make a bed every night and though it wasn't too much of a problem, I do like to have a quiet sprawl with a book at the bedroom end if someone else wants to watch TV..
So who are we? We're recently retired so we smile a lot and live in South Yorkshire, near a great pub.