Tonbridge 17- 22 Sep 26

 

Apple Acres Camp Site

Another rugby trip in this new season in National Division 1 and this time it was off to watch Cambridge play Tonbridge Juddians in Kent. We found a very nice camp site about a mile and a half outside town and on Thursday we completed the familiar route down the M11, M25 and A21 to Apple Acres Campsite. What we didn't realise was the site was on top of a mountain and it certainly wasn't a flat walk into Tonbridge.

On Thursday we wandered down the mountainside and into Tonbridge, had a mooch around and a beer in the excellent Fuggles beer Cafe, a quick curry in 'Spoons then climbed the mountain back to the van.

Apple Orchard at the end of our pitch

The track leading down to the campsite

Resident Goat

Fuggles Beer Cafe

Sunset

On Friday we decided to visit Aunt Vera, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, a relatively short bus ride from the site. When the Number 7 dropped us off in the centre of Tunbridge Wells we decided that we really ought to see the Pantiles, so we marched down the steep hill to this lovely spot and stopped for coffee and cake in The Cake Shed. It was average, overpriced and the cheeky barstewards slapped a 12.5% service charge on the bill to cover the bad service. Don't go there - it's crap. Anyway, off to Aunt Vera's, who, obviously, lives right at the very top of the hill, so up we slogged and had a delightful afternoon visiting.

The Pantiles

Bloke doing yoga on a polar bear. A very common sight in Tunbridge Wells

The Pantiles

Saturday was match day. As ever, those nutters Laura and Steve were ready for breakfast at some ridiculous hour so we marched down the mountain at speed (the buses were still infrequent as most of them were still in bed at this unearthly hour). Anyway, we met the maniacs at the brilliant Jel's Cafe for a big breakfast then on to the dreadful 'Spoons for a pint (there was nothing else open that early), a pint in Fuggles then off to the ground to watch Cambridge lose by 1 point. Great ground and friendly people though. We enjoyed our visit (apart from the result).  Popped into Waitrose for some provisions then, not wishing to climb the mountain, we caught the bus back.

Breakfast at Jel's

Tonbridge Castle

Luke Wallace

The Chairman of Juddians

Adrian Cheeleading

Packed crowds (!)

We were due to leave on Sunday, but thought "Tonbridge is close to London - let's take the opportunity to visit Mother in Chiswick as it's so close". Accordingly we asked to stay for another couple of nights and headed into town. Poor planning on our part though. Trains from Tonbridge to Charing Cross are frequent. Tubes from Charing Cross to Turnham Green are not. In fact, there were none at all. Some tit had decided to close all lines from Earls Court to Acton for the Sunday, so we had to do some emergency planning and catch a number 94 bus from Haymarket to Turnham Green. It was quite a nice journey there as we were first on and sat at the front on the top deck. It took quite a while to get to Chiswick though, but we spent a pleasant afternoon with Mum before catching the 94 back. This wasn't so good. The bus terminated at Oxford Circus and threw us off in the hell on earth. What have they done to the place? It was always touristy, but now it is threatening and intimidating. Gangs and garish rickshaw things abounded. We felt totally alien, despite being Londoners. We couldn't wait to escape and we certainly were not going to take our 'phones out to take pictures! Rather than hang around in the city that Sad Dick Khan has turned into an absolute dump, we caught the train. Our misery was compounded by finding out that there were no buses after 5 on a Sunday and we had to walk up that poxy mountain again.

The car boot sale next to the site, early on Sunday morning

Regent Street

Cheese market in Chiswick

Trafalgar Square

Monday we were exhausted. The weather was pleasant and we just dossed about relaxing for the whole day. It was bliss.

Mistletoe on the Apple Trees

Tuesday and we didn't sleep so well as we had relaxed to much on Monday. We packed up and were home by lunchtime.

Surely it must be better by rail?

Apple Acres Campsite is a lovely little site and highly recommended. We enjoyed our stay there despite the hills.

York 21-26 Aug 26

Dare to be different!

After a rather tortuous journey across the Lincolnshire Wolds, we arrived at the Yorkshire DA Temporary Holiday Site (THS) at Osbaldwick, near York. This is a small field next to the Derwent Arms  pub and we were soon settled in, quite tightly, with quite a few other campervans, motorhomes, caravans and tents. We wandered into the pub to book a Sunday dinner, then followed the greenway path into York for a mooch about and a lovely Italian meal in Pranzo Italian in Church Street. The weather "oop north" was certainly much cooler and we needed another layer of clothing.  Another thing to note was that the grass up here was green rather than the light tan desert we were used to in Cambridgeshire this summer. 

The Shambles

Oop North = foamy beer

On Saturday we woke up after a rather chilly night. The windows of the van were steamed up and we needed an extra blanket, which was a shock as we have been sleeping with just a sheet as cover for what seems like months now. After breakfast we walked along the greenway to York, had a wander around, laughing at the people dressed up for the races (apparently it was Gypsy Day), went to Bettys to buy some overpriced fat rascals then on to the Royal Oak at Goodramgate for a lovely meal in a great pub. Highly recommend this one! From there, in bright sunshine, we walked a bit of the city walls, had a look at the tat in shambles market, reprovisioned in M&S and caught the No6 bus back. However....the road was closed due to water main work so the bus was diverted. The driver told us we would go to the university then he would take us back to Osbaldwick Village. He actually diverted the bus again and took us back all the way to the pub. What a lovely driver.

Pub next to the site

River Ouse - not flooded for once

City Walls

York Minster

Guy Fawkes Birthplace

Sunday morning was bright and sunny, albeit the previous night was bloody cold again (8 degrees). We did a bit of admin then headed to the Derwent Arms for a delicious Sunday Roast. All the Campervans on this Temporary Holiday Site were carefully lined up in the centre of the field. Of course, being different (and having the door on the opposite side) we faced the opposite way to everybody else. Similarly, all campervans used to be white with grey ones a rarity. Most of the vans here were grey. Lastly, the van next to us carried a lovely couple who were parked up at the THS at Woodhall Spa. Another grey van pulled up next to us carrying a couple who actually live half a mile from us in Cambridgeshire. Who'd have thought eh? Anyway, somebody had the bright idea of catching the bus from York to Whitby the following day so we thought we would recce the mile walk to the bus stop. This we did, and walked off the massive roast dinner with a brisk, timed, walk through the pleasant housing estate.

Sunday Roast - Yorkshire Puddings in Yorkshire!

Next door here and near enough next door at home!

Monday we were up very early to catch the 840 Coastliner bus. They run these buses 4 times a day from Leeds to Whitby throughout the summer and it advertises itself at the most scenic bus ride in the UK. We got to the bus stop in good time and the bus was packed. The journey to Pickering was fairly mundane, but from there to Whitby the bus crosses the picturesque North York Moors, stopping in Goathland en route. After a 2.5 hour trip covering 50 miles we eventually arrived in Whitby, where she leapt off the bus and straight into a shoe shop to buy another pair of Birkenstocks. From there we crossed the River to TOG24 where she could buy a fleece, then climbed the 199 steps to the brewery, one of our favourite pubs. We sat outside in the warm sunshine enjoying a  couple of pints of their delicious beer before heading back to the Magpie Café for fish and chips and then joining the long queue for the bus back. Whitby was very busy with both humans and thousands of poxy dogs. It made traversing the town quite frustrating. Back on the bus for the long journey home, made longer by heavy traffic as we got near York. We were pleased to get off and stretch our legs. An adventure, but we don't think we would do it again.

North York Moors

Goathland  (Aidensfield in Heartbeat)

Goathland station (also Hogsmeade station in Harry Potter)

Whitby

Up the 199 steps to the brewery

Whitby Abbey

Magpie Fish and Chips - yum!

Tuesday was meant to be a relaxing day. we had a bit of a lie in then walked into York to reprovision, Again, it was very busy. I bought a new hat in the wonderful hat shop, we had an ice cream, bought a few bits in the shop that sells everything, got some groceries and walked back. We couldn't be bothered to cook so we went to the excellent Derwent Arms for dinner and an early night.

Yorkshire Museum

St Mary's Abbey

Wednesday was up and home, completing the journey from York to home in the same time as it took to go on the bus from Whitby to York.

In all a great trip out making the most of Temporary Holiday Sites.