The Cotswolds 10 - 19 Feb 23

Cotswold Farm Park

We didn't manage to get away in the van for some months and ill health forced us to cancel a planned trip to the Forest of Dean, so we decided to take advantage of a low price offer at the Cotswold Farm Park, near Stow on the Wold,  to see if we could watch the lambing.

Packing for this trip proved quite tricky as we'd lost the knack, but we were soon on our way on the relatively short 2 hour journey to the Cotswolds, parking up on a superb pitch on Adam Henson's farm. It was a bit chilly, so we donned coats and hats and wandered into the farm on the day that it opened for the year and had a good look around the rare breeds and lambing shed, where some sheep had already given birth. That evening we sat in the Ox Shed Restaurant for a couple of beers and a meal. It was jolly cold in the Ox Shed, but we'd had an interesting day!

Highland Coo

Spiced Rum and Ginger Beer

Acting the goat

Very fresh lamb

On Sat 11 Feb it was time to see if any of those ewes were going to drop, so back into the farm and into the lambing shed. They have it well organised, with staff explaining the whole process (duly edited for younger ears) and what to look out for as the ewes neared birthing. It was fascinating - but very chilly! We were lucky to see a few lambs being born.

In the afternoon we followed the waymarked route for a 2 mile walk around the farm before heading back to the Ox Shed for a bit of live music and a few beers.

Explaining the process 

Minutes old

Iodine

Sun 12 - after checking on the new-borns, and test-erecting a second hand awning we had just bought for a trial, we walked down the hill to the picturesque village of Kineton and the Half Way pub to see if we could watch the England v Italy Rugby match. The pub was rammed, but a nice couple made room for us at the end under the telly and explained that they were the parents of the chef who had just taken over the pub and was attempting to make a go of it. Unfortunately the pub was fully booked so we couldn't eat there, but the food looked absolutely delicious and the customers appeared very happy. We had a very pleasant afternoon watching the rugby, then walked back to the van via Adam Henson's house (the public footpath goes right past it). He very kindly pointed us in the right direction as we walked past his front window looking a bit lost.

Kineton

Excellent pub!

On Mon 13 we reluctantly left the Cotswold Farm Park and travelled to the Broadway Cackyvan and Motorhome Club site, stopping en-route in Stow on the Wold for a quick mooch around and some tasty lunch in Huffkins. Moving onwards, we quickly pitched up in Broadway and walked into the village, stopping at the Crown and Trumpet pub for a refreshing pint before heading back to the van.

Stow on the Wold

Broadway

The Crown and Trumpet

The following day we decided we would chance taking a bus into Chipping Camden. Thames Water had dug up the road outside the caravan site so we had to walk to the next bus stop. Thames Water had closed that as well! We sprinted to the next bus stop and finally caught the bus, which appeared to get lost on the way to Chipping Camden. Ah well - all part of the adventure.  Chipping Camden is a lovely little place and we had a good mooch around, followed by an excellent breakfast in the Bantam Tea Rooms. Finally we caught the bus back and retired to the pub in Broadway to recover.

Chipping Camden

We decided to extend our stay in the Cotswolds and, accordingly, we moved across to the Moreton in Marsh Caravan Site on the Wednesday. It was very busy, but we found a decent enough pitch. However, later that day, 2 families in 2 tag axle cackyvans moved in on each side and made a din until the early hours of the morning. That, and the proximity of the pitch to the very noisy A44, prompted us to see the wardens in the morning and move pitches to somewhere quieter.

Bourton on the Hill

On Thursday we caught the bus into Bourton on the Water where we blagged a free entry (Boundless membership) into the excellent Cotswold Motor Museum. We then had a good long walk to Lower and Upper Slaughter before catching the bus back. It was lovely to see a Norton Commando motorbike in the museum, which brought back happy memories of my first big bike.

Bourton on the Water

Lower Slaughter

Upper Slaughter

Cotswold Motor Museum

Norton Commando

Lower Slaughter

Fri 17 - We wandered around Moreton in Marsh, then settled down in the pub for a nice meal before heading back to the van to watch Quins lose to Gloucester.

New second-hand awning working well

On Saturday we walked up to Batsford Garden Centre for tea and cake (it was OK, but the other garden centre in Moreton is better). After 7 miles trogging cross country we had a very late lunch/early dinner then went back to van for an early pack up ready to leave in the morning.

Batsford

Sunday it was up and out, getting home just before lunch.

Yorkshire 1 - 6 Nov 22

 Another short trip in two stages. First, a couple of nights in Hipperholme to visit a dear old friend who we missed last time out and second to spend the bonfire night weekend with Leeds DA on Wetherby Racecourse.

On Tues we whizzed up to Hipperholme and parked up at the Cock of the North site which, after all the rain, was now becoming slightly soggy. "Just launch yourself from the Tarmac" said the owner "...and don't stop". The bar opened at 4 so we decided to pop across for a quick drink before dinner. We got chatting to the very friendly locals and you know how these things go...  Suffice it to say, dinner was quite late.

Getting a bit soggy

Wednesday and an early start as this site is now in the middle of a building site with the constant, irritating beep beep beep of moving plant.  We wandered down the road to spend the day visiting Peach, who we haven't seen for some time. It was great catching up and later we were able to say hello to Sarah and Emily.  In the evening, Jane and Tavis joined us for drinks and a quiz night in the Cock. I'm sure that the quizmaster cheated on a few of those questions! 

Looks like Brighouse Juniors Football Club are in distress

Thursday and it had rained quite heavily the previous day, so we were quite nervous about getting off the pitch. We needn't have worried. The van handled the wet ground very well and we were soon on our way to Wetherby Racecourse via the Tescos in Brighouse to get some fuel.  We checked in with Leeds DA and pitched up, luckily on a hard surface car park. Once settled we walked into Wetherby for a mooch around and fish and chips in the Wetherby Whaler and back in time to watch "turn" in the clubhouse - with a £1 bar!

Wetherby Racecourse

Wetherby

River Wharfe

On Friday we wandered into Wetherby once again to pick up some provisions before heading back in time to watch the Queen tribute in the clubhouse. Unfortunately, it was rammed solid in there and the sound was pretty dire, so we left fairly early on.

The 5th of November and the weather wasn't too good during the day, so we relaxed in the van, with a short visit to the Christmas Fair in the hall. Luckily the weather cleared later on, and we wandered across to the huge bonfire to watch the impressive firework display, returning to the clubhouse for pie, mushy pies and mint sauce (traditional apparently). Later there was another turn who was absolutely brilliant. We also tried a very popular liqueur which they called mini beer: Licor 43 with double cream on top. It were reet grand!

Traditional Yorkshire grub

Mini Beers

Leeds DA with 252 units parked up

On Sunday we were packed up and, as the A1 is so close to the racetrack, we were home in no time, just beating the rain to unpack.

Norfolk 18 - 23 Oct 22

 

We've been to Kelling Heath twice before in both of the old vans, so it was time for this van to experience the site. Accordingly, we packed up and drove the short, but slow, route to Kelling Heath where we pitched up miles from anybody. After a walk around this massive park to reacquaint ourselves with it, we relaxed for the evening, admiring the stunning stars over this dark skies site.

Retracing the route we followed on our previous visit, we walked into Sheringham through the National Trust property at Sheringham Park and past the North Norfolk Steam Railway. The cows in Sheringham Park are fearless. As we walked along the road a big black one decided to stand across the road, forcing us to dodge the cow pats in the grass. Lo and behold if the bugger didn't decide to do exactly the same thing on the way back! Sheringham was packed. We stopped for a very average lunch in the Two Lifeboats (it used to be a good pub - won't be going back any time soon for what was, basically, an overpriced school dinner), bought some Cromer crab, some delicious fresh bread and headed back for crab sandwiches.

Weybourne Station

Sheringham Park

Sheringham

Best seafood around

Awkward cow

North Norfolk Railway

On Thursday we had a bit of personal admin to do in the morning, and, as we had walked 11 miles the previous day, we had a bit of a relaxing day just wandering around and chilling.

The on-site cycle shop advertised a series of cycle routes around the area, so on Friday we decided to follow one of these to Cromer, stopping for a lovely cup of tea at Weybourne Station. Whoever did the pathfinding on this route deserves a well-placed kick because it was semi-impossible, with narrow footpaths just wider than the handlebars that had barbed wire and brambles on each side. It was a ridiculous route, but eventually we reached Cromer and had a nice pint in the excellent Wellington pub, followed by very expensive fish and chips by the sea, dodging a sudden downpour. We certainly didn't follow the stupid route back!

Cromer

Cromer Pier

On Saturday we walked the 3 miles or so into Holt, which is a lovely little Georgian town. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch in the Folly Tea Room and a rather nice ice cream before heading home after exploring Holt Railway station. Being the Saturday before half term the site had filled up considerably. What is very annoying was that some stupid turnip decided that we would all enjoy seeing his LED lit pole outside his motorhome. A lovely dark sky site and somebody has to ruin it by recreating Piccadilly Circus outside his van. Prat.

Holt

Liquorice and Blackcurrant - hmmm

Holt Station

Sun 23 - Rain forecast at 10 am, busy site, half term, time to go home. It heaved it down all the way back. 

In all we enjoyed our visit and will certainly go back - but not when it is busy.