Across Dorset to Wareham

Across Dorset to Wareham

We spent most of the day at Caravan and Motorhome Solutions at Chard. They were very busy and were fitting us in when they had a chance. Eventually Sandy came and took a look at our leaky manifolds. The hot water manifold had already been sealed up with silicone but the cold water one on the right was spraying water from a crack at the end. Sandy depressured the system and left it to dry and then came back and

Down to Devon

Down to Devon

We slept well at Lotmead Farm Park although there was a steady roar of traffic from the main road. Another sunny day promised as we peeked out at 7:30am – and there were staff arriving already! We emptied the loo cassette and after breakfast we moved the van over and filled up the fresh water and emptied the grey water. I offered to pay for these essential services but that was waived away. We took back our punnet we had

Lunch with a Cousin

Lunch with a Cousin

We were up betimes this morning – helped by the cock crowing at 04:30! Had a long chat to Richard and his family who had arrived in their 29 year old Talbot Merlin last night. Turns out they are on their way to Great Yarmouth for their holidays having started out from their home near Bude in Cornwall – almost the exact reverse of our journey! I spent a bit too long talking to Richard and we did not get

On the road again

On the road again

Bertie is on his travels once again. This time the plan is to head South West to be in Plymouth by Tuesday 16th in time for British Firework Championships.  It was a rather fraught morning as we had left far too much to do to the last minute but despite all that we drove away from Wenhaston at 12:39. First stop was Bury St Edmunds to visit the EE shop as our new Sim card had not arrived. To make

Home from Huddersfield

Home from Huddersfield

Robin and Jane Bradford arrived at Huddersfield to take over Debdale from us on Saturday 2nd July. After the usual car shuffle where Robin drove me to Sowerby Bridge to collect Bertie and leave his car, we loaded up Bertie and headed off at 2:30pm for the journey home. We had an easy drive through the hills on the edge of the peak district to an over night at Riber View Cafe and Farm Shop near Matlock (Britstop 531) where

Along the Solway Firth to Cumbria and Lancashire

Along the Solway Firth to Cumbria and Lancashire

Made a good get away this morning and we were on the road at 09:30 to Caerlaverock Castle a couple of miles away. We last came here in 2000 on a family holiday to Southern Scotland. We were interested to discover Old Caerlaverock Castle this time which is the remains of the first castle here before the one that we know was built in the C12. Leaving Caerlaverock at 11:30 we chose the minor road along the Solway Firth in

From pier to pier across Scotland

From pier to pier across Scotland

This photo was actually taken last night but it highlights the connection beween our stopping place last night (just off the picture to the left) and our first visit this morning to Bonawe Furnace which this pier served in the early 19th century when Bonawe was one of the main producers of iron in the Scotland fuelled by the copious supply of local charcoal. They produced many of the canon balls fired by British ships at Trafalgar right here. I

Castles in Scotland

Castles in Scotland

We had more showers this morning to get the value from our expensive campsite stopover and we emptied grey water and filled the fresh water tank. There were two Scottish Castles on the intinerary today. The first was Crichton Castle just 13 miles up the road. This was a beauty and only a mile off the A68 which we have driven up and down many times over the last few years. I can’t understand how we have missed this gem.

Over the hills and on to Keilder

Over the hills and on to Keilder

I actually writing this on 1st June as we have had no mobile signal at the last two overnight stops. So I am writing all three days blogs on 1st June 2016. We slept very well at Boston Park Farm but were up and about by 9am. We saw someone moving around at the farm park so we decided to take David Chappel up on his offer and wandered over to say hello to the animals – rabbits, pigs, goats,

Burghley House

Burghley House

After a peaceful night at Stonea we had a slow start and were on the road a bit before 10am for the 34 mile journey to Burghley House. A grey morning with no sun and brisk northerly wind. We had a pleasant drive across the Fens past Peterborough to Burghley House. We parked up in the coach park at Burghley and had it completely to ourselves although there were many hundreds of cars parked all around. There was a big