Burrs Country Park Caravan Club Site. 12th - 16th October

We took just over an hour to get to Burrs Country Park CC site.  As it was fully booked for the weekend we were surprised at the number of pitches available when we arrived at one thirty. We were fortunate enough to get one on the top rank with a clear view of the railway.  As it was a Diesel spectacular weekend this would ensure we had a good view of the trains.

We have been to this site several times before so I am not going to repeat myself, except to say it is rather good, although on the expensive side. We notice this even more now that we stay on CL sites at about £10.00 to £14.00 per night including electric.  Burrs court is £20.00 a night!
On Friday evening we met up with Cathy, Robert and the boys  for an excellent dinner. Robert is certainly an excellent Chef!

On Saturday morning Lizzie and I went down to Bury's famous market. It was really crowded, so Lizzie was wheeled round.  We spent very little, although we did admire some of the items on sale that you do not see down south.  The meat, bacon and sausages that we bought were really good.

Then it was back to camp to watch trains!

In the evening we went out with Cathy, Robert and the boys to a local restauraunt.

On the next pitch to us was this motorhome!

This was one of the biggest motor home I have ever seen on a site in the UK.  It was huge!  On each sides were 'slideouts' which made the living  space even bigger. Accompanying it was a BMW.  Both vehicles had consecutive registration numbers.

Sunday was a quiet day, spent reading and watching trains.  This was my favourite one!

I remember building Airfix models of these!

On Monday, after a proper breakfast we set off for Snake Pass, in the Nortern Peak District.  the views were spectacular.

Before we left though this steam train appeared and I was able to capture it as a back drop to our pitch.

When we reached Snake Pass we headed for Derwent water.  Lizzie took some spectacular photographs!

Derwent Water was where the Dam Busters practiced during the preparation for their famous raids.

We returned to the caravan, and then had dinner with Cathy and Rob. Superb Liver!

Overnight on the Monday it got really windy.  One of our awning poles snapped, but fortunately no other damage so that will easilly repaired!

This was our first trip out with our newly insulated heating system. I have to say that the improvement was amazing.  We actually got the loo and shower room warmer than the main part of the caravan!

We cleared up in the morning. Robert called in to say farewell, as we are unlikely to see him until the new year.
The journey home took just over 4 hours. Not bad for 190 miles towing a caravan!

Now to plan our next trip, as we hope to go away again at least twice before Christmas!

Birley Arms CL, Warton. 9th to 12th October

Well we decided that we would like to see the sites around Blackpool, particularly the Illuminations. It took us about 4 hours to drive up to Warton. The site was a small one behind the Birley Arms Hotel and pub.  Each pitch was a hard standing with grass for the awning.  Each pitch was separated from the adjacent ones by 6 foot high panel fencing. Also each pitch had its own water and electric conections. Each pitch was also supplied with a picnic bench to sit at. The hotel also had free Wi-Fi, that was available on the caravan site.
We set up and turned the power on.  It briefly flashed and then went off. I popped over to the hotel to tell them, and was told that it was only a 10amp supply, rather than the more usual 16amp one. The staff in the hotel laughed though saying it was always happening. The reasons for it only being 10amp, was because of the  people who had been leaving electric fires burning all day in their awnings.

On the Wednesday morning we decided to take a leisurely drive along the coast through Lytham to Blackpool. Spotted this Sitfire in a park there.

We drove through the Blackpool to the north of the town, where we parked up in a side street.  Then it was time to ride one of their super-duper new trams.  It cost all of £2.00 to travel 11 stops, as I was able to use my bus pass.  (there are some advantages of being an old wrinkly).

We alighted at the Tower, and then wandered along the front, marvelling at just how tacky a place could be. Now remember we were there on a Wednesday in the middle of a cold October, and the place was exceedingly busy. What it must be like at the weekend I cannot imagine.

A burger and chips for a late lunch in one of the numerous cafes, and then more wandering before visiting one of the piers, to play on the 2p slider machines.

Then another Tram ride along the front back to the car.  Each of the trams was served by a driver and two conductors.

We then found ourselves an award winning fish and chip shop for a relaxed tea, whilst we waited for it to get dark.  The lights are only on from the end of August to the 4th of November. They go on during the week at dusk until about midnight.

As 7.00pm approached we joined a queue, ready to proceed along the admiring the illuminations. It took us an hour to travel the length of the front, just under 7 miles.
The lights in places could be described as impresive, whereas in one or two places they were a bit thin. Overall though I have to say that they were impressive.

Lots of displays like this.

This was a tram, travelling along.

The lights proved difficult tophotograph, so this came from the official Blackpool website.

On Thursday we decided to go to the other side of the estuary to visit Southport. Pleasant enough drive there, but I have to say that we were rather unimpressed. A large desolate area of mud flats, and nothing else of interest along the front.  We then drove through the town, plenty of individual shops, and lots of impressive houses.  Looked like quite a wealthy place.  As it was raining though we did not stop.

Friday morning saw us clear up and set off for our next stop at Burrs Court.

Westfield Farm CL Site.+ 12th to 19th September

This is a large open CL, set behind a posh used car area and farm buildings. The site slopes gently down towards the farm buildings. There are plenty of electric points around the field and extra cables are available from the owners if yours are not long enough, so it is easy enough to find a pitch that suits. There are also plenty of leveling blocks strategically placed around the perimiter of the field. The grass is kept short and the ground drains well.

The owners of the site are friendly and welcoming. They are also on site all day working on the cars that are for sale, so security is very good.

Westfield Farm is ideally placed for visiting Bridport, Chesil Beach, Dorchester and Weymouth.

Well that is the review I put on the Caravan Club CL web site, where they ask you to review the site you have stayed on..

When we got to the site there were already 9 Caravans on site, so we made ten. They are only allowed 5 caravans by law!  Huge field though so no problem. 

There was another van, some 20 yards from us.  When they returned to the site he started on at me that they would not be able to get out as the Discovery he drove had a poor turning circle.  I pointed out that I also had a Discovery, and would have no trouble getting out.  I then pointed out, very politely that he had a motor mover so he could turn his caravan on the spot.  I also offered that when he wanted to go I would hith my Freeelander2 to his caravan, and turn it for him. So off he went quite happy.

Beautiful weather on Thursday, so we drove along the coast to West Bay.  The road along is very scenic. You  are up very high so can see for miles.

I have not been to West Bay for over 30 years, and boy!  has it changed in that time!  lots of building!

On the Friday the weather was again quite beautiful.  Clear blue skies and hot sunshine. We travelled the other way to Portland and Weymouth.  

I do not recall ever having been to Portland before, so we climbed to the top and admired the view.

Then off to Weymouth, where it was heaving, so a quick cup of char, and we went back to the caravan, where we sat outside reading for the rest of the day

Saturday was another gorgeous day, so we went to meet Mary, an ex colleague and really good friend of mine.  Lunch was taken at the Sun Pub, just outside Dorchester.  We were able to sit outside all afternoon.

Mr Grumpy cleared up on Sunday morning.  His wife spun the caravan round with the motor mover, then hitched it up to the Discovery, climbed into the drivers seat, him in the passenger seat, waved goodbye and they were off.  They were intending to drive for 4 hours without a break.  Rather them than me. 

As the weather was so beautiful, we went to West Bay, where we enjoyed Fish and Chips and people watching!

On the wayback to the caravan we went to Hardys Monument. Hardy was Admiral Nelsons side kick at Trafalgar.   The monument afforded tremendous views.

We should have come home on the Monday, but with such beautiful weather we stayed on.  We popped up the road to 'Lady Bailey caravans'  just to view new models.  The site though was very dissapointing compared to CS Caravans.

We then went to Lulworth cove, via Bovington Tank Testing area, where unfortunately there was no tank activity to view.

Lulworth was lovely though.  An excellent lunch then a short walk around the cove.

Cleared up on Tuesday morning.  Just as I was taking the Awning down we had a two minute shower, so the awning came home wet

Eastnor Park Land Rover Show.

Time for another Land Rover Show with 'Landytown'.

It took us just over an hour to reach Eastnor Park which is near Ledbury.  When we got there the ground proved to be rather muddy!  We piched up on a very steep slope, which was a bit challenging.  Our Landytown stand site was rather small for the numbers that we had to get on. During the Friday afternoon everybody else turned up, so we were able to put the Event shelter up as well. The show was open on the Saturday and the Sunday, and despite it being wet and muddy lots of people came.

Robert and Cathy arrived, and we spent a fair bit of time with them.

On the Saturday afternoon i went with Craig in his Disco 1 on the intermeadiate Off road course, where we had lots of fun and did not get stuck  We did enjoy seeing the J**p in front of us that kept getting stuck!  I will add some pictures later! He, He, He!!!!!

On the Sunday afternoon we took our Freelander2 on what was called the Scenic route! Lizzie, Zoe and Joe piled in and off we went. It was not a lot different to the intermeadiate one.  There were a few scarey moments as we waded through deep water, thick mud and ngotiated some very steep scarey slopes!   The electronics of the Freelander were able to control the vehicle perfectly though, whatever obstacle we faced. We did not get stuck and it really was great fun. Never the less  I was very relieved when we finished!

Lots of pictures to you to enjoy!

Well I hope that gives you a flavour of our off roading!

We cleared upon the Monday, and getting off the site was even more scarey than the off roading. The grass and mud was easy. The road however was a totally different kettle of fish. It was covered in very wet mud. As we drove along the caravan and the Freelander2 were sliding all over the place. What made it even worse was the road sloped to the side so we kept sliding off. Eventually though we made it.

A thoroughly excellent she that we hope to be at next year!

Walkeridge Farm, 18th to 21st of August

We arranged to go to this site as it is close to where my brother lives. as it was quite close we left at one and were on site by two. As we drove in it was like a ' Darling Buds of May ' scene. The grass was a bit long, about 4 inches. Only one Electric box, so we linked two leads together to reach it.  it was very hot.

Superb views on site over rolling countryside. Another caravan and a motor home turned up! I cooked pork tenderloin with a honey and mustard glaze.
Whilst cooking dinner a Biplane took off from the field next to us. Unfortunately there was a large hedge so we were unable to get any pictures.
Sunday was so hot. Unbelievably we had arranged a barbecue some three months ago.  Kim, Graham, Abi and Harry turned up. We had a very good afternoon.Especially as we had the site to ourselves.

After they left another caravan turned up.

Monday was overcast but very warm. We went out to a National Trust property called the Vyne. A superb country house that was once as big as Hampton Court.

Two more caravans turned up. One was pulled by a Freelander 2, but was poorly due to the driver constantly slipping the clutch.

One thing about this site was the amazing views across rolling countryside.

We cleared up on Tuesday in very warm weather so everything went away dry for once!

We will probably use this site again when we visit Kim and Graham.