Another well planned and executed trip. Tewkesbury is always a good stopover and it truly is a splendid site with well paved plots. We didn't do much here just wandered around the town.
The AndrewHayes site close to Axminster was again a lovely site but a half hour walk to the nearby pub along a busy 'rat run'. Nice views from the site. We jumped the bus to Seaton and had a relaxing walk around the town, sitting on the sea front periodically and wondering about a walk over the top to Beer, "been there, too far". On one of the days I discovered a short cut that avoided the main road that would take us to the little hamlet of Kilmington. We set off through a forest path and after half way we spotted a sign telling us no entrance. We could see some old tatty looking caravans further on so frightened of attacks from mad dogs we took the path diversion which only took us to the main road. So we back tracked to the point where we'd seen the sign . I spotted a young lad outside one of the caravans and asked if we could actually proceed on our intended route "no problems , carry straight through to Kilmington". He also reasurred us that any dogs they all had where friendly. All in all this community consisted of about 12 vans positioned in the sunny side of the pathway. We stood and chatted to some of them for about 20 minutes. The land they were on was owned by some wealthy guy who had no interest in it apart from sending in a logging team every 12 months to maintain the forest. They left the commune alone and most of the people living there seemed happy with their lot. One of them had been there over 12 years. After wishing them good luck we carried on to the New Inn at Kilmington where we had a couple of pints and a tasty ploughmans. A pub I would definitely return to. We liked the AndrewHayes site but thought it was more geared to caravans as it was a bit out of the way and a car was a better option than public transport.
Similarly the Charmouth C&CC site was way outside Charmouth and 30 minutes from a bus stop. We used the bus most days going on trips to Lyme Regis, Charmouth, West Bay and Burton Bradstock. As an out of season resort Lyme Regis seemed to tick many of the boxes. Although it gets busy there is a good selection of shops, coffee bars, pubs and restaurants. Charmouth is quieter with a lot fewer shops etc. Although West Bay had charmed us on previous visits we now found it a bit soulless and lacking something although the stretch of beach here is fantastic. Further along the village of Burton Bradstock , although small had two tasteful pub restaurants and the nearby holiday park of Freshwater seemed popular and well reviewed by the people we spoke to. We walked through the site and it did have some good facilities...a lawn terraced large outdoor swimming pool, an indoor pool, bar restaruant and access to probably the best beach in the area. We walked from Burton about a mile to the site, had a look at it and then walked along the beach to West Bay . At Freshwater beach I took a 20 minute swim in the cold water.
Arriving at West Bay we had a good hour to spare so we had a pint at a pub before bussing it back.
The weather has been really good on this trip apart from one day of rain. This made the rally field we are staying on a bit damp but vehicles could still move around on it. The rally field/ holiday site proved to be a good option as we have full use of the site facilities including electric hook up ...all for £16 compared to £29 if we were staying on one of the site pitches. Again the only drawback is the distance from the pub and bus stop...but hey Jonesy needs at least a half hour walk everyday.
As I type this the temperature is increasing. It was about 24c yesterday and today Friday it will probably hit 26 going up to a possible 30c on Sunday when we head home. Up to now another good uk staycation (but still hopeful of Spain in September)
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| Jonesy enjoying the beach at Seaton. |
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| Seaton , looking towards Beer in the distance. Both worth a holiday stay in. |
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| Lyme Regis. Managed to bag this photo when the crowds weren't so evident. |
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| Another relaxing day at Charmouth. I've noticed that we are turning into Park Bench People. Sitting for long periods on park benches talking to others, remember the song "Old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends". |
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| Charmouth, quieter than Lyme Regis with a more attractive beach area. |
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| Our pitch on the Charmouth C&CC site. Great value and plenty of space they even brought in a brand new clean portaloo onto the field so you didn't have to walk 200yds to the main toilet block. Will use again. |
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| Most people will be unfamiliar with this coastline but its ideal for swimming and ok its shingle but it never seems to be packed. Freshwater beach , Burton Bradstock. |
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| Went for my first sea swim of the year. Cold. |
