Northumberland

On Thursday 21^st April we left home with the intention of going to Northumberland. To break the journey up we stopped one night at the Caravan Club site at Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.  This was a well positioned site for the town pubs and for good walks. We ate in The Crown and I can really recommend the food and Theakstons beer, the only negative was that  Jonesy wasn’t on his best behaviour in the pub.

The following day we went to the Camping and Caravan Club site at Dunstan Hill just outside Craster and Embleton. We had 2 great days there, it was cold but sunny and we walked about 9 miles along the coast.  We also enjoyed a pint at the Jolly Fisherman Inn at Craster.  One evening we went into Embleton and found the main pub full so we ate at the Dunstenburgh Castle Hotel where we were allowed to take Jonesy into one of the comfy lounges.  Jonesy became a bit of a celeb here with all of the staff taking an interest in him, the manager even came and sat with us for quite a while talking to and feeding Jonesy some biscuits. On the Sunday we packed up and went visiting Cragside, the National Trust estate at Rothbury.

After visiting the amazing Cragside we went to Seafield Caravan Park at Seahouses. This was another of those large commercial sites that are ideal during the low season. They did an offer  of 3 nights for the price of 2 and this included free access to the excellent leisure facilities, a training gym, sauna, steam room and 20 metre pool.  Of course we used these on two occasions.  Every day we walked  at least 8 miles along the beaches and on one day we went up to Lindisfarne and Berwick upon Tweed.

Dunstan Hill site.

Woodland walk at Dunstan Hill



Dunstanburgh castle looking south from beach.

Same beach but facing North.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Craster

Craster.

Benthall near Beadnell bay

Beach at Benthall

National Trust Cragside estate near Rothbury the house, was built in 1863  . It was the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power. Built into a rocky hillside above a forest garden of just under 1,000 acres, it was the country home of armaments manufacturer, Lord Armstrong and has been in the care of the National Trust since 1977.



National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate. The bedroom that was occupied by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1884

National Trust Cragside estate
 

National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate

National Trust Cragside estate

Bamburgh Castle and main street.

Bamburgh castle from the beach.

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne village, Holy island.

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

Lindisfarne castle (Holy Island)

 

















































3 nights at Chirk.

To introduce Jonesy to the motorhome we went to Chirk Caravan Club site for 3 nights from Sunday 13th March. The weather was dry and sunny for most of the time and we really enjoyed the excellent walks nearby. We even took Jonesy on the bus to Llangollen and on one of the days we bussed it to a midway point and returned along the canal. As the site is situated next to Chirk Castle we were able to use our National Trust membership and walk through the grounds and castle.
This was always going to be a big test for Jonesy but he came through with flying colours. He retained his excellent sleep pattern going to bed around 9pm and getting up around 6am. We took him to a 'drinkers pub' the first night where he was fairly settled just chewing beer mats. Then on another night we took him to a classier place where we had a meal with him mainly lying down in front of us...well done Jonesy.
When returning home we stopped at the NT house and grounds at Erddig. Again another excellent walk with temps soaring for this time of year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonesy and his own blog!

There was always the chance that Jonesy would take over this blog and pictures of him would take over photies of our trips so to avoid this we gave him his very own blog. Please see the link below.

http://jonesywelshie.blogspot.co.uk/

In the meantime here is our new addition.

Jonesy arrives home...".at last a bed of my own".

Autumn in the Lakes.

The long wait for our new puppy continues. We’ve decorated the ‘nursery’ under the stairs and put some child proof gates in various places. We now officially have more gates than Buckingham Palace! To stop us from talking puppies all day we headed to the Camping and Caravan Club site at Keswick. Whenever we try to get on here its always fully booked, however we booked 4 nights, arrived here Sunday 1^st November and on arrival we were given the best pitch on the site.  The only one with an uninterrupted view of the lake.  Again the weather was glorious for our entire stay.  We walked an average of 12 miles a day, ate out every night apart from one and annoyed the sales lady in an outdoor clothing shop that was closing down . With only 4 days left of the shop we went in every day, sometimes twice, and made her tempting but silly offers for some of her items, Eg waterproof breathable trousers...”5 pounds and no more”.  This was one of quite a few really enjoyable uk breaks that we’ve had this year...feel so lucky.

Camping and Caravan Club site at Keswick.

Camping and Caravan Club site at Keswick

The best pitch on the site without doubt.

Walking up Latrigg

Late afternoon view of Keswick from Latrigg.

Keswick Marina area.

We walked around the entire lake from Keswick, this is early on in the walk and on the north eastern section.

The eastern section of the lake.

Barb looking out over eastern section.

The southern section of Derwentwater.

Autumn colours just before the sun started to go down. 

View of Derwentwater from our motorhome.

On Sunday 13^th of September we left the Italian Lakes and drove down to the French Riviera. We planned on staying around Antibes but when we got there we weren’t impressed with the area.  We always imagined these type of resorts to be lovely picturesque old fishing villages and they may well be. However camping accommodation is spread along the coastline between the resorts to the extent that the coastline consists of a daisy chain of campsites, supermarkets, shopping malls , aqualands and fairgrounds.  This might be an unfair description as its based on a very brief visit but we knew there were better places so we headed to Frejus.  Frejus has its attractions but again is extremely popular and touristy but we found a site outside St Aygulf called Campsite La Plage d'Argens. A large popular and commercial site, but like I always say commercial sites out of season are often ideal for budget conscious couples who want to be occupied.  The beach here was only a short walk away, there was a cycle path running along the coast and there was an excellent swimming pool on site. Ideal for us. We cycled to St Aygulf and Frejus feeling safe on the cycle path, we also had a pleasant swim in the pool and were really starting to get into our ‘french mode’. Little did we know what was to come.

On Tuesday 15^th September we received a telephone call from Maureen my sister. She was holidaying in Cornwall with Sam & Harriet and my 98 yr old mum.   My mum had fallen and broken her hip, arm and hand was about to be operated on.  We packed up immediately and headed for Truro hospital a distance of1200 miles. We had an overnight stop at Campsite Château de l'Epervière in Gigny-sur-Saône (Saône-et-Loire) and then carried on the next day, taking the evening channel tunnel crossing and then stopping overnight at Thriftwood Holiday Park in Stansted. Next day straight to hospital.  We arrived in Truro on Thursday 17^th. We stayed just outside Truro at Chacewater park until Friday 25^thjust as an improving mum was due to be transferred back up to Southport. 

We decided to try to resurrect some of the ‘holiday’ and headed for East Devon.  We stayed a few days at Cofton Park near Sidmouth and then stayed a few days at Ladram Bay. We’d stayed at these great sites before and so didn’t really take any photographs. During that June visit we wanted to try Wood Farm in Charmouth but unfortunately it was full. So we booked Wood Farm before leaving Ladram and had 3 nights there. This is a great site that I can really recommend. For all of this stay in East Devon and Dorset the weather was amazingly warm and sunny. Whilst at Wood Farm we walked into Lyme Regis twice, Charmouth and took a bus to Bridport and West Bay.

West Bay beach where Broadchurch was filmed

West Bay beach.

Alec Hardy's house in blue on the left (part played by David Tennant.

Looking down on Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis

Wood Farm outside Charmouth.