Travels in 2003
Travels in 2003
Monday 24 March
Travel from home to Oxford Camping and Caravanning Club Site which is situated on the southern outskirts of Oxford on Abingdon Road. I did not take a direct route to Oxford, wishing to avoid the high speeds of motorways in a motorcaravan with less than 400 miles on the clock. The route took me across northern London, through Enfield, and on to Potters Bar, St Albans and Whipsnade before turning south-west through Tring, Wendover and Watlington before turning north-west on the A4074 to Oxford. I arrived at the camp site in the early afternoon and spent the remainder of the day either shopping locally or sitting outside the van in the warm spring sunshine. Yes, it wasn't like the UK in March at all.
Tuesday 25 March
A day of cycling from the Oxford camp site. In the morning into the city centre of Oxford on a designated cycle route which runs close to the entrance of the site, returning along an alternative informal cycle route along the river bank (The Thames or Isis, take your pick). The intention in the afternoon was to cycle on the same designated cycle route in the other direction as far as Abingdon. But I discovered that this route had been recently extended as far as Didcot, and as I arrived in Abingdon fairly early in the afternoon, so I decided to continue along the route. Probably slightly too far for me for the first serious cycle ride of the year (the hills and even traffic humps seemed much steeper on the way back), but I survived. More time during the day spent soaking up the spring sunshine.
Wednesday 26 March
Return to London in the motorcaravan during the morning. This time taking a more direct route using the A41 (joining this at Aylesbury via Thame) as far as Watford then though north London via Barnet and Enfield. The dual carriageway section of the A41 gave me an opportunity to give the van a chance to travel at the legal speed limit, which it accomplished with ease.
Sunday 30 March
Travel from home to Crowborough Camping and Caravanning Club Site, situated on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex, adjacent to the recreation centre. My route took me through the Blackwall Tunnel and on through Bromley, Biggin Hill, Westerham and Edenbridge. The warm spring sunshine had brought a considerable amount of traffic out over the mid-day period during which I travelled and I encountered several traffic jams before "escaping" from South London.
Monday 31 March
Travelled out from the campsite to Bateman's, a National Trust property in East Sussex. The property had a large pleasant car park and I therefore decided to dine in the motorcaravan for lunch rather than use the NT tearooms. Continued my journey after lunch to another National Trust property in East Sussex, Bodiam Castle. I returned to Crowborough for a second night at the campsite. The weather over the last few days has remained warm and sunny, but the forecast for the following days was not good.
Tuesday 1 April
The forecast was right, cold and cloudy in the morning plus rain in the afternoon. Managed to get in a decent walk from the campsite in the morning, over parts of the Ashdown Forest and adjoining farmland. The afternoon I spent "testing" the motorcaravan heating system. I works well!
Wednesday 2 April
Returned from campsite to home via Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and then back on the A20 to the Blackwall Tunnel. Stopped briefly at another National Trust property, Knole, which is located within Sevenoaks . This time I did avail myself of the tearooms for lunch and had a very pleasant chicken casserole.
Sunday 13 April
Travel from home to Norwich Camping and Caravanning Club Site, via Wicken Fen, a NT nature reserve near Ely.The site is situated on the southern outskirts of Norwich in Lakenham.
Monday 14 April
Walked into the city centre of Norwich to discover what had changed since I was last there. Not much, except that a new centre called The Forum had recently opened on the site of the old Norwich Library, which burnt down a few years ago.
Tuesday 15 April
Cycled to Loddon from the campsite, using National Cycle Route 1, and then circled back via Shotesham and Stoke Holy Cross.
Wednesday 16 April
Returned from campsite to home via A11 and M11.
Tuesday 29 April
Travel from home to Cambridge Camping and Caravanning Club Site in the afternoon via M11. The site is situated to the south of Cambridge in Great Shelford.
Wednesday 30 April
Cycled into city centre from campsite in morning. A longer cycle ride in the afternoon on country lanes to Littlebury and back.
Thursday 1 May
Returned from campsite to home after visiting Wimpole Hall (NT), a to the west of Cambridge.
Sunday 11 May
Travel from home, via A41 and A4, to Devizes Camping and Caravanning Club Site. The site is situated in the village of Sells Green, which is about 4 mile east of Devizes on the A365.
Monday 12 May
Cycled to centre of Bath and back on canal towpath with a short walk around Bath to do some shopping and have lunch. The Kennet and Avon Canal is immediately next to this site, therefore enabling a 18 mile traffic free cycle ride to Bath, which could have been extended to Bristol if I were younger or fitter.
Tuesday 13 May
Travelled from campsite to Westonbirt Arboretum, in Gloucestershire and spent a leisurely day strolling around, occasionally taking photos of bluebells.
Wednesday 14 May
Travel from Devizes to Charmouth Camping and Caravanning Club Site, visiting Montacute House (NT) near Yeovil, on route. The site is situated inland from Charmouth near Raymonds Hill and is probably closer to Lyme Regis than Charmouth.
Thursday 15 May
Walk from campsite to Lyme Regis on public footpaths. The planned extension of this walk to Charmouth had to be abandoned as the coastal path here has fallen into the sea! I therefore returned to the site using other footpaths.
Friday 16 May
Weather appalling, low cloud and rain. Cleared a bit in the afternoon and a walked into Axminster using country lanes.
Saturday 17 May
Still low cloud so I abandoned my planned walk around local hill forts and walked into Lyme Regis again, this time using country lanes. This time walked as far as the end of The Cob harbour wall.
Sunday 18 May
Travelled from Charmouth to Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club Site (near Petworth) using the A35, A30 and A272. The aim being to complete the majority of my travel on Sunday leaving only a short journey home for the following day. The site is situated south of Petworth on minor roads off the A286 road to Chichester. Unusually for a campsite, it is situated entirely in woodland and I was quite content to spend the remainder of the day exploring this.
Monday 19 May
Travelled home from Graffam via M23, M25 and A20.
Sunday 1 June
First day of travel to Scotland using the M11, A1 and A68. Just made it over the border to Jedburgh Camping and Caravanning Club Site as planned. The site is situated on the northern outskirts of the town off the A68. Walked to Jedburgh Abbey in evening.
Monday 2 June
Travelled from Jedburgh, via Edinburgh, the Fourth Bridge and Braemar, to Tarland Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Deeside. The site is situated on the western edge of the village, which itself is about 3 mile north of the main A93.
Tuesday 3 June
Didn't do much today apart from a little walking in the locality of the campsite - but not too much to see.
Wednesday 4 June
Travelled from campsite to visit Crathes Castle (Scottish NT).
Thursday 5 June
Travelled from Tarland, via the Lecht Road and Inverness, to Grummore Caravan Club Site, which is in the middle of nowhere! Actually its about 20 miles north of Lairg (the nearest town) on the north bank of Loch Naver and is probably the most remote campsite in mainland Britain that can be accessed by road. Ideal for me, but don't go there if you like a vibrant nightlife!
Friday 6 June
Walked from campsite to the top of Pole Hill which, although nothing like as high a many of the mountains in the area, provides an amazing 360 degree panoramic view of the area, and far beyond.
Saturday 7 June
A circular trip using the motor caravan. First north, continuing up Strathnaver, to meet the north coast of Scotland at Bettyhill. Then west along the north coast road to Durness. Then south along the west coast road, branching south east to head for Lairg and from there back to the campsite. Over 120 miles and not one single set of traffic lights or roundabout; a motorist heaven.
Sunday 8 June
Travel from Grummore to Oban Camping and Caravanning Club Site, via Loch Ness and Fort William. The site is situated about 8 miles north of Oban on A828 in the village of Barcaldine.
Monday 9 June
Visited Oban for shopping and site-seeing in the morning. In between showers in the afternoon, I walked from the site to the Glen Dubh Reservoir situated in the Forestry Commission property which surrounds the site.
Tuesday 10 June
Longer walk from site, following cycle track in Glen Dubh which circles the reservoir. Rained off and on all day.
Wednesday 11 June
Travel from Oban to Barnard Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site, via Loch Lomond, Glasgow and the M74. The site is situated about 1 mile west of Barnard Castle off the B6277
Thursday 12 June
Travelled home from Barnard Castle via A1, M11.
Friday 20 June
Travel to York (Rowntree Park) Caravan Club Site via M11, A1 and A64. Site is near the centre of York by the River Ouse.
Saturday 21 June
Meet up in York (Bar Convent) with former colleagues from North East London Polytechnic School of Architecture and their families. Much reminiscing, eating and drinking with a boat trip and a little walking thrown in for good measure.
Sunday 22 June
Cycle to Beningbrough Hall (NT) from site, using National Cycle Route 65, which passes the campsite and the Hall.
Monday 23 June
Travel from York to Hayfield Camping and Caravanning Club Site in the Peak District. The site is situated to the east of Hayfield village, half a mile along the valley of the River Sett, by Bowden Bridge. Walked to the village and to Kinder Reservoir in the late afternoon.
Tuesday 24 June
Circular walk from the site on footpaths; starting along the west side of Kinder Reservoir then up William Clough to meet the Pennine Way; following the Pennine Way to skirt Kinder Scout passing Kinder Downfall, Kinder Low and Edale Cross and return to campsite via Coldwell Clough.
Wednesday 25 June
Walk from site to Lyme Park (NT) and back. Using the Sett Valley Trail (an old railway track), the towpath of the Peak Forest Canal and the Gritstone Trail (old Green Lanes and tracks). Lyme Park was used as the setting of the fictitious "Pemberley" in the BBC adaptation of Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice".
Thursday 26 June
Travelled home from Hayfield via Chesterfield, Mansfield, the A1 and A10.
Sunday 6 July
Travel to Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site, via A2 and M20. The site is situated on the coast to the north-east of Folkestone overlooking East Wear Bay and backing on to a nature reserve called The Warren.
Monday 7 July
Walked into and around Folkestone in the morning. Walked around some of the lower areas of The Warren near the shoreline, in the afternoon.
Tuesday 8 July
Walked the coastal path from Folkestone to Dover, which follows the cliff edge. The path here is also part of the North Downs Way and the Saxon Shore Way. Mostly chalk grassland with, at this time of year, with masses of butterflies and moths, but I only persuaded two to pose for a photograph. The path also passes The Battle of Britain Memorial at Chapel-le-Ferne. On my return I descended from the high cliff path to The Warren for the final part of my journey.
Wednesday 9 July
A very hot day - therefore I abandoned my plans for a further walk on the North Downs Way (in the opposite direction) and contented myself with a short walk to do some shopping in the morning and a stroll around further areas of The Warren in the afternoon.
Thursday 10 July
Travelled home from Folkestone via A280 and A2.
Thursday 11 September
To Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite. Travelled from the Blackwall Tunnel through South London to the South Circular (a mistake!) to join the M3 and then from the M3 via the A303, A343, A30 and A36 to Salisbury. The campsite is situated on the northern outskirts of Salisbury adjacent to Old Sarum. Cycled into Salisbury late in the afternoon using a cycle path which runs close to the campsite.
Friday 12 September
Cycled into Salisbury (twice) for shopping but mainly to visit and photograph Salisbury Cathedral.
Saturday 13 September
Cycled to Amesbury and then on to Stonehenge to join the masses of people arriving there by car and coach, I seemed to be the only person cycling. Fortunately managed to by-pass the large queues that were forming by the use of by National Trust membership card. I quickly did the prescribed anti-clockwise circuit, kept at a safe distance by ropes and signs, and took some photographs. I am old enough to remember visiting Stonehenge when you walk amongst the stones and touch them...but enough of my reminiscences or I will start talking about the price of beer when I was a boy..!
Sunday 14 September
To Lydford Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite in Devon. Travelled from Salisbury via A36, A303, A30 and A386 to Lydford. The campsite is just outside Lydford, which is a small village on the western edge of Dartmoor. The village has no shops and one pub, which claims to have featured in the film of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". I stayed in my motor caravan after it got dark!
Monday 15 September
Cycled to Okehampton and back on the Granite Way, a cycleway running mainly on the route of the old Southern Region railway line from Okehampton to Lydford and which forms part of National Cycle Network Route 27. For the most part this provides a pleasant relaxed cycle ride, however there is a gap of only about 500 metres, where the buildings of the old railway station which served Bridestowe stand, necessitating a 4 km detour by road through the village of that name down some very steep hills and then, of course, back up again.
Tuesday 16 September
Since I left London the weather has been fine, hot and sunny, this proving to be another hot day. I therefore decided to retreat from the heat by exploring Lydford Gorge, which is owned and managed by the National Trust, and which has an entrance at the opposite end of the village from the campsite. I took many photographs of the Gorge and the Castle in Lydford, unfortunately many of those taken in the Gorge were unusable due to the low light levels there and consequent camera shake.
Wednesday 17 September
To Sennen Cove Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite in Cornwall. Travelled from Lydford via A386, A390, A38 and A30 to Sennen. Despite its name, the campsite is neither in Sennen or Sennen Cove but just off the Lands End road before you reach either of those destinations. The campsite is rather isolated and windswept and you need to walk for about 2 km on roads before reaching the coast and a further 1 km to Sennen Cove (which is what I did in the afternoon), but both are very pleasant when you get there.
Thursday 18 September
Walked from site to join the coastal path and then headed north to reach Cape Cornwall, returning via the same route. The weather by now had turned rather cloudy and misty, as you can tell from the photographs.
Friday 19 September
Travelled to the nearby Levant Mine, perched on the cliff edge of the North Cornwall Coast. I did intend to make a brief visit to the working steam engine which the National Trust had restored here, but found myself caught up in the history of the place and enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining guided tour of the mine. So I abandoned my intended plans for later that day as again the weather was not that brilliant.
Saturday 20 September
Much brighter start to the day, even saw the sun again. Walked from the site to join the coastal path again but this time headed south, through Sennen Cove and on round the tip of Lands End and a further 2 km on. By then it was mid-afternoon and the first fog bank started to come in from the sea ... time to turn round and head back the way I came, taking a few short cuts through the Lands End "theme park". Before the weather turned the lighting was good for photographs.
Sunday 21 September
To Bodmin Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite in Cornwall. Travelled from Sennen via A30 to Bodmin, diverting towards Newquay to visit Trerice, a small Elizabethan manor house owned by the National Trust. Eventually arrived a campsite having travelled through the centre of Bodmin (not what I intended) as I took the turning off the A30 to "the wrong" A389 - looking at the map later there seem to four different roads with this designation!
Monday 21 September
One of my main reasons for visiting Cornwall on this occasion was to revisit The Eden Project now it had been open for two years. My previous visit had been in the year prior to its opening to see it during the final stages of its construction. I travelled there early with an advanced ticket acquired at the campsite and had at least one hour walking round inside the Warm Temperate Biome before the crowds started to build up. During my second hour, in the Humid Tropics Biome, the crowds began to swell and on emerging to the world outside I realised why. It was raining. I therefore left my exploration of the outside area, the Temperate Zone, to a future visit, say in three years time ... from a brief look it seems to need that time to grow and mature a bit more. You can compare the photographs taken during this visit with those taken on my previous visit.
Tuesday 22 September
To Oxford Camping and Caravanning Club Campsite. Travelled from Bodmin via A30, A303 and A34. Just a stop-over to break my journey back to London and do some shopping.
Wednesday 23 September
Returned home to London from Oxford via Thame, Aylesbury and then the A41.
Sunday 12 October
From home to Woodhall Spa Camping and Caravanning Club campsite in Lincolnshire, travelling via the M11, A1(M), A1139, A15, A47, A16 and B1192. What should have been a pleasant Sunday morning drive was turned into a nightmare by the four lane A1(M) near Peterborough being reduced to one lane with no prior warning or any attempt at traffic control. Anarchy ruled for the one and a half hours it took me to travel about 3 miles! The campsite soon managed to calm my nerves, set in woodland and part surrounding a small lake, being one of the most tranquil visited during this year.
Monday 13 October
Cycled from campsite to Lincoln and back using (for the most part) National Cycle Route 1 which runs through the village of Woodhall Spa about a mile or so from the campsite. A very nice days cycling apart from; a dog attacking me; getting a puncture; experiencing a strong headwind on the return; and of course me, as usual, overestimating my cycling capabilities - but I survived. Not much time available to spend in Lincoln after all that, but I took some photographs of the exterior of Lincoln Cathedral.
Tuesday 14 October
A day of walking (well, gentle strolling actually following my exertions yesterday) from the campsite in surrounding nature reserves and Forestry Commission plantations. In the morning the Moor Farm Nature Reserve, which is immediately adjacent to the campsite. In the afternoon Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve and Ostler's Plantation, which are both accessed from the road leading to Woodhall Spa village. A very pleasant relaxing day in bright autumn sunshine.
Wednesday 15 October
Cycled to Horncastle in the morning and Coningsby in the afternoon; small towns about five miles from the campsite, in opposite directions. Nothing much to say about Horncastle, but just through the town of Coningsby is the RAF station which is now home to The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A large hanger accommodates a Dakota, a Hurricane, several Spitfires and a Lancaster bomber for their winter maintenance. These all still fly regularly at displays throughout the country during the summer months.
Thursday 16 October
From Woodhall Spa to Sandringham Camping and Caravanning Club campsite, situated within the Sandringham Estate in North-West Norfolk. Another peaceful and relaxing campsite set in the woodland of the Estate, I think this was my fourth visit - so I must like it.
Friday 17 October
A day walking in the woods adjacent to the site. In the morning through Sandringham Country Park to the Visitor Centre for the House. Had lunch there (that's in the Visitor Centre not the House) and walked back - sweet chestnuts kept falling off the trees and throwing themselves at my feet so eventually I felt obliged to pick them up and stuff my pockets full of them, all in the interest of tidiness you must understand. Yet another sunny autumn day with the trees providing good shelter from the increasingly strong and cold north-easterly wind.
Saturday 18 October
Another day of walking. In the morning in the Country Park where I seemed to find myself amongst the sweet chestnuts again, with similar results. In the afternoon I crossed to the Wolferton side of the main King's Lynn to Hunstanton road and found Dersingham Nature Reserve, which although still part of the Estate is managed by English Nature. As well as more woodland the reserve also contains an acid valley mire (Dersingham Bog) and an ancient sea cliff (Wolferton Sea Cliff) which is now more than a mile from The Wash, which it overlooks. Photographs of various parts of the Sandringham Estate taken at random.
Sunday 19 October
The weather changed, the sun disappeared and the cold wind which had been present for several days now seemed to acquire a biting edge. Cycled north from the campsite through Dersingham to Hunstanton and then continued east along the coast road through Holme and Titchwell to Brancaster. From there inland through Docking and Bircham back to the campsite. Took some photographs near to the village of Thornham, which seemed to typify the tidal mudflats and inlets of this part of the North Norfolk Coast. Also found a hut selling hot-chocolate near Brancaster beach - very welcome.
Monday 20 October
Had intended to continue this journey through Norfolk, but the increasingly cold and wet weather caused me to change my mind. Travelled home through Swaffham and Newmarket.
Sunday 09 November
Travelled to Cirencester Caravan Club Campsite in Gloucestershire via the A41 to Bicester and then south-west through Witney, Burford and Bibury. The campsite is situated in Cirencester Park on the south-western outskirts of the town. In the afternoon I walked in to the town, in rather damp and dismal conditions, to do some shopping.
Monday 10 November
Travelled from campsite by van to Westonbirt Arboretum, still in the county of Gloucestershire. I had left this visit a bit too late in the year to see the most vibrant colours of autumn which this arboretum can offer (as I know from previous visits) but I still managed to take a very large quantity of photographs, a few of which can be seen here on the website. In the morning I walked around the Old Arboretum and in early afternoon the Silk Wood. Later in the afternoon, after returning to the campsite, I walked to the Roman Amphitheatre which is located fairly close to the campsite - a disappointment, good job I didn't have to walk too far.
Tuesday 11 November
Travelled from Campsite by van to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust's wildfowl park at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. On yet another damp and dismal day I walked around the park and visited the hides provided by the trust, meeting few other people until I returned to the visitor centre. During my journey back to the campsite the weather worsened, becoming quite foggy in places - decided a nice warm and dry motorcaravan was the best place to stay for the remainder of the afternoon.
Wednesday 12 November
Travelled to Cheltenham by van to meet my brother-in-law for lunch. Funny that I should have chosen a bright, dry and sunny day to spend in-doors after the poor weather experienced so far on this journey! Later in the afternoon, after returning to the campsite, I briefly investigated Cirencester Park on foot - next time I visit this campsite I must allow myself more time to walk in this park, it looks quite large and interesting.
Thursday 13 November
This should have been the day that I continued my journey to Malvern in Worcestershire, but the weather forecasters by now were issuing severe weather warnings (gales/storms and heavy rain) for Wales and the West for late Thursday, Friday and possibly Saturday - so I decided to return home, using the same route I used to get to Cirencester.