Martha has been to St Mawes

Having returned from Tregurrian on Monday for my dental appointment, we had only been home for about an hour before I had a phone call from the surgery receptionist to say my dentist was ill and my appointment rearranged.  Although it was a little frustrating that we had returned home, we made the most of the day to catch up with a few jobs before returning to Cornwall on Wednesday.  

We decided to visit Merrose Farm Club Campsite on the Roseland Peninsula for a few days.  We like the walking in this area, but the last time we visited was in 2020 when I had hurt my foot and could only walk for short distances.

We left home mid morning on Wednesday to travel to the site.  After setting up we had lunch and then a short walk to the Curgurrell Farm Shop before returning to site to sit in the sun.

Pitch 33 Merrose Farm

On Thursday we caught the bus from outside the site to St Just in Roseland.  We walked into the village and had a pot of tea at Renwick's Cafe before walking through the church gardens to reach the coast path and walking to St Mawes Castle.  After spending some time around the Castle we had a mug of tea at Bear Cornwall before continuing to St Mawes.  We walked around the harbour and checked out the times for the Place Ferry as we want to walk around St Anthony's Head on our next visit.  We were too early for our bus back to the site but didn't want to walk any more, so went for a beer at the Rising Sun.  As we saw the bus coming down the hill we finished our drinks and walked to the bus stop to return to site and spend the evening reading our books.

We had a cloudier start to the day on Friday and decided to do a longer walk.  From the site we walked to the coast path and along to Nare Head, stopping at Shallikabooky Beach Hut at Pendower Beach for a mug of tea.  In places it was quite a challenging walk, especially as there was a very cold wind.  We ate our lunch at the top of Nare Head before walking down to Melinsey Mill for a pot of tea and heading back to the coast path and then to the site.  We were both feeling tired after the walk, which was over ten miles, so had a lazy evening reading our books.

Nare Head towards Pendower Beach

Saturday was forecast as a warm sunny day, although there was a very cold easterly wind.  We walked from the site to the coast path and then headed in the opposite direction from our walk the previous day.  We walked towards Portscatho, stopping at the Hidden Hut at Porthcurnick Beach for a cup of tea.  It was too windy to sit for long so we continued our walk to Portscatho and walked out beyond the village to find a bench in a sheltered spot for our lunch.  We were both feeling tired so returned to the site mid afternoon to sit in the sun for a while.

We returned home on Sunday.  Although we would have liked to stay longer, it's only three weeks until our Scottish 'adventure' and we have lots to do to get ready for the big trip.

17-21 April 2024

Martha has been to Tregurrian

The forecast showed a few dry days so we made a last minute booking to go to Tregurrian Camping and Caravanning Site.  We've been to this site a few times and know that most of the coast path walking is quite rugged and hoped it wouldn't be too muddy.

As the site is only a couple of hours drive from home we didn't need to set off until mid morning on Thursday.  We left a lovely sunny day at home and then drove through torrential rain over Bodmin Moor and arrived to a very blustery afternoon.  As the site was almost empty we were able to choose our pitch - opting to face the oncoming wind which would make it easier to open the rear doors.

Pitch 19 Tregurrian

After pitching we walked down to Watergate Bay for a cup of coffee before returning to site.

We woke to a lovely sunny morning on Friday and decided to catch the bus to Padstow, hoping it would be quieter on a weekday rather than visiting at the weekend.  As expected, the town was very busy but after a quick look around the shops we walked through the park and onto the beach at St George's Cove, before walking out to the headland.  

St George's Cove towards Daymer Bay

It was a glorious sunny day and we returned to the park to eat our lunch.  In the afternoon we walked along the Camel Trail for a while before catching the bus back to Tregurrian and returning to the site.

Saturday was a lot cloudier and cooler than the previous day.  We caught the bus to Newquay and walked to Fistral Bay to pick up the coast path.  It's an easy walk along the coast path, but the strong winds made it a tiring walk so we were glad to return to the site mid afternoon.

On Sunday we walked along the coast path to Mawgan Porth.  Large sections of the path were very muddy, but we were able to pick our way through the tracks.  After having a stroll around Mawgan Porth and our lunch sitting on the beach we returned to the site along the coast path.  

We had very strong winds and torrential rain overnight on Sunday and woke to a windy morning on Monday.  Unfortunately we had to return home as I had a dental appointment the following day but planned to return to Cornwall on Wednesday.

11-15 April 2024

Martha has been to Wells

We decided we needed another adventure in Martha and as the forecast was looking okay we decided to go away for a few days before Easter.  We wanted a site that was near a town or bus route in case the weather was wet and decided to revisit Wells Touring Park and booked their last remaining pitch for the weekend.

On Thursday we travelled to the site, it's only a two hour journey from home so we didn't need to make an early start.  The only pitch they had available was a Super Pitch, which is not something we would normally book but it was in a lovely location on the site and it was a luxury to have our own water facilities too.  After setting up on site we walked into Wells and pottered around the shops before having a pot of tea at Twentyone and then returning to the site.  As it was a dry afternoon we took the opportunity  to sit outside for a while.

Pitch 33 Wells Touring Park

We had torrential rain overnight but woke to a dry morning on Friday.  After breakfast we went into Wells and walked around some of the town trails using the leaflets we bought on our visit last year.  The day was much warmer than forecast and we were able to sit and have our lunch on the Cathedral Green before popping into the Loft Cafe for a drink.

The forecast was for a morning of showers on Saturday and heavier rain in the afternoon.  We walked into Wells in the morning to buy a paper were caught in a couple of short showers, but it was so windy our clothes soon dried.  We returned to site for lunch and had a torrential downpour - for once the forecast was right!  It stopped raining mid afternoon so we headed to the cafe/bar on site for a couple of drinks.

On Sunday we walked to Wells as we wanted to do one of the Swan Walks, but the fields were far too muddy so we retraced our steps to Tor Woods keeping to the better paths and avoiding most of the mud.  The first part of the walk had taken us past the Bishop's Palace and Gardens, which looked lovely and somewhere we want to see on our next visit.  We returned to site late afternoon and after cleaning our boots and clothes we settled down for the evening.

Bishop's Palace

Monday was our day to return home as we had some appointments on Tuesday.  We both enjoyed our stay on this lovely site and have booked to return for a week at the beginning of August.

21-25 March 2024

Martha has been to Cirencester

We’ve not been away in Martha since last November as the weather has, for the most part, been very wet and cold.  We decided to book a last minute break at Cirencester Park Club Campsite for a week so we were away for our wedding anniversary.

We set off mid morning on Wednesday and had a good journey to the site, stopping on the way for a coffee and our lunch.  After arriving on site we were able to find a pitch in the area of the site we like and set up quickly.  It was a lovely afternoon so we walked into Cirencester for a drink at The Fleece and booked a table for the following day for our anniversary meal.

Pitch 120 Cirencester Park

We woke to a lovely sunny morning on Thursday and walked through the Park into Cirencester.  We spent the morning pottering around some of the lovely buildings in the town and doing some shopping before going to the Fleece for our lunch.  We returned to the site late afternoon as it started to get quite cold.

Friday was another lovely dry day so we walked around some of the tracks on the Bathurst Estate, keeping to the main paths as many of the smaller paths were waterlogged and very muddy. We saw a lovely statue of a horse's head at the top of Broad Ride which was new since the last time we visited the Estate.  We returned to site for our lunch and then walked into Cirencester in the afternoon.

Still Water 2019 & Steve

We walked some of the town trails on Saturday, again returning to the site for lunch and walked around some of the older parts of the town in the afternoon.  Although we would have liked to spend more time walking through the park everywhere was very muddy and wet so we decided to stay in the town.

We had heavy rain overnight on Saturday but woke to a dry morning.  We took advantage of the fine day and walked around the parkland on a small road, this was on a part of the Estate we've not previously walked so we enjoyed seeing a new area of the parkland.  We returned to Martha before it started raining and stayed on site all afternoon.  

On Monday we decided to catch the bus to Cheltenham – we had visited many years ago but couldn’t really remember it.  We were a little disappointed with the town, it was far too busy for us and in parts looked very shabby.  After pottering around for a few hours and having lunch, we caught the bus mid afternoon to return to site.

It started to rain early evening on Monday and didn't stop until mid-day on Tuesday, so we spent the morning on site.  In the afternoon we walked along some of the tarmac tracks in the park, not straying too far from the main paths as many paths were flooded and very muddy.

Wednesday was our day to return home.  It's unusual for us to stay on one site for a week, but as there aren't too many sites open at the moment we decided it would be a good idea and enjoyed our first outing this year.  We enjoy visiting Cirencester and this site is one of our favourites, although we did think it looked very shabby this year especially as the site has only been open for one week this season.  

6-13 March 2024

Martha has been to Stafford and Bridgnorth

Our latest trip with Martha has been a few nights to visit our families and deliver Christmas presents.

On Tuesday we drove to my mother's house in Rugeley for a quick visit before heading to Spring Paddock Caravan Site.  Although the morning had been dry, it started to rain again in the afternoon - thankfully it didn't start until we had set up.  

Pitch 5 Spring Paddock

We had a lot of rain overnight and woke to a damp morning on Wednesday.  After breakfast we drove to see my mother and sister, leaving mid afternoon and driving back to site.  Early evening my niece came to collect us from the site and we went to the Chetwynd Arms, spending the evening with my niece, her partner, youngest son and his girlfriend.  After a most enjoyable few hours we had a lift back to the site.

On Thursday we drove to Stanmore Hall Touring Park, calling at the care home where Steve's father lives to see him and Steve's mother.  We stayed longer than planned so we could see Steve's brother and didn't get to the site until late afternoon.  It was getting dark when we set up, as well as raining again so after showers we settled down for the evening.

We woke to a sunny morning on Friday and drove to see Steve's mother before returning to the care home.  As we had spent so long at the home the previous day we left at lunchtime to return to the site as we wanted to have a bit of 'us time' and a walk.

Pitch 106 Stanmore Hall

In the afternoon we walked from the site to Stanmore Country Park and spent a couple of hours walking around the tracks.  There were some new sculptures in the park - our favourite was the plane, which is appropriate at the Country Park is part of the former RAF Bridgnorth.

Stanmore Plane 

On Saturday we decided to catch the bus into Bridgnorth.  We had a potter around the town before treating ourselves to lunch at The Atrium.  We had a short walk in the afternoon but returned to the site when we started to get too cold.  

Sunday was our time to travel home.  We had planned on having a few days at another site, but as the weather forecast wasn't too good for the following week we decided to go home instead.  

7-12 November 2023

Martha has been to Fareham

After living in Martha for a few weeks, we found we had got a few small jobs that needed to be put right under warranty.  The Service Centre managed to book us into the workshop in October, before Rookesbury Park Club Campsite closed for the winter.

We drove to the site on Sunday, arriving early afternoon and set up on a lovely large sunny pitch.  We had a dry afternoon so went for a walk in Hundred Acres Wood - after all the rain we've had over the past few weeks the smaller paths were very muddy but the main track was fine.

Pitch 24 Rookesbury Park

On Monday we decided to walk to Wickham, walking through the wood and along the old railway line.  We had a potter around the shops and a coffee at Wickham Coffee House before walking back to the site.  As it had been very muddy on the side paths we walked back along the main track to the car park and then to the main entrance of the site.

We had torrential rain overnight and then an early start on Tuesday as Southdowns wanted the van as early as possible.  We were both feeling tired so after leaving the van we walked to Hilsea Station to catch the train to Portsmouth Harbour.  We treated ourselves to breakfast at the Cosy Club before having a walk around the harbour  and then visiting the shops when it started to rain.   We caught the train back to Southdowns early afternoon to collect the van and were pleased that all the small jobs had been done and there was no charge to us either.  We set up quickly when we arrived back at the site as it started to rain again and continued to rain evening.

It continued to rain overnight, but we woke on Wednesday to a lovely sunny morning.  A lot of the pitches were flooded after the previous night's rain, but our pitch had drained well.  We decided to avoid the muddy tracks through the wood so walked to the site entrance, through the car park and main tracks to the railway line and back into Wickham.  Parts of the railway line path were flooded, some we could paddle through but others we had to make a detour as the water was so deep.  After having our lunch and a pot of tea at the Wickham Coffee Shop we walked back to the site along the same route.

We drove home on Thursday and managed to get everything unpacked and Martha back to storage before the rain started again.  We enjoyed our time at the site, but it was one of the wettest trips we've had for a while.

22-26 October 2023

Martha has been to Burnham-on-Sea and Cheddar

The weather has been awful since our last trip to North Devon, so we've been watching the weather forecast to see when some drier weather was due.  The forecast looked good for a few days so we made a last minute booking.

On Monday we travelled to Hurn Lane Club Campsite.  We've previously visited this site as we want to see the wooden lighthouse on the beach at Burnham and also to walk across Brean Down to the fort - we've not managed to do either on our previous visits.  Despite the forecast showing fine weather, it rained all the way to the site, stopping just long enough for us to set up.  The rain started again after we had pitched so we stayed in Martha all afternoon.

Pitch 31 Hurn Lane

It rained heavily overnight and Tuesday morning, finally stopping late morning.  We walked along the beach to the wooden lighthouse and then to Burnham to have our lunch and a cup of tea.  Unfortunately we got caught in a heavy shower on the way back, but luckily the sun came back out and dried our clothes before we returned to site.

The Wooden Lighthouse

Wednesday was a dry day, but there was a cold wind which was fine for our walk to Brean Down.  We walked along the beach, stopping for a cup of tea at the National Trust cafe before climbing to the top of the down and walking to the fort.  We enjoyed the walk and as it was a clear day we had good views across to Wales.

On Thursday it was time to travel to Cheddar Club Campsite.  By the time we arrived on site the sun was out and we chose a lovely pitch where we could get afternoon sun.  After setting up we walked to Cheddar for a pot of tea at the Cafe Gorge and then returned to site to sit in the sun for a while.

Pitch 9 Cheddar

Friday was a lovely sunny day and we decided to do the Gorge Walk.  We had previously walked the south path but hadn't completed the circular walk along the north path.  It was a lovely walk and good to see the Gorge from both sides too.

North Path down The Gorge

Saturday was a glorious sunny day and after the climbing on the previous day's Gorge walk, we decided to have an easier day and walked along the Strawberry Line through Axbridge to Winscombe.  Unfortunately the tunnel on the route was closed so we had a detour which made the walk a little longer, but it was still very enjoyable.

We both felt tired after the previous day's long walk and decided to walk around the reservoir on Sunday.  Although this is an easy walk and not too far, we both began to feel the heat as it was a very hot day (hotter than a lot of days over the summer) so we returned to site mid afternoon to sit outside Martha.

Monday was our day to travel home.  We would have liked to stay away for longer, but both of us had appointments booked for the following week so we couldn't extend our stay.

2-9 October 2023