A Short West Country Tour
Because we tend to have a couple of trips abroad a year we often don’t get time to spend a couple of weeks exploring the UK. This year was a bit different as we had a wedding in the middle of September which rather prevented us getting abroad. So in early October we set off on a two week tour that took in Somerset and Devon, returning via Dorchester.
We like to break up the journey into easy chunks. To this end our first stop was Plough Lane Caravan Site at Chippenham where we spent a couple of days. Plough Lane is a very pleasant adult’s only site with about 50 hardstanding pitches which we feel are pretty essential at this time of year if you have a motorhome. We don’t particularly seek out adult only sites but this one came recommended and was convenient for our route. After we had set up we were able to sit in the unseasonable hot weather for the time of year. The following day we caught the bus into Chippenham. It is quite a busy place and has a couple of shopping centres if that should be your want. The Buttercross has a chequered history, first built in 1570 but sold for £6 in 1889 to be used elsewhere. Fortunately it was re-erected in Chippenham in 1995 by the local Civil Society.
Time to move on and this time we are heading for the Club’s site at Minehead. We first had to negotiate the A39 from the M5 at Bridgewater to Minehead. Not a road I would recommend as its narrow twisty and slow. Heaven help them if they ever build Hinkley Point Power Station I just don’t see how the road would cope! Amazingly we got to Minehead pretty much unscathed and the site was relatively easy to find after that. We last visited this campsite in 1989. I seem to recall it being much more open then but now the trees have really matured. The only downside is that some pitches don’t get any sun. Having said that I don’t suppose it’s a site to laze around of as the town of Minehead is so close.
Our first full day on site and we accepted the instructions given to us by the warden on how to walk into town. It’s not a particularly long walk and initially you reach the top end of the High Street. Follow this down to the seafront where you can see the Harbour off to the left and Butlin’s to the right with the West Somerset Railway bang in the middle. We decided to explore the station which was pretty busy, no doubt with frustrated train drivers!!! There were a few steam trains actually in steam. Thinking that a coffee might we nice we thought about the station café but there was only outside seating and it wasn’t warm enough for that. Just across the road in Jubilee Gardens there was another café which just about had enough inside space for us. Refreshed we had another look round before finding the bus back towards the campsite.
Although the weather of the last couple of days had been dry the sun struggled to make an appearance. It was no different on the Friday when we decided to catch the bus to Dunster which is a picturesque village a mile or two outside of Minehead. I suspect in the height of summer it would be completely packed but it was fine today. Dunster is famous for its Yarn Market which sits at the bottom of the High Street and of course the whole village is dominated by Dunster Castle which is in the ownership of the National Trust. Back at the site we decided to walk up to the parade of shops to buy ourselves a Fish and Chip supper.
The following day we again walked down into Minehead. This time we went by a different route which took us more directly to the seafront. The station was busy with some sort of steam weekend. We decided to walk around the Bay to the Harbour. It was low tide so no water in the harbour at all. There was a handy café where we stopped for a cream tea being able to watch any activity out of the chill wind. We made our way back to our now familiar bus stop and back to the campsite. That was a fair walk for me. It’s not so much the knee but the associated lower back pain that starts to kick in the longer I walk. Mind you I think the Devon Cream had a positive effect!!!
On the Monday we continued our journey towards Brixham in Devon. The warden at Minehead suggested a better route back to the M5 at Wellington. We stopped at Exeter Services but what a complicated way of getting into it with cars seemingly going in all directions and not being particularly patient to boot! It was a quick pit stop and as we headed out of Exeter I had forgotten what a long a pull it was up that hill! There is now a bypass around much of Torbay which was excellent but it did confuse TomTom. We arrived at Hillhead in beautiful sunshine and once booked in set off to find a pitch. Hillhead is a large site and it must be interesting to see it when it is full. Less than half the pitches are on hardstandings but there was plenty of room and we found a pitch with a lovely sea view. We even managed to sit outside eating our lunch as with the hedged pitch we were sheltered from the on shore breeze.
Unfortunately the next day was not as bright but we decided to visit Brixham using the bus from outside the campsite. Any readers that feel they have had to drive their caravan/motorhome through difficult roads should have a ride on this bus. The road down into Brixham is narrow to say the least and with parked cars and oncoming vehicles it is an absolute nightmare for the driver. Brixham is still a working port but there is clear evidence of it also being a destination for pleasure boats with the new marina next to the port. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised but there are an amazing number of Fish and Chip shops in Brixham! On the way down to the Harbour we passed a lovely old fashioned Linen Shop, its displays wouldn’t have been out of place 100 years ago.
Another day and another bus ride, this time down to Kingswear. A relatively easier journey for the driver as they have a one way system. The bus stops above the station at Kingswear and it is quite a steep decent down to the Dartmouth ferry. The combination of bus, train and ferry gives a good choice of excursions. As we crossed the Dart the sun came out and we had a nice view upriver and the Navel College looking down over the town and river. Dartmouth retains its gentil feel and is a world away from the more workmen like Brixham.
Another day and another bus, this time to Paignton. Torbay conjures up a picture of faded elegance with perhaps a hint of those lost days of seaside holidays. Not sure that Paignton actually lives up to that mental picture. Who on earth built that monstrosity of a cinema on the seafront!!! Perhaps my problem is that I should really go to these places in the peak of the season to see them at their vibrant best but then again!!!
Our final day at Hillhead saw us yet again heading for Brixham but his time for some essential food shopping. We could have done this en route as we do in Europe but UK supermarkets always seem much busier and often their parking is a bit tight for a large motorhome. We had enjoyed our stay ay Hillhead and if we had stayed longer there would have been much more to see.
Saturday 15th October and we are heading for our final campsite of the trip, the C&CC site at Moreton near Dorchester. No buses here but a railway station. The day after we arrived we had a trip into Weymouth by train, or so we thought. When we arrived at the station our train was showing as delayed on the overhead displays. No sooner had I retrieved the tickets from the machine when it came up as cancelled, another hour to wait so back to the van for a coffee. We did eventually make it to Weymouth and the seafront is not far from the station and you meet it near to where the Jubilee Clock in situated. It’s a very nice walk along the seafront to the river which forms a harbour for fishing and pleasure boats. We decided to have a meal in a restaurant right next to the town bridge. We made our way back to the station through the town but somehow ended up on the beachside road.
Our trip was coming to an end and we just had the 150 miles back to MK. We have been away every month this year so far but November looks difficult as we are having some work done on the house and there are several medical appointments to be fitted in. We have a few days booked in December so more, no doubt, then!
Comments
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Enjoyed your story David...places also familiar to us. We've stayed at Hillhead several times. a good cycle ride down to Kingswear or Brixham...but what a slog back! Just down the road from Hillhead there's a wonderful National Trust property called Colston
Fishacre which is well worth visiting. Thank you for sharing your story.0 -
I am assuming your mood was somewhat better when you wrote this story than when you scribed your blog.
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Very enjoyable story David. Wish we'd known you were at Plough Lane - it's about 5 minutes down the road from us. Don't suppose you popped across to the Jolly Huntsman at Kington St Michael while you were there did you?
Moulesy
We were only there two nights so only had time to pop into Chippenham on the bus. We did think about the Plough Inn but their food hours did not suit us, we are used to going to a restaurant at any time of day here in MK!!! The Plough Lane site is very nice but I was surprised it was only about 20% full. It might be different on a weekend.
Thanks everyone else for your kind comments as well, makes it all worth while.
David
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Hi David
Good to hear about your travels, like Minehead and Hillhead, another way to see Exmoor and avoid the tow to Minehead is to use Exbridge Lake side
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