Site recommendations please

Sillitoe1
Sillitoe1 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited November 2017 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi

We are relatively new to caravaning and next year fully intend to make use of our new van. We are based in the North East (coastal area) and wish to travel down to the South West Devon Cornwall stopping at a few sites on the way and back again. Has anyone done it before and can recommend a good route (stress free) with good sites along the way. We are open to any suggestions and as long as the sites break up the long journey we don't mind what county its in because there is always something to see or do.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, fingers crossed for a response 

 

Comments

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #2

    Hi.

    You don't say how long you have for your travel and what time of year.

    If you have ample time then you could easily find a lovely diagonal working through Yorkshire, (somewhere like Knaresborough maybe) then onto the Peak District, Chatsworth or Ashbourne as Buxton is being refurbished, then the Cotswolds, Broadway seems central, then anywhere in Devon that takes your fancy and for goodness sake don't forget to visit Cornwall, no point going that far without taking in the land of the pastie.

    Sites are dependant on what you like to do, sightsee, cycle, walk etc so more info needed.

    Not sure any travel on our roads is stress free but if you have the time to bunny hop then so much the better.

    I see that you are fairly new to 'vanning, so please try to look into Certified Location sites (CLs). They can certainly add to the variety of your hobby and in most cases we have found the less stressful than some full on sites.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #3

    I was thinking on the same lines - how long do you want to take?

    It looks like 400 miles to me - you can trundle down the motorway for two days, or you can try and trace the old Roman Fosse Way (Via Lincoln, Cirencester, Bath and Ilchester) and take a week.

    Sites almost anywhere you wish to visit  - Club, CL, commercial or independent. Location, location.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,152 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #4

    I’d suggest looking at the sites map and picking your route by that until you get the feel of looking up sites and know what suits you.

  • alfigone
    alfigone Forum Participant Posts: 48
    edited November 2017 #5

    Hi,

    We are just on the North Yorkshire/Cleveland Border and have traveled to Cornwall both towing & solo (My family live in Cornwall!) quite a lot. 

    You don't say which roads you prefer or how long you intend to travel before stopping.  We always tend to use the A19/A1/M1/A42/M42/M5/A38.  When towing we can comfortably get to the Bristol area in  around 6-7 hours traffic permitting.  You are then looking at around 3 hours to get to the Devon/Cornwall border.

    We have stayed at Longleat and Cheltenham clubsites in the past, both of which are very good, and also used a private site around Gloucester sandwiched between the A38 & M5, but i wouldn't recommend that one!  

    Travelling back we've stayed at Poolsbrook, Chatsworth & a private site at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, all of which I'd recommend.

    It may be worth while checking out UK Campsites, as the map search is very good and will show you all sites in a radius of whatever area you choose.  

    Paul

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #6

    Hi Sillitoe, Google is brilliant too for finding sites ! 

    If you want to see Lincoln cathedral on your way south just type Camping Lincoln. And if you want to call at Slimbridge WildfowlTrust just type Camping Slimbridge. And so on for anywhere else that attracts you.

    Have a good journey. 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,433 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #7

    hello, live in the same area, having done the south west direction, I would have a think about north into Scotland? Easier travelling and less crowded?

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #8

    Hi - we haven't done any journeys of quite that length, but often travel from Wiltshire to the lakes or North Yorkshire. The best advice I can offer is to get your route decided first and then, particularly if you're just thinking of a 1 or 2 night stop search for CLs at convenient points. There are some real gems out there,  and often in quite unexpected areas that folk tend to travel through without stopping to explore. smile

  • Sillitoe1
    Sillitoe1 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited November 2017 #9

    Thanks everyone much appreciated great advice. I've just retired a few weeks ago so the length of time and when is not a problem. We intend the following year to cover the South Eat and Scotland is very much in our plans. Thanks again wink

  • Rob2CathDavies
    Rob2CathDavies Forum Participant Posts: 145
    edited November 2017 #10

    Sites that are not too far off the motorway network that we recommend to break that journey include

    Chapel Lane (M42)

    Malvern Hills (M5)

    Broadway (M5)

    exebridge Lakeside (M5)

    The above  are worth a stopover of more than one night.

    Poolsbrook Country Park is not far off the M1 and good for a night.

    Cadeside in Somerset (no toilet block) is great for a one night stop just off the M5.

    Hope you have a great trip.

     

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