What's been your favourite holiday so far?

RowenaBCAMC
RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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edited August 2019 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Just wondering what everyone's favourite trips have been so far this year and why? 

Mine I think would have to be Longleat. Despite the weather, torrential rain and the fact that I had a limp from taking part in the MacMillan Mighty Hike (26 miles on the South Downs Way) the day before (I fractured my toe from tripping over so much!!) we had a fabulous time. Our awning collapsed in the night because we had so much rain but hearing the sea lions and lions on the Club Site was magical and Sam (my three year old son) loved it. A lovely site and perfect for families. We also visited Wookey Hole and loved exploring the caves - I could not get enough of the Wookey Hole Cheese! Feeding the giraffes at Longleat has to be a highlight of the year and Sam still wears the safari hat we bought there and asks to go back to 'Longleap Club Site'. 

Photos below are exploring the bug hotel at Longleat Club Site and waiting to go into the caves at Wookey Hole. 

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  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #2

    Pretty wet every time we go away and next week looks none too brilliant either.

    Had two weeks in April with the weather proving the heating was effective and the caravan was serviced when we got back with incredibly good damp readings. Met our daughter and her family in the Peal District. Went to Alton Towers in 6 C and rain. It may have been bleak but we got on more than would otherwise have been possible otherwise. It stayed dry for the Heights of Abraham and some other days out so overall we had a good holiday.

    We finished at White Water Park to go to my nephews wedding so there were other highlights.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #3

    Pretty much any holiday involving wildlife and if there is any Adnams available so much the better🌞🦅🍺

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #4

    3 months over there, but returning via Cherbourg and spending 5 days at the club recommended site Castel camping Anse du Brick, great site, great pitches, couple of swimming pools, couple of restaurants, fantastic toilet/shower facilities, 5 minutes walk to great beach, only down side, it is very hilly, not only for walking but also driving. Only 30 minutes from the ferry terminal.

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2019 #5
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  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
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    edited August 2019 #6

     

    Cornwall July

    Good food, good company, good weather, that seems to be the formula! 

    Good food,

    Michelle has taken a massive interest in cooking this year, she chooses recipes from books and online that you can actually buy the ingredients for, and has turned out in the caravan some amazing dishes, then there was Rick's Lobster, bit messy to eat, but yum yum. 

    Good Company.

    Michelle has a weekend rota to contend with, I work permanent nights, being together is what a holiday for us is all about, smooch.Then there was our site neighbours, lovely. 

    Good Weather.

    Seems we struck gold for the fortnight we had. Walking days, beach days, lazy walks around the National Trust sites, perfect. 

    Manage a few books, snorkelling, some brilliant drone footage of beaches, all in all the holiday reality lived upto expectations, and some.

     

     

  • Francis
    Francis Club Member Posts: 2,023
    edited October 2019 #7

    Our favourite holiday so far this year has been our main 3 week break in July when we went down to the New Forest staying at the clubs Centenary site. 

    It is an area we had never been to before so really enjoyed it. The weather was excellent for most of the time we were there and there were some lovely cycle routes straight from the site taking in some lovely villages and towns, it was great to get out on the bike exploring places I have never been and the cycle down to Avon beach was a personal favourite.

    There were also some lovely country pubs in the area we had a great Sunday roast at The Fisherman's Haunt and had evening meals a few times at The Rising Sun Inn both very close to the site and both excellent highly recommended to anyone in the area. 

    There was plenty to do Beaulie National Motor museum was excellent and the clubs discount scheme there made it good value for money. Poole was lovely as was Christchurch and Bourenmouth with plenty of places of historical interest  We have stayed on many club sites over the years and have to say the Centenary site was one of the best very well laid out and in a great area.

    All in all a great holiday in an area we would return to.

     

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #8

    We stayed here last year and loved it too - although again it was raining. Beaulie was perfect for a rainy day place to go and we would recommend Rosie's Tea Rooms a short drive away - amazing breakfasts and a lovely farm shop. 

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #9

    Any day that I'm out walking, preferably with a mountain to climb, is a holiday for me and Mrs WN (although she has said that she thinks she married a Springer Spaniel rather than a man), so a 6 week tour of Northern Englands finest hillwalking and coastal areas in May and June was wonderful.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #10

    AD, can you tell me which site you stayed at, we normally use Camping Bolnuevo for our 4-5 week stay before moving on as the weather in March/April seems to be particularly good in this area , but we are always up for trying something different

    That was particularly fortunate as we spent around 5 weeks restricted to site after my wife also broke her foot and was in plaster. The sun, a beach on site, company of friends and convenient shopping

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #11

    All the breaks we take are our farvorite at the time we will have done 199 nights on club sites,and 4 on a comercial site on our annual catchup with non members and family /friends who use holidayhomes  (health permitting)at the end of this year, surprised everywhere we have been so far has been favorable,  and until this last couple of weeks the weather has been good ,but then there is no such thing as bad weather,its inadequate clothing

    As we have come to appreciate,  we are on adventures before dementia cool

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #12

    A return to the beautiful and tranquil islands of Orkney and Shetland was our adventure of the year. The weather wasn’t great but could have been far worse and no one goes to O&S to enjoy the weather.

    Our trip didn’t involve many club sites other than Dunnet Bay before and after the islands but some of the island sites are fabulous - small but perfectly formed with all the facilities you could want.

    Point of Ness Campsite, Stromness, Orkney

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2019 #13
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  • Chrystal
    Chrystal Forum Participant Posts: 231
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    edited August 2019 #14

    21 degrees in Betws y Coed in February. Sitting out enjoying beautiful Sunshine.

    . Playing crazy golf in Keswick park in glorious sunshine.

    Chatsworth in lovely sunshine.

    So lucky we picked the right dates.

  • thebells
    thebells Forum Participant Posts: 365
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    edited August 2019 #15

    Went to Scotland for 2 weeks in June and managed to pack loads in despite the rain!

    2 nights in the Inverness area. The highlight was climbing Ben Macdui and Cairngorm. We can't wait to go back to this beautiful and wild area next year.

    Spent 3 nights on Skye, which was beautiful but overrun with tourists (including us😀) so didn't enjoy seeing the sites as much as I'd expected. Also, nearly involved in terrifying collision as foreign car drove towards us at speed on wrong side of the road!! 

    3 nights at Fort William staying on a commercial site whilst our car (which broke down on the way down from Skye- so apologies to all who were stuck behind us doing 20mph in a 50 zone until we could find a lay by to pull into😂) was being repaired!! We managed to get 3/4 of the way up Ben Nevis but eventually defeated by thunder, lightning and torrential rain: so will have to go back to try again next year.

    2 nights at Drymen and Ben Lomond conquered.

    Finally 4 nights near Portpatrick to just relax and enjoy the incredible views and deserted beaches and quiet countryside walks.

    All in all some wonderful memories😊

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited August 2019 #16

    I think we are missing out on some stunning locations for Club sites and CLs in the UK but long years of traffic jams and bad weather have put us off of holidaying in this country.

    This year we spent three weeks at one site near Avignon as the weather was perfect at around 25 - 27 degrees. Our pitch was large, not overlooked and on the river bank. There was even one English couple on the site for a few days who were great company. After that we stayed in the beautiful Lot valley. 

    I would like to think we would venture to UK sites next year but I think it will be the Italian lakes again.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #17

    Just back from our first visit to the Ile de Re which so many of you have recommended to us.  Thank you.

    We were ten of of us covering three generations of the family spanning 75 years - and sharing the costs of a rented house worth a million or two, with private pool, walled garden, built in barbecue, outdoor dining....and all the trimmings. 

    I have completely gone off Caravanning ! 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2019 #18

    They've all been enjoyable in some way but pitched on the banks of the Moselle and later beside Lake Konstanz during our Black Forest trip takes a bit of beating.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #19

    As a real favourite holiday it must have been as we seem to be drifting off what I think Rowena stated the thread for,

    Was a three week holiday six of us, all a companies employees , was  three weeks in Barbados in a friends Bungalow which cost us just the fare from Gatwick +the cost of the maid and chef who came in every day plus the 6 seat house limousine minus chauffeur cool

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2019 #20
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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #21

    Some of the best have been the holiday rallies organised by centre members. My thanks to organiser and to all ralliers for making such holidays so memorable.

    peedee

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #22

    We had a lovely spring break at Steamer Quay this year. We love Totnes and the Dart so we always enjoy our stays there. My Devon ancestors came from that side of the river in Bridgetown. This time round I called in to the archive section in the back yard of the ancient Totnes museum building and the volunteers looked up my family. No wonder I couldn't find them, in Bridgetown they were all hatched and dispatched out at Berry Pomeroy church. Apart from that we did our usual river trip up to Dartmouth and had a very relaxing stay. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #23

    We've only done one trip with the caravan this year but it was for 8 weeks. We had good weather for most of the trip after the first few days of rain and thunderstorms.

    France was the destination and we manged to cover a fair bit of it. The Med coast, Loire, The Lot but the favourite has to be the Alps, sitting on a site looking out at the lake in front of your pitch with the snow covered Alps in the background has to be as near perfect as it gets.

    Add to that miles and miles of safe cycle tracks in wonderful countryside. smile

    Next trip is to France then Spain for 3 months so hoping its as good as our Spring break.

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited August 2019 #24

    We had a week at Swiss Farm, Henley on Thames at the end of June.  Lovely site, fairly good weather, and we had quite a relaxing time not driving out very far.

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited August 2019 #25

    Just come back from a river cruise on the Danube...bit more expensive than the caravan hols! 

    Best caravan break this year was down to Monmouth in South Wales as we'd never explored that area before at all and unexplored places are getting fewer and fewer as we get older!

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
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    edited August 2019 #26

    I want more!

    Portmellon by Drone.

    Enjoy, theres even me at the start.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #27

    Hard to pick out  a "favourite" trip. Any time away from home routine is good. I had a few days solo (well, me and the dog!) at Cirencester at the start of the season.  Great as always with so much Cotswold walking right on the doorstep.

    2 new CL visits also stand out - Goatfell Farm near Leek and Wortley Hall near Sheffield. 

    Last week in the Forest of Dean was good - haven't been to that area for some years now.

    Not a caravan break, for obvious reasons, but our fortnight in Sri Lanka will stay long in the memory, especially in view of the horrific bombing incidents which happened little over a month after our visit.

    Planning for the next trip is already well in hand! smile

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
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    edited August 2019 #28

    Under the Cornish Sea with my action cam on my trunk waste band string. I do hold it now and again!

    Under the Cornish Sea.

    Later on theres me with a snorkel in my gob

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2019 #29

    Not quite 'Blue Planet 2' is it? wink I must say I admire you for swimming without a wetsuit in Cornwall. Perhaps it's a bit warmer than Fistral beach.

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
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    edited August 2019 #30

    Decided to be Butch!

    Wait till you see the Par beach one I will put up later, very very cold, no wet suit, left it behind, so cold.

    No laptop to edit the video, 

    Dont start, ordered a laptop to store, 40 miles away  pick it up Saturday, so much for technology making life easier!

    Pah.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited August 2019 #31

    Each of our trips have been brilliant.

    Easter at Baltic Wharf for our annual remembrance of father in law who passed just before Easter 2017. We take MiL out to the seaside for fish & chips and ice cream, and catch up with rest of the family. Except for the leaking caravan water system due to useless fittings that required disassembly of the bathroom to reassemble it.

    Whitsun at Black Knowl gave us family time to explore the New Forest by bicycle. Fish & Chips at the seaside, there is a theme.

    A weekend on a CL near Bristol to make a younger family members birthday treat including a Twilight visit to Bristol Zoo.

    We swapped the annual visit to CountryFile Live at Blenheim for a cruise that took us to Shetland as a stop. Went past the campsite at Brae. We did look at going to Shetland for a week or so, but the ferry from Aberdeen is over £800 with the caravan. Anyone know a less expensive route? We then went to Iceland, partly to surprise a Brother in Law who lives in Akureyri. We knocked on his door and walked in. On a couple of excursions we saw campsites which has sewn a seed to go to Iceland with the caravan for say a month. Only ferry found so far is from Denmark via Faroes at €9000. We saw several 'NL' & 'D' registered motorhomes there, there must be a cheaper way.

    A short break to end the school summer holidays is booked.

    Still enjoying this caravanning lark, despite the loo requiring a new pump and damp found in our flagship heap of crap from Swift. Still, the cracked rear panel was repaired at the recent service. A new battery box that is the cause of the damp and another battery box door will be fitted under warranty, hopefully before our Xmas break away that is booked for Baltic Wharf.