The Beer Stalker – Salisbury Hillside Caravan Club Site, Andover Road, Salisbury , Wilts
Salisbury Hillside is a curious little site. In many ways it has a “CL” feel about it. It certainly has a friendly atmosphere. There is something almost eccentric about it as pitch areas have welcoming names such “Ruth's Roost” which makes it much less anonymous than many sites I know.
The site entrance is right beside a secondhand car dealers premises at Lopcombe Corner on the A343. It is not the most promising site entrance I have come across! The short roadway to the site is narrow so care is needed if you have a larger outfit but it is nicely surfaced in smooth tarmac.
Although the club handbook lists this site as Salisbury, Wiltshire it is almost on the Hampshire border. Without a car you could feel a bit stranded here if you didn't want to move your motorhome once parked up. Although there is reputedly a bus service it must have been infrequent when I was there as I never spotted a bus!
On the plus side a 15 minute drive towards Salisbury takes you to a large, spaciousPark and Ride with frequent buses to the city centre. Contrary to the website information you now park free and pay on the bus which means that bus passes can now be used. Salisbury is a wonderful city with lots to see and do. The cathedral and the area around it are a must as are the never ending variety of shops. Just leave plenty of time to do it all!
As you enter Salisbury Hillside it all looks very quaint which just adds to the “CL” feel I described earlier. The office, information shed and small toilet block are all situated here. The site is very well described in the “Hillside” part of the name as it is perched of the edge of a hill with some good views. This location means that the grass pitches are very well drained. There are some hard standings but the grassed areas seem more welcoming.
In many ways the site is divided into two distinct areas. The very open, crescent shaped top lawned area which you will need if you have mobility problems. The rest of the site nestles in fairly level terraced areas that lead off a winding serpentine service road. Some water and service points can be a steepish climb (if your aquaroll broke away whilst full it would severely damage anything it hit!). Additionally, it is a steep walk to the toilet block (whilst we were there one elderly couple found it a very difficult walk up to have a shower).
The pub I have selected to visit whilst at Salisbury Hillside is less than 15 minutes rive away in the small village of Pitton. Simply turn left as you leave the site and drive along the main road until you reach a cluster of traffic signals near a turning for the secretive MOD site at Porton Down! Fear not as Porton is on the right and the prominent brown tourist signpost helpfully directs us left to The Silver Plough PH.
It is a short drive into the slightly sprawling agricultural village of Pitton. Simply turn left at the T Junction as you reach the village and a few yards further brings you to the very pleasant looking Silver Plough public house. This attractive white painted pub is fronted with two well manicured lawns with garden tables and chairs all equipped with smart Hall and Woodhouse Badger Beer umbrellas for our scorching hot weather. Al Fresco drinking on these lawns would be a very nice experience indeed!
Hall and Woodhouse are a well respected Dorset brewer and their “Badger” branded beers are brewed close to the bustling market town of Blandford Forum. The interior of the pub is welcoming and comfortable with plenty of space to eat and drink.
Cask Badger beers are served in fine form on handpump and should include, First Gold (OG 1036) an excellent quaffing beer with a malty fruity flavour that is balanced with spicy hop and my personal favourite the flavoursome and complex Tanglefoot (OG 1047) a surprising pale beer with a sweet spicy fruitiness that is never overwhelming as it cleverly balanced with crispy hop favours that make Tanglefoot a most enjoyable beer. Also expect to see seasonal Hall and Woodhouse beers on sale depending on the time you visit.
My wife and I had an enjoyable Friday evening here in May and we enjoyed the beers and the food. The menu gave us lots of choice, the portions were generous and not too overpriced. The pudding menu looked interesting but we were both too full to manage anything.
The Silver Plough at Pitton is so easily reached from Salisbury Hillside and it is even conveniently signposted so, with good food and drink on offer, there is no good reason not to visit!
