Our gap year touring the UK in our motorcaravan

It was the day my husband told me he was retiring early, that we realized we could plan in earnest our year- long travel around the UK, to start in November 2012. Letting our home out enables us to pay campsite fees with plenty of spending money for museums and exhibitions. Our blog address is moanontheroad.blogspot

 We planned to start in the New Forest from our home in Devon, gradually working our way up the county to visit Scotland in the summer, and leaving Wales until last. We are giving the South West a miss as that is our home base. November started off so wet and stormy that electricity outage caused our heater to pack up. Oh no, week one! After that we moved away from the smaller sites to the luxury of Club Sites, tending to stay for about a week. We have found the Caravan Club Sites are amongst the best and mostly book these. Friends and family have encouraged us, reading our blog and turning up trumps when we arrive in their neighbourhood.

Our fuel bill so far is under £900 as public transport, cycling and walking are mostly our means of getting around. We made an exception for the stunning Bowes Museum. Despite the freezing winter we have been out every day but one enjoying ourselves. It was disappointing that Club Sites did not clear ice from the roads. I was really scared both walking and driving. Spring was so late that daffodils and bluebells bloomed alongside each other in late May in Durham. Summer arrived as we arrived in Melrose, and is still with us.

We are in our tenth month and are surprised we have not met others with the same idea. Britain always has something to offer – with so much history and beauty just around the corner. We even saw Prince Charles. Accents are diverse, even within an hour of each other. People are generally very friendly and funny. Edinburgh bus drivers are considerate and courteous. On the downside, there is litter everywhere, and no one seems bothered. Dogs can be a real nuisance with some owners being remarkably casual about dog discipline.

Sadly we are leaving Scotland, but excitingly we head off to Ireland. This is how it is every week – a tinge of sadness, but the thrill of a new place. The end is in sight as we start to make plans to return to Devon in November, and then we can head off to Canada to visit our new grandson. What will our next scheme be I wonder!!