Dougal's Dog Blog. Entry 15: Meathop Fell, Cumbria
From Cornwall and Dorset, guess where we were heading to next? Somewhere sensible like South Wales or Kent?
Nope. Next stop Scotland. Or at least, it would have been had it been possible to drive it all in one hit with a caravan. But common sense prevailed and we stopped for two nights at Meathop Fell as it's only a few miles from the M6.
It took us just eight hours with plenty of walkies breaks to get to the South Lakes, and as we rolled in after dark we were grateful of a Late Night Arrival Area.
The next day, it rained and rained and rained. And just as we thought it was going to stop raining, it carried on raining. This is why the picture you see of me is in the van, as the Human That I Own wasn't going to get his camera wet.
Three times during the day that we spent at this very pretty site, we togged up in our waterproofs and headed out for some fresh air and to check out the doggy facilities. Directly opposite the site is a small area of woodland on the side of a hill. It was great to wander around and investigate all the smells, but it wasn't really the kind of place we could play ball. The Human had to keep his eyes down as there were lots of gnarly tree roots around, not to mention all the squishy mud.
We didn't venture very far at all. It was a rest and relaxation day before we pressed on further North. So we didn't check the pubs or the local attractions. I'm going to hold off giving Meathop Fell a score of bones as it wouldn't be fair, we didn't really see it properly. But for overnight stops and short stays, it's certainly got everything a dog needs! And it's such a gorgeous site we both want to go back for longer and do it the justice it deserves.
Comments
-
Hi Douglas
Love to read your blog, you must get the human that you own to take you to Clumber Park club site it realy is doggy heaven, our dog Digby gives it 5 bones out of 5 he love it there.
0 -
Hello Brue! Hello John!
Thanks for the tip John. Funnily enough we are planning a trip to a rally in the Lakes in August, and we are meeting up with some Dutch caravanners in Dover and leading them up. I think I shall start pawing the page of Clumber Park in the Sites Directory
while wagging my tail and see if the Human takes the hint. It may be on the 'wrong' side of the country for our route, but I think one of the Dutch Tin Cans on Wheels is as long as an articulated lorry, so Clumber's easy access from the A1 would be just the
ticket. Great idea, thanks!I'm looking forward to meeting my Dutch Doggy friends. I'm even learning to bark in Dutch: Het oueouff, oueouff!
Prima.
0 -
Hi Dougal - thanks for the report & love the photo, you must get an agent to make sure you get your fair dues in bones & toys for putting in all this hard work! Our humans took us to Meathop Fell at Easter this year, we loved the site and Grange over Sands with its great promenade for walkies and there are lots of benches where people were sitting so we got our fair share of admiration and pats from them all. We agree with you that the dog walk area is not really very good, wish there was one on site behind the toilet block for a quick game of fetch! We are off to the north lakes shortly so will compare. Your adoring fans, Skye & Iona x.
0 -
Thanks for the update Skye and Iona. We've just got back from a rally in the Lakes but didn't stop at Clumber in the end, as the Dutch were non-members and by the time you added the non-member fee the cost for them was prohibitive
The Human That I Own wanted to name me after HIS favourite Hebridean island, but he couldn't see himself standing at the edge of a field shouting 'South Uist! South Uist! Come here...' So instead I'm named after a Westie in a red jumper that he met on a
CalMac ferry.It could be worse. He could have called me Ben. Ben Becula.
0 -
Love the photos, we are fair swooning at them all
, our two humans took us to Castlerigg Hall Caravan & Camping Park near Keswick for 10 days
at august BH, weather was not good, we kept getting muddy and having to be washed and dried - we thought we were the bees knees and so did the Westie down the slope. My owner kept going very red in the face each time I waved my bottom in his direction (Human
owner - does rather stifle the conversation) but would only give this site 2 bones out of ten for pooches, dog exercise areas very small, smelly and very wet. We like Keswick though as all the shops, cafe & restaurant & pubs welcome us like royallty - we
could rather get to used to this you know! We have politely pawed the handbook enough at the page for Troutbeck Head CC site for our next trip - a little further from Keswick but equal distance between there and Ullswater and our favourite spot at Glenridding
where we can swim and play to our hearts content. Your adoring no. 1 fans, Skye & Iona0 -
As humans we enjoy this site and have visited in October half term for the last 3 years with some friends who have a son the same age as ours (14). The recent improvements to the toilet block are very nice indeed. And it's a great base for exploring tha
lakes and easy to access. When we had our Labrador (sadly he died last year) we did find the designated dog walk as you describe it but the wardens at the time gave us details of a place nearby - but you would have to go by car - where the dogs could have
a run around without getting too near the roadway which I thought was the main problem at Meathop Fell. So if you need a better area to have a run just ask the very helpful wardens for direction (I've forgotten them!).0 -
Been to this site twice in the Oct half term break - great place.
Easy to get to off the motorway and a brilliant way to find if your outfit is matched when you go up the slope.... :-)
Anyone visiting I would strongly suggest and recommend :-
Higginsons in Grange - a PROPER Butchers and the pies....simply to die for.
Meathop Grange - the hotel behind the site - dinner is thoroughly recommended as a treat, and they do good beer a well.
You know what, all this talk we just might book again for October....
Visit and enjoy.
0 -
I would just like to say a big thanks to Dougal for all the information about where is best for us to stay. I too go with my humans for holidays in the caravan ( yes I know what it's called ) I get really excited everytime they mention that word. I wait
patiently by the car, while they go in and out of my home, just in case they forget me but of course they never do. We've have just had a good time at Low Moor near a place called Whitby and Sandsend where there is a beach that I go on and can chase pebbles
along the sand and have my annual swim-Great! The site has a good walkies area- all woods it is lovely and clean too although there are plenty of good smells. I do miss chasing my frisby though but am quite happy walking round on my lead and meeting lots of
different people who all make a fuss of me. Well must go now as am ready to woof at my Mum to let me out in the garden. Bye for now Skye (I'm a German Shepherd and a lady to boot)0 -
What a pity that you didn't venture further than the doggie facilities. The Woodland Hotel which is a short walk from the site is great for an evening drink and Grange-over-Sands is a lovely place to visit - although we had trouble with the sands bit as
there is no beach! I agree that the Higginsons Pie Shop is well worth going to - we came back with some for our freezer. There is also a lovely little garden centre next to the car park in Grange so we came back laden with plants for the garden as well! Also
worth visiting in the are are: Cartmel, Levens Hall and Sizegh Castle. Do go back for a longer visit.0 -
Thanks for all the comments, folks! At the end of the day my Dog Blog is just that - a Blog for Dogs. I think that you humans already have plenty of resources to read about sites and share stories.
Always lovely to hear from other dogs. Now I have two correspondants called Skye as well as an online friend Iona. The Human That I Own was going to name me after HIS favourite Hebridean Island but decided that 'North Uist' wasn't either appropriate or catchy.
I am of course always pleased to receive updates to what I've put, if anyone has received different experiences, if I've made a boo-boo, or if someone has more details of the facilities that I have missed. It all adds to my ammunition for when I want to
persuade the Human That I Own to go back somewhere. That, and breathing on him.Now, where did I put those Tripe chews?
0
