Our Summer Tour
Our Southern Tour
Brand new MOT and OTRA was again ready for the road. South and better weather this time, we hoped.
On 2nd July we left home, and 500 yards later joined the A74(M) and the motorway network south to join the M6 at Gretna. OTRA positively purred all the way to Killington Lake Services where we had a sandwich and comfort break. Then in brilliant sunshine back on the M6 all the way to sunny Southport.
Our SatNav found the Caravan Club Site at the end of the promenade with ease, and after welcome by efficient and friendly wardens, we were soon doing a grand tour of the site in search of the MVSP and our pitch.
This site, split into old and new sections, has good facilities accessible to all members including disabled people. It is however a bit minimalist and functional in appearance although this will probably improve as the larger new section matures.
Southport, with its pier, supermarkets, restaurants and shops is but a short walk away through Victoria Park. Here is a town that is designed for ease of access for elderly and disabled people, while remaining attractive for all. Southport is an ideally located site.
It was the beginning of the holiday, so we gradually wound down, visited and explored the town, especially the restaurants and tourist traps, and geared up for the next leg of our journey.
After three days we left Southport and rejoined the M6 south to the M5 at Birmingham and then south west to Somerset. There was much easy motorway driving, but as we neared the site we joined roads that narrowed on an alarmingly regular basis.
But we reached Exebridge Lakeside safe and sound to be welcomed warmly by the warden. Once set up we headed for The Anchor Public House less than half a mile away. There we found wine, cider and excellent food available at affordable prices.
We identified a bus stop for later use outside The Anchor, and with no hills between pub and site, we knew we had found another excellent location that suited our needs.
Five relaxing days were spent at Lakeside, which included two visits to Tiverton, one to Taunton, one to Dulverton, and a trip on a horse drawn barge on the Grand Western Canal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Western_Canal
We spent a wonderful time at Exebridge Lakeside, soaking up the slower gentler pace of life and relaxing into the ambiance of rural Somerset. So it was with a heavy heart that we left for Ludlow on the start of the trek north on the Friday morning.
We had coordinated well this time, and north of Bristol on the M5 provisioned the van and filled up with LPG at a superstore not half a mile from the motorway. We lunched in a lay-by en route, and arrived at Ludlow Touring Park mid afternoon, to find an impressive Reception and a warm welcome from professional helpful staff.
Everything about the site speaks of quality. From the fine road into and around the site, to the excellent facilities and well laid out pitches. Everything is well maintained and the design well thought out. Camping and Caravanning does not get much better than this.
We spent Friday afternoon and evening recovering from our journey and settling in. On Saturday morning we walked the 400 yards to the bus stop and took the bus into Ludlow.
Ludlow is a bustling market town with fine examples of medieval and Tudor timber framed houses. It boasts 500 listed buildings and was described by Sir John Betjeman as probably the loveliest town in England.
There is a daily market in the Market Square, and the town is packed with unique shops and pubs and restaurants serving good food. This is not one of those towns that looks like every other town you ever visited. Ludlow is a town with a unique character and the individual shops to match.
We watched a fine display of Morris Dancing performed by the colourful Shropshire Bedlams and their lassies in front of the castle then had lunch in a local pub. The food was good and the portions more than adequate.
The bus back and short walk to the site allowed us time to relax and even do a little sunbathing before bedtime. Sunday was a quiet day with a short walk and lots of reading, but on Monday we went back to Ludlow as we had found it so fascinating.
This time the town was quieter, although the market was again set up in the Square. We were able to look round the many stalls before exploring the quaint and somewhat old fashioned shops, look round St Laurences Parish Church which is the largest in Shropshire, and have a closer look at the 11th century Ludlow Castle.
After a fine lunch, it was the bus back and time to pack up ready to continue the journey north next day. This is certainly a site we will return to. Set in a beautiful part of Shropshire, this affiliated site must be one of the best on the circuit.
Tuesday dawned fair and sunny, and by 0900 we were set on the road north. We dipped in and out of Wales as we followed the SatNav directions to join the M6.
Again we had coordinated well, and at Telford we provisioned and filled with LPG at a superstore, then back on the road north to arrive at Kendal Caravan Club Site in mid afternoon.
We received the usual warm welcome from efficient wardens, but did not find this site to our taste. For us the heavily shaded small pitches with no sunlight breaking through were depressing. And the amenities, though well maintained and kept clean and tidy, showed their age.
It is true this is not really a site for us, as we cannot walk far and hills and rough roads are particularly difficult for us, all features which abound in this area and are so beloved by many. Kendal will do for us for one night stopovers due to its proximity to the M6, but no more.
We left on Thursday morning in fair weather and the sun shining, and after the short drive north were home before lunchtime.
Our summer tour was over just in time to avoid the start of the English School Holidays. OTRA had performed magnificently, giving excellent fuel consumption. We will miss her and our touring, but we cannot return to our travels until mid September. We look forward to seeing you all then.
