Familiar Places or Pastures New?

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edited November 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1
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  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #2

    I must admit we have a few old favourites but these tend to be those places where we visit family and friends. As for holidays we enjoy the new pastures and broadening our experiences. It's so easy to overlook GB too, so many new places off the beaten track here which are well worthy of exploring.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,048 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #3

    Not overseas AD, but Cornwall drew us like a magnet for 20 years for our long Summer holiday. On the whole we were always very lucky with the weather, so we just kept going back. Plus we located a second van down there to make flying up and down easier. The one time we headed up to Scotland instead for Summer felt alien, and it rained as well, on both coasts! We have been to lots of new places in Uk these last four years in MH, plus we love cottage holidays as well on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

    France, with all its history, castles, landscapes is calling to me when we finally get the chance to go overseas. 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #4

    We go to the New Forrest as a "blot hole" at various times of the year ,but our main trip way we tend to go to somewhere new , Scotland or Northumberland is top of our list at the moment 

     

    AD, where had you thought of going ?

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2017 #5
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #6

    In the UK we do tend to go back to the sites we have been to before and it's difficult to try a new site when you know that a particular site suits you (or one) very much. Having said that while we use the same site the places we visit from that site are mostly different but perhaps haven't been to from a few years.

    when travelling on package holidays however it;s always a new place each time but we always book through Cooks or Thomson as (so far) they have never let us down

  • Unknown
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #8

    Yes know what you mean exactly

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited November 2017 #9

    AD, thats the big issue.....time....

    we normally 'do' two overseas vanning trips a year, no set time but generally 'autumn' and spring' .....with the uk stuff fitting around this.

    the trouble is, we want to do, just about everywhere in mainland europe (including going in totally opposite directions....) and the uk lakes, scotland, east angularwink, northumberland.....the list goes on.....

    we do tend to influenced by the weather (why not) and would be so annoyed to have tried a tour here and got drowned....doesnt seem to 'hurt' as much somehow when we get poor weather 'away'....not too often but this spring in France was rubbish...

    so, loads to do, many new places on the radar.....hope to make it to some in 2018...

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #10

    We spend a lot of time down in Cornwall but that's because we invested in a static van down there when I retired. So we don't really regard that as holiday time. In the UK we do a couple of 2 week tours each year, rarely returning to the same sites but often familiar areas (Yorkshire, The Lakes, Peak District, North Wales). We also spend several shorter breaks and these tend to be closer to home at sites we know.

    Our biggest change over the past few years has been what we look for in overseas holidays. When I was working we'd go on pretty standard package trips in Southern Europe. Now we look for more active multi centre holidays further afield. Never been disappointed but wouldn't want to go back a second time in case it didn't live up to our previous experience. In January we'll be off to Costa Rica for a two week tour. smile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2017 #11

    We have used Ferry Meadows as our "bolt hole" several times a year since 1985 and when we were at work would take c/van there on a thursday and commute to work and return on the friday from peterborough,stn

    Hillhead was our long summer trip of three weeks for seven years when grandchildren were wanting to come with us(all now "to old?")

    Southlands on IOW since before it was caravan club to visit brother every year,

    Other trips we try to find somewhere new in the uk,

    We no longer do "over there" except one place that is a must before to late ,and that is Amsterdam as soon as direct service from St Pancras is running we are going

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,048 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #12

    We used to visit Northumberland quite a bit when we were first married, a good few years ago. We have rediscovered it in last four years, been all over, coast, Moors, Wall, inland. Stunning county, rarely full of folks as well, we have a regular Xmas break up there. I am not over fond of the Lakes, but need to explore more there as well. We went back to South Wales this Autumn, after a thirty year break, and took in mid Wales, very new to us.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #13

    I don't feel happy until I make a return visit to Scotland, usually every two years now and not often to the tourist "hotspots" there (or should that be the fairly chilly spots?! wink) Also have to have a Lakeland fix every year.

    Although we'd like to take the van further afield at some point personally I've no great urge to see Europe, I saw quite a bit of it when younger so I'd be quite "picky" about possible places. OH wants to visit friends in N Germany so we might go there again one day and keep on travelling north to Scandinavia.

    We're happy mooching around Devon as it's near to home and suits us for short breaks. Would like to see more of Ireland too so that's on the cards, nice not to have been everywhere and done everything. smile

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #14

    North Norfolk our bolthole in the UK.  We go abroad twice a year, sometimes to the same country but different area.  This year we went to Rugen on the German Baltic.  Next year hope to go further east to Lithuania and Latvia

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #15

    We try to do a different area every time we go away, we go away to see new places.  Resting we can do at home.  We do not need a bolt hole.

    Only places in UK we have been several times are where we have relatives/friends to visit, places still to see,  or stopovers on the way to somewhere else.

    Still plenty of Europe and UK to see.

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #16

    Just googled Murcia and put in the wrong spelling and it came up with Middle  England frown, now found the right one , looks some great places to visit ......

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2017 #17
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  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #18

    Always somewhere new but we build in somewhere we can count on, so if going to The Freisian Islands for example we will call in on places we have spent some time at in Northern Germany or Holland just in case we don't like the somewhere new.

    Our last trip to Germany included 4 new areas but 2 familiar ones.

    Try to have the same principle for the UK. 

    If we only have a short break then we'll head for somewhere we know well.

     

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #19

    We only travel in the UK, now a-days, and every year do a mixture of both old and new areas and sites. However this winter we're using 5 sites that we've used before, although hope to fit in one or two new ones after those 5.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,863 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #20

    When we worked we were more inclined to go back to the same sites or same places abroad. However since we retired it has given us the opportunity to tour and even going back to the same country we will nearly always visit places new to us. I think the longest we have ever stayed in one place is two weeks and usually a week is long enough for us. Sitting around in one place for weeks on end doesn't really do it for us

    David 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2017 #21

    Having spent the past fourteen years at the same apartment in Spain two or three times a year, I am looking forward to taking the MH to the continent and visiting a few other places. By and large we do tend to explore new areas with the van.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #22

    What we do in our motorhome is have it fully stocked ready to go at the drop of a hat on our drive including a minimum of one evening and one breakfast. This means that we can 'take off' on a whim If the mood takes, stop off on the route and make drinks etc. and also, hit the ground running if needed once we arrive. 

    We always have a break from the van once a year too. This new year it's Costa Rica on a wildlife trip!

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2017 #23
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  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #24

    Facinating place, no armed forces, great national pride and ethos based on family, environment, community and nature. Does Matt appreciate and prefer this to Ambridge?wink

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2017 #25
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  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #26

    We are talking the same thing but  that's the beauty of our pastime, the variety, options and alternatives we can 'pick' from. It's also good to hear of those many differences, and similarities, as they inform others who may be making, for them, what could be difficult choices & decisions or just choosing a different direction or destination.

    By hitting the ground running, I meant we can arrive on site knowing we need not rush off to find food etc for at the minimum a couple of days if need be and can so just concentrate on enjoying the start of our holiday! Obviously, for some that finding shops and exploring the area immediately might be just what they enjoy.

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
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    edited November 2017 #27

    We only return to one place every year where my family and school friends live and the walking is excellent. That has a CL with full facilities  If I go without the wife, I use a more basic CL. Next year may be the last time for a while.

    Otherwise, we have an informal rule that we do not visit the same places without at least a three year gap. Apart from the CLs, Moorhampton is the site we have visited the most - four times in 27 years!

    We've never visited a site more than once when abroad.

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited November 2017 #28

    We have yet to revisit a site but no doubt that day will come. smile

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #29

    Saw an interesting statistic the other day, Micky. Costa Rica managed to have a run of over 300 continuous days where the power for the whole country was supplied by renewable energy. Always fancied a visit, particularly for the wildlife. Enjoy yourself.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #30

    We tend to have a mix of new and old when touring with the van. This year we went to 16 new sites abroad over 2 trips and revisited 4 sites, these only because they are useful places on route. The areas we visited were mostly new to us we enjoyed all of them but for different reasons.

    We do go back to Lanzarote every year for the first 3 weeks of March to our timeshare apartment. Before retired we only owned 1 week but have since added another 2. Never thought we would keep going back to the same place but we enjoy it, we meet new faces and some of the same ones so its always different. Its a good way to kick start the new season and shake off the cobwebs. 

    When out and about in the UK again we tend to do a mix of new and old, this next year we will have lots more choice as we have just joined the other club so lots more sites and areas to investigate.

    We also tend to take a holiday where we have to fly somewhere so that tends to be a new place each time, busy working our way around cruises over winter just now.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #31

    We tend to vary things, but we do have one or two 'anchor sites that we visit in the UK.  Probably our most used site in the UK is Globe Vale in Cornwall, especially at the moment as our youngest daughter is down at Falmouth University.  Another site that we've started to use a few times a year is Blackshaw Moor CAMC as it's only a couple of hundred yards from our eldest daughters.

    In Europe we have a handful of sites we occasionally revisit: Burgen on the Mosel, La Columbiere at Neydens Nr Geneva, the old Municipal at Chalon-en-Champagne (less of a favourite for us - and becoming even less of a favourite as time goes on), and Le Bregoux at Aubignan, near Carpentras.  We don't go to all of them each time we go across, but if we are in the area, they tend to be anchor points.

    David