Trip to Evesham May 2007

Thurs 10th May






We set of at about 10.30 and arrived at Evesham Vale Caravan Site about 12.00. It was quite cool and very windy. Rich put the awning up with great difficulty had to hold tight to stop it taking off.


We went to Evesham as Marg & Bri have a static van there, they found us this site a couple of miles from theirs. The site was in an old orchard and pitches were marked out with fruit trees. The shower & toilets were acceptable but not wonderful, £11.50 per night. As we were just finishing setting up they arrived. Rich & Bri finished taming the awning whilst Marg & V had a cup of tea. We chatted for a while then they went back to prepare evening meal. We went to their van and had a meal and watched a bit of television before going back to bed.

Fri 11th May

Marg & Bri came for us and we went to Snowshill Manor, a National Trust property.

"Snowshill Manor is a manor house containing the extraordinary collection of Charles Wade Paget. The collection includes armour, clocks, toys and bicycles. The garden is also a delight to stroll through."











This was quite an odd place to visit, dark and gloomy and the collection was extensive and weird, many huge imposing Japanese cabinets, suits of Samurai armour, model houses, the whole atmosphere was oppressive. The gardens were nice and laid out in different "rooms" we managed to get round without getting caught in the rain. We had a hot drink in the restaurant then had a picnic in the car park. Back to our van where we had a BBQ. Played cards for a while then M & B went home.




Sat 12th May



Whilst eating breakfast we watched a Green Woodpecker for quite a while, he was hammering away at the ground, presumably after his breakfast.
Went to M & B's and they drove us to Evesham Wildlife/Shopping Centre where we bought a couple of plants. Back to M & B's for lunch then M & V went to Pershore while men watched Grande Prix. Pershore a nice town with some nice small shops and a good market. Again rain managed to hold off but quite cool. Back to get changed and off to The Bell Inn for a meal. Most enjoyable meal.




Sun 13th May.

Up early and away. Home by 10.30.

Wiltshire, Dorset & Cornwall Spring 2007

Friday March 23rd

We set off at 10.30 and arrived at Honeysuckle Homestead site at 3.15. The site was at Dinton, near Wilton, Wiltshire. We had a very friendly welcome from the owner and as we were the only people there had our choice of pitches. It was cold and windy while we set up, so after getting tea we had an early night. Nice site, close to a railway line but otherwise rural plenty of rabits some black some usual wild rabits, site owner said they had been there as long as they had so must be keeping to their own kind for breeding. We saw phesants and partridge as well. No shower or toilet blockbut at £7 good value.

Sat March 24th

We awoke to another cold, grey, windy day. We drove to Fordingbridge to meet Wendy & Sid, Wyn's parents-in-law for an excellent meal at the Tudor Rose pub, for which they insisted on paying. We drove to Wilton and called at the factory shopping mall. After a big meal at lunch we had a snack tea.

Sun March 25th

We had a cooked breakfast then went in to Tesco at Salisbury for a bit of shopping. We drove on to Old Sarum which was very interesting.

"The great earthwork of Old Sarum stands near Salisbury on the edge of Wiltshire’s chalk plains. Its mighty ramparts were raised in about 500 BC by Iron Age peoples, and later occupied by the Romans, the Saxons and, most importantly, the Normans. William the Conqueror paid off his army here in 1070, and in 1086 summoned all the great landowners of England here to swear an oath of loyalty. A Norman castle was built on the inner mound and joined soon afterwards by a royal palace. By the middle of the 12th century a new town occupied much of the great earthwork, complete with a noble new Norman cathedral, the mother church of a huge diocese.But Norman Sarum was not destined to thrive. Soldiers and priests quarelled, and life on the almost waterless hilltop became intolerable. The solution was a move downhill to the new settlement now known as Salisbury, where a new cathedral was founded in 1220. Thereafter Old Sarum went into steep decline. Its cathedral was demolished and its castle was eventually abandoned."

It was quite sunny but cold wind We went on to Stonehenge and Woodhenge but only stopped for quick photo as the wind was so cold. BBQ’d steak for evening meal .

Mon March 26th

Drove to Southampton to see Jean. She had a friend from Australia staying with her, we had a cup of tea, a nice cake and a natter with them.

We then drove down to Browndown to have a look at the house we lived in when Dad was in the Marines during the 40s. The camp is now a training camp and there were cadets on the gate but they let me go in to have a look. I was surprised at how emotional I felt and how many memories it brought back, considering I was only 6 when we left there, it looked very familiar to me. The weather picked up and it was sunny but still with a cool breeze, back to van for tea.

Tue March 7th

Went to Christchurch to see Dot, who I worked with in the 60s. She took us a walk around the town and through the park by the river, dozens of swans on the water. She gave us a nice lunch then we walked round the Priory, it was a lovely day, warm and sunny. When we got back we got changed and went to

a nearby pub, The Ship Inn, for a meal. It was a nice meal but very expensive.

Wed March 28th

After early mist the day turned warm and sunny.

We went for a walk round Wilton but it was half day closing so nowhere much open, found an ironmongers where we got a few things we needed and had a look at the Italianate Church.

Thurs Mar 29th

A heavy shower about 6am but it cleared up and was cooler with sunny spells. We packed up and drove to Moreton Camping & Caravan Club site near Portland. We arrived about 12 pm and set up. We were on a hard standing and had to keep everything on the hard standing, it was almost impossible to get the wind breaks in but there was room for the car. Other people on grass sites seemed to be able to spread out a lot more. It was not a bad site though, facilities good and a small wooded dog walk. After lunch we drove to Portland Bill. This was very interesting, a lot more built up then we thought it would be. We drove to a viewing point and looked over Chesil Beach.

We then we drove on to the prison which is on the site of an old citadel. There is also a “High Angle Battery” which was used for defence, firing missiles onto any invading ships

"The Isle of Portland has dramatic scenery, spectacular views and a remarkable history that is reflected in the landscape and man's influence upon it. Portland has been occupied since prehistoric times, with remain of Mesolithic settlement still evident. The Romans left over 300 stone coffins, and the Tudors built Portland Castle in 1540, an outstanding example of one of the sea defences commissioned by Henry VIII, and now managed by English Heritage and open to the public. Medieval inhabitants left their mark with the strip fields system or linchets. More recent fortifications such as the High Angle Battery provide an insight into the protection of the Island in the 19th Century. "

We stopped and had a short walk on Chesil Beach then back for tea. It was sunny but again a cool breeze.

Fri Mar 30th

After breakfast we went to Monkey World at Wool, near Wareham, as featured on Animal Planet. We were sad to hear that Jim Cronin, the founder with his wife Alison, had recently died. We did see Jeremy, one of the keepers who features in the TV show. It was a wonderful place, the animals all seem well looked after with all their needs supplied. It is a huge site but is laid out so that you can get very good views of the animals. There is also a wild life walk with lots of feeders and a great variety of birds. It was cold and breezy but the sun was quite warm at times.

Sat 31st Mar

After a cooked breakfast we packed up and set off for Cornwall. We left at 9.30am and arrived at 1.30pm, the sun was trying to come through the mist all the way. The site was Tregarton Park near Mevagissey and we had booked in for 10 nights as it was only £4.95 a night. A very nice site with good facilities, quite big and we were a long way from them and even further from the dog field. It was quite when we got there but as it was Easter during our stay it got very busy, but it was well run and we would recommend it. We were glad we had the Smart car though as it is a bit off the beaten track along narrow country roads, without the car it would have been difficult to get around much. I was also lazy and used the car to get to showers and dog walk! We were very worried about Jilly because she had not been eating for a few days and we had been tempting her with all the treats we could think of, I ended up ringing the vet and was recommended to stop some of her medication and she did pick up toward the end of our stay here and start to eat a bit. This is the reason we took her in the car as she was not up to walking to the field and back up the hill. After we had set up we went to Asda in St Austell for supplies.

Sun Apr 1st

As it was cloudy and a cool wind we went to Cornish Market World at St. Austell, this is a huge indoor market, lots of £1 stalls. We drove to Carlyon bay but unable to get to beach as a lot of work going on, it was not at all picturesque.

We then went on to Charlestown and had a drink and some chips sitting outside a harbour side pub. The sun came out and it was quite warm.

Charlestown Harbour

Mon Apr 2nd

We went to The Eden Project, it was wonderful, very well worth the visit.

Outside the gardens were planted with what must have been thousands of tulips in banks of colour, also hyacinths from which the smell was glorious.

The Biomes were wonderful. It was busy but not too crowded, to make it uncomfortable.

It was warm and sunny away from the breeze. We went back to the site and sat outside for a while.

Tue Apr 3rd

Drove around the lanes and ended up at Mevagissy. We found it much changed from when we’d been there last, a lot more commercialised and also a lot of ongoing work expanding the walk round the harbour. Had a fish and chip lunch looking over the harbour. Drove back through lanes looking in at Carnmogas where we used to go 20 years ago for holidays. Back to site and sat in sun for a while.

Wed Apr 4th

Took Jilly to the nearest beach at Caerhays.

Lovely cove and beach, warm & sunny out of wind. Jilly managed a paddle. Rich collected mussels off the rocks for his tea. Back and sat in sun before tea.

Thurs Apr 5th

Visited Lanhydrock house, a National Trust property.

"Magnificent late Victorian country house with extensive servants' quarters, gardens and wooded estate
Stunning seventeenth-century gatehouse and long gallery
The ultimate 19th-century 'Upstairs/Downstairs' experience
Fabulous collection of spring-flowering magnolias and bluebell woods."

This was very interesting, not too grand and formal but more homely, wonderful gardens full of magnolias and rhododendrons. Warm & sunny again.

Fri Apr 6th

Went to another local beach at Gorran Haven, another lovly cove and harbour, more breakers here and we watched some lads trying to surf, warm & sunny again. When back at van sat outside and chatted to couple sited next to us who were down for the weeked.

Sat Apr 7th

Found the Lost Gardens of Heligan a couple of miles down road from site, glad we did as they were wonderful, bigger then expected with lots of rhododendrons, camellias & magnolias. A wildlife area with hides with one way glass where you could see birds really close.












Had a picnic lunch, sunny & warm again.



Sun Apr 8th

Easter Sunday. Went to Market World again and Asda and drove back through local lanes, sat in sun in afternoon.

Mon Apr 9th

Drove down to St Mawes and sat looking over towards Falmouth for a while. Drove round looking at lots of small villages and coves ended up in Portloe where we had a pub meal as it was our wedding anniversary.

Tue Apr 10th

Moved down to Dove Meadows site at Marazion, a really nice site, quite small and facilities basic but friendly and very close to beach, no extra charges for awning, dog or car., it is also close to an RSPB nature reserve. After we set up we had lunch then drove to Gulval

and Madron which is where our Curnow ancestors come from, had a mooch round graveyards but nothing different to see.

Gulval Church

Warm & sunny again. In the evening we took Jilly a walk as she was getting quite a bit better and eating more. We walked along the reed beds on the nature reserve, there were lots of trout jumping in the stream and we saw heron, swans & ducks with duckling amongst others.

Wed Apr 11th

Went to St Michael’s Mount, there was a ferry to take us across.

It was a steep climb up to the house in hot sun but it was well worth it. The house was interesting and views wonderful it felt more like the Continent than England the sea was so blue. We could see over to the peninsular to Penzance with Gulval church standing out clearly. We had lunch sitting outside the café and wanted to walk back over the causeway butit was not open for another couple of hours so took ferry back. In the evening we walked along the reed beds again.

Thurs Apr 12th

Drove to The Lizard where we were lucky enough to see a pair of choughs that are nesting there, carefully guarded by local volunteers.





"The Chough is included in the county's coat of arms alongside the miner and the fisherman, reflecting the bird's importance in Cornish culture. It also appears regularly in Cornish legend and it is said that King Arthur was transformed into a chough when he died, the red feet and beak representing his violent, bloody end."


One of the volunteers had an oiled Manx Shearwater that he was taking to be cleaned up. We went on to Kynance Cove which is beautiful, again looking more Mediterranean than English with the turquoise water, silver sand and hot sun.Quite a climb down and back up again but worth it. Went on to Gunwalloe where we had a picnic then on for a walk around Porthleven.


Fri April 13th

Packed up and set off for home. It was a very long journey, over 8 hours, due mostly to road works on the A30.


All the time we were in Cornwall Spring was advancing trees starting to show green with gorse and blackthorn flowering, the lanes were full of wild flowers, wild garlic, primroses (more than I’ve seen in years), alexanders (didn’t know it, had to look it up), gorse, violets and blue bells predominantly.