Wainwright country....

Saturday 29th September 2018

Arrived at the Camping and Caravan site at Keswick. Chose a pitch by the lake and overlooking Catbells. It was very busy on arrival and apparently busy all year round. It’s location suits us very well, within walking distance to the town, which always seems to be bustling with life. And of course, the gateway to some great walks.

Unfortunately, our stay wasn’t really long enough for us to get kitted out in our walking gear. But instead sat gazing out at the magnificent view and reminiscing on our past experiences of climbing the fells around Borrow dale.
Like our very first experience of climbing up to Dock Tarn from Stonethwaite to the summit of Great Crag. Then descending  to Watendlath Beck and back to Rosthwaite, where we were based at the time. That's when we got hooked and hungry to climb more fells.
We conquered High Seat and Bleaberry fells, Castle Crag and the lovely Borrowdale valley. Catbells, Maiden Moor, High Spy and Newlands valley was another adventure. Not forgetting  Sciddaw, our highest climb.
Great memories,  and still more walks to discover next time we're here.

                                          Keswick town

                                           Early morning mist over Derwentwater

Fix and go.....

When touring there is always something to fix...

 A whistle could be heard far off in the hills, that familiar sound of a steam engine. There seemed to be an extra express train running today, the City of Wells. We made a dash across the site to get a good spot for a photo, jostling with our fellow campers.

Next day, we were back on the road heading to the Lake District. To the camping and Caravan site at Keswick. On the way we stopped off on the M6 at a cafe and farm shop, bought a couple of pork pies from the deli counter.

Power cut on site.....

Thursday 27th September 2018

Early rise this morning, had Breakfast before the power cut, that was to last until about 5pm. Decided it was a good day to take a trip into Manchester. We walked into Bury and caught a tram to Manchester.

                               It was our first visit to Manchester, and decided to get off at the end of the line at Piccadilly. Alas, we had overshot and really needed to be at Piccadilly Gardens. We walked back and found ourselves along the canal, noticed a lot of building work going on. Looked like apartments.

Finally arrived at Piccadilly Gardens.

Caught another tram to Salford Quays. Really impressed with the trams, a great way to get around the city.

Salford Quays 

         

                      Imperial War Museum

We came across the Imperial War Museum. Ant remembered that he had been told by the London Imperial War Museum that a painting of his uncle Freddie and three other officers was stored in the Salford museum. 

We went to see if it was on display but it wasn't. The museum exhibition team checked through their records to confirm if the painting was in their archives. 

Air Shard jutting up over 180 feet high.

Had lunch while this was going on and returned back later to find their records were showing the painting is in storage at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Not currently on display.

We will be visiting Duxford in the very near future. Hopefully to see this painting by Anthony Gross and named :

50th Northumbrian Division 1944,
5th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment

Showing 4 officers standing around a table discussing war tactics of the imminent D Day, one being Ant's uncle, Lieutenant T F Lowe MC.

Outside the BBC building.

Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Tuesday 25th September 2018
Back on the road today, travelling to Lancashire, to Burrs Country Park at Bury.  The journey took longer than we had planned. We encountered long delays on the M6 between junction 15 and 18.  Still arrived about 3.

Parked up and put on dinner. Then walk to stretch legs.
Picked up info, Bury famous market?... probably go tomorrow and maybe Manchester on Thursday? There is a Steam Train, station near site so may do that too.

As planned, we walked into Bury the next day, and had a look around Bury Market. It was quite an eye opener, the market was seen to be well supported by locals and coach loads of visitors. Something we haven’t experienced in the South for a long time.

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After walking around Bury town centre, we took the steam train back to the camp site. 

Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Thursday 21st September 2018

Today, is the start of our tour up to Scotland in our ‘twin’.
Our first stop off is at Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site.

Had great difficulty picking a pitch. We found a potential pitch and placed a chair on the pitch as our marker. Whilst Ant filled the van with drinking water, I had another look around for a better pitch.
Alas.... noticed an influx of fellow campers arriving so decided to take our first option quickly.

After sorting ourselves out on the pitch we walked to the town. Can understand why the site is so popular, it’s only a short walk to the town, which is always a bonus.

 

We had a couple of days overcast and rain. Fortunately Sunday, was much brighter, so we took another walk into Moreton-in-Marsh. Popping into the Wellington Air Museum.

Bingham Grange Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Sunday 2nd September 2018

Woke to a bright day and set off to the lock up more or less on time.
Picked up the ‘Twin’ and away we went.
Had a good drive to Bridport and arrived at Bingham Grange Caravan and Motorhome Club Site in the early afternoon.

Monday had a chill out day. Had an evening meal in the restaurant on site.

Tuesday we caught the bus into Bridport. Had a full English breakfast in a hotel of very good value.


Wednesday we drove and parked up at Burton Bradstock, Hive Beach and Chesil Beach.
 A National Trust area.

Lovely walks along the coast path.

 Well worth a visit, very good fish restaurant.

Thursday
Extended our stay for another two nights. Parked up again at Hive Beach. Followed the coastal path to West Bay. Passed Freshwater Beach Holiday Park which has a golf course.

Summer in the West Country

We were fortunate to enjoy the warm summer months in the West Country, in our 'Adria Twin'.

We re-visited Charmouth Camping and Caravan site at Raymonds Hill from 16th - 19th July 2018.

Putts Corner, Caravan and Motorhome site at Sidford, Devon from 19th - 22nd July 2018

Ilminster Caravan and Motorhome site, off A303 from  22nd - 26th July 2018

At Devizes on an independent site, conveniently near a farmshop from 26th - 29th July 2018

Family get-together

Suki

Returned to the Ilminster site from 29th July - 7th Aug 2018.

We found this site is very well located to explore much of Somerset, especially the Somerset Levels and the Polden Hills, West Devon and  Dorset areas.