Wednesday 27 May 2009

WOOLLEY BANK FARM - WAKEFIELD [117]




Wednesday 13th May – Sunday 17th May 2009

When I booked this site I was given a code for the electronic gate and you need to park your unit to operate the keypad. I pulled up to the gate but this left my caravan sticking out across part of the roadway. Fortunately the gate moves sideways so it is safe to drive up to it. The pitches are in two grassed areas which slope quiet steeply in places. There are hardstandings but these were occupied by what appeared to be more permanent vans. All the services are around the basic toilet facilities but there is no shower. I approached the site as per the instructions from the Caravan Club, however it can be reached from Woolley Services on the M1, but you need to be aware that this is frowned upon by the local constabulary, you have been warned.

A bus service between Barnsley and Leeds via Wakefield runs along Bretton Lane and there is a large supermarket at nearby Durkar. Plenty to do in surrounding area and the Mining Museum is well worth a visit. There are a few pubs in locality many of which do food. The Emley Moor transmitter is visible from the site so TV reception is good.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£10.00 per night

POOLSBROOK COUNTRY PARK - STAVELEY [116]











Saturday 9th May – Wednesday 13th May 2009

Approaching this site from the M1 at junction 29A is simple but does tend to send the girl in the sat nav into uncontrollable bouts of fresh instructions, most of which are “turn around as soon as possible” Ignore her and follow the instructions from the Caravan Club and she will eventually realize that you are on the right road. One word of warning, there is a speed hump on the approach road which appears to have caught out a few drivers if the scrapes on its crest are anything to go by. The site is compact and spread around the central toilet block. It was busy on the day arrived and I had to pitch on grass as most of the hardstandings were occupied.

It takes about 15 mins to walk into Staveley where there are shops, takeaways, banks, pubs and a supermarket. You can also catch a bus to nearby Chesterfield which has a large outdoor market and everything else associated with a large town. The adjacent country park has walks and fishing including a café. Dog owners have to use this as there is no onsite dog walk.

Details of other attractions in the area are in the onsite information room. TV sockets are available in the hook up bollards.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£10.00 per night [1 adult]

Monday 18 May 2009

LITTLEOVER FARM - LOUGHBOROUGH [115]

Tuesday 5th May – Saturday 9th May 2009

This is a popular compact site in the centre of the village of Sutton Bonington. It is on a level grassed area on the edge of the River Sour flood plane with several hardstanding on paving slabs. The shower and dustbins are in a lean-to on one side of a barn, with fresh water, toilet, information room and toilet emptying point situated near the owners’ home. Eggs are on sale in the information room. The shower costs 50p which gives ample time.

The village has a Post Office and a convenience store, two pubs and a bus runs past the entrance between Nottingham and Loughborough at hourly intervals.

If you enjoy plane spotting then this is the site for you. Aircraft landing at East Midlands Airport pass close and the noise can sometimes be intrusive. However I soon got use to it and apart from a few occasions early in the morning they passed almost unnoticed. Donnington Park motor racing museum is close by and well worth a visit.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£9.00 per night

Friday 15 May 2009

BRAMCOTE MAINS - BEDWORTH [114]







Friday 1st May – Tuesday 5th May 2009

I can’t make my mind up about this site. The pitching area is beautifully located on the edge of a large lake that is very popular with fishermen but it seems caravanners don’t share the fascination. During my stay which was over a Bank Holiday only one other van was onsite, and this was only for a couple of days. The pitches are numbered and I was allotted my pitch number when I booked. They are on a hard area at one side of the lake and all the services are near the toilet and shower block which are available for day fisherman to use. There is a lot going off at Bramcote Mains. Apart from the C/L and fishing the owner told me he stores over 500 caravans and motorhomes, there is an off-road driving area and lamb from the farm is on sale at certain times of the year. Got the impression that the C/L is a small part of the overall business and it gets little or no attention from the owner. One last thing I feel I must mention is that the man who collects the fees from fishermen seems to want to drive his vehicle as fast as possible from peg to peg. Keep an eye on your children and animals when he is about.

A bus passes the drive but I didn’t see a stop except in nearby Bulkington. We drove to the northern Park and Ride for Coventry and had an interesting day looking at what the city had to offer. There is a convenient supermarket adjacent to the Park and Ride. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area but we found that it is necessary to drive to most of them.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£8.00 per night. [Advertised as £12.50. This would be far too much for this site unless it included fishing fees]

Tuesday 12 May 2009

MONKS BARN FARM - STRATFORD-UPON-AVON [113]




Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May 2009

This site is off the A3400 so don’t approach too fast or you will miss it. The farm is a bed and breakfast establishment and is marked on many maps as a commercial caravan site. It also has a rally field. There are pitches for several caravans but the main C/L appears to be on the right. It consists of a mown grassed area; however there are a few hardstanding areas if required. A toilet and shower are situated on the corner of a barn, along with all the other services. Showers cost 20p for 6 minutes, and I found this sufficient as long as you don’t dawdle. Outside is a small information room and near to this eggs and jam are on sale.

A bus to Stratford passes the entrance but is not allowed to stop because it is on a bend. So exit and turn right for a few hundred yards to a stop at Atherstone Turn. Stratford upon Avon had enough visitor attractions to fill my four night stay, but it is popular and can be busy at any time of the year. The information room at the site gave directions to supermarkets and all other services that could be found in and around Stratford.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£8.50 per night. [£9 for visitors under 60 years old]

PEBBLY HILL NURSERIES - BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER [112]




Thursday 23rd April – Monday 27th April 2009

The last few hundred yards to this site are narrow, but there are passing places before you turn left into the approach drive. The pitching area is on the right and has a gate that is usually closed and locked. However the owners told me it is left unlocked when anyone is expected. New arrivals are given a gate key in exchange for a £10 deposit which is refundable on departure. It consists of a well mown grassed field that slopes towards the driveway and appears to get soggy at the bottom during wet weather. A recycling box is given to all visitors with instructions on the inside of the lid.

Why this site is listed under Bourton-on-the-Water when it is nearer to Stow-on-the-Wold is not known but I’m sure there is a good reason. The village of Bledington has a pub that serves food and this is within walking distance. The owner gave me a copy of a map showing local paths including on to the village. Stow-in-the-Wold is a short drive away and all the usual services can be found here including a supermarket. I found a good butcher in the town centre and noticed the business was mentioned on BBCs’ Countryfile a few weeks later.

There is plenty to do in the surrounding area but I was told that the local bus to Stow only runs on Thursdays. So it is necessary to use your own transport to get about.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£8.00 per night.

Thursday 7 May 2009

SOUTHFIELD FARM - MALMESBURY [111]







Sunday 19th April – Thursday 23rd April 2009

The approach to this site is via Crabb Mill Lane and it can be found on the left at the very end of the road. The pitches are in a large long grassed field that slopes towards the farm house. All the services are at the farm house and towing a full aqua roll uphill to your pitch can be good exercise. Electric points are well spaced so you can pitch as far away as your cable will allow. The overnight fee is on the high side for a C/L with no toilets or shower but the owner pointed out that the massive increase in electricity charges had forced the need for this upon him.

The nearest bus and pub are back up the lane in Lea, however a pleasant easy walk of around 1 mile across the fields takes you into the centre of Malmesbury.

I didn’t find time to visit anything in the surrounding area, but I am sure there is plenty to do. There is a small museum at the Tourist Information Centre.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£11.00 per night.