MILL FARM - GRANTHAM [123]

Friday 19th June – Tuesday 23rd June 2009

The turn off the A607 onto West Street is not easy to spot if you are travelling from the north. By that I’m sure you have guessed I missed it, but I managed to do a U turn a few hundred yards further on. West Street gets narrower the further you travel and becomes a track before you arrive at the C/L which is on the left before the house. This all grass paddock was in need of a cut when we arrived and the owner did this during my stay. There are good views in most directions and there are footpaths that cut through the farm.

If you want to use the bus you will have to walk to the main road. All services including supermarkets are in Grantham, and the National Trust Belton House is just down the road. We stopped at a farm shop nearby that did PYO strawberries, they were great, but you do tend to pick more than you need. Never mind, they didn’t get wasted.

Family went home on Sunday so I am on my own again. I don’t dash about as much when I’m alone and tend to take things a lot slower. Made friends with a old Border Collie dog from the farm that would turn up and lie in shade of caravan all day or until I went out. It stood at the top of the drive when I left, very moving.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal available

£9.00 per night [3 adults for part of stay]

SEACROFT - CROMER [122]

Monday 15th June – Friday 19th June 2009

Tried to book this site to include a weekend but was unsuccessful. The wardens told me that they had been fully booked at weekends for ages and are the same during the week on school holidays. I soon found out why. This is one of those sites that has everything and are becoming popular with members. Its close to the beach, is within walking distance of the town, has a bus stop at the gate, and has a heated outdoor swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant which does take-away food. Some pitches are small and on some it is even tight getting your car on if you have an awning The field to the south slopes gently towards the toilet facilities but inspite of this everyone managed, funny how it seems easier when the sun is shining, cool northerly wind though.

The A149 coast road is a pleasant drive but can be narrow in places, coaches and HGV’s use this route so be careful. If you are into restored railways this area is a paradise. The National Trust have a few interesting houses nearby as well.

I would recommend this site for anyone, especially those with children, but you will need to book well in advance to secure a pitch

Analogue signal good from bollard
Digital signal not available

£22.40 per night [3 adults]

BIRDS FARM - CAMBRIDGE [121]

Thursday 11th June – Monday 15th June 2009

This site is close to junction 12 of the M11 so is useful for anyone travelling south from northern Britain. Situated on the edge of Barton village it has a couple of hardstandings with the remaining pitches on level grass. The village has a couple of pubs, a post office and a convenience store in the local garage. The pub on the main road, run by a Hungarian couple does very good food at reasonable prices. The site is the home of a countryside conservation organisation and the owner told me that they were aware of at least eight barn owl chicks that had hatched recently. I wonder how many fledged, perhaps someone could tell me.

Cambridge is a short drive or bus ride away and has all the usual facilities. My four night stay was not long enough to see all this University City has to offer. Parking in the city was expensive so it is advisable to use one of the many park and ride facilities available. The nearest are at junctions 13 or 11 on the M11. There is a bus service from the village to Cambridge but I believe the service is not particularly regular. You can check on http://www.transportdirect/

My wife and son joined me at this site for a week’s holiday. They haven’t had much luck with weather on UK summer holidays in recent years so everyone was surprised when the sun came out on their arrival, and stayed out for most [not all] of the week.


Analogue signal good
Digital signal was available

£10.00 per night [3 adults for part of stay]

BACK HOME - GOOLE

Friday 29th May – Thursday 11th June 2009

Left York for home on Friday and it took nearly two hours to travel 32 miles. The first three miles took nearly one hour. The joys of motoring.

The 29th May is my birthday so I was going home for a party with my family and a few drinks with my friends. But as per usual other things needed attention, including the garage roof which needed replacing. Also my wife was half way through decorating our bedroom and she had moved out to the spare room which only has a single bed. Consequently I finished up in the room that was being decorated with no carpet, no curtains and the sun streaming through the window before 5AM. Can’t say much more as my wife reads this, and I have to live with her. All I can say is I had a list of jobs to do before I left again on my travels and I managed to do all of them so everyone was happy.

WILLOW HOUSE - YORK [120]

Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May 2009

Situated just off York’s northern ring road, the A1237, this site is ideally situated for travelling to all attractions near this popular city. The C/L is part of a larger touring park which has pitches for tenting and has a large lake were fishing is available. There is a farm shop on site which sells local and home produce at reasonable prices, and has an adjoining cafeteria. The meat from the butchery department was in a class of its own. The reception area is past the c/l but there is room to turn around. This approach would be easier for larger units as the entrance is a little tight for vehicles with a large rear overhang. The reception doubles as an information room and all the showers and toilets are situated in this building. The pitches are arranged so you can either stand your caravan on a hardstanding or use it to put your awning on.

A bus stops outside the entrance drive with regular services into York centre. The large shopping complex of Clifton Moor with a supermarket is on the nearby ring road, but do try the farm shop, you wont be disappointed. There are hundreds of things to do in and around York so you shouldn’t be stuck for something to do irrespective of the weather.

The site fees were a little expensive for a C/L and the showers were 50p and on a timer. However everything was modern and clean and you get what you pay for. The site was busy during my stay so the prices didn’t deter members. Children are not allowed on site.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal was available

£14.00 per night [1 adult, this is low season rate, increases up to £20 per night]

THIRSK RACECOURSE - THIRSK [119]

Thursday 21st May – Monday 25th May 2009

This all grass site is situated within walking distance of Thirsk town centre on the outer perimeter of the towns’ racecourse. Small and compact with pitches arranged in lines away from the reception area. A small supermarket was under construction on one side of this site and this was noisy during working hours. The local fire and ambulance stations are also adjacent which could add to noise pollution. In spite of all this there is a peaceful feeling to this site. The site is used as a car park during race meetings and arrangements are made for caravanners to use an alternative area with no electric hook-up during these times.

There is a large supermarket across the road from the entrance and all the usual facilities are available in the town centre which is within walking distance. Car parking in the centre of town can be limited during busy periods, especially market days. Buses run to all the major local towns from Thirsk and there is a rail station on the east coast main line on the outskirts of town.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal was intermittent

£14.43 per night [3 adults for 3 of 4 night stay]

RIDGEFIELD COTTAGE NURSERY - KNARESBOROUGH [118]

Sunday 17th May – Thursday 21st May 2009

This site is easy enough to find but approach it slowly as the sign is obscured by trees and is not visible until the last minute. The pitches are all in a level grassed field which became waterlogged during my stay, and front wheel drive towing vehicles had difficulty getting traction. Even a front wheel drive motor home had to be towed by the owners’ tractor. Pitch fees are £12.50 per night but that does include a free shower. The toilet and shower are in a wet room that is modern and clean and also houses a small information point.

Buses between Ripon and Harrogate via Knaresborough pass the entrance. But there are only stops on the uphill route. However a driver told me the stop on the downhill route is opposite the uphill one. I went into Harrogate on the bus with the intention of looking around, doing a bit of shopping then having a pint. Did the shopping but could not find a pub in the centre of town, plenty of wine bars and bistros selling food, but not one pub. Shame really.

There is a supermarket about a mile away and a pub that does food within walking distance in the opposite direction.

Analogue signal good
Digital signal intermittent depending on tree movement.

£12.50 per night