First twelve months

On the 5th September we will have had our first campervan for a year, and what a learning curve that's been.  Getting used to the storage (must have relocated everything at least twice), organising where best to store the bedding, deciding, and learning how to erect a driveaway awning - best not done in 35 mph winds - and learning all the little foibles of the Topaz.
Wouldn't have missed it for anything as apart from the days out and picnics we have stayed at :- 
Delamere Forest
The Wirral (2)
York
Kendal
Lady Margaret (Chirk)
Haltwhistle
Dunstan Hill
Southport
Bolton Abbey

Not finished yet as we are off to Lincolnshire in a couple of weeks staying at Sutton on Sea and Woodhall Spa, an area we have not visited before.
 It isn't a cheap hobby but so much fun and we have got so see so many places we had not been to before.

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you on here who have helped to make our first twelve months so easy and enjoyable, your help, advice and friendly welcome has been invaluable.  Cheers, and here's to the next 12 months.

Ann and Andy

Glad you are enjoying the hobby and your van

Hi there,

Woodhall Spa has a tiny cinema called "Kinema in the Woods" that has some surprisingly modern films on.

Enjoy your visit and put an evening to one side to go. 

Best regards,
 

Glad your enjoying it Ann, i'm at the 6months stage and loving it. Looking at your list of camp sites, many seem to be larger sites, which of course you may prefer. Have you tried Caravan Club CL's? Many of them are well-equipped and a lot cheaper than those big sites. I'm currently on the coast of Cornwall between Padstow and Newquay, alongside Beduthan Steps, staying on a CL paying £11 per night.

Happy Travels

Jmn

Dutto wrote:Hi there,

Woodhall Spa has a tiny cinema called "Kinema in the Woods" that has some surprisingly modern films on.

Enjoy your visit and put an evening to one side to go. 

Best regards,
 

 Woodhall Spa is a lovely site and been to the Kinema many times. Still has a organ that rises up from the 'orchestra pit' and is played during intervals. Cinema like they used to be.

Dutto, Jmn, Paul
Had spotted the Kinema and will definitely have a look.  Not sure about a film, although the organ sounds interesting, as we would have to leave the dog in the camper.  As for CLs and CCs we have used the bigger sites because of being wusses but will try them in future.  The only problem is lack of info on some of them and the ease of checking availability with the two bigger clubs.  Tried to get on one with a fishing lake for September but booked up for the week we need.

Have done a bit of research on the area, part of my holiday fun getting the map out and Googling, and we want to go to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre for the Lancaster.  Also to Scopwick church to see the grave of Pilot Zoffice John Magee.  He wrote the poem High Flight and died just 19 years old.


[b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"]‘High Flight’[/b]

With the CL's you just phone the owner direct. Often they will also have their own website so you can get a better feel. Seriously cheaper than using the CC Main sites.

Have a look at this site near Audley in Staffs, just a short distance from J16 of the M6. A small fishing lake included. No shower or toilets, but on a weekend, this site is nice and quiet and the fishing appears popular. They also have a B+B onsite. Their website is below:

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The Lodge
Red Hall Lane
Halmer End
Stoke On Trent
ST7 8AX

Also have a look at my review of Grizedale Farm on the campsite review area within this site. Not a million miles from you guys. Again basic, but a lovely area. Both sites allow dogs.  https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t6695-grisedale-farm-leighton-carnforth-lancs

We will do CLs next year but not sure about limited facilities.  Our Topaz only has a small bathroom and I don't think it would be big enough for a comfortable shower, well not for me anyway.