Small quiet site situated just outside Pocklington in Yorkshire. Family-run business includes a Farm Shop and Cafe. Very child-friendly with indoor and outdoor play areas. Shop sells local produce including alcohol.
Pitches on grass on good hard ground. Very level.
New toilet and shower facilities are a huge improvement over previous arrangements and now consist of unisex wetrooms in a purpose built block.
A new introduction is the gate, locked at night with height-bar access for cars to come and go out of hours.
High up Teesdale, Cow Green Reservoir is at the heart of what is known as “England’s last great wilderness”. It is wild and woolly and extremely beautiful. The fells are home to a number of rare species and there are extensive prospects for walking.
The car parking area at the reservoir is split into a number of smaller car parks. When we were last there three vans were parked for the night but each of us had a separate area and plenty of privacy and peace.
Picnic tables, one temporary toilet, information boards and contributions box.
Surprisingly, we had both phone and Internet signals.
We bid farewell to the peace of Sweethope with some reluctance but had in prospect the excitement of a trip on the preservation railway in Alston, so left in good spirits – though not before we struggled to pay our dues. At Sweethope you pay when you go but we found a “Gone to Hexham” sign in the window. There were envelopes available to leave the money but no sign to tell us how much to pay. we rang the contact mobile number, determined the cost as £13, and left the cash.
As we approached Alston the Diversion signs were out. We knew the diversion from a previous encounter. It is a long and awkward one to go around and miss a few yards of street closure in the centre of Alston. We made a rapid decision to miss out the railway and head straight over to Teesdale.
Hot dog
It was chilly up at Cow Green and the weather was not terrific, though we kept dry when taking Nell for a walk. It was not sufficiently good to feel that we wanted to go ahead with the planned barbeque though. I made hot dogs in the van and we sat and watched the sun sink and the sky clear over from Cumbria.
On Wednesday we travelled down to York, where we stayed at the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Rowntree Park site and the following day popped over to Pocklington for a couple of nights at The Mile farm shop.
The Mile Farm Shop
On Saturday we put a few miles on, making our way down to Cambridgeshire, where we stayed two nights at the National Trust’s camp site at Houghton Mill.
Houghton Mill
Tomorrow we leave Houghton and go to France. We will head for the Aire in Canterbury and park up there until it is time to go for our shuttle.
Cottages in Houghton
It is hard to believe that it is finally happening and that we truly are off to France after so much anticipation and planning.
Huntly Castle Caravan Park is an affiliated site, split between tourers, tents and statics. Very neat and tidy and… quiet when school is in progress. Playtimes can be a little noisy.
Rabbit CentralThe Rabbits are fearless
Pitches are arranged around rectangular grassed areas with bins and water available at hand. The facilities block sits between two touring areas.
There is direct access to riverside walking from the site and the Castle is just a short stroll away.
River DeveronHuntly Castle
Also within strolling distance is the town and, in the other direction, Tesco.
Week 1 took us from home to mainland Orkney and then to Scotland. We were last seen at Culloden Moor.
We left Culloden Moor on Monday morning, having business in Elgin and Turriff, and ended the day at Huntly Castle caravan park. We stayed for two nights at this peaceful location. We have visited Huntly before and no doubt will do so again.
We chose the scenic route from Huntly to Cellardyke. It would have been stunning if the weather had played ball but thick humid air and low cloud served only to obscure the otherwise wonderful views. It was still a pleasant drive, when not actually chucking it down – though a long one. We stopped at Braemar to make lunch. The weather improved considerably after that point.
Somewhere around Glenshee, with photography limited to shooting through the car window
We had booked two nights at the Silverdyke caravan site but when we found that The Cellar had a cancellation and therefore a table available for Thursday dinner, we promptly booked another night and stayed until Saturday morning.
I am growing very fond of this part of Scotland and will be happy to return to Fife and the East Neuk time and again.
Cellardyke
Saturday took us to Sunnyhills . It felt like a long drive in the hot sun and Bank Holiday weekend traffic as we worked our way slowly around Edinburgh and southward to the Border.
Ceridwen approaches England
On Sunday morning we enjoyed a Full English at Sunnyhills then set off for Sweethope Loughs.
Sunnyhills Breakfast
We sat out the rest of the holiday weekend in peace and quiet… chilling out, eating and strolling with the dog.
We sought out the circular route around the larger lough
Week three will start by wandering down to Co Durham tomorrow. From there we will go to York and Pocklington, then break the onward journey to the Channel Tunnel with a couple of nights in Cambridgeshire. Week four will begin with the Channel crossing. The adventure will finally begin.
