The Aire at Canterbury was very busy. The designated Aire was about full when we arrived and there were vans in the overflow too. Vans from many nations, including GB, B, D, NL and I plates and there may have been others.
The Aire at Canterbury
Parking is snug. Spaces are not level and most vans were deploying ramps. There is fresh water, and waste disposal. The Ladies went untested, the Gents were “O.K.”. Park and Ride service to Canterbury is included in the charge.
Doom Bar at the Old Gate Inn
We did try out the Old Gate Inn for our lunch.
My starter, a duo of pateWe both had Cod and Chips
The Inn had a pleasant ambience and I would not be averse to spending an evening there if stopping on the Aire overnight.
Old coaching inn ambience
That said, I do think I might need special reason to want to sleep there!
Last visit: September 2017 £3 parking charge per day, £1 after 4pm.
The site at Houghton Mill offers the added bonus of a National Trust Tea Room just a few steps away from the pitch. We had a tour of the working flour mill and then went to sample the scones made from the mill’s product.
The tea room does a Cream Tea in both its regular guise and also as a savoury version. We both opted to try the latter,
The Cheese Scone was beautifully made, though was rather lacking in the cheese department for my particular taste and was on the small side when compared to many NT scones. It was served with a small plastic pot of Mascarpone Cheese and a second pot with caramelised red onion chutney, No butter.
The pot of tea was generously sized but came without a jug of water.
Counter service, no table service available. Staff split between cheerful and helpful and surly and awkward.
Points For:
the quality of the bake
the thoughtful provision of a savoury cream tea version
well-made pot of tea with at least three cupfuls in it
little storage jars on the table with mixed brown and white sugar lumps and sugar tongs – a nice touch
View of the river and swans thereon
Points Against:
NO BUTTER
Nasty plastic pots for the “cream” and the “jam”
Minimal provision where the Mascarpone was concerned
Pitches (53) on grass are a bit rough and ready. Staff friendly and helpful. Facilities a little dated. Only three shower cubicles, with pushbutton operation. Sunday cooked breakfasts available in the mill tea rooms.
One large washing machine £3 a load, one large dryer £0.70 for 15 minutes.
Extensive walking opportunities on riverside paths, waymarked ways and leafy lanes. Alpacas abound.
Village is very attractive with thatched cottages etc.
Rather nice overall, though far too busy and hectic throughout the property for our taste. Would prefer out of season but the site is not open all year.
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.
