Tuesday 2 June 2015

Magic, Mystery, Hills and Valleys.

Now a whole month since our lovely April popped up. We have certainly made good use of her and managed every weekend away and two Bank Holidays. We decided we had better make sure everything worked well and with the exception of the tow bar reversing bleeps, everything has so far! The only two things we haven't actually tried yet are; the shower and the gas BBQ... hopefully waiting for the sun to shine.

We have managed to stay at 5 sites so far, all very different:

Isle of Avalon at Glastonbury.
Uphill Boat Marina at Weston Super Mare.
Unity Resort Brean.
Blossom Touring Park at Abergavenny.
Forest and Wye Valley Touring Park at Forest of Dean.

We have used the facilities at all the campsites, showers, loos, washing up and at the Forest of Dean and Uphill Sites sampled the local cafe for breakfast. At all the sites we have had a mixture of weather, which has meant we have had to use the van heating, lovely and cosy it is too! We have also managed in most cases, to go on one of our legendary "tramps", some more memorable than others!

Isle of Avalon  http://www.avaloncaravanpark.co.uk/

Nice easy to get to site, although next time we need to come off the M5 at J23 and not follow the SatNag, across the Somerset Levels, interesting journey though it was, we were glad we were not in Billie! Still Den needed to try out April on some windy roads.

Pretty little site a 10 minute walk from Glastonbury. Some handy footpaths nearby which we will explore next time. Poor TV reception here, but we think it could have been the trees. Nice roomy pitches and a large tenting field. Definitely a feeling of magic going on here, we were surrounded by a group of friendly ( we hope) witches, complete with a cat. All very spooky but then that's the joy of Glastonbury!







April, feeling the Glastonbury vibes!

Blossom Hill Touring Park http://www.blossompark.co.uk/

This was a strange little site. Friendly and helpful with metered electric but we drew the line at 20 p to use the hot water sinks to wash up. Really not sure what was going on here, the owners spent their time in the little reception huts playing with the dogs! Lots of statics and a bit of a hike into the nearest town Abergavanny. Generally quiet, although on a slope so you need the chocks! We may check it out again on another trip! Lots of hills nearby and beautiful scenery.








There was a nearby Golf Course which also had camping and a club house which served meals and drinks. If we were going that way again I would be tempted to stay there instead. Wernddu Camping and Golf Course http://www.wernddu-campsite.co.uk/

Uphill Boat Yard and Marina http://www.uphillboatservices.co.uk/

We loved it here, loads of walks to do sand, sea and scenery, perfect. 






We have done the Magic, Mystery and Hills, now more Hills and Valleys.

Forest and Wye Valley Camping http://www.forestandwyevalleycamping.co.uk/

A new site near The Forest of Dean. Family run and full of tents , toddlers and small children at the end of the half term break. We survived! In a great part of the country and because it's all new, great facilities. It's in the woods and we did a little tramp across the fields to St Briavels the nearest village. Breath taking scenery!










We wandered around the valleys and could almost have done "The Sound of Music" over some of the hills, but we were too out of breathe. Wild garlic in the woods may have come in handy at the Isle of Avalon, or perhaps not, I'm confusing vampires with witches! 

We are hoping the weather perks up so we can go again, loads more of the woods to get lost in.Very near home so a perfect weekend away site.

April has done very well for a little van and we certainly love going out and about in her. More adventures to follow.