Gower Peninsula - 26th and 27th October 2014

We drove across to the Gower Peninsular on Sunday morning, with a quick stop for lunch by the waterfront at Swansea.  Next stop was Rhossili, and a walk to the lookout hut to check the crossing times to Worms Head.

We knew we had time to cross to the Inner Head but we were not sure that we would make it to the Outer Head in the time we had, but we would see how far we could get.  So it was over the causeway........

.....and a walk around the Inner Head.................

..................over Devil's bridge..............

.........around low neck.........and up onto Outer Head..........with the most fantastic views!

Then it was back the way we came...........arriving back to the lookout hut with an hour to spare!

It was then back to the camper for a warm drink and chocolate stop before venturing out onto Rhossili beach for some beach combing and some tennis ball throwing.

  

We then went to Mumbles to check out the lighthouse and have a yummy Chinese for tea and we wild camped on the south-west of the peninsula.

The next morning was a bit of a drizzly start.  We walked bill, had some breakfast and then headed down to Port Eynon for a walk along the beach and over the hill on the coast path.

 To visit to Culver Hole - what a fantastic cave!

We had a lunch time stop at Porthcawl with yet another dog walk on the beach.  Then it was back across the bridge and back into England for our homeward trip.

Mortehoe and Exmoor - 4th and 5th October 2014

A quick overnighter for us whilst the children were camping in Horner.  A missed motorway junction meant we went via Exeter, a lunch stop in Crediton and a quick visit to Barnstaple.  Next stop was Mortehoe and we started our walk out to the lighthouse at Bull point.

We caught the coast path that passes Rockham Bay, seeing some massive mushrooms in the fields.

We carried on to Morte point and saw the rock formation that looked just like the armoured plates of a stegosaurus.  The final part our journey was the walk back to Mortehoe where we picked up the camper and drove the scenic road to Minehead.  We wild camped up the top of North hill - the only visitors all night being some ponies.  The views across to Wales both in the light and darkness were spectacular tonight.  In the morning we were off to collect the children following their camp.

Isle of Man August 2014

We left Liverpool on Thursday 14th August on the Steam Packet Catamaran Manannan.  On arriving into Douglas we drove to Laxey where we were camping at the Quarry Road Campsite - a fantastically friendly site with spotless facilities and John the very friendly and helpful warden. A short walk took us to the Laxey Wheel - well worth a visit!

Friday 15th August  - First stop was the Bungalow with a walk up the only mountain on the island Snaefell.

I am not sure what they feed their native Manx loaghtan sheep here but they are enormous!

We then took the camper around the TT circuit - no speed records for us though.  We then drove to Peel, visited one of the best beaches on the island through a small crack in the cliffs at Niarbyl and had chips overlooking the beach at Port Erin watching the motorbikes and quadbikes racing on the beach.

On Saturday 16th August we headed back over to Peel and then on to Port Erin to walk to Milners Tower, which you could climb up with fantastic views from the top.

Next stop was the railway to see the Island at War themed activities with old cars and everyone dressed up.  Next stop was the seal watching on the Sound overlooking the Calf of Man.

Next stop was the bathtub racing at Castletown - not the most seaworthy vessels!  The final stop of the day was the Fairy Bridge - a surprisingly emotional place to visit.
On Sunday 17th August we headed out to Glen Mooar to see Spooyt Vane.  Then it was on to Jurby to the transport museum and Junk shop.  Next stop was the Ayres visitor centre on a very windy day, followed by lighthouse spotting on a very windy point of Ayre.  Home via Ramsey and King Orry's Grave.
Monday 18th August started with a visit to Port Cornaa Bay and a walk around Maughold Head before a visit to Dhoon Glen.  Then it was an evening at Creg ny Baa watching the Manx Grand Prix practices - fab!

On Tuesday 19th August we visited Garwick Glen before dropping into Douglas to visit the museum.  We finally managed to track down the 'Real' Fairy bridge before watching the Grand Prix at Ballacraine.  Then it was on to Peel to see the sunset and have a yummy ice cream.

Wednesday 20th August was our last full day on the Island.  First stop was Clay Head followed by a visit to the Horses Home.  Next stop was lunch at Castletown and a walk to Scarlett.  Then it was onto the Viking ship burial at Balladoole and the Chasms by Port St Mary.  Last stop of the day was the Mann cat sanctuary - a surreal place with sooooo many cats, with and without tails!  Our final evening was spent watching the Grand Prix at the Start/finish line at Douglas and a visit to see the lights at Summerhill Glen.

Thursday 21st August we went back across the choppy sea back to Liverpool after our great visit to such a fantastic island.

Eigg, Small Isles July/August 2014

A long trip North.  Our first night was spent visiting family in Rochdale.  Then on to Edinburgh for our second night stop again visiting family.  We had a lovely dog walk to Mavis Bank House and also saw the rest of the Lewis Chess Men at The National Museum of Scotland.
The next day we visited the Falkirk Wheel andThe Wallace Monument in Sterling before a lovely drive through Clencoe on the way to Mallaig.  We spent the evening in the carpark overlooking the Small Isles and Skye.
The next morning we caught the 7.30 am ferry which called in at Rhum, Canna, Muck and finally Eigg.  The island taxi took our bags to our bothy at Cleadale whilst we cycled the lumpy bumpy, uppy downy road.  The one roomed bothy was lovely and cosy, just what we needed for our stay on Eigg.

We walked down to Laig bay for an evening walk.
The next day we walked up the ridge to Beinn Bhuidhe.  Lovely views of Rhum and Skye from the top.

On Monday after having Eggs on Eigg we cycled back to the port and had a yummy lunch at the community Hall.  We then visited the Massacre Cave, Catherdral Cave, Pipers Cairn and the wind turbines.

On Tuesday we walked up An Sgurr.  Lovely views over Muck, Adrnamurchan, Coll, Tiree and Mull.  We saw a golden Eagle on the walk back down.

On Wednesday we visited Kildonan graveyard and then we walked along the coast to the ferry port. We caught the Shearwater boat to Muck, seeing Minke Whales, dolphins, seals and basking sharks on the way.  On Muck we walked up Beinn Airein and visited the beach.

Thursday was our last full day on the Island. We visited the Pictish stone in St Donnan Roman Catholic church.  We went on Laig Bay and watched a seal in the water.  We went back to the bothy for lunch before visiting the singing sands that squeak when you walk on them.  We were lucky enough to see an otter come on to beach whilst we were there.  We managed to find the Whales Head but nobody was in!

On Friday we caught the ferry off the Island before the long drive home.

A day in Wiltshire Saturday 5th July 2014

We thought that we would have a day out in a different direction today so we headed out to Wiltshire.  Our first stop was at Lydiard Park just outside Swidon.  This was a fantastically landscaped park with an extremely old walnut tree by the lovely lake.  A great place for a dog walk.

  We then ventured to the Old Town region of Swindon for some lunch.  We found The Cafe on Devizes Road- just the place for a tasty all day breakfast.  Next stop was a wander around Coate Water to work off some off that lunch.  A really popular place with a great atmosphere and very dog friendly.  Next stop was Marlborough, a buzzing market town which is well worth a visit.  Last stop of the day was Avebury.  Parking by West Kennet Long Barrow and Silbury Hill proved to be a good place not only to see these features, but also the stone circle which was a mile stroll away through the fields.

East Ogwell, Newton Abbot

On June 7th we ventured out to Newton Abbot taking the curly way via Exeter, Lunch at Gay's Creamery in Dawlish then on to Teignmouth where we were lucky to see the Gig Regatta.  Our destination was Prickly Ball Farm in East Ogwell just outside Newton Abbot.  A great campsite with stunning views, fantastic facilities and entry to the farm park included.  Foxes, goats, alpaca, sheep,

rabbits,

pigs, stoats, birds, foxes, guinea pigs, cats, dogs....and of course hedgehogs.  Being able to access park after day visitors had gone home was brilliant and let us all find our inner kid on the sandpit diggers and the trampoline.
Another visit to the farm before leaving on Sunday and we were lucky enough to get up close to a hedgehog in the hospital.  We journeyed onto Shaugh Prior on Dartmoor for some river jumping before our trip home.

Owermoigne Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door

Stayed at Jim's campsite on May 28th 2014. The campsite is at the back of a nursery, and signposted from the road with a very small hand written sign. Very informal, just turn up and find a space in the field to pitch your tent. We visited the lost village of Tyneham, Durdle door

and walked on down to Lulworth Cove

and visited the fossil forest.

Home the next day via Weymouth, Portland Bill and Bridport.

Brixham / Berry Head

16 - 17/4/14 Off to Brixham for a walk out to Berry Head. Great views down to start point and along to Torquay. Billy loved the walk. Not too sure about the views though.

Camping at Broadleigh Farm Great site, loads of space and not many people on. There were some vans coming out of storage, so it was going to get busier. Quick trip into Totnes, then down to Stoke Gabriel just down from the site for a mega crab! Total count 133 crabs!

The Heron and his friend the Egret seemed to be getting his fill too. Crabbing was sooo good, James and Sarah insisted on crabbing the next morning. Billy was in for a good walk after lunch with a walk along the SW coast path behind Coleton Fishacre House and Garden and up to the Sea Mark above Kingswear. The day after we went for a picnic at Burnham on Sea. Anyone for tennis?

Malverns

13 - 14 April 2014 Bit of a different camp site this time Eastnor Castle. Parked below the deer park next to the lake with views of the ridge. Things were a bit crowded for us, but we managed to squeeze in some how.

Once we had set up and eaten the Sainsbury's pizza, we took Billy for a leg stretch over British Camp on the southern end of the ridge. Great weather and fantastic views.

Disasterous BBQ wouldn't light when we got back, so it was a late tea, wander up to the oblisk before watching Rio. Pancakes for breakfast - yum. Un finished business on the nothern end of the ridge, and as it was such a clear day, we had to finish off North Hill and Worcestershire Beacon. Shame some of the party couldn't keep up!

If looks like we were not the only explorers on North Hill today.

On our way back, we just had to visit this Bee shelter. Better than our house!

And this cow didn't read the horn growing manual!

Beesands and Start Point Lighthouse

09 - 10 April 2014 First trip out with the four of us plus Billy. Parked at Beesands. A big picnic and a sneaky bag of chips from the cafe on the front.

With full tummies, off to Start point. Sarah was full of a cold, but we all made it. Fantastic weather and great views both ways!

Finding signs like this makes Kate want to add the SW coast path to her bucket list.

It will take more than a weekend to do it all though! Over night to Old Cotmore Farm. Made to feel really welcome on arrival when the owners said they wanted to go out on the boat that afternoon, but the site was quiet and facilities good. The site was very strange. All seasonal pitches apart from us and a tent. Not sure we will be staying there again. An evening drive to Salcombe to pay pilgrimage to Jack Wills (just for Sarah) and a contest between the rear bumper and a wall :( Not happy. Chineese for tea back at site Back to Beesands the next morning and a walk in the sun to Torcross. Great beach and rock formations

Drive to Dartmouth and then on home after a pilgrimage to Trego Mills.