Herston
· England
Well I have stopped on worse UK sites but not for a long time. We were back in Purbeck in Swanage. My last post, Corfe Castle, says why I like this area. This was a family holiday, we gave Matthew and James the decision of where to go and I certainly wasn’t going to complain about returning. We did all the normal stuff, Old Harry Rocks, Dancing Ledge, Corfe Castle, Lyme Regis, Studland, Lulworth and Durdle Door, Bournemouth and Poole, and had the expected great time. We had the car with us (and no bikes!) so we were able to drive further afield. The sun shone all week giving us much higher than expected temperatures and me the issue that I had not packed enough shorts. It really has re awakened my interest in moving to this area at some point in the future.
Back to the site, I have never worked out what makes a good site, this site doesn’t even fall into the nice category. It was the price I now expect from UK sites, an eye watering £22 a night. It’s walking distance from Swange. The toilet block had large rooms with a shower, sink and loo, with loads of room for clothes etc. If you used the right block they even had hot water. Except for the busy weekends they were basically clean. The pitches were long and narrow, long enough for our 7.5m motorhome, the car and room to spare, on the hard standing and grass (dried mud) alongside, so lots of room to claim as your own. The spots had been levelled so “stepped” down the sloping field. Each pitch (the cheap ones we were on), had power and a shared a water tap with the next van. The views were across Swanage and there was no traffic noise just loads of owls. In non-covid days the site offered bar, cafe, take away and shop. Fire pits were for hire. Horse and traps made their way through the site on a daily basis. All this makes for a nice site, but it was awful. The pitches looked like a building site and generally the whole place had a run down feel, or a not finished feel. Worst was that the power was such a low voltage that it would not run the fridge and the kettle took about 20mins to boil. One neighbour went and bought a new microwave as he thought his was not working, the other lost all the food in the fridge as the electric was on and off all day long. It simply was not a nice site. To add insult to injury we called in on Jo the owner of our all time favourite site and found they do take very large motorhomes now! I guess we need another trip to the area to introduce our van to the delights of Tomsfield’s campsite.
Walk to worth – calves Walk to worth Walk to worth – Dinosaurs footprints being sized Walk to worth -Tracey being arty Walk to worth Walk to Dancing Ledge- Isle of White Walk to Dancing Ledge Walk to Dancing Ledge – Dancing ledge from above Walk to Dancing Ledge Walk to Dancing Ledge – Dancing Ledge from below Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks – The obelisk on Ballard down to commemorate the provision of drinking water to Swanage in 1883. Taken down during the war and rebuilt shorter due to broken bits. Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks, stunning. I knew a man who threw his wife’s ashes from here, I often wonder how many ashes have been released here. Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks – one of many ghost ships of the coast. All idling with skeleton crews and systems runing awaiting the end of the pandemic or at least the decision to return to cruising or otherwise. Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks – this has to make you smile Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks Purbeck – Walk to Old Harry’s rocks Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle – much nicer engine than 257 Squadron they normally run, imho Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle – much nicer engine than Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle – we have yearly pictures of the kids leaping these rocks from toddlerhood. It’s become a family joke. Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle – we have yearly pictures of the kids leaping these rocks from toddlerhood. It’s become a family joke. Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Day trip to Poole and Bournmouth Purbeck – Day trip to Poole and Bournmouth Purbeck – Day trip to Poole and Bournmouth Purbeck – Day trip to Poole and Bournmouth – Sun set in Poole Purbeck – Lulworth Cove Purbeck – Lulworth Cove Purbeck – Lulworth Cove Purbeck – Lulworth Cove – a world heritage site due to the fine examples of landform Purbeck – Lulworth Cove – a world heritage site due to the fine examples of landform Purbeck – Lulworth Cove Purbeck – Lulworth Cove – a world heritage site due to the fine examples of landform Purbeck – Lulworth Cove – a world heritage site due to the fine examples of landform. Here showing the Lulworth Crumple in Stair Hole Purbeck – Lulworth Cove – down time Lyme Regis Lyme Regis Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle Purbeck – Walk to CorfeCastle – we have a yearly photo of the boys holding this wall up Purbeck – Day trip to Poole and Bournmouth