Langton Matravers
· England
We stayed at Toms field campsite, we have been here once or thirty times before. We don’t often return to campsites but it is my favourite campsite, I don’t know why. It’s basically a field for tents that has recently (last 20 years) started to take motorhomes. We did stick out a bit among the tents and small campervans. The facilities still leave something to be desired in teams of looking good, but they are clean enough. We first stayed here when Tom owned the site, long before we had children. Tom had a licence for 100 units and used to fill the site with about 200 units. John and Sarah bought the site from Tom, a lovely couple, who stuck to the 100 limit. I think in some ways John made the site for me, a doddering man who never seemed to quite know what he was doing and always gave us a sizeable discount as regulars. I noticed this time it’s licensed for 75 units. John is now 92, Sarah a little younger, the site is run by their daughter. I can almost guarantee we will use the site again. James came with us and showed off all his childhood haunts to Cameron.
Langton is about an hour’s walk from Swanage, and a quick stroll to Dancing Ledge, an old quarry mine on the coast. With Worth Matravers, Corfe Castle, and Old Harrys rocks all in walking distance (we walk a reasonable way) this is a stunning place. John was still limited in what he could do, so we did a bit of cycling but used the buses a fair bit. Yes Swanage has a bus service! and a reasonably good one. The highlight was my climbing session at Dancing Ledge, a birthday gift from James. I wouldn’t like to say how many hours I have spent eating my sandwiches watching people climbing at Dancing Ledge. It’s a lot harder than it looks, particularly if you are fat and old. We also hired a kayak and paddled to the bottom of Old Harry’s rocks, Other highlights included the going to the Bournemouth airshow, Arne nature reserve and all the old favourites, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Corfe Castle by steam train. I left making a promise to myself, we will be back. In fact the current plan is to return in November to start to look at where we can afford to live in the the area, it will be some years before we actually move, if we ever do.
Swanage – Obelisk Durdle Door Stair hole Stair hole Lulworth cove Bertie and James in Toms field, Langton Matraves Bournemouth air show – Battle of Britian memorial flight Bournemouth air show – Red arrows Bournemouth air show – Red arrows Bournemouth air show – Red arrows Bournemouth air show – Red arrows Bournemouth air show – Red arrows Bournemouth air show Bournemouth air show Pig at Arne Tracey climbing at dancing ledge Tracey climbing at dancing ledge Tracey climbing at dancing ledge Corfe Castle Swanage – steam train – John Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train – James Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train – James and Cameron Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train – Cameron Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train Swanage – steam train