A Year Travelling the UK in a Motorhome - Cornwall - Gliding Experience - Newquay - Week 40

 Tuesday, 26 May 2015 Week 40

I said last week I'd include the glider experience with this blog, as we had a lot going on in week 39, and this week has been much more about rest and relaxation. At Eaglescott Airfield, a bright sunny Saturday and perfect gliding weather, I embarked on one of my life experiences I've always wanted to have a go at.

We arrived at a tiny wooden cabin and a huge field. I was told to go over to this glider, where Sue, the pilot, was already showing the first arrival how to control the glider and I got very panicky because when Del bought me this experience gift for Christmas I just thought I was going to sit in the back and be flown about by a pilot.

Instead, I was informed I'd be doing the flying and sitting in the front and the pilot would be instructing from the back seat!! Now I was petrified. However, after the first client had his gliding experience, the instructor went through the control panel again with me, and it seemed simpler the second time it was explained to me., The great thing about this day was that as a very small airfield, the spectators were dragged into helping out and keeping the glider wings level when on the ground... including Del, who had to hold the wing whilst I was waiting to take off.

Sadly, I don't have any pictures of what it was like whilst I was up in the sky because I was concentrating on my co-pilot's instructions. (So, I found an aerial photo from my memory of what it was like.) I did sit at the front and I did steer the glider, let the towing rope go, bank to the left and right and circle to descend. The instructor only took over the controls as we flew over some hedges on the approach back to the field to land.

The take-off was amazing, and I can still feel the butterflies in my tummy as we sped up along the airstrip. The glider lifted off the ground before the plane did, which felt odd and the feeling of floating just above the ground was so exciting I just wanted, to giggle! 

I couldn't take photos up there, because we couldn't take anything in our pockets in case they fell out, so Del took this of me just as I'd broken the tow rope free and disappeared over the Devonshire countryside. As I couldn't take pictures up in the air, this is probably the best representation of what I saw from a thousand feet up. A lifelong dream over so quickly, I just couldn't stop grinning! We spoke to another small aircraft pilot, and he said it's addictive, and I have to agree. Considering doing it again... or maybe even as a hobby! One of the half dozen little planes at the airfield.

The flight path over Croyde, Bideford, Barnstaple and Great Torrington.

We headed down to Newquay to begin the Cornwall leg of the journey. We have had a very restful week, just hanging out by the Newquay Bay Holiday park we were staying at for the first half of the week. Del recommended Captain Jack's a pirate/Jacobian-themed restaurant, which I can now thoroughly recommend.

I had the Chef's special, a sort of Cajun spicy chicken, and it was delicious and really tender. Del had the most amazing rack of ribs. Shame I didn't take any photos.
Instead, I took a picture of one of the private dining tables all decked out in an old-world style. I love places like this.

There was a caravan exhibition at The Park Dean Caravan Park, and if you know me, you will be aware that I like all things purple and caravan/camping. When I saw this van, I decided if we did ever decide to buy and static caravan it would have to be the Atlas Heritage 2015 model... lol. Even the kitchen is purple and cream... oh, and the cooker is purple too - so cool! I also liked the interior of this van. 

As we approach the end of our little jaunt around the British coast, we have decided we are going to start camping again. We will be downsizing from 24 foot Deluxe Rapido 7-series24-foot Motorhome to a Kampa Hayling 4!

It's big! And I can't wait to sleep out under the stars in it later on in the summer. We went to a camping exhibition and decided to get it because it ticked all the boxes.

It even has a porch so you can sit outside even when it's pouring down and not get wet... and Del can stand up straight in it! It was an enjoyable day, so we put it up to make sure all the parts were present and correct. We went for lots of nice walks when the weather was nice. This is one of the coves on Newquay beach. Very quaint.

And the harbour where we ate at one of our favourite seafood restaurants - The Boathouse. We had Lobster, Spider Crab and Mussels... Mm Yummy yum yum.

Del and I being silly whilst waiting for the Bingo to start at the Park Dean holiday Park. We bought the Sid and Lizzie mascots as souvenirs because I thought they were cute! Finally, this is a view from Holywell Bay Beach on the opposite side of Newquay, where we met with Del's Lifeguard friend and her family, as she has moved to Cornwall.

We sat on the beach for a while, then had a slap-up barbecue back at the campsite. I love lazy days and great company like these. The simple pleasures in life are still the best.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

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or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

My New Book Lemurian Dimensions, is due out on sale on 1st May 2025 - You can pre-order the paperback by contacting me, or order on Kindle Here.

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A Year Travelling the UK Coastline - Devon - Clovelly - Croyde Bay - Widecombe Fair - Ilfracombe - Week 39

 WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2015 Week 39

I thought I'd start off with a funny photo. Del is making a new friend in the Gnome reserve. Haha!

Actually, we had a day out driving around Dartmoor as it was our first week of the Devon and Cornwall leg of the journey. I have been to both counties before, but never really explored North Devon, so we packed quite a lot into a week.

As we are moving into a new house when we've finished travelling, I've decided to get ideas for our garden. I want gnomes and a pebble bubble fountain! I'm being serious! A day out in Devon wouldn't be complete without a cream tea. 

This is Hay Tor or Haytor, but it is the highest point in Devon and apparently Del informs me it is the scene of Sherlock Holmes in the crucial ending of The Hounds of the Baskervilles, although we're not sure which Sherlock Holmes as there have been so many remakes of an old theme and character...

I only know the modern ones like Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch, but I digress.

This is the stunningly beautiful village of Widdecombe on the Moor. The village green is usually full of grazing wild horses from Dartmoor, but they seemed a bit shy the day we were there. There is a story about Tom Cobely, who went to Widdecombe Fair on an old grey mare, the song begins...

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lea.
For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

We had a day out at Ilfracombe. These were tunnels that led down to a private beach where rich Victorians bathed in without exposing themselves to the riff raff and upholding their reputations of decency!! Weird lot the Victorians, but they did invent just about everything (except aluminium), so I guess we can let them off for the odd idiosyncrasy. This is the main Harbour of Ilfracombe. (My spellchecker offered Beachcomber as an alternative to Ilfracombe... hmmm.) Apologies in advance for lots of harbour pictures, but that's what it's like down in the South West - quaint coves, private beaches and harbour towns. Very pretty though.

On the drive back to Croyde, Del took me to Lynton. He hasn't been here for about thirty years, but was pleased to find this mountainside railway, and it was a mountain way high up.

Look how high up it is? You can't even see the top. Down at the bottom was the gorgeous and hidden bay of Lynmouth. Just so pretty and out of the way from tourists. Lovely!

On the way back to the top of Lynton, you can make out Lynmouth Bay at the bottom. Back to the bay of Ilfracombe for a moment... This is an enormous statue looking out to sea called Verity.

It's meant to represent Law, Truth, Justice and Integrity, but half the statue has been stripped of skin to show muscle tissue and the baby in Verity's womb!!! Very clever of the sculptor, but quite an odd thing to have in a traditional fishing town. There were a lot of objections around its erection in 2012... Can't possibly think why

You can just see a house on a hill in the background to give you some idea of the scale of the thing. The pretty village scene above is Clovelly, recommended by Amanda, and we wouldn't have known it was here if she hadn't mentioned it, so thank you.

What a thoroughly lovely fishing village, so unique as no vehicles can access it. All supplies are carried around the steep, winding, cobbled streets by sledges or donkeys! It has changed for at least two to three centuries. It is so quaint.

The only thing is you have to pay to see it, I guess it's to pay for maintaining the place, but people still live here. Charles Kingsley, the writer, lived most of his life, and much of his work was inspired by the lovely Clovelly! This was inside his cottage.

By the time we got to the bottom of the steep hill, my thighs and knees were aching, so we sat and enjoyed the views and warm sunshine... then caught the Land Rover bus type vehicle back to the top for us lazy lot that can't be bothered walking back up. (They have built a tarmac road behind the old part of the village to access the hotel.) Just in case you're wondering.

A view of the harbour from about halfway up the village. See the red boat? we were sitting there when I took the picture above. 

Well, I'm off to sunbathe cos it's gorgeous outside. I'm going to blog about my gliding experience separately, as I thought this was already a long blog, so look out for that later in the week.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy

 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

My New Book Lemurian Dimensions, is due out on sale on 1st May 2025 - You can pre-order the paperback by contacting me, or order on Kindle Here.

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A Year Around the UK in A Motorhome - Ludlow - Leominster - Minehead - Taunton - Hampton Court - Week 38

TUESDAY 11 MAY 2015 Week 38

The Prom at Minehead beach and harbour. We continued our trip, starting off in Minehead. As you can see from the above photo, we had a Steam Train trip to Bishop Lydeard. There wasn't very much there, but the journey itself was lovely, taking in the views. Minehead is actually very pretty. As we were walking back, we spotted the RNLI training in the harbour, so the ladies photo bombed Del's harbour shot. (Below)

We headed to Taunton for the day. There was not much there apart from the castle museum and this castle hotel, which was covered in one of my favourite flowers, wisteria. It smelled amazing! As Del was holidaying in Newquay for a few days with his surfer dudes, I decided to head to Leominster to meet my friend and soak up some much-needed culture. I feel deprived of castles and museums of late.

This area of Herefordshire is filled with some of the best examples of Tudor architecture in the country. This used to be the Leominster Market and courthouse.

We got a private tour of Leominster's priory, St Peter, and the other half is St Paul's. Two churches in one building!

On Sunday, we headed to Ludlow to find the town was in the throes of a beer and food festival. They had local folk bands on entertaining the revellers, but as we had partied it up the night before - making friends with the locals at the Talbot hotel who then took us to a nightclub type 80's bar - we didn't feel like drinking more beer. This was the first beer festival I've ever been to, and I didn't drink beer!!! Typical!!

Bonus, though, John Challis, who played Boyce in Only Fools and Horses, was doing a book signing there. What it had to do with food and drink, though I'm not really sure. I was too shy to ask for an autograph, so I sneaked a photo when he wasn't looking.

This is Castle Lodge, a privately owned home in Ludlow, but apparently one of the finest examples of Tudor architecture inside and out. I have to say this has GOT to be the creepiest old building I have ever been into, and that includes the ghost hunt at Healey Hall!!! The owner lived in just one room, and the rest of the house was empty. As we headed to the top floor, I began to get the heebie jeebies and almost ran out of that place. Not good vibes!

This was the hotel in Ludlow I tried to get us into, but because of the Festival, everywhere was booked up, which is why we ended up staying in Leominster. Not complaining though, Leominster was just as lovely, and the Talbot was an old coach house complete with ghosts.

Ludlow Castle. We couldn't get any decent photos really because of the festival and car rally, but it was a great atmosphere. Probably just as well we weren't drinking the beer. 200 beers and by the time we got there, a lot of them were already sold out!!

Steam engines and steampunk belly dancers!!! Interesting combo, but very entertaining.

Monday, we had a full day at a castle. This is the original Hampton Court that Henry VIII nicked the idea from Hampton Court Palace. It's currently up for sale for £12 million. Beautiful day to appreciate such a beautiful house and its grounds. Now we're getting a new house with a garden, so I decided to take lots of pictures to get some ideas. I think I could squeeze this water feature into my new back garden somewhere.

We got lost in a maze, but found a tower to climb and here is a breathtaking view of the grounds.

A secret walled garden - Very pretty. Lovers' den and waterfall! How's this for a tree house? Heading back to Devon to continue the tour now.

 

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy

 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

My New Book Lemurian Dimensions, is due out on sale on 1st May 2025 - You can pre-order the paperback by contacting me, or order on Kindle Here.

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Adventures in a Motorhome for a Year Around the UK - Cotswold - Cheddar Gorge - Fiddington - Watchet - Doriford - Week 37

 Monday, 4 May 2015 Week 37

Returning to our travels from Essex, we stopped off at Swindon to meet part of the Penney clan - Auntie Marge and we stayed just outside Swindon close to the Cotswolds, where we had lovely nature walks and barbecues. A very relaxing few days after the hectic week before, driving back and forth across the country. It was great to catch up with lots of family after months alone on the road. 😇 

We stayed at another Caravan Club site, as I prefer the super clean camp facilities. This one was in Cheddar, Somerset, where the real Cheddar cheese is made. We bought some of the mature cheeses stored and matured in the caves there. We went to a cheese tasting shop in the Gorge, and weirdly, the cheese does have a mineral aftertaste to it, which is aged in the caves for a very long time. It does taste amazing and at £6.20 for a Dairylea's triangle worth it should be!

We went into the caves, which were cool and dank and of course dark. I began to get the heebie jeebies as things like that do spook me at times, but it gave me a great idea for one of my Lycan Lamia characters who lurked around some damp caves haunting visitors who dared to enter!

Del and I have been to Cheddar before, on one of our first weekend breaks together so it was great to return and reminisce and enjoy some apple pie flavoured ice cream - Yummy yum. 

We took a day trip to Weston Super Mare, where there was a Harley-Davidson and Vesper convention. Reminding me of the film Quadrophenia, and it also gave me yet another great idea for my third book in The Mancunian Tales Series - The Bailiff, where the story begins with a chilling murder in Weston-Super-Mare. I do find that when I travel and visit great places, I get inspired with new stories and use the places I visit as the backdrop for them. 

We moved along the coast for the remainder of the bank holiday weekend to Fiddington,, a quaint hamlet/village near Watchet, a harbour town close to Minehead. We had a look around and apart from a small Market Hall and courthouse there wasn't much going on, but it was quaint and pretty. At Doriford, we found a Haven campsite, so we stayed there bank holiday Sunday & Monday. When we arrived back at Fiddington, the overcrowded campsite was virtually empty with just three caravans left (including ours) It's quite creepy when that happens.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy

 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

My New Book Lemurian Dimensions, is due out on sale on 1st May 2025 - You can pre-order the paperback by contacting me, or order on Kindle Here.

My Link Tree QR Code: All social media in one place.