The Wessex grand tour.

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The Wessex Tour – sort of! Day One

We have managed to find two empty weeks in early November on the family calendar. No NHS appointments, no vaccinations, no cars in for servicing or ‘catch-ups’ with friends. Two horizontal calendar ‘week’ rows of emptiness!

So, we immediately plan a road trip and fill them. I mean ‘never look a gift horse in the mouth’ and all that!

As we motor up the A38, there is a frisson of excitement within Bryony’s cab. We are heading for Somerset and Wiltshire for a spot of family catching up and visiting some ancient landmarks.

Stop one is Bramble Hill campsite in Walton just outside Street. Before arriving at the site, we stock up at the local Sainsbury’s, giving the striking Clark’s workers a toot and a wave of support as they picket outside the main entrance on the roundabout into Sainbury’s. The new owners are sacking many employees who have been there for decades and then rehiring them only if they take lower salaries and/or promotion positions. Seems very unfair and shoddy practice.

Bramble Hill is a large grass field with some ominous dips and the odd puddle or two. Backed by a tall leylandii type hedge it is sheltered with great views of big skies. Perfect for stargazing, so I’m happy. Sort of. Those puddles worry me. I haven’t forgotten our very first trip out to Dartmouth in Bryony when she was new. A very ‘stuck in the mud’ encounter! There is a security gate and surprisingly little noise from the traffic on the nearby A361. Facilities are clean.

We manage to find an overgrown hardstanding in the big field and get both front wheels onto it but it is fair to say we are still concerned. There are wheel marks across the field towards the gate entrance where a vehicle has had slipping wheels. The forecast is dry for the next day or two and then rain! Lots of rain!

This could get interesting around departure time! As a precaution we reverse up onto the ramps and then put out the mud mats in front of them.

We love how we are now ‘sufficiently experienced’ enough to have an arrival routine. Whilst I hook up electrics and sort out the toilet cassette, Maggie has the interior unpacked and arranged within minutes of arrival. In fact, it takes us only ten minutes from arrival to sort out ramps, EHU, toilet cassette, water tank and interior. Pretty good given when we started it was taking around forty minutes!

Kettle on, time for a cuppa and a stroll to visit family.  

 

Useful websites:

Bramble Hill Campsite: http://www.bramblehillcampingsite.co.uk/

Route for today: A38 – M5 – A361

Distance driven: 145 miles from storage site

Expenditure: £60 diesel top up; campsite fees for four nights - £81 cash on arrival