motorhoming

14 September 2020

Motorhoming in West Somerset

Jul3s Caravan Blog carvanning, difference between caravan and motorhome, from caravan to motorhome, getting away, holiday freedom, making a decision on motorhome or caravan, motorhoming, Motorhoming for the First Time, Staycation, what is it like to change to a motorhome 0

Motorhoming in West Somerset

With so many places to explore it is often hard to know where to visit. In this blog we will share some motorhome friendly places to stay, visit and eat at in West Somerset.

Where is West Somerset?

West Somerset is in the south west of England. It covers the area around Taunton, just off the M5 motorway, and stretches out to the beautiful coast of Minehead and the wonderful moorland of Exmoor. West Somerset adjoins the county of Devon and offers a superb base for exploring both Devon and Somerset.
West Somerset has a mild climate compared to more northern counties and enjoys plenty of sunshine. Some of the higher lying areas, such as the Quantocks and Exmoor are more exposed and the weather can be changeable there.

Where can I stay in my Motorhome?

You really are spoilt for choice as to where to stay, whether it be a rural or coastal location you are looking for. Both The Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club have sites in Minehead. There are plenty of certified sites and locations if you prefer something a little quieter. If you are looking for a sea view then Warren Bay Holiday Park in Watchet is ideal.
It might be you prefer a pub stopover, in which case The Friendly Spirit or The Enmore Inn might appeal to you.
It doesn’t matter if you have an Adria Matrix 520 or an Adria Sonic 810, you will find a site to accommodate you.

What can I see and do in the area?

There is something for everyone in West Somerset and most attractions are accessible to motorhomes.

Minehead

If you enjoy a walk along a promenade, fish and chips and an ice cream then you don’t need to go further than Minehead. Minehead is located on the Bristol Channel and has an interesting past. It is a popular location in summer and offers a traditional seaside feel. You can walk along the promenade, past the marker for the start of the south west coast path, and on to the Quay West car park. You can find motorhome parking at Quay West and on Warren Road, along the seafront. Minehead is often recognisable by the huge North Hill landmark, jutting out from Exmoor.

Porlock Hill and Exmoor National Park

Here We Tow :Motorhoming in West Somerset Exmoor Sunset — Exmoor Sunset

If you prefer countryside to coast then drive out of Minehead on the A39 towards Porlock. If you have a motorhome over 7 metres long you may want to avoid Porlock Hill and use the toll road. The A39 will take you directly on to Exmoor, with its miles of walking and cycling tracks and trails. It is quite likely you will see an Exmoor Pony too. Exmoor offers plenty of activities if you have children, including pony trekking and Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre.
As you drive over Exmoor you can take in some amazing sea views and The Valley of the Rocks is worth a visit. You can enjoy a walk on the cliff top and take in the stunning views.

Here We Tow :Motorhoming in West Somerset Porlock Weir — Porlock Weir

Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway

As you carry on the A39 you will come to Lynmouth, a small village located on the coast. Lynmouth is actually just over the border in to North Devon, but it is certainly worth a visit if you are in West Somerset. Lynmouth is accessible in most motorhomes and parking can be found in the car park at the end of The Esplanade or on the roadside. There is a fantastic fish and chip shop on The Esplanade but watch out for the Seagulls.
Above Lynmouth sits the village of Lynton, which is where you can park and take the cliff railway. The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway is a great attraction for everyone, dogs included. You can park and use the railway to take you down the steep cliff to Lynmouth and back up. There is a charge for the railway but it is a great experience.

Lynton Railway image courtesy of Lynton and Lymouth Cliff Railway

Dunster Castle – National Trust

If you like castles then Dunster may be worth a visit. The castle is dated to at least Norman times and stands in beautiful gardens. It is surrounded by woodland but has long distance views across the Bristol Channel. Dunster Castle is free to visit and park if you are a National Trust member, make sure you bring your membership card. If you are not a member then motorhome parking is £11 on top of the entry fee.
Whilst at Dunster the village itself is certainly worth visiting. It is filled with plenty of quaint shops, pubs and tearooms. You can walk to the village from Dunster Castle car park.

Watchet Harbour and Attractions

Watchet is a lovely harbour town with plenty of car parking and small shops. The harbour car park will take small motorhomes. The harbour is a lovey place to get a bite to eat and people watch. If you have pedal bikes you can cycle to Watchet from many of the sites in the area. We have eBikes from Mark2 and these make getting about much easier with a range of over 30 miles.

Watchet itself has several places to visit, including Tropiquaria Zoo.

Tropiquaria includes a Tropical Hall with a variety of snakes and lizards, and birds. The zoo also features an aquarium and outside are parrots, gibbons, wildcats, wallabies, emus, cotton-top tamarins, red-handed tamarins, ring-tailed lemurs, yellow mongoose and meerkats amongst many others.
There is also a number of outdoor play areas, and an indoor play area and cafe.

Weston-super-Mare

Situated on the west coast of Somerset, about twenty minutes from Bridgwater, is the popular and bustling seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. If you like donkey rides, arcades and candy floss then you will love a visit here. Parking is available across the town but the Melrose car park is a good option.
Weston-super-Mare has a wonderful long promenade for a walk by the sea. The promenade has numerous takeaway food huts, pubs with outdoor seating and of course, fish and chips. The Grand Pier offers plenty of entertainment for adults and children alike. If you like less hustle and bustle then head for Marine Lake Beach, situated at the top end of the promenade, near the car park. This offers a lovely secluded beach, ideal for paddling.

Visiting a Cider Farm

No trip to Somerset would be complete without a visit to a cider farm. There are plenty of them across the county but two you may want to try are Sheppy’s Cider Farm Shop and Torre Cider Farm. You can enjoy some cider tasting, find out more about cider making and enjoy their farm shop and cafe.

When is it best to visit?

West Somerset is open all year round but some of the attractions do close for winter. The most popular time to visit is from April to October and this is when you will benefit for the better weather. August is the busiest month due to the summer holidays so you may want to work around this. In the better weather you can explore the coastal path on foot or take to your bikes across the Quantocks.

West Somerset is a great place to visit if you are heading to Devon or Cornwall. There is much to see and do but it has the relaxed atmosphere you find across much of the south west of England. Touring in your motorhome should be an enjoyable experience and one to add to your list.

6 September 2020

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon

Jul3s Caravan Blog beach walks, CAMPING, car parks, caravanning, Dawlish, dog walks, goodrington, Holiday inspiriation, Holidays in South Devon, motorhoming, Paignton, Sidmouth, Stoke Gabriel, where to park motorhomes 1

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon

Are you always looking for inspiration about where to visit next with your tourer or tent? In this blog we will share some places you may want to visit to enjoy a short weekend or a family holiday. We will include dog friendly beaches for if you have a four legged friend.

Where is South Devon?

South Devon is located in the south west of England. It borders the counties of Dorset, Cornwall and Somerset.
South Devon generally enjoys a mild climate with plenty of sunshine, but be prepared as it does get its fair share of rain. Devon is a popular tourist destination for many. The area around Torquay is known as the English Riviera. If you’re looking for beautiful beaches, palm trees and cream teas then Devon should be on your list.

Where should I stay?

South Devon is blessed with excellent caravan and camping sites. From quiet CS locations to large commercial family sites, with entertainment and swimming pools. You will find a site that is perfect for you.

If you are looking to stay around the popular and quaint town of Sidmouth then there a few great choices.
You could opt for a larger park such as Oakdown Holiday Park. This well kept site offers self catering accommodation too, if you are travelling with family who don’t have their own tourer.
If you want a no frills value site then Wellbeck Farm Certified Site may be for you. Based on a small farm it offers grass pitches for £8 per night, there is a toilet and waste disposal available too.

If you want something more lively, head towards the seaside town of Dawlish. Here you will find several large family orientated sites. Lady’s Mile Site offers everything a family needs to keep them entertained for a week or more.

You can find a relaxed family friendly site if you travel further south towards Paignton. Here you can stay at Higher Well Farm Holiday Park, they offer huge grass pitches, with electric, for all tourers and tents. The site is dog friendly and has a fish and chip van visit on a Saturday night. At £18 a night it is well priced compared to other sites nearby. You will receive a warm and friendly welcome from the owners too.

There are plenty of sites around the area to stay at, you can use a search tool such as pitch up to discover a fantastic place to stay.

Where should I visit?

Sidmouth

Sidmouth is a quaint town situated on the sea, it is known to be popular for its seafront and beach. The town itself has a nice bustle to it, with several shops and small pubs to enjoy a meal.
Sidmouth is suited to couples more than families as it lacks commercial attractions and entertainment. There is ample parking around the town and you can enjoy the Jurassic Coast here.
One family attraction worth a visit is the Donkey Sanctuary. The Donkey Sanctuary works to rescue and protect donkeys who have not had the best start in life. As well as visiting the donkeys you can adopt one too, there are also webcams so you can watch from home.

Dawlish

If you prefer a little more activity, then head further south to Dawlish. Dawlish does have it all and will keep family members of all ages occupied. We recommend parking at Barton Hill Car Park, it is accessible by car and motorhome. Once parked up you can walk down to the town via the brook. The brook is freshwater and is inhabited by black swans and plenty of ducks. There is a lovely grassed area where you can walk you dog or sit and watch the water run past. The brook is bordered by plenty of great shops, including coffee shops, small bars and fish and chips.

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon - Here We Tow Motorhome Parking — Easy Motorhome Parking

An absolute must is a visit to Gays Creamery, situated on Brunswick Place and overlooking the brook. They have an abundance of fresh cakes and pies available all day, everyday, and a small seating area to enjoy your treats outside.

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon - Here We Tow - Dawlish — Dawlish Park Walk

At the bottom of the town is the sandy beach, it does go on for miles so finding your own quiet spot won’t be an issue. Dogs are welcome on the left hand side of the beach and there are seasonal restrictions on the right hand side. The town is very dog friendly generally.

Whilst walking on the beach, or the seafront promenade, you will be passed by various trains on the railway. The Riviera line makes Dawlish accessible from all over the south west.

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon - Here We Tow Riviera Line — Dawlish sea front railway line

Paignton and Goodrington

Do you like a larger seaside town, well in that case Paignton is worth a visit. It has a long sandy beach and promenade, ideal for a nice walk. If sitting on the beach isn’t for you then you can keep yourself amused on the pier. Paignton town centre offers a variety of shops, amusements and eateries too.
There is parking along the seafront and small motorhomes can park at the far end.

Once you’ve seen enough of the beach you could visit Paignton Zoo. The Zoo is home to an array of animals including rhino, cheetah, monkey and zebra. There are smaller animals too, birds and reptiles, it really does offer a great wildlife experience.

Goodrington is next door and we found it was ideal to park at Clennon Valley Car Park in the motorhome. We walked down to Goodrington Sands, which is dog friendly, and then over to Paignton. Goodrington has a nice feel to it. There are plenty of places to eat as you look out to sea, or across the harbour.
Goodrington benefits from Splashdown, a popular waterpark with eight flume rides!

Motorhoming, Caravanning and Camping in South Devon - Here We Tow - Jules and Fudge — Jules and Fudge

Stoke Gabriel

This small village is situated on a creek on the River Dart, with a man-made dam creating a great visitor attraction. Stoke Gabriel is very quaint and very small, access with a motorhome is not recommended. Parking can be found at the bottom of Mill lane, right at the waters edge. The charge is £5 and from there you can take a walk back up the hill to the village. At the waters edge people enjoy crabbing off the damn. Crab lines can be bought at the small shop along with hot drinks and snacks. The size of crab you can catch from the damn is actually quite impressive and this spot is popular with young families. After a morning of crabbing you might fancy a pub lunch at The Castle Inn.

When should I visit?

South Devon is an all year round destination, winters are milder than further north. Over winter several attractions may be closed, along with some of the caravan and camping sites. Each season offers something different but spring and autumn will find most attractions open but fewer visitors. August, as you would expect, is the busiest month. Holidaymakers head to Devon during the school holidays to enjoy the attractions and have some quality time together.
Whenever you choose to visit, Devon offers a fun filled holiday for everyone, including pets!

11 June 2020

What do you buy your Dad for Father’s Day?

Jul3s Events, Products, Reviews 10 caravan gift ideas, colapz, fathers day, gift ideas, isabella, motorhoming, what to get for fathers day

What do you buy your Dad for Father’s Day?

Is your Dad caravan, camper van or motorhome mad? If he is then these gift ideas may be perfect for Father’s Day.

When is Father’s Day this year?

Father’s Day is Sunday 21st June 2020 and this year many of us will not be able to visit our Dad due to the pandemic. This doesn’t mean we cannot still make the day special for them.

Ten Top Gifts For Father’s Day

1. Colapz Flexi Pipes

One of our favourite gift ideas has to be the Colapz Flexi Pipe kit, available in packs of four or eight. These are ideal for use on serviced pitches when away touring, you can even add the Flexi Waste Pipe Double Adaptor for even more convienience. They make Dad’s life much easier by draining away the grey waste straight down the drain. Colapz have more great gift ideas on their website and they offer gift vouchers too.

2. Calibrated Torque Wrench

A torque wrench may not be a glamorous gift but Dad’s love their tools. A calibrated torque wrench is a must for caravanning, you should check your wheel nuts before every tow. This is the wrench we use and we recommend it.

3. The Best BBQ

Ask anyone which the best BBQ is and you will get a variety of answers. Most people, however, will recommend one of three brands. The most popular gas BBQ is undoubtedly the Cadac. They are available in various sizes which is great if you are cooking for just a couple or a family of six or more.

If you like a proper BBQ taste and flavour then the briquette fuelled Cobb is ideal for your camping and caravanning trips.
A popular brand is Weber, better known for barbecuing at home, this brand offers a great selection of products. The are great quality and a well established BBQ product.

4. Club Membership

If your Dad is not already a member then why not consider buying him a Club Membership. The two largest UK Clubs are The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan and Motorhome Club. Both give you access to hundreds of sites across the UK. Being a member gives you access to their membership benefits such as insurance and discounts.

5. Cordless Drill and attachment

You may wonder why your Dad needs a cordless drill when caravanning but believe me, he may thank you for this one. When you arrive on site with your caravan it may well be Dad’s job to wind down the steadies of the caravan. A drill, with a corner steady adaptor when used correctly, can make this job much quicker and easier. He will certainly thank you when the weather is bad!

6. Milenco Towing Mirrors

If your Dad is looking for some new towing mirrors then without doubt the Milenco brand are the best you can get. We have tested ours out over thousands of miles so can recommend them. The Milenco Grand Aero are excellent quality and give a great field of vision. Make sure you buy your Dad the best with these mirrors.

7. Mark2 Electric Bikes

Your Dad may have been mentioning he is interested in an eBike to take more exercise and see more of the countryside. When caravanning, or motorhoming, an eBike is a great accompaniment. We can recommend these eBikes for their build quality and usability. There is currently 10% off these great Mark2 eBikes too with our Here We Tow discount. Just use the link to apply the discount.

8. Flagpole and Lights

Love them or hate them, flagpoles and lights are certainly a talking point. Their novelty value cannot be underestimated and they always seem popular on every site. Maybe your Dad would like to fly a novelty flag or light up his pole with some colourful LED lights. Take a look at the Life’s a Breeze website to find some inspiration.

9. Isabella Thor Chair

If your Dad is looking for a new chair then you won’t buy him much better than an Isabella Thor chair. If your Dad likes his Marvel films then he will love any of their chairs, named the Thor, Odin and Loke. A foot rest is available to compliment these quality chairs along with other outdoor furniture products. Isabella are certainly the luxury brand within the market.

10. Personalised Mug

You don’t have to spend a fortune to show your Dad how much he means to you. For just over £5 why not buy him a personalised mug for those trips away. Every morning when he has his first brew he will think of you! You could always go a step further and treat him to a new coffee machine.

You may have a few ideas about what to treat your Dad to on Father’s Day. Whatever you buy him it is about showing you appreciate him. This year many of us won’t be able to spend time with their Dad, us included, but let them know you are thinking about them. If you would like any more ideas please visit our Resources Page on our website.

11 January 2019

Our Christmas & New Year in a Caravan.

Jul3s Reviews, Trips caravanning, christmas, holidays, motorhoming, winter breaks, winter camping

On the 7th December we set off on our Christmas holiday, a four week trip in total covering both Christmas and New Year.

Prior to my Mum deteriorating in health, we had planned a weeks holiday at Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Club Site in Wiltshire. When she passed away we decided to continue with our trip but make more of it.We packed the Rexton with clothes and Christmas presents and set off with enthusiasm, and of course our dog Fudge. We had a long drive back down to Dorset to pick up our Adria but we arrived at the storage yard safely. The weather was awful, high winds and driving rain, we hitched up and had a short tow to Ernie’s Plot at Bridport in Dorset. We arrived at this little CS to find we were the only guests. We got set up in the monsoon rain and fired up the Alde heating. Our first night was wet and windy but we were warm and cosy. We had missed our Adria and it felt like being back home.

The next morning we decide to explore Bridport, we found the town had a good choice of shops. Over the next few days the weather improved and the view from the lounge window, from our pitch, was beautiful. We had many trips out, including fish and chips at West Bay and a lovely pub lunch in Sidmouth. We loved the local area and Ernies Plot made for a good base. It was excellent for Fudge as it had a huge secure field for dogs to charge about in, the only downside was the pitches were very sloping.

After a week it was time to pack up and head to Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Site. As we arrived at the site we noticed the approach lane could be tricky if you were to meet larger traffic coming the other way. We arrived at reception to be met by Gail, the Warden.

What a lovely welcome we received and we were soon on our way to pitch 159. For the second part of our holiday we had arranged to trial a Bailey Phoenix 640 to conduct a downsizing experiment. At 9” narrower and almost a metre shorter than our Adria, it was sure to be interesting. We got settled in and set up and were soon on the way to Asda at Frome to stock up. We had already realised the fridge in the Phoenix was a lot smaller, about 37 litres in total. We have to be careful not to buy too much fresh food or frozen items. Once stocked up with food and the obligatory chocolate we headed back to Longleat. That night we settled down for our first night and it wasn’t long before the Lions began. We laid in the dark listening to the roar of the Lions from the safari park, only a short distance away. The noise could only be decided as sounding like dinosaurs, it was amazing. As I drifted off to sleep I did think what would happen if one got out…We spent most of next day vlogging on the site and producing a review for our channel. We spent some of our time visiting Warminster and Frome and popping out early doors for breakfast at The Bath Arms. We arranged to meet with a great couple who we met earlier this year, Ann and Gary Brooks. We met for lunch at Trowbridge and it was nice to hear about their Christmas plans which included their own caravan trip to Dulverton.Whilst at Longleat we met, by chance, Phil and Lee from Top hat (click to see their you tube channel) with their Hobby Premium caravan and their little dog Roman. It was nice to chat with them and meet more of our online friends.We also had time for reflection of how 2018 had turned out. It had been a difficult year with us both retiring from the Police, selling our house to move further south and then Mum passing away from Cancer in November. As we counted down to Christmas Day we both felt a bit down but would see how it went. Christmas Day arrived and we started with the ritual of Christmas present opening. As always my friend Sam had come good, chocolate for us and treats for Fudge. The day ticked past and I prepared our Christmas Dinner in the Bailey kitchen. Despite the limited room in the Phoenix, the kitchen worktop space was an outright winner for cooking a meal. By late afternoon we sat down to eat the offering, mostly that had been cooked in foil trays to save on the washing up. I spent the rest of the night eating chocolate fingers to the point of no return and then we headed to bed. That was Christmas Day 2018, not quite like the previous 39 Christmas Days I had known before but fun nonetheless.

Boxing Day and we were up early and headed down to The Bath Arms at Warminster for a breakfast, pancakes and a full breakfast were ordered and soon gobbled down. We headed back to Longleat, excited that our friends would be arriving later that day to continue our holiday and New Year celebration. It wasn’t long before we were joined by the Trudgian, Hardham and Morley family and we stood back to watch how the experts really do it.The site at Longleat got busier by the day in the countdown to New Year and a few more of our friends began to arrive for our arranged holiday. All I can say about what happened next is that we haven’t laughed so much, probably ever. Most mornings were spent having breakfast with the Caravan and Motorhome Gossip family and also Jan and Nik Ban, two lovely people who let nothing stand in their way. What a fantastic time we had and an amazing New Year. This included watching an amazing firework display from the site courtesy of Longleat Estate.Most of the group packed up and headed home on the 1st January but we had one more thing to look forward to, Ann and Gary arriving to join us for a few nights. I had promised them one of my finest roast dinners and thats what they got, as we gathered in the Phoenix lounge. Bless them, they ate it and thankfully were still with us the next day.

It was a good job too as we had arranged for the four of us to meet up with John and Tina Cooke for a pub lunch. We headed out for the day and spent a lovely few hours chatting and eating more food.When we got back to Longleat we started to pack up ready for our own departure the next day, the site was almost empty by now and the lively atmosphere of families celebrating had now left behind a stillness. Once again as we laid there in the dark that night the Lions began to roar….We were up early on the 3rd January and headed out for one last breakfast at McDonalds with Gail and Mark Cooper, the Wardens. We thanked them for all they had done to make our stay so enjoyable and we felt genuinely sad to be leaving our home for the past three weeks. We returned to the site, hitched up and said good bye to Ann and Gary. We dropped the Phoenix back off at Bailey and then began a long drive back to the Yorkshire Dales where our trip had begun almost four weeks before.We both agreed we had one of the best Christmas and New Years, despite missing Mum, and that caravanning at Christmas is the future. Heres to 2019…and some healthy eating and lots of caravanning. If you would like to keep informed where we will be then head over to our Home page to see our announcements.