Hoped to spend a bit longer further north, but weather was cold, wet and miserable, so once again we end up in Guignicourt. This place does not have much going for it, but it does have a pleasant, if rather expensive campsite, a small supermarket, a train station, and it is very close to the motorway.
Leaving here on Thursday and hoping to do something different from last year.
Finally in France for the first time this year. Managed to get an earlier crossing than planned, leaving no time to go round the tunnel shop (could have done with new sunglasses and magazines to read).
Boring trip on the M4/M25/M20. They are now updating the M20 to “Smart Motorway”.
Messing about on the river at Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is pretty much half way between Birmingham and Folkestone and an easy diversion from the M40. It is also a very nice place with an easy walk from the campsite to town, and on the bus route from Reading to High Wycombe. Two nights here planned, then a night at Folkestone, then the tunnel to France.
On the move again starting our first proper holiday this year. Some shopping, some family business, and a visit to the transport museum at Wythall where there are old buses and electric vehicles:
Hopefully they will restore it eventually
Visitors can get a ride on this one
We need to be getting home now, so headed south, to the Camping and Caravaning Club site at Moffat:
A strange route, but the A7 through Hawick, the A701 through the Devil’s Beeftub, and the A702 through Bigger, are all unpleasant, even if often picturesque, with the A702 by far the most depressing of the three, whether in a car or a bigger vehicle. Sadly, most GPS systems will try to go on the A702, and ours kept protesting until around Harthill, when it finally gave up trying to re-route and then knocked 10 minutes off the journey time once it accepted that it was the M74 or nothing. The A701 has the nicest scenery and is probably the most entertaining in a car, but a bit annoying in a larger, slower vehicle.
Moffat is an entirely pleasant place with pubs, hotels, takeaways, and all sorts of shops within an easy walk from the campsite. There are also pleasant walks along River Annan.
It had been raining, just for a change
Dark Sky – that’s a laugh as it’s rained cats and dogs pretty much since we got here
Left Fishcross and headed towards Edinburgh:
There was no availability here on the Friday night so the original plan was to stay only three nights then move on to Falkirk to see the wheel. However, cancellations, along with the Christmas market starting on Saturday, persuaded us to stay until Sunday. The attractions at Falkirk can wait for another day.
Took the usual stroll along the prom to Cramond village:
Cramond Island from Marine Drive
On Friday we went round the interesting People’s Story Museum, which chronicles the life and times of ordinary Edinburgh folk over the centuries.
We went into town on Saturday as well. Hibs at home, International rugby at Murrayfield, the first full day of the Christmas markets, and a distinct lack of rain meant the place was heaving.
The big wheel from The Mound
Space aliens landed on George Street?
Maybe not aliens, since they seem to have coned off the area in advance
And, of course, a picture of the castle
Off to Scotland to check up on family. We’ll stop at Tebay Services to get food and then find a campsite in the northern lakes. Opted for Riverside Touring Park, somewhere between Penrith and Carlisle. Nice drive from the M6, apart from the last couple of miles, which were a bit narrow for a vehicle of this size.
Original plan was to go straight to Alloa from there, but no room at the local campsite, so stopped off at the Strathclyde Country Park Caravan Club site.
Next off to the The Woods near Alloa:
This place is close to the old railway line going from Alloa to Devon village and beyond. It is now a pleasant walk roughly along the meanderings of the river Devon.
River Devon
Our attempt to get home avoiding the horrible M20 and the nearly as horrible M25 has generally worked. The only bad bit of road was between Folkestone and Brighton. Once the A27 was involved everything was easy, and the road north from Chichester very motorhome-friendly. Apart, that is, from Chieveley Services, where refueling was impossible due to the stupidly narrow gaps between the pumps.
Sat-Nav took us around Chipping Norton, which was better than going through it. Now we are in Moreton-in-Marsh again, where we find a chip van selling great fish and chips.
Having visited Chichester on Sunday we decided to go to Portsmouth on Monday, hopefully to see some stuff at the historic dockyard. We got the train, which, amazingly, is cheaper than the bus (and faster). The historic dockyard is a collection of museums and attractions, where you could easily spend a week going round. The pricing structure is utterly confusing, with each attraction having a price. However, a year-long ticket is available that lets you go to all the attractions for not a lot more money, which is far better value if you are here for a couple of days, or are planning to come back. At least we think it is for a year, or maybe just until the end of the year you are in. Who knows, it just adds to the confusion.
Anyway, we chose to get a single ticket to the submarine museum, which involved a waterbus trip across the harbour. Landlubbers beware as getting on and off the boat is not for the clumsy or scared of water, although the conductor chap was helpful.
The museum was excellent. Guided tours only, unfortunately, but a free-for-all in this boat would not have worked, as it was very cramped.
HMS Alliance – Submarine Museum
Origin of the phrase “Lower than a snake in a submarine toilet”
HMS Warrior
Stayed here for an extra day so got the train to Portsmouth with a view to wandering to Southsea. We got very lost. To get to Southsea by foot, leave the station, head away from Portsmouth, get on to Greetham Street, then to Blackfriars Road, follow the cyclepath over the main road, then get onto St Andrews road until you get to Elm Grove. At this point you can go left to the well known Albert Road, or straight over to Southsea town center itself. If you find yourself wandering around the university, you are lost. There are also a couple of interesting shops on Castle Road.
Southsea is a bit odd, having obviously been well-to-do in the past, found itself a bit run down, and now appearing to be on the up again. We’ll return to Southsea now that we know what to expect, and how to get there.