We had a lovely long Easter weekend at Islawrffordd Caravan Park in Talybont, just north of Barmouth.
After weeks of rain, the sun came out for our journey which is always an exciting part of the trip when we’re travelling in Duggie.
This is possibly the most beautiful site we’ve ever pitched at. Everything was immaculate and I mean everything, from the pitch itself to the washing up facilities, it was incredibly clean and tidy.
Islawrffordd is located on Talybont Beach so access was perfect. Its typical of beaches along that stretch of coastline, vast, sandy and beautiful.
Theres also a coastal path to walk along. A local told us that when the tide is out you can walk to Barmouth although we didn’t get around to it.
There are some great facilities on site too although we didn’t get any photos of them sadly! Theres a restaurant called ‘Ninteen57’; we tried to book a table but as it was Easter weekend it was fully booked. Plan B was Billys fish & chips, also onsite next to the arcade. The food is delicious, very good quality and not too overpriced. The staff were really friendly too.
I should mention that we have a new photography enthusiast in our midst.
Master B has taken all the photos in this blog so he’s off to a great start although his passion is photographing airplanes.
Or anything that dangles in the sky.
Other things to appreciate on this site were, the security, the kids park and the friendliness of staff.
That just leaves the pupdate. Buddy has been with us for two years now and he’s an amazing travel companion. He loves Duggie as he knows it’s his route to the beach. He has us wrapped around his little finger as he’s demonstrating here, waiting for his breakfast early doors!
Other moments of adoration:
We’d be more than happy to go back to Islawrffordd if we’re lucky enough to get a pitch. On the day we packed up and headed home, the weather had turned and it rained all the way the way home.
Situated along the world famous Jurassic Coast in Dorset you’ll find Highlands End Holiday Park. Our motivation for this visit is Master B who is fascinated with fossils and wanted to do a fossil hunting trip.
The image above is from the walk down to Eype beach directly from the site. It’s not far in distance but walking back up that hill was a nice workout each time although it’s not for the faint hearted. Theres a public carpark next to the beach which makes in accessible to all.
Highlands End Holiday Park is now on our top ten list of places to pitch in England. It has everything you need, everything is immaculately clean, the staff are all friendly and helpful. More than anything, the whole place was set up perfectly with the customer in mind. We couldn’t find a single fault.
It has as Spar shop on site that is the most well stocked shop with campers in mind. We didn’t eat at the onsite restaurant although we did venture in there and it looked great with games tables too and a little firefighting museum!
On our first evening we ventured down to Eype beach to see if we could find any fossils although we weren’t feeling optimistic. These doubts were immediately abated as there was plenty to see on fallen rocks.
On Day Two, Inspired by what we found we decided to travel the 40 miles to The Etches Collection Museum in Kimmeridge to see some of the best fossils discovered in the local area by Steve Etches.
We were lucky enough to park the motorhome on the carpark directly behind the museum although it did fill up quickly. It really is worth a visit as the exhibition is absolutely fascinating with complete ichthyosaurus fossils amongst lots of others. I didn’t take any photos of the exhibition as I think you should visit which will help fund their education programme.
The Etches Collection Museum is located in Kimmeridge which has its own fantastic beach. A short drive along the road from the museum you’ll find a very friendly lady who will take £12 from you in exchange for a days worth of parking next to Kimmeridge Bay. There was plenty of room and we parked overlooking the cliff out to see. After a lovey lunch we headed out to The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre
This is situated a short walk to the left of the carpark. It has a lovely little exhibition inside with a history of Kimmeridge Bay, it’s completely free although we left a donation.
Its quite rocky on this side of the Bay so again a good opportunity to spot fossils.
Back up to the carpark we headed to the right of the Bay.
On day 3, armed with a fossil hunting kit from the The Etches Collection Museum, we back down to Hype Beach. We met a fossil hunter with his daughter who was very knowledgeable and imparted some useful tips to Master B. There had been a new rock fall during the night and it was an opportune time to hunt for fresh fossils. The rule in Dorset is that you can’t remove fossils from the cliff but you can collect fossils that have already fallen and we found a few!!
We also had help from the canine fossil hunter.
Someone had made these lovely rock states.
Highlands End Holiday Park has great access to West Bay too along the coastal path.
An ideal place to walk to for a fish and chip lunch on the seafront and work them off walking up the hill back to the site.
Other than exploring and fossil hunting there’s lots of fun to be had chilling with Duggie.
Someone didn’t roll up the fairy lights on the last trip and spent a lot of time unravelling them!It’s not everyday a pooch spots a paragliderBeing woke up by a hungry houndThats sirloin steak and chips on that plate!What is referred to as the walk of shame
The guy in the onsite shop said we should go to Carmouth Beach as its great for fossil hunting. When we got there we were able to park straight away in their vast carpark. Next to the carpark is another free fossil museum, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre which is well worth a visit.
The fossil shop underneath is an amazing aladin’s cave of fossils, curios and gifts. This is the only photo I got of the entire visit as I left my camera in the van so had to go back.
And some completely random bits…
The poshest Tesco in England, Dorchester…This pleased Master BWhen on a macro photography walkThis show off running up that hillon the road
This weekend was all about the Big Bennett Meet Up Weekend. In attendance were: Us Mr & Mrs Bennett Senior Jez, Niki and Elijah Bennett Toby & Nicole Jack & Rosie
Here they all are (except me…Mrs B)
It was so hot all weekend and temperatures reached the high 20’s. We had some sun worshippers in the group but some needed help cooling down.
We spent the weekend paddle boarding, kayaking, eating, drinking, laughing and having a good old catch up.
In our previous Croft Farm blog we discussed the poor facilities but avoided them this time choosing to turn a blind eye. If you want to read that blog click here
Unlike me (Sam) I didn’t take many photos at all probably due to being in the moment and enjoying the company but I have cobbled together a gallery from different sources which hopefully will give you a sense of place.
Whilst packing up I (Sam) got a call to say my mom had been rushed to hospital so it was straight to the hospital and an abrupt end to a lovely weekend.
Update: mom is doing well and out of hospital having had a pacemaker fitted. She spent a week in hospital and a week at our house and she was more than ready to return home.
I know what you’re thinking…not another Lake Bala blog! It really is a lovely place and the lake is perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking as that’s what everyone is doing.
We were blessed with glorious sunshine for the whole trip which makes it even more enjoyable especially if your names Buddy and you’ve managed to escape your tether…
Mr B and Master B went out on the kayak early doors.
Master B is yet to get the paddle boarding bug and has so far resisted even trying it out. That was until a little encouragement and a slight push got him out on the board for the first time.
No seriously…he did get on his feet too.
and then he caught the bug! Absolutely loves it and incredibly talented at it too.
Once Buddy saw Master B on the paddle board he was keen to try it out.
Wait until we get you a buoyancy aid Buddy!
We had a mad ten minutes with Mr fussy pants needing some attention.
If anyone is wondering what kind of a man Mr B is then this photo should say it all.
carrying both boards so Mrs B doesn’t hurt her back (it’s fragile)
Always the gentleman! I did manage my paddle though lol.
Do we still have catalogues in 2022? If we do, we’re available for pennies lol…
So that just leaves the Buddy gallery to end another great weekend at Glanllyn Caravan Park, Lake Bala.
With a big beautiful blue lake, Croft Farm was the obvious choice for our next Paddle boarding trip. Easily accessible form the M5 motorway with no narrow roads making the it an ideal motorhome journey.
You have to check in first at the reception which doesn’t have parking for motorhomes or caravans so its a quick perch blocking in other cars before heading to our pitch. Once there we didn’t know whether we needed to pitch to the left or right as there’s normally site rules and we found out that with gravel pitches even the canopy needs to be on the gravel which isn’t ideal but rules are rules.
On the day of arrival the weather was glorious and the males decided to go straight onto the lake with their paddle boards.
Unfortunately I got mainly videos which I can’t add to this site so this is the only photo I have of Mr B on a paddle board!
After such a beautiful day we relaxed in the evening ready for a full day of paddle boarding and kayaking the next day…however, it rained all day. Dark skies and cold winds meant a day of games in the motorhome.
Even though we have a sink for washing up, we tend to use the site washing up facilities to reduce the need to fill up with water and empty the grey waste. The washing up facilities at Croft Farm are by far the worst we’ve ever seen. There was no shelter so if it rains all day you have to wash up in the rain. The sink were constantly blocked and full of rancid dirty water so we never actually successfully washed up on site. I felt very sorry for the tenters who had to other way of washing up. This site charges premium prices for their pitches but the facilities are well below par. The toilet and shower block was uncomfortable to use with very basic cover between cubicles. Again if you pay basic prices you don’t mind but our pitch cost £42 a night.
Having said that despite the facilities the main draw is the lake and that is probably the reason for the high pitch price.
Buddy is definitely living his best life having been with us for 17 months and very settle into life with Duggie’s Adventures.
Of course the weekend was also about celebrating fathers day and these two came to join us for the evening.
So most of Mr B’s boys all under one motorhome roof!
Lake Bala is now one of our regular destinations. It’s easy to reach after work and school on Friday so an ideal destination for weekend of waterspouts. On this occasion we decided last minute to go on Saturday morning so we needed to make the most of the day.
If you’ve read our previous blogs on Lake Bala you will see our kayak expeditions although we are also fans of paddleboarding.
In Bala the petrol station is on the side of the road. You basically pull up and a really friendly guy comes out to put fuel in the tank. Had a great chat with him about rising fuel prices etc and our first full tank costing more than £90. Initially two and half years ago it was costing around £65 – 70 so that’s a huge increase in a short space of time.
Thats not the friendly guy by the way, that’s Mr Bennett looking confused!
Arriving at Glanllyn Lakeside caravan and camping site we checked in and as usual we were given a choice of pitches. We opted for a pitch on the beach as we haven’t been down that end before.
The pitch gave us great views of the lake and was super handy when carrying the paddle boards and kayak down. The only downside was leaves and twigs falling on the motorhome roof throughout the night which could be quite loud but it wasn’t enough to spoil the location.
As soon as we were pitched it was paddle boards inflated, wetsuits on and off to the lake we went. Lake Bala is really shallow around the shore and doesn’t become deep until you’re quite far out. If like me (Sam) you fear deep water then this a Great Lake for you to paddle board or kayak in. You can see the bottom for quite a while and when the water becomes dark you know its getting deeper. Wearing a buoyancy aid will give you a lot more confidence. Not everyone wears them but if you have any doubts get one, it will be the difference between wanting or not wanting to get in the water.
I (Sam) actually woke with a migraine that day and thanks to new medication was able to feel quite normal by the time we got to site allowing me to enjoy paddle boarding. Normally, before the new medication that would have been two days lying down unable to move my head! A new lease of life you could say.
We was on the lake until quite late to make the most of only staying one night. On our late night walk with Buddy, Tristan decided to get some light trail shots with his cool lightsaber.
Another lovely weekend at, in and on Lake Bala 🙂
Having left Porth Beach Holiday Park in the morning we arrived at Hele Valley Holiday Park late that afternoon. We had a fully serviced pitch so it was a case of park up, hook up and relax.
The site itself is well maintained and has an interesting layout. The facilities were clean, modern and within easy reach. There were BBQ brick points dotted around which was a nice touch and also helps them maintain the high standards of the site.
Close to the site is The Hele Bay Pub, situated on the entrance road to Hele Beach. We didn’t eat there but it looked packed when we walked past and looking online at the menu, it had a lot of delicious dishes to offer.
Also local to the site is cafe/bistro that offers takeaway meals. Again we didn’t try it but they have a great menu and it looked busy. We actually ordered an Indian takeaway on just eat! Something we have only managed to do at our previous site in Newquay and maybe a good sign of things to come. I do like cooking good healthy meals whilst were away but not every night. It’s not easy cooking in motorhome kitchen but slow cookers and BBQ’s help a lot!
The nearest beach is Hele Beach which is a 10 minute walk back through the site and across the main road. There’s a nature trail from the site almost to the main road which has some lovely features, sculptures and flowers.
With plenty of opportunity for macro photography.
We intended to walk into Ilfracombe but decided on a more relaxed walk around Hele Valley whilst also capturing the about macro images.
Next to the site is Chambercombe Manor an estate steeped rich history, once owned by The Duke of Suffolk, Lady Jane Greys father and is now rife with paranormal activity. We walked to the manor but it was closed which is a shame because it looks like such an interesting place to visit.
Hele Beach, although not the prettiest, is popular with wild swimmers, divers and anglers. It was a dull afternoon when we visited so it probably looks a lot nicer with the sun shining down.
That completes our Easter 2022 Tour. We’re not sure where our next destination will be but we’ll get something booked soon!
We had a nice easy drive from Combe Martin to Newquay, stopping at Widemouth Bay for lunch on the way.
The sun came out and lit up the beach in all its sandy glory which made our detour so worth while. We stayed in Widemouth Bay in Summer 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed it, such a lovely part of the world. You will find our Widemouth Bay blog here:
After our gorgeous lunch stop off we arrived at Porth Beach Holiday Park in Newquay, Cornwall to a friendly welcome from the site staff.
The site wasn’t too busy so our pitch was in a quiet location.
The next day we had a walk into Newquay even though rain was forecast.
Coming out of the campsite and across the road to Porth Beach, we took the coast path into Newquay town. We walked past Lusty Glaze Beach and Tolcarne Beach, both idilic with steps down for access.
Unfortunately the heavens opened up and we were ducking in and out of doorways the rest of the journey so we didn’t manage to get any more photos.
Newquay has a Blue Reef Aquarium that we visited the next day.
Newquay has a lot to offer but we mainly stuck to the campsite and Porth Beach.
Porth Beach is vast and ideal for watersports, especially when the tide is in as its quite shallow so boarding is popular.
Back at the site we had a lovely sunny day and relaxed in the sunshine whilst playing some games.
Buddy needed a relax after all the ball chasing (even though he wasn’t part of the game!)
An added bonus of staying near to a major town is the ability to order dinner on deliveroo and Just Eat so we made the most of it and only had to cook for one night which fell to Mr B…
Buddy there waiting for his sausages to cook!
On that same evening we had lovely sunset.
Newquay has a lot to offer but what we found most enjoyable was the ability to either fully relax or immerse yourself in the town and its surroundings.
Next to Porth Beach is Porth Island which offers stunning views of Newquay. Its has a dedicated path up to the island point but the cliffs are high and without barriers, Buddy had to be put on his lead at certain points.
We now realise that Duggie is rapidly becoming Buddy’s van. He’s at his most relaxed when we’re travelling and despite his many anxieties he’s incredibly chilled when he’s having a beer with his dad.
We had a great time in Newquay and each day was different to the other. It’s off to Ilfracombe next so we’ll see you there.
A record breaking THIRD visit to the same site! I think that’s a good indication of how much we like this site. It’s great stopping place if you’re heading from North so South which we do quite often. From Shropshire it’s around 4 hours taking into consideration a lunch stop and travelling in a motorhome is slower than a car. Despite it being the start of the Easter holidays there weren’t any holdups or heavy traffic so we were lucky in that respect.
As we’ve already written two other blogs on Newberry Valley and Coombe Martin there will be lots more information in them:
This blog is more of an update to the previous blogs although nothing has changed really. Buddy is well and truly settled in, has us wrapped around his little claw and loves life on the road.
He always finds a new butt to sniff wherever we go and now that he’s trained off the lead life is so much easier for us too. It’s an absolute joy to watch him enjoying his life with us after such a traumatic start.
Spoilt? Moi?!
When I said update, I merely meant a few more photos of the beautiful Coombe Martin Beach where the sea is a stunning aqua blue. It was the warmest of weather and we had drizzles of rain to start of the holiday but it was still a place to be enjoyed.
The sun came out long enough for some macro photography of which Newberry valley offers plenty of opportunity around it’s secluded lake.
On a final note, I managed to capture the food demon stalking his favourite prey for scraps. What I like about this photo is it shows ‘real’ motor homing with damp towels drying off in the cabin and mess everywhere after a busy day. We tend to take photos of how nice our motorhomes look but the reality is, it’s a small space with everything you need in it and sometimes it’s not as organised as you’d like it to be. It’s all part of motor homing, especially with a teenager and over privileged hound in tow!
I’m sure we’ll be back at Newberry Valley on our next trip down South…next stop is Newquay, Cornwall.
This is our second visit to Lake Bala within 4 weeks. It’s easy for us to get to after work on Friday late afternoon so we think it’s going to become a regular destination.
We absolutely love kayaking which for Sam is huge as she isn’t a fan of water. We’re yet to get Buddy in the kayak, we’re still pondering over that one.
As you can see from the above image, kayaking always puts a huge smile on Tristans face! He even goes off on his own across the lake and back.
One thing is for sure, our newest recruit Buddy is absolutely loving motorhome life! Duggie, now known as Buddy’s van is his ultimate favourite thing. I think he’s realised that he can really immerse himself in family life and get away with anything.
Yes he loves inside the van but he also loves the places we visit too. Whilst waiting for the guys to come off the lake I took advantage of photographing him while he had a few rare still moments.
Duggies Adventures 