We figured that this would probably be our last caravan trip of 2015 so we want to make the most of it. We booked the New Forest as it’s relatively close to home, but in a beautiful part of the country and close to the sea.
We still managed to get lost on the way and had to turn around in a country lane – no mean feat with the van on the back! We eventually arrived and realised that we were just down the road from the park where we spent our first ever trip at the Caravan Club Centenary Site.
Holmsley park is a Camping and Caravanning site and based on a WW2 air field – there is an airfield memorial just down the road
RAF Holmsley South is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Christchurch, Dorset; about 90 miles (140 km) southwest of London
Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a bomber and later as a transport airfield. After the war it was closed in late 1946. Christchurch Council from December 1946 to 1961 used the old accommodation sites including WAAF Nissen Huts as temporary accommodation for families waiting for a council house (Wikipedia).
The site didn’t make a first great impression. It is literally on an airfield and there are no roads or pointers to the pitches, just small white posts dotted around. This gives you the feeling that you are ‘wild camping’, which may be the great for some, but it’s a bit too basic for me and the Man. The site had definitely ramped down for out of season, with a skeleton crew and most of the facilities closed. The promised ‘take away’ was desultory and added to the lack lustre ambiance of the site. On a more positive note we pitched our van under the trees on the edge of the site that backed right onto a vast area of the Forest.
We went for a late afternoon walk and horses were grazing just outside our back door. It was quite lovely. The Forest was resplendent in Autumn colours, bracken and heather hugged the cropped grass, dotted with peacefully grazing horses, cows and pigs.
Saturday 17th October
The good news is it’s not raining – must be a first! We had our usual morning routine of a cup of coffee in bed, radio 4, bed making, showers (a bit basic and cramped), dog walk and breakfast (fresh coffee, OJ and sausage baps – lush!).
Today’s plan was a bit loose, but we decided to visit the town of Lymington and then walk around Keyhaven Marshes. Lymington is a pleasant estuary town with a typical British high street leading down to the more high-end quay and marina. The town was livened a bit by an interesting street long market and we had a pleasant coffee and cake in a quaint side street café that provided free dog biscuits and hot water bottles for those that had to sit outside – how thoughtful!
We drove onto Keyhaven and parked near the Yacht club to set off for our 5k walk around the Marshes and Nature Reserve. It was reminiscent of one of our earlier ventures when we walked to Hurst Castle and lighthouse which we could see as a constant happy reminder in the distance.
The walk was lovely, with the marshes on both sides and the Solent in the distance to our right. There were lots of birds which we mostly failed to identify (despite the Man’s BS!) and now we’re determined to bring our book of ‘British Birds’ on future ventures. We think we saw an egret and a plover, and some Brent geese, but I’ll need to confirm!
After a bracing walk the only thing is a nice cup of tea and hot buttered crumpets, so we came back to the cosy van to relax with the Saturday papers.
Sunday 18th October
Another rainless night…dare we hope this will continue?
We slept in this morning, undisturbed on the edge of the forest, quiet and peaceful – and my earplugs helped! I was first in the shower this morning so the Man did bed making duties and I took Jim for a walk. It was so pleasant walking along the heathland with no-one about and just a few horses quietly grazing in the background. I stayed out longer than I meant to but the Man had still not got breakfast ready by the time we got back to the van!
This morning we went down to Mudeford, back to where it all began three years ago. It was a gloriously crisp, sunny Autumn day and we strolled along the beach to the quay, passing a handful of families crabbing along the seawall.
After a coffee we took the ferry over to Hengistbury Head to wander along the sandy beach and lust after all the turquoise and weather beaten white beach huts. We made up stories about an idyllic life with our non-existent grandchildren, in endless sunshine involving family Bar-B-Qs and damp, shaggy golden labradors. This is a world where Jim is endearingly obedient and I tan easily and evenly to a lush golden brown (oh – and I’m also quite slim!).
After wandering back along the beach to the car we ventured into Christchurch town to have a look around – we were quite surprized that we hadn’t been there before.
It is a quaint, appealing town looked over by an imposingly handsome church. We decided to have a late lunch in Ye Old George Inn, and managed to indulge ourselves with the Sunday papers in spite of some persistent attention seeking behaviour from the Dog!
Me, the man, our dog, and a van 