Devon and Cornwall via Bath with Golden Retriever 2020

[gvick]

Hi gvick

It’s been a long time coming, and didn’t look likely to happen until recently

Early morning travel is a good idea.

One more sleep

we want to see lots of photos and a write up.

Have a great time

Thank you, I promise lots of van pictures and an honest account of what it’s like on site and out and about.
I’ll post a full packing of boot picture as I’m fascinated how others pack their calis

 

[gvick]

Finally boot is packed top to bottom left to right
Top shelf
Pop up loo tent , duvet and pillows, two extra chairs, Thetford 365, upstairs silent night mattress topper and beach mats.
Bottom shelf cadac, 907 bottle adapter, bbq tongs, extension legs, blue box water filler and walking shoes, food box plus collapsible box washing up and two ring electric plate and wok.

 

[gvick]

Well all packed (except daughter ) all I need to do is remove and stow electric hook upcable and remember sandwiches in fridge.
Getting up at 5am with on road time of 5.45am
Will let you know how journey was and how busy roads were. First stop treveague Farm.
Excited

 

[gvick]

So no wi fi so pics will need to wait.
We set off at 6am and arrived just after 1pm.
The M4 was pretty rotten but the holiday traffic was pretty light.

So a very good journey all in all. The campsite is an 8minute walk from Goran Haven beach and is clean but basic and most importantly has open showers and toilets. It’s about 10% full - so plenty of space.

We walked to 3 beaches this afternoon, had fish and chips at the harbour and drank Cornish gold cider so a lovely day.

Now back at the cali - pics to follow once I’ve got wif

 

[Louis II]

So no wi fi so pics will need to wait.
We set off at 6am and arrived just after 1pm.
The M4 was pretty rotten but the holiday traffic was pretty light.

So a very good journey all in all. The campsite is an 8minute walk from Goran Haven beach and is clean but basic and most importantly has open showers and toilets. It’s about 10% full - so plenty of space.

We walked to 3 beaches this afternoon, had fish and chips at the harbour and drank Cornish gold cider so a lovely day.

Now back at the cali - pics to follow once I’ve got wif

Very jealous. Fish and chips on the Quay at Gorran Haven is one on my favourite holiday memories.

 

[gvick]

Day two
A windy night (but nothing is as bad as Skye for wind). A bit of sun today and off to Mevagissy.

 

[gvick]

Well third night at Canpsite- the wind has dropped and the sun is shining.
We’ve really enjoyed our stay.

Lovely walks to Goran Haven and Mevagissy with the Vault beach from film “About Time” Being a favourite.

Yesterday we went to Eden Project and it we practically empty.

Now on to Budleigh Salterton and Pooh Cottgae campsite. So far no problem with toilets or showers.

One thing learned- if a sign says unsuitable for caravans - it also means unsuitable for camper vans also - don’t ask how I know this

 

[Louis II]

Some of the lanes round there are very narrow!
My avatar picture is Foxhole Lane which goes up the hill behind the chip shop in Gorran Haven.
We once saw a big white get stuck on the lane to hemmick beach and only got out because a farmer took pity and opened up a field to let them drive through.

 

[gvick]

Some of the lanes round there are very narrow!
My avatar picture is Foxhole Lane which goes up the hill behind the chip shop in Gorran Haven.
We once saw a big white get stuck on the lane to hemmick beach and only got out because a farmer took pity and opened up a field to let them drive through.

That’s where we nearly got stuck on the way to Hemmick beach very scary.

 

[gvick]

Now at Pooh Cottage campsite- very swish and totally different from Treavoge Farm .
It’s mostly tourers staying for season- washrooms are as good as a bathroom back home and are for single or double use.
Roads were quiet on way 1-45hr.
Went to Budleigh Salterton beach and town with fish and chips at the Feathers pub.

Tomorrow is a trip to beach at beer and Exmouth and Wednesday is Lyme Regis. A picture of our camping set up tonight.

 

[Perfectos]

Sounds ( and looks) like your having a great time
, hows the lanky one coping with the pop up !

Loving your daily write up, leave some fish and chips for the rest of us
Looking forward to tomorrow’s instalment

 

[gvick]

Sounds ( and looks) like your having a great time
, hows the lanky one coping with the pop up !

Loving your daily write up, leave some fish and chips for the rest of us
Looking forward to tomorrow’s instalment

We have a pup tent which the daughter and boyfriend sleep in.
However at Treavogue farm the weather was too cold and windy to sit out so we had four adults plus dog inside with heater on playing Uno.

 

[gvick]

So change of plan today as we opted for Lyme Regis. It is described as the pearl of Dorset and doesn’t disappoint. The sun came up and we had ice cream on the beach front followed by more fish and chips.
The harbour has one of the largest Cobb walls of its type and was the setting for the film the French lieutenants woman - with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons .

We had a great day browsing the shops (got black cow cheese which is a favourite and grapefruit gin for Mrs Gv) and slowly adjusting to a slower pace of taking longer to do everything.
Finished the day with some local beers and a visit to the sea aquarium where we hand fed tame Mullets.
Tomorrow we are going to Sidmouth and Beer

 

[gvick]

Thursday
Lazy start saw us go to Sidmouth in a light rain. Not to be deterred we had a Cornish pasty at the worlds best pasty shop (in Devon?)
Very nice Tourquay vibes for this Regency seaside town.
We then meandered to the Mill at Otteron which is a working watermill where we had a cream tea - our first of the trip.

Our final stop was the charming little village of Beer - with a pint of local beer in the aptly named “Barrel of Beer “ pub.

8:30pm and cooking minted lamb on the cadac with herby potatoes and sweet corn back at Pooh Cottage Canpsite.

The site itself is quiet- mostly full of tourers and if you Mrs likes cleans washrooms these are the best we have EVER stayed at.

 

[willwander]

Jam on Cream? or Cream on Jam?

 

[gvick]

Thursday
Lazy start saw us go to Sidmouth in a light rain. Not to be deterred we had a Cornish pasty at the worlds best pasty shop (in Devon?)
Very nice Tourquay vibes for this Regency seaside town.
We then meandered to the Mill at Otteron which is a working watermill where we had a cream tea - our first of the trip.

Our final stop was the charming little village of Beer - with a pint of local beer in the aptly named “Barrel of Beer “ pub.

8:30pm and cooking minted lamb on the cadac with herby potatoes and sweet corn back at Pooh Cottage Canpsite.

The site itself is quiet- mostly full of tourers and if you Mrs likes cleans washrooms these are the best we have EVER stayed at.

Jam on Cream? or Cream on Jam?

not sure which we should be doing in Devon but it was cream first then jam for us

 

[gvick]

Just finished dinner followed by a Japanese whisky to ward off the chill - we were the only campers outside this evening

 

[kurienp]

Thank you gvick for taking us along on your journey. Enjoy!

 

[Perfectos]

Jam on Cream? or Cream on Jam?

Cream then Jam
Obvs in Devon

 

[gvick]

Arrived at Gwithian Farm yesterday at 1:30pm and went straight to the lovely beach.

The journey from Budleigh Salterton was good just over 2 hours - the A30/m5 was a lot busier than a week ago.

This is our first site without showers or toilets and already despite a portaloo and shower at rear of van Mrs Gvick prefers some facilities.

Campsite is lovely and beaches are a surfers paradise.
Not sure whether to travel around or beach today - tough decisions .

 

[gvick]

Well doing a bit of sightseeing won out in the end. We had a lovely early morning dog walk from the site to beach and back which took a leisurely 90mins.
The weather heated up today and we decided to go to Land’s end . It was worth the visit as we are so close. Lovely walk and a pint and pasty at the Land End hotel.
We then went to Mousehole and had a lovely walk to the harbour and another pint in the Ship Inn.
Then a late afternoon trip to st Michael’s mount and we luckily bagged a parking space right on the beach.
Then back home 8:30pm for a preprepared Chorizo tomato pasta.
Surfs up tomorrow.
On a more thoughtful note no facilities is a complete faff - not impossible but not ideal.

 

[gvick]

So a quick update due to lack of WiFi.
Sunday we had a lovely beach day - tried surfing (badly) on Gwithian’s lovely beach and all in all had a great beach day enjoying the lovely weather.

Monday we broke Canp (I had the dreaded toilet emptying job - which thankfully wasn’t too bad.

We were too early for our checkin at Wadebridge so we had a detour to see Doc Martin at Port Isaac and had a pastors and a cream tea on the beach.
The day is still rainy so we checked in and detoured to Wadebridge encamped in the Molesworth Arms with a pint of “Rattler” and a burger on order waiting for the rain to stop so we can make camp.

 

[Perfectos]

So a quick update due to lack of WiFi.
Sunday we had a lovely beach day - tried surfing (badly) on Gwithian’s lovely beach and all in all had a great beach day enjoying the lovely weather.

Monday we broke Canp (I had the dreaded toilet emptying job - which thankfully wasn’t too bad.

We were too early for our checkin at Wadebridge so we had a detour to see Doc Martin at Port Isaac and had a pastors and a cream tea on the beach.
The day is still rainy so we checked in and detoured to Wadebridge encamped in the Molesworth Arms with a pint of “Rattler” and a burger on order waiting for the rain to stop so we can make camp.

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California surf dude,

Try it again, it gets easier each time, take a lesson and you’ll be up on your feet in no time.

Great posts keep up the good work, looks like you may be enjoying yourself !

 

[gvick]

Wednesday 15th July and some reflections

Yesterday we went to Rock and took the ferry to Padstow- it was very very busy (I’d hate to visit when it was back to normal).
We mooched round the shops and had fish and chips from Rick Steins by the harbour. It wasn’t too expensive and it did taste really nice (we have been eating fish and chips every other day so I feel we are qualified ).

So campsite reviews so far
1) Treavouge Farm - splendid isolation and decent facilities brilliant walks.
2) Gwithian Farm - no facilities but brilliant beaches and surfing on the door step.
3) Pooh cottage- outstanding facilities- lots to do in surrounding area eg Lyme Regis.
4) laurels wadebridge- average site bit crammed in and lots to see but more commercialised.

Things we have used for first time this trip
1) silent night mattress topper for upstairs- quite thin but makes sleeping so much more comfortable and warmer- thumbs up.
2) shower- room temperature- works but would not want to use if didn’t have to.
3) Thetford toilet- worked well with tent - top tip don’t let it get full as it’s heavy to carry.
4) toilet tent pop up / very good easy to put up - thumbs up.
5) not new but we have loved ham and cheese panis in the ridge monkey for breakfast a real hit.

Tintagel today. This is our camping set up.

 

[gvick]

Last day at Wadebridge today and we went to Tintagel and the ruins of King Arthur’s castle.

The tide was coming into to Merlins cave but I waded inside in my shorts - misjudged how quick the tide was coming in and got soaked - still Mrs Vick laughed and thinks I’m a hero for doing it.

Next we had cream tea at Camelot castle (a nice hotel next door). The on to waterfalls at St Nectans Glen- where we walked all way to the top to miss the last ticket by 15mins - doooh.

Then an earlish return to camp and a chineese chicken curry on the Cadac (Tesco chineese curry sauce, chopped onion, chicken, chick peas and mushrooms with rice)

Next off to Bath Marina curtesy of @Bellcrew and @Azteccamper who both recommended/ thank you.