Coniston

14-17 September 2026

Second visit of the year to the Coniston CAMC site, midweek this time.

Monday

On arrival we were delighted to find our first choice pitch (no. 64) was available so no driving round and round the site arguing about where to go, which has happened on previous visits.

 

The squirrel was a regular visitor to our pitch.

After setting everything up we strolled into Coniston and visited our three favourite pubs - the Black Bull, the Yewdale hotel and the Sun hotel.  All excellent, as usual.

We resisted the temptation to eat in one of them, so then it was back to the site for dinner in the caravan and a night in.

It rained heavily in the night and as we were under trees it was just a bit deafening, so we didn't get much sleep!

Tuesday

We set off for a walk along the lake and back over Torver common in lovely sunshine but it didn't last and we got soaked in the afternoon.

A late start and a couple of pints in the pub in Torver meant we didn't get back to the site until quite late and we couldn't be bothered walking into Coniston, so another night in.

Wednesday

Last time we came here the plan was to get the ferry to Brantwood and then walk over the hill into Hawkshead but we were thwarted because the Brantwood jetty was flooded.  No such problem this time.

The first part of the walk over the hill was very overgrown and not very pleasant, especially when J walked straight into a low hanging branch and nearly knocked herself out!  After that it was mostly forestry commission paths which would have been ok it it wasn't raining!  All in all, not the most enjoyable walk we have ever done.

In Hawkshead we had a drink in the King's Arms and then Kittchen, the cat pub, which we really like.  Ok, it's a bit smelly but what do you expect from half a dozen cats.  The beer is great and the people who run it are nice and friendly...as long as you don't upset the cats!

We got a bus back to Coniston and got off at the Coniston Inn, where we had dinner before the long walk back to the site in darkness.

Thursday

We did think about staying another night but the weather forecast wasn't great and we didn't have anything planned for the day, so we decided to head home.

Coming soon...

Castlerigg Hall, Keswick.

Ingleton

14-17 August 2026

Had the Strickland Arms not closed down we almost certainly would have gone to the Kendal CAMC site this weekend, but without a nearby pub it has lost its appeal.  Thornbrook Barn, Ingleton, is our new easy to get to site.  Excellent pitches, mostly quiet (even during school holidays), and a nice pub just around the corner.

Friday

A bit of a disaster half way to Preston when we realised that one of us hadn't packed their bag of clothes, so we had to turn back.  As a result we arrived a bit later that usual, but no harm done as pitches are allocated in advance and we knew we had a good one.

We headed straight for the nearby farm shop and had an excellent lunch in their cafe, before returning to the site to finish setting everything up...after a quick pint and gin and tonic in the Marton Arms.  This is a really nice pub with good outside seating, which is just as well because it can be hard to get a seat inside sometimes.

In the evening we headed into Ingleton but none of the pubs there are as nice as the Marton Arms so we didn't hang around.

Back at the site we just had some snacks for dinner.

Saturday

The end of the heatwave.  Mostly light cloud today but still quite warm.  Excellent conditions for walking.  We drove to Clapham...

Excellent conditions for waking but not so good for pics, although we did get a bit of blue sky later on.

Found our first geocache in ages amongst the Norber Erratics.

No barbecues this trip, we thought it would be frowned upon due to the supposedly tinder dry countryside, so we had a fireless one instead.  Basically fish cooked in the air fryer and salad, sitting outside.  Much better than it sounds.

We have national emergency alerts turned off so we didn't see the government one banning barbecues, but the site put a sign up by the toilets.

Afterwards we popped to the Marton Arms and had one drink sitting outside before heading back to the site for the rest of the night in,

Sunday

We got up quite late and lazed around the  caravan in the morning.

Much darker clouds today but in the afternoon we went for a short walk taking in Tow Scar and Cheese Press Stones.

Found our second geocache of the weekend...

Then it was on to Yorda's Cave.  We've been here before and thought it was great, and it didn't disappoint on this occasion.  We even had the cave to ourselves for a bit.

On the way back to the site we picked up a few bits from the farm shop and after drinks in the Marton Arms we had another fireless barbecue.  A burger, hotdog and wedges this time.

Then the rest of the night in, listening to music.

Monday

Rain at last.  Got a bit damp packing everything away but no other problems getting home.

Coming soon...

A trip early in September but not sure where yet.

Ravenglass

10-13 July 2026

Our target of going away at least once a month is still very much on track after this trip to Ravenglass, one of our favourite sites.

Friday

We set off early, knowing it would be a long journey and wanting to arrive as close as possible to the  earliest arrival time of 1pm in order to get a good pitch.  The plan worked so well we had to have a quick stop as we neared the site or we would have arrived too early! That's not our flag, by the way!

We managed to get what would have been one of our first choice pitches.

As is customary, we headed into the village after setting everything up and having lunch.  First the Ratty Arms, then the Pennington hotel, then the Inn at Ravenglass.

We've been a bit disappointed with the village in recent visits but it really seems to have bounced back now.  All three pubs open and serving a great range of beers, the Ratty Arms is serving food again (and the menu looks great) and there is even a new village store in the courtyard of the hotel.

We had a barbecue in the evening and then walked back into the village for the first of three great sunsets.

Saturday

The trouble with a heatwave is it's too hot for any strenuous walking (for us, anyway).  We had a stroll along the estuary in the morning an then drove to Waberthwaite for a stroll along the beach in the afternoon.

The plan was to eat in the Ratty Arms in the evening but when we got there we discovered they were only serving food if you had booked in advance.  We booked for Sunday instead and then headed back to the site for another barbecue.

Afterwards we headed back into the village to watch the sunset.

Then it was time for the football (world cup, quarter final - England v Mexico).  We don't normally pack a tv when we go away but we did this time, however it wasn't to be...

Instead D streamed in on a tablet, whcih was ok except there was about a two minute delay so when everyone else on the site cheered he had to wait to see what they were cheering!

Sunday

Too hot again for serious walking, so we walked up to nearby Newtown Knott and then back along the estuary.

It turned out to be a pretty enjoyable walk.

We got back to the site quite early and lazed around the caravan in the afternoon enjoying the peace and quiet.  Then it was time for dinner in the Ratty Arms and another great sunset.  No gin and tonic and a pint though, the Inn at Ravenglass was closed due to unforseen circumstances...probably not a bad thing.

Monday

The long journey home, which actually wasn't too bad.

All in all a great trip which would have been even better if it hadn't been quite so hot, but I guess we shouldn't complain about the weather...

Coming soon...

In the past we have tended not to go away during the school summer holidays but we need to this year in order to make sure we use the caravan at least once a month.  Not sure where yet.