Tag Archives: Towing

All Towing Posts – This tag marks all posts where we were travelling between stopping sites while towing the caravan. It does not include sightseeing trips.

Into Ireland

Monday 21st August 2017

We are off to Rosslare today aboard the Stena Line ferry and into Ireland.

At last the sun had decided to make an appearance, perhaps we had turned a corner, weather wise.

All our hopes were dashed, as we set off towards Ireland as it became more and more like pea soup!! Nothing to see, but it was calm, which suited me.

Towing Kilometres – Today: 212 – Cumulative: 709

As we approached Rosslare the fog lifted and the port became visible.

Welcome to the Emerald Isle! A place neither of us has visited before. After the 3 and half hour crossing we made our way to County Wicklow, up the east side of Ireland and found our campsite in Redcross.

We had booked into the adult half of the site, therefore avoiding the kids (on this occasion) and any prospect of unnecessary noise.  Pleasant enough, with lovely shared showers and toilet block.

Tuesday 22nd August 2017

We ventured out today to the highest waterfall in Ireland, called Powerscourt Waterfall in Wicklow Mountains National Park. We took the sensory walk to the waterfall, which added to the experience and  our daily step count.

Lunch time was calling so we decided to head towards the sea on the east coast. We had read there was a good coast walk along the cliffs from Bray to Greystones.

Unfortunately, Bray was very similar to many popular seaside towns, with sea front parking, promenade and a variety of seaside shops, (very much ‘kiss me quick hats’ territory), and not what we enjoy, so we drove on to find Greystones to do the walk in reverse.

we found Greystones, but it is undergoing a regeneration project, with extensive building work, including many private dwellings, which spoilt the harbour area, the coastline and the walk we had intended.

We started to manoeuvre our way through the obstacles of the building word and then gave up. We wandered back to the harbour and in the opposite direction and sat and watched a few adventurous youngsters daring each other to jump off the rocks into the sea, whilst we had a brief picnic lunch.

We headed back to camp to settle for the evening.

Elan Valley & Pembrokeshire Coast & St. Davids

Wednesday 16th August 2017

After a day of washing and other domestic chores on Tuesday we set off to visit the dams & reservoirs of the Elan Valley. These are a series of dams built to provide water for the city of Birmingham. The dams were opened between 1904 and 1952.

Continue reading Elan Valley & Pembrokeshire Coast & St. Davids

Into Wales

Monday 14th August 2017

Moving day today into Wales. Got packed up ready to tow the 50 or so miles to Fforest Fields Campsite at Hundred House, near Builth Wells, Powys, Wales.

Towing Kilometres – Today: 82 – Cumulative: 308

We took a nice A road route despite Fords Sat Nav urging me to turn onto any un-named road that it came across. The Ford system is already giving some cause for concern. It doesn’t give enough options of roads you wish to avoid. Otherwise the car feels like a good choice for the task ahead.

We arrived just before 3pm to be greeted by cheerful, friendly, staff who directed us to our pitch. The campsite offers excellent views all around and the opportunity for some healthy walks 🙂

We made a much better job of putting up the awning than we had at Ledbury, which was just as well as the rain hammered down for the next few hours.

Neither of us felt much like going out to eat so it was a case of a simple jacket spud, cheese, and beans for tea.

The Tour Begins

Thursday August 10th 2017

We’re Off! The tour begins and we set off from Denham in reasonable weather for The Elms – Ledbury, a Camping & Caravanning Certified Site.

First task was to pull into nearby Beaconsfield services to fill the LPG tanks for the first time and carry out a leak check. All joints were sprayed with leak detection fluid and a thorough check for bubbles found none 🙂

Towing Kilometres – Today: 226 – Cumulative: 226

We took the long way round route of M40, M42, M5, M50 with a coffee break at Warwick services. The caravan towed very easily at 56mph, mostly on cruise control.

I carefully checked and set the nose weight of the caravan to 80kg before we  left and there was no hint of sway enroute.

On arrival at the site we were met by the very cheerful owner who directed us to a pitch at the top edge of the site.  The field was quite wet but the car pulled the van up just fine.

The Elms is set on a sloping field without marked pitches.

The toilet & showers are basic but clean.

After setting up we had a small meal before wandering down into Ledbury to visit The Prince Of Wales, a pub the site owner recommended.