Covering some 220 square miles of the county of Hampshire – and a bit of Wiltshire – the New Forest is one the largest remaining areas of unenclosed heathland, forest, and pasture in southern England.

It is one of the latest additions to the register of Britain’s National Parks, but the New Forest is anything but new! It was established way back in 1079 by William the Conqueror as a royal park for hunting deer and wild pigs.

Situated squarely on England’s sunny south coast, the New Forest is readily accessible from many parts of the UK – barely a stone’s throw from London, the Midlands, or the south west. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons for visiting the New Forest.

Natural beauty

The New Forest is renowned for its stunning landscapes, which include ancient woodlands, heathlands, and picturesque villages. It’s a haven for nature lovers, with lush greenery, serene lakes, and open moorlands.

Walking or cycling through the forest trails allows you to immerse yourself in all the tranquillity and beauty of the surrounding forest. The change of seasons brings a variety of colours and scenery, from vibrant spring blossoms to the golden hues of autumn – it’s the ideal year-round destination.

They are so numerous that it’s difficult to highlight the top beauty spots. The 200 acres of Exbury Gardens, for example, have been described as “heaven with the gates open”. The gardens are world-renowned thanks to the unique collection of rhododendrons and azaleas planted by the Rothchild family. In peak bloom the plants tower over visitors in a profusion of flowers from white, to cream, to palest green.

Exbury Gardens also plays host to the Five Arrows Gallery where local artists and photographers display their interpretations of local wildlife and landscapes.

Wildlife

The area is home to a variety of animals, including the famous New Forest ponies, which roam freely across the heathland. Deer, foxes, and many bird species can also be observed in their natural habitat. Birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts will find the New Forest a paradise for spotting rare and interesting species.

Although they roam free throughout the forest, Bolderwood is probably the best place to be certain of viewing at least some of the New Forest’s five species of deer – from the majestic Red deer, to Fallow deer, Roe deer, Sika, and Muntjac.

The enclosure at Bolderwood offers a protected area of the forest and a sanctuary for many types of deer. From a purpose-built platform, you can overlook the meadows in which the deer are grazing and even coordinate your visit with feeding times.

Towns, history, and cultural heritage

The New Forest is dotted with historical sites, including ancient churches, traditional thatched cottages, and remnants of past settlements. The many strands of its cultural history are brought together in some of the best-known towns.

Lyndhurst, for example, became the forest’s “capital” from the earliest years of William the Conqueror’s visits. The small town is today home to the New Forest Heritage Centre – a museum and exhibition hall where you can trace the millennia of forest history. Lyndhurst is also the location of the Verderers Court – first set up in the 13^th century as a court responsible for ruling the forest, with authorisation from the Crown and elections from the County.

Lewis Carroll is probably the best-remembered children’s author, but did you know that the grave of Carroll’s original Alice in Wonderland – Alice Liddell (later Hargreaves) – can be found in Lyndhurst’s churchyard?

Visiting the New Forest means you get to enjoy stunning natural landscapes, serene lakes, picturesque villages, and observe free-roaming wildlife like the iconic New Forest ponies and various deer species. The area also offers rich cultural history, with historical sites, museums, and charming towns like Lyndhurst. It’s a tranquil escape with diverse outdoor activities year-round.

You might not have heard about it but when October rolls around, it is National Home Security Month (NHSM).

The campaign – which was first launched back in 2013 – offers a timely reminder that static caravans and conventional homes built of bricks and mortar have one major feature in common – they are both potential targets for burglars and other criminals.

Fortunately for the static caravan homeowner, there are some steps you can take to deter these criminals.

A quick review of burglar’s psychology

Far be it from us to delve into the minds of your common or garden burglar or thief, but it might be useful to spare just a moment or two to think about the most likely inclination and attitude of such a criminal.

Put in its simplest of terms, the fact is that the vast majority are opportunists – they are on the outlook for and attuned to spontaneous opportunities to easily access a static caravan in order to steal the contents. And it’s not just any caravan, but your static home.

With that in mind, remember that burglars are always on the lookout for things such as open doors and windows, tools left lying around outside (which might be used to gain entry) and potential access points that appear to have no or only limited security.

Make your security obvious

The Metropolitan Police advise any homeowner – and that includes your static caravan – to keep it visible when it comes to the security measures you’ve taken. The more you make obvious the steps you’ve taken, the more secure your home is likely to be. As opportunists first and foremost, burglars will typically move on, looking for caravans that are more vulnerable – because that means less risk of discovery.

So, it only makes sense to install approved professional locks and bolts on all of your doors and windows and to make sure that you don’t help burglars unintentionally by leaving tools lying around outside that they might otherwise use against those same security bolts.

High-tech solutions

You also have the option of installing (or having installed), solutions involving a combination of burglar alarms and cameras – once again these are also likely to have a visibly deterrent effect.

Burglar alarms have been around for a long time and are now very sophisticated. More recently, cameras and video technology have been added to the armoury of security devices.

Today, the cameras are very small and easy to hide around your caravan. Some devices – such as the range of products retailed by Blink (an Amazon company) – can link directly to the internet and will notify you on your phone if they’ve detected someone moving around your property when it should be empty.

They may even be able to use infrared sensors to detect movement in the dark and to film the intruders!

These types of solutions may be installed on a DIY basis or by a professional security solutions provider. Some providers of more sophisticated solutions might augment their provision of security systems with regular patrols and rapid response services.

Insurance issues

Some static caravan insurance providers may require you to take minimum security precautions as a condition of your insurance cover.

Requirements for you to fit locks and bolts to prescribed minimum standards, for example, might be regularly found in policies. In some cases, policies might also require you to use more advanced solutions and, in some instances, they may also extend specified security conditions to include aspects of the services provided by the owners or management of the site or park on which your static caravan is berthed.

Summary

Few if any static caravan owners would want to consider trying to turn their property into an impenetrable citadel. However, a balance must be struck between avoiding doing so and making it terrifyingly easy for thieves to enter.

The level of the measures you choose to adopt will be driven partly by any requirements that might be specified in your static caravan insurance policy and perhaps the extent to which you wish to ensure that the contents of your static are protected.

If you have any doubts about the potential solutions available to you, it would be worth speaking with a local security specialist with the relevant expertise in keeping intruders at bay.

Date of Visit:     July 2024

Overall View

This is a Caravan and Motorhome club members only site. It is situated approximately 3 miles from the market town of Halesworth in the county of Suffolk. It consists of the usual 5 pitches in one field.

Access is recommended from the A12 – please have a look at the Site Arrival Video.  It is advisable not to use the A1120 from Stowmarket due to narrow sections, bridges and villages.

Facilities

The CL site has an Elsan disposal point, clean water tap and the usual refuse and recycling facilities by the entrance gate. The gate is kept padlocked with a security code, given to you upon confirmation of booking.

The site is adults only and dog friendly.   As it is a working farm, dogs must be kept on leads at all times.

Review of Site Pitch

The field on which the five pitches are placed is entirely laid to grass. There are 5 bollards with the usual electric hook-up, 16 amps. These are placed strategically around the edge of the field so as to maximise the sunshine on each of the pitches.

The field is on a slight slope and this is more notable at the top of the field and as a result ramps may be required. However, although we were on pitch one at the top of the field, we did not require ramps.

Apart from the request to park your van in line with the bollard, you were pretty much free to place your van in whichever direction you chose. There are no lined pitch markers.

The only minor issue we had with the field was that the grass could have been mown shorter as it was quite long.

There are sheep and horses in adjacent fields but did not cause any issues.

We were a little concerned about some reviews which stated that the Rookery was particularly disruptive and noisy. However, these people had visited at the height of the nesting season and this may well have contributed to this. During our week long stay we had little or no noise from the Rookery as the birds had long since fledged.

The site has a good number of way marked pathways which you can access from just outside the site entrance. Providing your dog is on its lead you are free to take some beautiful and peaceful walks across the Suffolk countryside.

There was no Wi-Fi on site, however mobile wise Vodafone reports good outdoor coverage up to 4G, O2 report good indoor and outdoor coverage up to 4G, EE said good up to 4G everywhere with 5G possible outdoors. 3 (Smarty) was poor inside the caravan but the roof mounted puck ensured a good enough signal at 4G for streaming catch-up TV.

TV reception was fine, the aerial needing to by tilted vertical for the best signal.

Out and About

The nearest town is Halesworth, about a 10 minute drive from the site. Here you will find the nearest supermarket – a Co-op with attached café and adjacent petrol station.

Public transport wise, there is a railway station here with trains to Lowestoft and Ipswich.  You will find your nearest bus stop from the site in Halesworth too. See HERE for service details

There is a Vet in Halesworth as well.

The nearest caravan and motorhome dealership is Farnham Leisure on the A12 towards Felixstowe. It is possible to acquire most spare parts up to and including a brand new caravan or motor home!

Do and See

The county of Suffolk lies on the East Coast of England pretty much sandwiched between Norfolk to the north and Essex to the South. The county town is Ipswich.

The site we had chosen was pretty central for the whole of the county. It should be noted that there are no official motorways and as a result although distances may be short in length, the time to travel to these destinations can be considerably longer. This should not however put you off from visiting as Suffolk is a beautiful county full of picturesque villages, market towns, characterful pubs and seaside attractions as well.

During our stay we toured around many of the main visitor attractions.

One of our first visits was down to Landguard Point at Felixstowe and you are able to sit and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or tea, light snacks or something more substantial from a viewing cafe. This allows you to watch Felixstowe container port in full swing as the various cranes weave their magical dance unloading and loading the container ships. I am sure people will have seen these ships on the TV screen however, to see them in relative closeness only serves to remind you just how big they are.  Dogs are allowed to sit outside as long as they are on leads and it is accessible with toilets.  https://www.viewpointcafe.co.uk/

Suffolk is well known for picturesque villages and we were certainly spoilt for choice when choosing which villages to go and see. Framlingham has a most beautiful Market Square with lots of independent shops, cafes and various other offerings and on the day we visited the weather was particularly warm and a micro bakery and cafe has opened up in what was obviously a former bank, long since closed. We were able to sit outside in some shade and enjoy our refreshments whilst watching the village go about its daily life.  https://www.framlingham.com/plan-your-visit

Sizewell nuclear power station is based on the coast near the village of Sizewell. We noted as we were nearing the village in the area in question that there is apparently considerable local opposition to the building of Sizewell C. 

Whilst doing some research on places to visit during our stay, we found the East Anglia Transport Museum. It is a few minutes drive from Lowestoft. Parking is available but is severely limited and even more so for blue badge holders. It is however possible to park in the surrounding area and walk into the museum.

You should allow three to four hours to visit the museum. There are the usual cafe facilities and picnic areas should you wish to bring your own lunch. On any particular day that the museum is open  you can expect to see at least one trolleybus, a selection of electric trams and a narrow gauge railway to one side. It is also possible to view the non running buses and trams in their sheds. Dogs are allowed in the museum and almost of the buses and trams including the train. Access to the train is good, however it is not the case for the buses and trams.

There are also a selection of shops and workshops set up to reflect the period of time that the museum is based on and there are plenty of notice boards which give you the history out of what you are seeing.

Lowestoft is a typical seaside resort. It has a small pier and the usual attractions. There is ample parking, at cost, behind the promenade. Please note that it appears that in most car parks in Suffolk, blue badge holders will have to pay for parking.

There are shopping areas in the main part of town, with the usual facilities for fuel and supermarket.  It’s main claim to fame is that it is the most easterly town in England and has the most easterly railway station.   

Shawsgate Vineyard is a small family run vineyard about 20 minutes from the CL. The owners are very hospitable and tours can be booked in advance. They offer mainly white wine due to the climate, however, there are some light red wines available. Ample parking is available.

Southwold & Aldeburgh – These two villages can be easily combined into one visit.  They are your typical Suffolk village with a few shops, cafes and restaurants including fish and chip shops.  Aldeburgh has a lovely wide high street where the main facilities are.  Some lovely cafes for coffee and cake.  It was interesting to note that they were all on the sun side of the street, so if you wanted shade – on a particularly hot day, it was in short supply.

Southwold is a seaside village with a large car park at one end of the beach.  There is a small pier, free to go on and totally accessible.  The bonus of this pier is that one side is in the shade for most of the day – given the high temperatures during our visit, this was most welcome.  There is also a lovely café/restaurant near the car park and by the Crazy Golf.  It has a large verandah and dogs are most welcome on leads.  Good facilities too except the toilets which are outside the building.  Public toilets are available near the pier entrance.

Beccles – This is a small town, in two parts, the higher end where most of the shops and services are and the lower part by the River Waveney, about a 10 minute stroll down hill, you pass through some very historic areas, old Maltings factories turned into very smart apartments.  At the end of the road, you reach the River and a lovely café with seating outdoors.  There is also an information room to one side which proved very helpful with information leaflets etc during our visit.  Dogs are allowed to sit outside and are most welcome.  Again, there are good facilities and parking for both non and blue badge holders.

Orford Ness & Havergate Island can be seen via a very pleasant boat trip leaving from Orford Quay.  The boat will only take up to about 15 passengers and there are no real facilities on the boat however this actually enhances the experience as the boat owner is able to give a very informative but not intrusive commentary and answer questions you may have. It takes about one hour and is dog friendly. Disabled access is quite challenging however I would advise ringing ahead to see what accommodation they are able to do.

https://www.suffolkrivertrips.com

It was quite eerie to see the old and obviously no longer used atomic testing areas of Orford Ness. For ornithologists, Havergate island is a site of scientific interest to ensure that the bird population is protected.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve

During our stay we visited the Queens Head pub, Bramfield, about a 15 minute drive from the site. This was a very pleasant pub with a range of craft beers, mainly in cans, although there were a few hand pulled craft beers. There was a good menu and they positively welcome dogs. On one visit a local community travelling theatre group performed Twelve Night in the rear garden which seemed very well supported. Parking is not plentiful and therefore you may have to park on the road nearby. This did not, despite it being very busy, prove problematic.

Snape Maltings. A visit to this attraction comes highly recommended. The old maltings factory, alongside the River Alde was bought by Benjamin Britten in 1967 and part of it has been turned into a concert venue and theatre. In addition to this several of the buildings house shops of various types, the usual range of cafes and they allow dogs on the grounds quite happily. Accessible facilities for all are readily available.

Boat trips are also available from here.

Summary

A lovely,  quiet CL in gorgeous countryside.  A secure site feeling with helpful hosts.   Its location is a good recommendation and indeed the site was fairly busy during our week’s stay.  We would return to do more exploring.

Where’s the tallest building in the world? You might find it difficult to believe but for 200 years or more that honour fell to the British city of Lincoln and its magnificent cathedral. The height of that fame was toppled by a storm that destroyed the spire in 1549. Fortunately, then – as now – there is a whole lot more to the city than just its striking cathedral.

So let’s take a tour of just some of the things you’ll find to do and see in the fair city of Lincoln today.

The Collection

There’s probably no better way of getting your bearings than visiting what is known as The Collection – now renamed as the Lincoln Museum, itself a skilful amalgamation of the City and County Museum and the Usher Gallery.

The museum opened as recently as 2005 and already houses an award-winning archaeological collection. This includes priceless artefacts spanning the area’s rich history the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages, followed by the Roman, Saxon, Viking, and Medieval eras.

The museum sits alongside the rather older Usher Gallery that opened in 1927 and displays the collection of artworks by Turner, Lowry, Grayson Perry, and the likes, together with a unique array of clocks, watches, ceramics, and silverware.

Bishop’s Palace

Nestled alongside the stunning cathedral, it might be easy to overlook the gem of Medieval English architecture that is the Bishop’s Palace.

As you wander through the medieval ruins and explore the palace’s beautiful gardens, you can be transported back in time and imagine what life was like for the bishops who once resided here.

In its now tranquil precincts, you can reflect on the fact that this was the administrative hub for the biggest diocese in medieval England. It stretched from the River Humber to the north down to the Thames in the south and its architecture reflected enormous power and wealth.

Lincoln Castle

Also within the Cathedral Quarter, Lincoln Castle has dominated the city’s skyline for close to a thousand years. After his success on the battlefield in 1066, William the Conqueror issued instructions for building the castle at Lincoln in a bid to quell uprisings in the rebellious north of the country.

Deep underground, safely guarded in its special vault, Lincoln Castle houses one of the most important documents in the world. Here you can view an original of the Magna Carta of 1215 and learn about its historic importance as part of the bedrock of English democracy.

Steep Hill

Your time within the Cathedral Quarter will have convinced you of Lincoln’s historic role in British history. Now might be the time to take a stunning overview of the cityscape as you scale Steep Hill.

Just as the name suggests, it’s a bit of a climb, but you’ll be rewarded with some of the finest views of the city from the top – an effort that’s likely to prove more than worthwhile.

You can take the climb at your own leisurely pace, diverted by the many tearooms, restaurants, and independent shops that line the cobbled route.

Brayford waterfront

For a pause in your sightseeing tour of Lincoln, there is probably no more fascinating and restful a place than the historic Brayford waterfront. Once the largest inland harbour in England – the Pool, as it was then known – Brayford waterfront has been transformed into the place to be seen for its restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues.

As you relax with your favourite beverage in hand, you can gaze across the tranquil waters of the Pool to the sparkling new edifice that is the University of Lincoln campus.

Ellis Mill

The city’s hilltop was a favoured place for windmills – and Ellis Mill is one of the surviving nine mills that once towered over this part of the town.

You can visit Ellis Mill – it is managed by Lincolnshire County Council and an enthusiastic band of volunteers – and see for yourself how corn from the surrounding farmlands was ground into flour.

Ellis Mill itself dates back to 1798. But it is believed that a windmill stood on this site from at least the middle of the seventeenth century.

Summary

If you’ve not visited the city before, you’ll be sure to find that Lincoln offers a wealth of things to do and see.

Summer has finally paid a welcome visit. Take a moment or two to relax in the shade, therefore, and catch up on some of the latest UK caravan and motorhome news headlines.

Campers and caravanners warned to take carbon monoxide seriously

The Welsh newspaper Nation/Cymru on the 23^rd of July carried an appeal for caravanners and campers to pay attention to the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. The dangers are especially prevalent when insufficient care is taken when using or failing to maintain camping equipment. Safety advice includes the following:

• never use a barbeque inside your tent, or under the awning (or inside ) your caravan or motorhome;

• don’t use any kind of fuel-burning appliance to heat your tent or under an awning;

• don’t use a diesel, petrol, or gas-fired generator inside your caravan, motorhome, or tent; and

• remember to pack a portable carbon monoxide detector with you on any camping or caravanning trip.

Further safety tips about the dangers of carbon monoxide can be found on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) website.

Broad Lane Leisure calls in administrators

A well-known supplier and retailer of caravans, campervans, and motorhomes, Broad Lane Leisure, has faced such serious financial difficulties that the company is now in administration and in the hands of receivers, reported the BBC last month.

Challenging trading conditions – prompted by a steady decline in demand for the company’s products – eventually proved too much for the West Midlands firm that was founded more than 50 years ago in 1971.

As the Alcester-based, family-run business closed its doors for business, administrators forecast the loss of some 34 jobs.

Optional fee introduced for caravans and motorhomes on the NC500

Many cities and tourist boards throughout Europe have recently highlighted the burden of over-tourism. The latest – possibly surprising – example has been revealed by the Highlands Council of Scotland, revealed the Caravan Times recently. The Council is responsible for the increasingly popular tourist route the NC500.

The 516-mile circular route through some of the most stunning regions of the Highlands starts and ends at Inverness Castle and the numbers using it have grown spectacularly in recent years.

In an attempt to regulate those numbers the Highlands Council has introduced an experimental – and as yet, voluntary – toll for drivers of the NC500. Known as the Highland Campervan and Motorhome Scheme, a £40 pass grants drivers the use of the route for up to 7 days. The funds collected will go towards improving and maintaining public toilets, wastewater drainage, and environmental protection.

At the moment, the charge is voluntary and optional – although the Highland Council hopes the majority of drivers will recognise their responsibility and contribute to the scheme.

£1M+ investment into Steamer Quay Club Campsite in Totnes

The Totnes Times on the 26^th of July featured a visit by the Mayor of Totnes to work on a £1.2 million redevelopment project of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s site in the South Devon valley of the River Dart.

The redeveloped Steamer Quay Club Campsite is scheduled to open on the 1^st of October and will feature 46 new serviced pitches (for caravans without awnings), a refurbished toilet and shower block, and all-new electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The Steamer Quay Club Campsite will be open the year around and is expected to generate as much as an additional annual £1.3 million for local businesses from holidaymakers.