Names Joe and Elaine Ormerod
Our Caravan 2006 Bürstner S500TS
Our Towcar 2007 Chrysler 300C Touring

As we drew up to the reception at the Broadway Caravan Club site in the Cotswolds we noticed that the "Broadway" name was in the form of a railway sign and the reception was called the 'stationmaster's office'. Another clue to this site's former occupation was the address: Station Road. We checked in, chose a pitch and settled in as it started to rain, preventing us from exploring any further.
There are two toilet blocks, one of which is a former goods shed. Inside is lots of information about the railway and the station that operated there from 1904 until its closure to passenger traffic in 1960; the goods service soldiered on until 1964. The campsite itself is in the former goods yard. We were impressed that the shed had been retained and even more so when we discovered inside – as well as toilet facilities – there were a Scammell truck and a British Rail bike.
The next day, the sun beckoned us to take the short stroll to Broadway, known as the Jewel in the Cotswolds. This unspoiled village of honey-coloured limestone buildings dates from the 16th century, and is home to enticing eateries, art galleries and clothes shops. It was once a magnet for artists, musicians and writers; JM Barrie, Edward Elgar, and William Morris all visited.
Venturing further afield in the afternoon, we discovered the northern terminus of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway at Toddington. Our getaway was developing a railway theme. Out of season, the railway is open only on selected weekends but we saw one engine getting up steam while another was being lovingly restored by volunteers. The line runs for ten miles from Toddington to the station at Cheltenham Racecourse, where there is a park-and-ride facility for passengers wishing to visit Cheltenham itself. Perhaps we'll do that next time.
We drove on to Winchcombe, another stop along the route of the steam railway. Many of the pretty streets in this typical Cotswold village are dotted with signs giving historical background about them. We've never been to a place that has had so many changes of street names. The following day was sunny, too. Just as well, because we could no longer resist a dose of retail therapy, so off we went to Stow-on-the-Wold. We both love cooking and couldn't resist visiting the cook shops, where we bought items we couldn't possibly do without.

See the full report and all the pictures in the July 08 issue.

Names Tessa and Gary Challenger
Our Caravan 2001 Avondale Dart
Our Towcar 2005 Kia Sorrento

Throughout the year, Gary and I use our caravan for relaxing weekends away. We prefer small, friendly sites, so we tried the Minnows Touring Park at Sampford Peverell, near Tiverton.
The Minnows, which is less than a mile from junction 27 of the M5, is easy to find. It is attractively laid out in five and a half acres, and has all the usual facilities.
There is direct access from the site to the Grand Western Canal, which has 11 miles of towpath and plenty to do for walkers, canoeists, fishermen, cyclists and nature lovers. From mid-March until the end of October, you can ride the waterway on the Tivertonian, a horse-drawn barge, one of only six left in Great Britain.
Five miles away in Tiverton are shops and a museum that is worth a visit. In its 14 galleries, you'll see toys, clothing, farm wagons and other artifacts used by people in rural Devon.
There is also a castle which, although a private residence, is open to visitors each Sunday and Thursday, 2.30-5.30pm. The 900-year-old castle was built on the orders of Henry I, and survived turbulent times, including the Civil War, when, in 1645, a lucky cannon shot hit the drawbridge chain, allowing the Parliamentary army to capture it.
Gary and I were keen to visit Knightshayes Court near Tiverton. The Victorian home of Sir John Heathcoat Amory – heir to the Heathcoat textile empire – was designed by William Burges, with an interior that was too elaborate for Amory's taste. He commissioned John Dibblee Crace to finish the project. The house was given to the National Trust in 1972. Hanging in the family room is a painting that depicts a works outing from the Heathcoat lace factory to Teignmouth. Now, 150 years later, Gary and I were having an outing from Teignmouth to the Heathcoat family home.

See the full report and all the pictures in the July 08 issue.

Names Nick, Julie, Ellen (7) and Laura (5) Flower
Our Caravan 2008 Bailey Pageant Series 6 Vendee
Our Towcar 2001 Jeep Cherokee 2.5 CRD
We set off for our first rally of the season at the Covert Caravan Club Site; it was an easy 40-minute tow to the site, which opened early just for our 52-van rally.
This was also the first outing in our new Bailey Pageant Series 6 Vendee. So, having arrived in the dark, we found setting up a challenge. Rally marshals soon came over to help. After a hot meal, we helped friends pitch up next to us and turned in early – in our luxurious fixed bed.
The Covert is a lovely site situated among the trees of Thetford Chase. The rally filled the site's horseshoe-shaped hardstanding area. With no shower blocks available, it was back to basics (although there were electricity hook-ups). We gave the Pageant's washroom a good test, which it passed with flying colours.
As for visits off site, we were spoiled for choice: Ickworth Hall, a splendid National Trust property which is surrounded by a moat, and Iceni Village, a fascinating reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon settlement.
The town of Swaffham, six miles away, is famous as the birthplace of Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered the tomb of ancient Egypt's boy king, Tutankhamen, in 1922. More recently, Swaffham was the setting for Stephen Fry's Kingdom series on ITV.
We spent Saturday morning wandering about the market and retreated to a restaurant for lunch when the rain started. After more shopping and afternoon tea, we returned to the site for the rally quiz and to relax with friends. The Pageant had its seating capacity tested when eight of us piled in to play bingo.
At Sunday's flagpole meeting Julie collected a birthday plaque. Four families attending their first rally received plaques, too. Afterwards we wandered round the site, which we soon learnt was the base of the Fourth Armoured Division 'Desert Rats' 60 years ago. Information boards along the wooded walk described a soldier's life. A Cromwell tank fascinated Ellen and Laura, and a reconstructed Nissen hut showed how basic the accommodations were – a far cry from our modern tourer.
We made our goodbyes to fellow ralliers, many of whom we'll be seeing at a rally at Blickling Hall in a few weeks. It was an enjoyable weekend – for just a £12 rally fee.

See the full report and all the pictures in the July 08 issue.

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