Eriba Man

This is night No.85/2018 living in my caravan. Now pitched at Melrose Gibson Park C&MC Site in Melrose. Paid £32.60 for 2 nights for me, the van, and the mutts (free). Woke around 0600 to a wet, drizzly morning. Took the dogs a walk into the forest near the site, then started to pack up. After another walk round the forest, we left the site around 1000. It's about a 2hr drive north to Melrose. The route was quite enjoyable. It was north on the M6, then the A7 through Dumfries and Galloway then into The Borders. I'm not that familiar with the A7, but despite the weather (still showery) it was a clear scenic route. Arrived, after a few short breaks, around 1220. I've been here once before, in Oct 2017 with my Puck. It's a nice site right in the centre of town and it's often booked up full, probably due to the fact it's a small site of 56 pitches, almost a 1/3 of Troutbeck Head where I'd left earlier. I do like Melrose, and it's a great base for s...

This is night No.84/2018 living in my caravan. It's me second night at Troutbeck Head C&MC Site near Keswick in the Lake District. Slept well, getting up around 0600. The weather was cloudy, but dry. The forecast was for the weather to improve, so I quite fancied the idea of 'bagging' one of the Wainwrights close to where I'm based. There are three nearby, but Gowbarrow Fell looked good as a circular walk could be done with some good views. After breakfast, we set of for the short drive to Ullswater. Parked up at the NT carpark for Aira Force, where I'd visited yesterday. I'm glad I'm a member of NTS as the carpark charges were staggering. I think it ranged between £5 and £9! When I arrived, I was the only car there. Set of walking around 0840. The path leaves the main tourist route, passes through a gate onto the hillside. Some nice views back to Ullswater. The south face of this hill is fairly craggy. I think this part is known as 'Hind...

This is night No.83/2018 living in my caravan. Now pitched at Troutbeck Head C&MC Site near Keswick in the Lake District. Paid £36.20 for 2 nights for the van, me, and the mutts(free). A bit of a 'premium' site due to it's location in the North Lakes, but it is a nice place. Left Englethwaite Hall at around 1130 for the 40min drive to this site. Englethwaite was an excellent place to stay. It was superb for the dogs, and even though it had no toilet block, I thought of it as one of the best sites I've stayed at yet. This site at Troutbeck is another good site. It's a large site with around 120 pitches, and two toilet blocks to cope with the numbers. This place must be jumping in peak season. I went into Keswick, and even though it is September, that was mobbed. Another huge bonus is the dog walking. I've found the Lake District to be very restrictive on dog walking, but this site has direct access from the site to a huge FC Forest, Matterdale. Th...

This is night No.82/2018 living in my caravan. This is the second night we've been staying at Englethwaite Hall, near Carlisle. Slept really well, getting up at a ridiculously late 0700! This site has no toilet block, therefore no showers. I always shower very early to avoid any chance of having to queue, but with no shower block, I think, subconsciously, I can sleep longer? The weather was fine with light cloud. Took the dogs around the forest, direct from the site, for an early morning run around. After our return and my 'ablutions', I had a breakfast of toasted bagel with Salmon Cheese. I was recommended this cheese, and it was absolutely delicious! Particularly on a bagel. I'm in border country, that is the border between England and Scotland. I have always wanted to see, for myself, Hadrians Wall. A good perusal of the OS Maps, and a short drive took me to Gilsland where good portions of the wall remain. There are still remains of turrets. Quit...

This is night No.81/2018 living in my caravan. Now pitched at Englethwaite Hall C&MC Site near Cotehill in Cumbria. It's 5 mins off the M6 J42, just east of Carlisle. A very reasonable £23.20 for 2 nights. More like CL prices. After 2 night in Lower Wensleydale C&MC Site in Yorkshire, I have come to the conclusion is is simply a shambles of a site. The staff were very surly, lacked any kind of personality, the facilities were very, very dated. The ground keeping was a mess, and to top it all, there was zero facilities for any dog owners. It was cheap, but unless I absolutely need to, I wouldn't go back. What a contrast to the excellent site at Hawes, just 17miles away. What an absolute joy to arrive at this place, Englethwaite Hall. It's in the garden ground of what was the 'Old Hall', which must have been a very large mansion house. It's a site with no toilet block, but your given power and there is the usual water, bins, and chemical waste dumps. ...

This is night No.80/2018 living in my caravan. This is my second night at Lower Wensleydale C&MC Site near Leyburn. As forecast, got up to a nice morning at 0600. Took the dogs out of the site, across the Wensleydale Rail Line and followed a short lane down to the Pheasant Inn. After breakfast, I was keen to get a walk where I could let the dogs run free, but not too far away. Leyburn Shawl is a walk on the outskirts of the town and in my guidebook, I could see that this could become a nice long circular walk. I parked next to a church just north of Market Square, left a contribution in the honesty box, then was walking around 0840. I met a local walking his dog and gave me the tips about where to let them off lead. A big part of the walk was off lead! Some great views over the dales as the forest climbed. I kept the dogs on the lead at this point as to the left were sheer cliffs, probably with a vertical drop of 100ft. Better safe than sorry. We emerged from t...