Sizergh Castle, Foulshaw Nature Reserve and Grange-Over-Sands

Woke up to a nice sunny morning. After full English breakfast we headed off to Sizergh Castle. 

Sizergh Castle has been the home of the Strickland since 1239 and they still do today. It has some of the nicest gardens we have seen for a long time. 

We called in at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, a former commercial conifer plantation that has been returned back to a natural acidic peat bog by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Between April and September a pair of Ospreys return to nest. Although we could see the nest there was no sign of the birds. 

There is an extensive raised boardwalk all around the place and we saw lots of common lizards basking in the sun along its edge. The place is teeming with dragon flies and damsel flies and we could hear crickets as we walked around. One of the most impressive reserves I have ever visited.

On the way back we called in at Grange-Over-Sands and had a nice walk around the ornamental gardens with its ducks which will take food from your hand.

We stopped for dinner at the Lakeside Bay Bar and Restaurant on the park before heading back to the van for the evening.

Haven Lakeland Leisure Park, near Grange-Over-Sands in the Lake District

We left Mirey Lees Farm about 08:40. We drove about 56 miles and called at Wakefield Toby Carvery, about a mile and a half from the M1.

We arrived at Lakeland about Ten to Two. We set the caravan up and had a walk down to the entertainment area for the usual ice cream and cider by the outdoor pool. The sun was out and it was a lovely warm afternoon. 

TV reception is good apart from not having any BBC channels. Toilets are ok, not very luxurious but nice and 
clean and everything you would expect. We were parked literally 50 yards away which was very nice and convenient.

We had tea just after Seven and settled down for the evening. 

Wolverley Camping & Caravanning Club Site

A bit grey but still nice and warm this morning. 

By the time we had packed up and started for home it was just after 12:00 and the sun had broken through. It turned out to be another very hot day.

We had a nice steady trouble free ride back to Mirey Lees and arrived just before 16:00.

Dudmaston Hall, Holy Austin Rock Houses and Knowles Mill

We woke again to a lovely sunny day.

After breakfast we drove to Dudmaston Hall. Stretching a cross 3000 acres of park and woodland, Dudmaston has quietly moved with the rhythms of the local community for over 875 years. The estate remains today a muck loved and lived in family home of the Hamilton Russell’s.

Dudmaston was gifted to the National Trust in 1978 by Rachel Labouchere, the nice of forestry management pioneer Geoffrey Wolryche Whitmore whose forward thinking techniques saved the estate from financial ruin after the World Wars.

We had a walk around the gardens and down to the lake as the house didn’t open until 12:30. We had the traditional tea/coffee and crisps before the tour of the house. The house was pretty unremarkable. A bit disappointing really.

Then we headed over to Kinver Edge for a look at the Holy Austin Rock Houses. From 1600 onwards, homes were carved from the rock. Those at Holy Austin Rock, Nanny’s Rock and Vale’s Rock are amongst the finest cave dwellings in Europe.

Then we headed off in search of Knowles Mill. The last mile or two was down what ca only be called a very bumpy single cart track. We were just starting to wish we hadn’t bothered when we finally found it. The mill dates from the 18th century and includes the frames of an overshot waterwheel.

We headed back to the van for tea and a nice relaxing warm sunny evening. 

Kidderminster, The Lock and The Odeon Cinema, Dudley

We awoke to another lovely sunny morning. After breakfast we hopped on the bikes and cycled along the canal to Kidderminster. It was just about two miles.

We helped a couple of narrow boats through the locks before chaining the bikes up to some railings to walk into the town centre. Just nearby was the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. So we had a walk up the hill for a look around. It was a lovely little church.

We had a walk around the town centre for an hour or so. Kidderminster is a pretty unremarkable place. We went in search of a nice Costa Coffee, without success so we settled for a McFlurry at Macdonalds. 

We decided to cycle back to The Lock and have a nice cold cider before chilling at the van for a couple of hours.

We had a nice Ham Salad and Scones with Clotted Cream for tea. 

Then it was tome for a quick shower and off to the Odeon Cinema in Dudley to watch Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

Wolverley Camping & Caravanning Club Site

We arrive on site around 16:30 after an uneventful journey. We lost 20 minutes on the M5 due to roadworks on the elevated section but otherwise it was fine. 

It was now a nice summers day. We set up the van and then checked out the facilities, all very nice an clean as you would expect. They have a very big recreation room with Table Tennis, Pool and a Dart Board.

There was a gate at the back of the site. Turn left and a couple of hundred yards away is The Lock. A nice country pub at the side of the canal. We had a walk down to check out where yo access the canal towpath. 

One of the wardens recomended the fish and chip shop in nearby Cookley. We drove don an had some lovely Haddock and Battered Chips. The batter gave the chips a lovely crispy coating. Very nice they were.

We drove back to the van and settled down for the evening. TV reception is not too bad most of the time and the site had free WiFi which was pretty good.

Hendre Mynach Caravan & Camping Park nr Barmouth

After raining most of the night, we woke to a grey, overcast and windy morning. 

After breakfast, we managed to get everything packed up without getting wet, although we couldn’t pack away the awning properly as it was wet. 

We left at just gone 10:00. We had a steady ride home and arrived back at Mirey Lees about 14:30.