A trip to one of the finest historic sites in Yorkshire provided Sam Johnson with a chance to meet up with old friends, and make some new ones!
READERS WITH LONG memories might recall our first Weekender, which told the story of the maiden voyage in our newly acquired caravan, to Dyrham Park in Wiltshire (Practical Caravan, April 2016). A few things happened as a result of this:
First, the magazine helpfully suggested five alternative deer parks. One of them – Fountains Abbey, near Ripon in Yorkshire – looked particularly exciting, with more than 500 red, fallow and Sika deer.
Second, my old friend from university, Sarah, got in touch to say that her husband works at Fountains Abbey, and that they would love to see us if we made the journey.
Third, our friend Rebecca and her nine year-old daughter Daisy read the story, came to see our van and longed to have a go in it.
Finally, my sister determined that I was unequivocally the world’s biggest nerd... But I can live with that.
And so it was arranged that Rebecca and Daisy would come and join us for their first caravanning experience over a long weekend in August. No prizes for guessing where!
Surprisingly, given our track record for being late for everything we ever attend, Rosemary and I arrived first at our chosen campsite – The Cud Life, near Harrogate. And, though we still occasionally make the odd mistake while caravanning, setting up the van on site is getting easier with practice. (Note to self: setting off from home with the key left in the caravan door is not a good idea, especially if it’s the only key you have with you; fortunately, it didn’t fall out.) We had just finished erecting the awning and boiling the kettle for our first cup of tea when Rebecca and Daisy arrived.
Ripping yarns in Ripon
Denne historien er fra May 2017-utgaven av Practical Caravan.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra May 2017-utgaven av Practical Caravan.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
DASH CAMS
John Sootheran explores the 'big brother' world of dash cams - with caravanners in mind...
CARAVAN SAT-NAVS
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COACHMAN ACADIA 460
This comfortable two-berth is a welcome addition to the range, although the décor might not suit everyone
SWIFT SPRITE EXCLUSIVE QUATTRO MB
Innovative design in the latest addition to this popular range provides a cleverly repositioned corner bed
NORTH WALES FROM ALL ANGLES
Peter Baber finds Palladian splendour, mighty castles and fashionable hotspots on a tour of North Wales
SOUTHERN SEES
Titanic struggles, medieval halls and otters are among the many highlights of Victor Charles' Hampshire tour
LAKES, RIVERS & CANALS
Get a brand-new perspective on the UK by exploring its lakes and waterways on your next caravan tour!
Feeling Peaky
A journey through the Peak District's Hope Valley leads Susan Taylor through caves and caverns, Pride and Prejudice, and an attempted push up Mam Tor
Easy ULLSWATER
Within reach of the M6, Penrith is the perfect launchpad for a jaunt around Ullswater, as Peter Baber discovers on a Lake District tour
83 ERRORS TO AVOID!
Veteran or first-timer, there's always something new to learn about caravanning, especially when it comes to sidestepping mistakes that could spoil your fun! Our expert team has decades of caravanning experience under their belts, so here we reveal the errors we've made - and learned from - over the years, to help you avoid doing the same in future...