When husband Ro suggested a trip “under the radar” to the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, I didn’t realise he meant it almost literally, although I soon discovered my mistake.
This pretty region is dotted with villages and market towns, shingle beaches, river estuaries, woodlands and more. Plenty to interest inveterate explorers like us, while at the same time providing the kind of ‘get away from it all’ camping break we love.
Run Cottage Touring Park, in Hollesley, between the estuaries of the Rivers Deben and Alde, was to be our tranquil home from home, and the perfect starting point for some interesting and enjoyable days out.
We had a great pitch, between the duck pond and the stream that borders the site, and soon made friends with the resident swan (which Ro naturally named Vesta).
We chose to explore the area by driving, but there are good public transport options should you prefer to leave your car on site. There are also a couple of ferries to get you across the estuaries if you fancy a boat trip.
Historic technology
So, back to being under the radar. We spent our first afternoon exploring the local area, and soon found ourselves at Bawdsey Radar Transmitter Block, a 10-minute drive from the site, which put us literally under the soaring column of the first fully operational radar station in the world.
After the inevitable jokes about not finding a signal, this proved an interesting museum, staffed by friendly, informative volunteers who were happy to explain its history, telling us some fascinating stories.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-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
Denne historien er fra August 2023-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
State-of-the art satellite navigation just for caravanners? Yes, it exists. John Sootheran investigates
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...