A stroll around Stratford

For Susan and Ro Taylor, Stratford-upon-Avon proved the perfect place to wind down and soak up the atmosphere

- Susan and Ro Taylor

I’VE SAID IT before, but every now and then, you just need to stop and do a little bit of nothing very much.

Normally, our weekends away are full of activity – exploring, sightseeing. We do plenty of walking, we drive to neighbouring towns and nearby attractions, we squeeze every last drop out of our breaks. But this time, it was different.

Over the past months, my husband Ro’s work has seen him traipsing around the country, so when we had the chance of a springtime weekend away, we decided it was time to switch off for a while.

Leisure time

Cue a short break at Riverside Caravan Park, in Stratford-upon-Avon, with nothing to do but enjoy the weather and the scenery.

Don’t get me wrong, though – there is plenty to keep you busy in this part of the world. You can visit the National Trust’s Charlecote Park and Packwood House estates, or explore historic Warwick and its stunning castle, for example. The pretty villages of the Cotswolds are all within easy striking distance, too.

But we just wanted to relax for a change. We’ve been to this area before and are fairly familiar with the local towns and villages, so we didn’t feel the need to rush out and explore the surroundings, or that we were missing out on anything by not venturing too far from the campsite.

All that said, we can’t just sit on camping chairs for a whole weekend. Chilling out for us involves gentle strolls – nothing strenuous, just enjoying a spot of fresh air and the great outdoors.

It also invariably involves a good meal, dining out or perhaps a barbecue onsite, possibly a spot of window-shopping to while away a happy hour or two, and don’t forget the local pubs!