15 Saturday Sep 2018
Posted in Places
Tags
#motorhomes, aire, aires, Barga, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Lucca, macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes, Tuscany
The small walled town of Barga just thirty minutes north of Lucca is well worth a visit – not least because of the large aire within a two minute walk of the town walls.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
26 Sunday Aug 2018
Posted in Sites
Tags
#motorhomes, @motorhmenews, caravan and motorhome club, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Edinburgh, Edinburgh CAMC Site, motorhomenews, motorhomes
Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK and it is no surprise the Club’s Edinburgh site is open all year and invariably full. It is on the west side of the city about half way to the airport. A short walk takes you to the Forth of Firth and fabulous views of the famous bridges.
As I was in Edinburgh for some time supporting one of my daughters directing a play (The Half) at the festival I treated myself uncharacteristically to a service pitch and having done so I’m not sure I will ever be able to go back to a standard one!
Wonderful city to visit of course; wonderful site to stay on. My late wife had family in Edinburgh and she and I used to be regular visitors; these few days have made me determined not to let too much time go by before I return.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
25 Wednesday Jul 2018
Posted in General
Tags
#motorhomes, Big Little Test Festival, camc, caravan, caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, motorhomes, tent, tenting, touring, tourism
As with many other organisations in the tourism industry, the Caravan and Motorhome Club is always finding ways to engage with young people, young families and those who one day will take up tenting or owning a caravan or motorhome.
The Big Little Tent Festival is such an initiative. As an existing motorhome owner subscribing to this blog, you do not require persuasion. Like me, you know what fun it is! But do take a look at the video if only to admire the highly unusual venue!
Click HERE or insert link below into your browser.
https://vimeo.com/onsightuk/review/281481620/00800a2fa7
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
01 Sunday Jul 2018
Posted in Travel
Tags
#motorhomes, Alps, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Lindau, macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes, Salzburg, tourism
The gentle wander along the Alps between Lindau and Salzburg is still very much in my mind and is likely to remain so for some time. Wonderful tour!
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
13 Sunday May 2018
Posted in Sites
Tags
#motorhomes, camc, caravan and motorhome club, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Gowerton, motorhome, motorhomes, Swansea
The sun is shining. A warm welcome from the Caravan and Motorhome Club wardens. An immaculate site. What more could I ask for my weekend in Gowerton?
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
10 Thursday May 2018
Posted in History
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Kobe, motorhomenews, motorhomes, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young, Ypres
Readers of this blog know I have an interest in WWI history and a huge admiration for the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Most of the inscriptions and epitaphs on the headstones have a religious overtone – perfectly reasonably when you consider the times – and wherever possible the closest relatives (invariably the parents due to the shockingly young age of so many of those killed) had a say in what went on the headstone.
And then, by contrast, at the weekend I came across the headstone of Second Lieutenant Arthur Conway Young who was killed 150 yards East of Brory Farm, Zonnebeke, near Ypres, Belgium.
One of the startling truths to emerge when you have an amateur’s interest like mine let alone an academic historian’s deep insight is that we seem to learn little from these epic tragedies. The words on this headstone capture that far more eloquently than I ever could.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
22 Sunday Apr 2018
Posted in General
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Donald Sutherland, Florida Quays, Helen Mirren, macgowan, motorhomenews, motorhomes, The Leisure Seeker, Winnebago
Think Spring is giving way to Summer this weekend. Either way, I decided the climatic conditions were not right for me to run the London Marathon.
Am also preparing for a couple of trips at the moment so have been at home. One evening Faye and I decided to pop out to the cinema and see “The Leisure Seeker” starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
An ageing couple decide to jump into their very old and much loved Winnebago and travel down the Florida Quays and get to Ernest Hemingway’s house.
We loved it but it is not a film for the faint hearted and it is far from an easy watching light entertainment night out.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
24 Saturday Mar 2018
Posted in Places
Tags
#motorhomes, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Hawaii, macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, motorhomes
A bit impractical to bring the motorhome here as Faye and I are spending a few days in Hawaii.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
04 Sunday Mar 2018
Posted in General, Uncategorized
Have been trapped at home this week but in comparison with motorists stuck in cars for hours on end I have nothing to complain about.
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
29 Sunday Oct 2017
Posted in Sites
Tags
caravan and motorhome club, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, motorhomes, poolsbrook, thewobblybox
I am grateful to The Wobbly Box for this independent report on Poolsbrook Country Park from last year. The full report, of which this is a small extract, can be found on their website.
“One of the best sites we have been to this year. Well laid out, clean and tidy. Its location made it a real winner in terms of the extras you get from the Country Park and the showers were the best we have seen on a campsite. We thouroughly enjoyed the site, so much so that we have moved our Christmas stay from another site to come back! Positives: lots to do in the area, great facilities (not all onsite but very close), great pitches, friendly wardens, accessible, great showers. Needs Work: ;Dog facilities, closeness of pitches
SITE NAME: POOLSBROOK COUNTRY PARK CARAVAN CLUB SITE
LOCATION: STAVELY, DERBYSHIRE, S433WL
DATES VISITED: OCTOBER 28TH- 31ST 2016
On our second visit to Derbyshire we took up residence at Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan Club site in Staveley, just down the road from Chesterfield. See what we thought of the Site and everything about it below:
Unlike our previous visit to the area when we stayed at Rivendale near Ashbourne, which took us out into the more remote areas of the Peak District National Park, Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan Club site is located conveniently about 5 minutes off Junction 29A of the M1 motorway. Whilst this does lead to a somewhat lesser scenic route on your drive to the campsite, including driving past what looks to be a small industrial site to get to the site, what is gives you in buckets is accessibility and proximity to pretty much everything. A 5 minute drive, or 20 minute walk takes you into the nearest town of Staveley which has all the basics you need including a pub and a large Morrisons store to name a few. Chesterfield is only about 10-15 minutes by car and has a multitude of things to see and do as well as an abundance of shops. The site itself is situated on the egde of the Poolsbrook Country Park, featuring a beautiful fishing lake surrounded by nature walks, a kids play area and a daytime Cafe. The site doesn’t suffer from much external noise so overall, whilst its not the prettiest location you will find in the area, it more than makes up for it in terms of practicality.”
Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews
