Day 19 – Homeward Bound & One Last Taste of Norfolk

There’s always that slightly strange feeling on the final morning of returning the motorhome.

For over two weeks, the motorhome had been our hotel, our transport, my office, our kitchen and, more often than not, the place where we'd sit at the end of the day reliving everything we'd seen. Suddenly it was time to drive back to it's owners and return her.

Unfortunately, we weren't returning it in quite the same condition we'd collected it.

The windscreen crack we'd picked up the previous day was still sitting there to greet us, and I have to admit I was feeling a little nervous about handing the keys back. Thankfully, James and Kelly at Capricorn Campers couldn't have been more understanding. It was one of those things that happens on the road, and they made what could have been a stressful experience incredibly straightforward.

A Better Plan This Time

I'd learnt from collecting the motorhome a couple of weeks earlier.

Rather than trying to coordinate everyone at once, Mum stayed comfortably in the shade with the motorhome while I walked over to Norwich Airport to collect the hire car. It turned out to be a much smoother way of doing things.

This time I'd treated myself to something a little different…

A BMW 320i M Sport.

After spending weeks perched high above the traffic in a seven-metre motorhome, climbing into the BMW felt like dropping into a go-kart.

I honestly couldn't believe how low it was.

Every speed bump suddenly looked enormous, and after getting used to floating along in the motorhome, the firmer M Sport suspension certainly made its presence known. Still, once I was a few miles down the road, it was a lovely car to drive and a bit of fun for the last few days in England.

Back at the motorhome, we met James's dad, handed over the keys and officially brought our motorhome adventure to an end.

It's funny how quickly a vehicle becomes your home.

One Last Norfolk Outing

With the practicalities out of the way, Mum and I weren't quite ready to call it a day.

Instead, we headed to one of our favourite types of places…

A British garden centre.

If you've ever visited one, you'll know they're far more than somewhere to buy plants. They're part café, part gift shop, part homewares store and somehow always manage to convince you that you need something you never intended to buy.

The hydrangeas were absolutely spectacular.

Masses of flowers in every shade imaginable—soft pinks, rich purples, deep blues and vibrant greens. I even found a variety I'd never seen in New Zealand and immediately started wondering whether there was any legal way of getting one home.  (Spoiler alert: there probably isn't!) 

After a relaxed wander and an early lunch, we made our way home for a quiet afternoon before heading out one last time.

The Perfect Farewell Dinner

Our final dinner was at The Honingham Buck, and it couldn't have been a better choice.

The service was warm and welcoming, and the food was outstanding. I started with squid before enjoying crab for my main, and both were absolutely delicious.

It was the perfect way to finish our time in Norfolk.

Final Thoughts

As we pulled into Mum's driveway that evening, it really hit me that our UK motorhome adventure had come to an end.

Over the past nineteen days we'd travelled through beautiful countryside, discovered places that had been on my bucket list for years, stayed in some incredible campsites and shared countless laughs along the way.

Handing back the keys was the end of one adventure…

…but in less than forty-eight hours I'd be flying to Rotterdam to meet Mike and begin the next one.

Sometimes the best thing about finishing a journey is knowing another one is just around the corner.

Day 18 – Homeward Bound… and One Last Motorhome Surprise

After a night that was either very cold… or involved me accidentally turning the camper into a walk-in freezer, we woke nice and early for our final morning in the motorhome.

By 8:30am we’d packed everything away, closed the windows, rolled up the power lead one last time and quietly pulled out of what had become our favourite campsite of the trip.

I don’t say that lightly either.

For Mum and me, Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite was hands down the best campground we stayed at. It isn’t an old site—it felt only a few years old—but whoever designed it clearly understood what motorhomers actually want. The pitches were level, the roads were wide, the facilities were spotless and everything was beautifully maintained.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference, and this campsite seemed to get all of those right.

If we’re ever back in the Winchester area, I’d happily stay there again without even looking for anywhere else.

---

The Journey Home

With the motorhome loaded for the last time, we pointed it north towards Norwich.

Thankfully it was a Sunday.

That meant lighter traffic, no shopping crowds and a much easier run around London than we’d expected. Most of the journey was on motorways and dual carriageways, so before we knew it we were pulling back into Mum’s driveway just after lunchtime.

Sophie...she was absolutely beside herself with excitement. The moment she came out to the motorhome she was racing around the lounge, bouncing from one piece of furniture to another as though she’d been saving up two weeks’ worth of excitement for our return.

Safe to say, she was very happy to have us home.

---

Emptying the Motorhome… Again!

After a well-earned sit down and something cold to drink, it was time for the part of every motorhome trip that nobody really talks about…

Unpacking.

I thought we’d done a pretty good job of getting organised before leaving the campsite.

Turns out I was wildly optimistic.

Every cupboard.   Every drawer.  Every little storage compartment.  Every shelf.

From the cab right through to the bedroom.

Somehow we’d managed to fill all of it!

It’s amazing how quickly a motorhome starts to feel like home, and even more amazing how much “essential” stuff finds its way into every available space.

Still, within a couple of hours we’d managed to empty almost everything and get it put away.

Although…

I’m still not entirely convinced all of it is going to fit back into my suitcase for the cruise!

That might be tomorrow’s problem.

Along with the cracked windscreen we seemed to encounter about 30 mins out from mum's!

---

One Last Afternoon Before the Next Adventure

With the unpacking mostly under control, I treated myself to a well-deserved afternoon snooze before joining Mum to catch up on a bit of Coronation Street.

It felt strangely luxurious.

No planning tomorrow’s route.

No checking campsite bookings.

No plugging in the power cable.

Just sitting on the sofa, watching television and enjoying being back in a proper house for a night.

And then came another little luxury I’d almost forgotten about…

A real bed.

With a proper duvet.

After two wonderful weeks travelling around England together, the motorhome chapter of this trip had come to an end.

It had been full of beautiful villages, winding country roads, cream teas, lighthouses, stationery shops, far too many Waitrose visits and plenty of laughs along the way.

Now it was time to swap four wheels for a cruise ship and begin the next chapter of the adventure.

…Although first, I still had to figure out how on earth I was going to squeeze everything I’d bought into one suitcase!

Day 17 – A Quiet Day in Winchester

After two weeks of constantly being on the move, we’d finally reached that point in the trip where both Mum and I agreed…

Today was going to be a slow one.

No long drives.

No racing from one attraction to the next.

No trying to squeeze “just one more thing” into the itinerary.

Instead, we decided to simply enjoy our last full day in the motorhome.

To be honest, after all the travelling and a few late nights, I think my mind and body were quietly reminding me that I was actually supposed to be on holiday. A lazy morning and a slower pace were exactly what I needed.

We eventually wandered into Winchester around lunchtime. Being a Saturday, the city was buzzing with people, so rather than trying to battle the crowds, we had a gentle stroll through the streets before heading back towards camp.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Winchester before, including a very special trip to see Jane Austen’s grave in the cathedral, so I never felt like I was missing out. Sometimes it’s nice simply to enjoy a place without feeling the need to tick every attraction off a list.

Before heading back, we stopped at Sainsbury’s to top up the fuel tank. Tomorrow we’d be making the three-and-a-half-hour drive back to Norwich, skirting around London, and I wanted to make sure we were completely ready before setting off.

---

The Best Campsite of the Trip

I know campsites probably aren’t everyone’s idea of exciting holiday reading…

…but this one deserves a mention.

Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite was, without question, my favourite campsite of the entire motorhome adventure.

From the moment we arrived, everything just felt incredibly well looked after. The pitches were spacious, the grounds were immaculate and the facilities were some of the best I’ve seen. The shower and toilet blocks honestly felt more like a boutique hotel than a campground!

It was also surprisingly peaceful. Even though it was the middle of summer, the site never felt overcrowded. There was plenty of space to relax, have a wander and simply enjoy being there.

Sometimes the best campsites are the ones that disappear into the background because everything just works.

This was definitely one of those.

---

Holiday Mode… Finally!

The afternoon was spent doing all those glamorous motorhome jobs that nobody ever puts on Instagram.

Emptying the toilet cassette.

Draining the grey water.

Refilling the fresh water.

Checking everything was ready for tomorrow’s journey.

Motorhome life definitely isn’t all sunsets and scenic drives!

Once the practical jobs were out of the way, I finally got to spend a couple of peaceful hours catching up on my journal and getting my travel blog up to date. There’s something incredibly satisfying about writing about the places you’ve visited while they’re still fresh in your mind.

Before long it was time to cook dinner for Mum and me, enjoy one final relaxed evening at camp and start packing everything away ready for returning the motorhome the following day.

It’s funny how quickly a motorhome starts to feel like home. After two weeks of living out of it, packing everything away felt a little strange.

Tomorrow we’d be pointing the motorhome north for the final time.

And just like that, our little English road trip was almost over.

Day 16 – On to Winchester… But First, Finally Visiting Poundbury!

 

There’s something a little bittersweet about packing up camp when you know you’re on the final leg of a road trip.

We left our campsite around 10:30am and headed towards Winchester, where we’d be spending our last two nights before returning the motorhome and making our way back to Mum’s in Norwich.

But before we got there, I had one stop I absolutely wasn’t willing to skip.

Poundbury.

I’ve wanted to visit for years. I’ve watched documentaries, read countless articles and admired photos online, so finally seeing it with my own eyes was something I’d been looking forward to for a very long time.

Of course, before any serious sightseeing could begin, we made what had become our regular pilgrimage…Waitrose.

I think by this stage of the trip I deserved some sort of loyalty award! We grabbed lunch, a few supplies for the road and then continued towards Dorset’s most talked-about town.

---

Finally Seeing Poundbury

The first thing that struck me was just how different it felt.

Although it’s a modern development, it doesn’t feel like one at all. Instead of endless rows of identical houses, every street seems to have its own personality. Georgian terraces sit beside classical buildings, elegant townhouses, cottages and little squares that somehow make everything feel as though it’s been there for centuries.

As we slowly drove around I found myself constantly interrupting Mum.

“Look at that building…”

“Look at those chimneys!”

“Even the garages look beautiful!”

Poor Mum probably heard me say “Look at that!” about fifty times.

What impressed me most wasn’t any one building. It was how much thought had gone into every detail. The brickwork, stonework, proportions, parks, streets and public spaces all felt intentional rather than simply squeezed in wherever they would fit.

I completely understand why Poundbury divides opinion, but personally…

I absolutely loved it.

In fact, I found myself thinking more than once,

“I could quite happily live here!”

Google Map -https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Queen+Mother+Square,+Poundbury/Buttermarket,+Poundbury/The+Great+Field,+Poundbury/Pummery+Square,+Poundbury/Queen+Mother+Square,+Poundbury

---

On to Winchester

Eventually it was time to leave Poundbury behind and continue towards Winchester.

We stopped at Tesco and M&S to stock up before arriving at what would be our final campsite of the trip. It turned out to be a great little spot, and even better, they had food vans visiting throughout the week.

Decision made.

No cooking.

No dishes.

Just loaded fries and a relaxing evening after another full day on the road.

As we settled in, it started to sink in that our motorhome adventure was beginning to wind down. We still had two nights left, but after nearly two weeks of exploring England together, you could feel this chapter slowly coming to an end.

The campground was quieter than I expected, and during my wander I discovered another member of the “working while travelling” club. Unlike me, though, this guy had come fully prepared with a Starlink setup beside his motorhome. I have to admit, I was slightly jealous… that’s taking the mobile office to the next level!

Looking back over the day,

Poundbury was everything I’d hoped it would be.

Sometimes you build a place up so much in your mind that reality can never quite match the expectation.

This wasn’t one of those times.

After years of wanting to visit, it completely lived up to the hype—and I already know it’ll be somewhere I return to one day.

Day 15 – Portland, Lighthouses, Dogs on Beaches & a New M&S

Some travel days are packed with bucket-list attractions. Others are simply about wandering wherever the road takes you.

Today was definitely one of the second kind… and honestly, they’re often my favourite.

After the heartbreak of England’s semi-final loss the night before (I’m still convinced they had it in the bag until those last few minutes…), Mum and I decided we’d spend the day sightseeing from the comfort of the motorhome. Mum’s hip was playing up, so this was very much a “look out the windows and enjoy the scenery” kind of adventure.

Chesil Beach & Portland

Our first stop was the end of the road overlooking Chesil Beach.

What a view.

The sea was that impossible blue that makes you question whether you’re actually still in England, and the long sweep of Chesil Beach stretched away into the distance. It’s one of those places where photos just don’t capture the scale of it. We stood there for ages simply taking it all in.

From there we crossed onto the Isle of Portland and followed the roads around the island.

Every corner seemed to reveal another spectacular viewpoint.

The rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs and sweeping views across the English Channel made me stop more than once just to soak it all in.

Hunting Lighthouses

Naturally, I wanted to see Portland Bill Lighthouse.

Actually…

I wanted to see all three lighthouses.

Apparently the roads had other ideas.

Despite driving around the area, the angles and hills meant I could never quite get all three lined up together. Close enough… but not quite. I suppose it just gives me another excuse to come back one day.

Portland Bill itself was beautiful though. There’s something about a classic red-and-white lighthouse that never gets old.

Weymouth on a Summer’s Day

Next stop was Weymouth.

It was hot.

Really hot.

I’d reached that point where I wasn’t sure whether I was thirsty, hungry or just slowly melting into the driver’s seat.

A cold drink and some lunch quickly solved at least two of those problems.

We drove around the harbour before following the Esplanade. The beachfront was absolutely buzzing with families making the most of the sunshine.

One thing that really stood out to me was just how many dogs were enjoying the beach.

Not just walking along it…

Actually swimming, chasing balls, digging in the sand and generally living their absolute best lives.

It’s not something you see all that often back home in New Zealand, so I couldn’t help smiling every time another happy, soggy dog bounded past.

An Unexpected M&S Stop

As we drove around, I spotted signs proudly announcing that the new M&S had just opened.

Well…

You can’t put signs like that in front of me and expect me to drive past.

Opening day meant the place was absolutely heaving.

Traffic everywhere.

Cars circling.

People everywhere you looked.

Fortunately, because we were in the motorhome, one of the parking attendants directed us into the wider EV bays (thankfully nobody needed them at the time), which meant we squeezed in without too much drama.

The new store itself was lovely. Half food hall, half clothing, bright, spacious and exactly what you’d expect from a brand-new Marks & Spencer.

Did we leave empty-handed?

Of course not.

That would be completely out of character.

A couple of shopping bags somehow followed us back to the motorhome.

Funny how that keeps happening.

Back to Camp

By mid-afternoon it was time to head back to the campsite.

It was my last evening working before heading off on the cruise, so I wanted to get back a little earlier, sort a few things out and get organised before the next adventure began.

One chapter of the trip was winding down…

…and another very exciting one was just about to begin.

Day 14 – Ink, England Flags & Finally… Weymouth!

 Some travel days are all about ticking off famous landmarks. Others? They involve fountain pen ink, football fever and discovering that the internet isn’t just for late-night shopping… it’s for collecting your shopping too!

We packed up in Torquay and pointed the motorhome east, beginning our drive along England’s beautiful south coast towards Weymouth. It just so happened to be the day of the Women’s FIFA World Cup semi-final, and you could feel the excitement building everywhere we went.

Every village seemed to be flying St George’s flags, shops were decorated, and even popping into Sainsbury’s felt like walking into a match-day fan zone. England was buzzing, and even though I’m not the biggest football follower, it was impossible not to get swept up in the atmosphere. Mum was especially excited, so we were firmly on Team Lionesses for the day.

A Quick Antique Detour

Our first stop was The Antique Village in Hele, just outside Exeter.

I had visions of uncovering the perfect vintage desk set, perhaps a forgotten inkwell or two, and maybe even a fountain pen hiding amongst the treasures.

Reality?

Nothing quite shouted, “Take me home, Helen!”

Still, that’s half the fun of antiquing. You never know what you’ll find… or in this case, what you won’t!

The Dangerous Stop at Cult Pens

Now this was a stop I’d been looking forward to.

If you’re into fountain pens, notebooks or ink (or if you simply enjoy enabling people with expensive hobbies), you’ll probably know about Cult Pens. I’d done my homework before leaving New Zealand and discovered that while they don’t really have a traditional retail shop, they do have a small showroom alongside their warehouse.

After arriving, one of the lovely staff explained that they are an online store onl, but as I had come such a long way she said to place an online order and come up to the door and ring the bell, they would pick the order while I waited.

Challenge accepted.

So there I was, sitting comfortably back in the motorhome with the air conditioning running, shopping online… while parked outside the warehouse.

Honestly, that may well be the most efficient shopping trip I’ve ever done.

Within about 10–15 minutes my order was packed and ready. The team even brought it out to the motorhome, which was such a lovely touch.

Of course I exercised remarkable self-control…

…well… mostly.

The New Zealand exchange rate certainly tried to keep my spending under control, but there were a few inks that simply couldn’t be left behind.

The haul included:

• Robert Oster Signature
• Diamine Amaranth
• Wearingeul Emma
• Wearingeul Cheshire Cat
• Wearingeul Mad Hatter
• Two exclusive Cult Pens Pearl Series inks:
  • Harvest Moon
  • Dusk

Let’s just say my fountain pens won’t be going thirsty any time soon.

Rolling into Weymouth

With the important business of ink acquisition complete, it was finally time to continue south to our campsite overlooking the sea at Weymouth.

After a busy day of driving, shopping and resisting buying even more ink, pulling into Pebble Bank Caravan Park with the sea stretching out beyond the motorhome was exactly what we needed.

Tomorrow would be all about exploring the Jurassic Coast.

But for tonight?

A cup of tea, a spectacular view, and perhaps admiring my newly acquired ink collection… just one more time.

(Okay… maybe several more times.)

And don't forget the all important Semi Final game with England playing Argentina!!

Day 13 – The English Riviera, Devonshire Tea & One Very Stressed Motorhome Driver 🚐🍓☀️

 After yesterday’s antique shopping adventure, today was all about discovering why this stretch of Devon proudly calls itself The English Riviera. Spoiler alert: by the end of the day I completely understood the hype… although the roads very nearly undid me.

---

Good Morning, Riviera!

We were up bright and early, leaving Ramslade Club Campsite around 8:30am. One advantage of getting moving early? Marks & Spencer Foodhall opens before most of the other shops. Priorities are important after all! A quick browse and a few supplies later, we pointed the motorhome towards Torquay.

It took around forty minutes to get there, although we quickly discovered that “early” still coincided with the school run. Apparently everyone else had somewhere urgent to be.

Me? I had all day.

The first stop was the colourful stretch of coastline known as The English Riviera. I’d heard the name before but never really knew what it referred to. It stretches along the South Devon coast from just south of Maidencombe all the way down towards Brixham, and on a warm summer’s day it genuinely feels like a little slice of the Mediterranean… if you ignore the British accents.

The weather had cooled ever so slightly compared with the previous few days, making it far more comfortable for exploring.

---

Cliff Roads, Colourful Houses & Harbour Views

We followed the spectacular coastal road through Babbacombe, winding along the clifftops past some absolutely stunning houses with panoramic sea views. Every corner seemed to reveal another postcard-worthy scene.

Torquay itself had exactly the holiday atmosphere I’d imagined.

Colourful Victorian houses lined the waterfront, boats bobbed around in the harbour waiting for the tide to return, cafés spilled out onto the promenade and everywhere felt alive with that classic British seaside energy.

I could absolutely see why generations of families have holidayed here.

---

Dear Whoever Designed These Roads…

Now…

Let’s talk about driving.

The roads around Torquay weren’t really designed with a 7.4-metre motorhome that’s nearly 3 metres high in mind.

At one particularly awkward junction I found myself nose-to-nose with a bus.

Behind me? A growing queue.

Behind him? Another growing queue.

Cue ten minutes of both of us performing what can only be described as a very slow, slightly stressful game of automotive ballet while everyone else waited patiently (well… mostly).

Eventually we managed to squeeze past each other with what felt like mere millimetres to spare.

Mum aged approximately ten years, me kinda fun with a bit of stress thrown in....needless there are no photos of this ballet dance.

---

Paignton & Brixham

We continued through Paignton, finding somewhere long enough to park the motorhome near the harbour.

While wandering around we watched a group practising life-saving drills at the harbour entrance, which was fascinating to watch.

From there we continued on towards Brixham, although by this stage I’d definitely reached my daily quota of narrow roads, parked cars and traffic. We didn’t stay long, instead deciding there was something far more important calling my name…

---

The Devonshire Tea Mission ☕

The final destination for the day was Cockington Village, where we’d heard wonderful things about Weavers Cottage Tea Garden.

It absolutely lived up to the hype.

Tucked amongst thatched cottages and one of the prettiest villages we’ve visited so far, it felt like stepping into a storybook.

The star of the afternoon?

A freshly baked scone served with raspberry jam and an enormous helping of clotted cream, accompanied by a delicious strawberry milkshake.

Devonshire tea achieved.

Mission accomplished.

(Yes… before anyone asks… I did cream first. We were in Devon after all.)

---

Time To Move On

With happy stomachs and slightly calmer nerves, we headed back to the campsite to pack up.

Tomorrow we’d be saying goodbye to Devon and heading for our next stop…

Weymouth, here we come! 🚐

Day 12 – Antique Hunting, Colourful Streets & a Friday the 13th Ending… on a Monday!

 Some days go exactly to plan.  This wasn’t one of them.

With Mum’s recent obsession with Antiques Road Trip (which, naturally, has now become my obsession too), today’s mission was obvious: go hunting for treasures around South Devon. The only problem? We’d forgotten it was Monday. If you’ve ever tried antiquing on a Monday, you’ll know that’s the retail equivalent of turning up to Christmas lunch on Boxing Day.

First stop: Ashburton

Even with a few shops closed, Ashburton absolutely charmed us.

The streets are full of colourful old buildings, independent shops and enough antique stores to make any collector’s heart beat just a little faster. It has that wonderful “just one more shop…” feeling… which is both delightful and slightly dangerous when you’re travelling with limited luggage space.

Thankfully my self-imposed rule of “If it doesn’t fit in the suitcase, it doesn’t come home” kept my spending mostly under control.

Mostly.

My favourite find of the day was In a Nut Shell Antiques & Interiors. The shop is packed floor to ceiling with fascinating pieces, from quirky home décor to genuine antiques, and I could happily have spent another hour just wandering around. It has exactly the sort of atmosphere that makes you wonder about the stories behind every item.

Unlike several of the shops we’d visited, this one managed to tempt me into opening my wallet. I left with a little treasure tucked safely into one of their paper bags—proof that my luggage rule has a few carefully negotiated exceptions!

Not far behind was Craftmongers, another lovely independent shop full of beautifully made gifts, homewares and artisan pieces. If I hadn’t already been mentally calculating the remaining space in my suitcase, I suspect I could have done far more damage there too.

Sophie, meanwhile, continued her role as Official Travel Mascot, charming everyone she met while supervising our shopping expedition.

The hunt continues…

After wandering Ashburton we headed off to another little village to continue our antique treasure hunt.

Unfortunately… Monday struck again.

Quite a few more shops were closed, so Mum decided she’d earned a well-deserved break and stayed in the motorhome while I had a wander through the few places that were open. Even with limited shopping, it was still lovely simply strolling through the pretty streets and soaking up the atmosphere.

Sometimes the best part of these little English towns isn’t what you buy—it’s simply enjoying the character, quirky buildings and discovering somewhere new.

And then… the day took a turn

You know those ridiculously narrow Devon lanes that everyone jokes about?

Well…

We found one.

We were almost at the end of a long single-lane road when another driver in a tiny Mini refused to reverse to let our motorhome through. Instead, we ended up reversing what felt like forever—probably close to a kilometre—back down the lane.

Needless to say, manoeuvring a motorhome backwards along a narrow country lane isn’t exactly relaxing.

The driver wasn’t exactly handing out kindness either, and by the time the whole episode was over he’d managed to turn what had been a lovely day into a rather stressful one.

It genuinely upset me, which doesn’t happen very often while travelling.

Still… deep breaths, a RedBull back at camp, and reminding ourselves that one grumpy person doesn’t get to ruin an entire holiday.

Final thoughts

It’s funny how a day can be filled with beautiful little moments—colourful streets, hidden shops, friendly conversations and unexpected discoveries—and then be overshadowed by five minutes of someone else’s bad attitude.

Thankfully, the good memories won.

And honestly…

Although it was Monday the 13th, it definitely felt more like Friday the 13th! 😅

Tomorrow is another day… and hopefully with significantly fewer reversing lessons. 🚐💜

Day 11 - Goodbye Cotswolds… Hello Devon!

 It’s always a little sad packing up camp.

Just when you’ve figured out exactly where everything lives in the motorhome, it’s time to pack up the camp chair, unplug the power and point the nose towards somewhere new.

Today’s destination? Ramslade Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite near Totnes in Devon – around a two-and-a-half-hour drive south.

But, as seems to be becoming a theme on this trip, we weren’t in any great hurry.

---

The Museum You Find by Accident

Before leaving Broadway, I made what you described as a “quick stop at the toilets.”

As every seasoned traveller knows, those words can lead absolutely anywhere.

In this case they led us into a small museum tucked away at the top of the campsite grounds. Completely unexpected, and honestly one of those hidden gems you only discover because you needed a loo.

Inside was the history of the Caravan & Motorhome Club, including one of the most incredible old caravans I’ve ever seen.

Calling it a caravan almost feels wrong.  And these photos don't do it justice being kept behind glass.

It was more like a beautifully handcrafted tiny home on wheels from another era, complete with polished timber, detailed cabinetry and craftsmanship you simply don’t see anymore.

It really makes you appreciate how far caravanning has come… although I’m fairly sure our Galaxy 5 motorhome has a few more creature comforts than they enjoyed back then!

Sometimes the best attractions aren’t the ones you plan—they’re the ones you stumble across completely by accident.

---

McDonald’s… But Make It Road Trip Style

With Devon calling, we hit the road.

Mum fancied McDonald’s for breakfast.

Unfortunately breakfast had just finished.

Timing… isn’t always our strongest skill.

So instead we improvised with a slightly random combination of chicken tenders, a cheeseburger and a Chicken Mayo burger, splitting everything between us while parked up before continuing south.

Road trip dining at its finest.

---

Welcome to Devon

By late afternoon we rolled into Ramslade Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite.

The journey had been smooth, we’d squeezed in an unexpected museum visit, survived another shopping stop (depending who you ask), and arrived with just enough time to get everything set up before my holiday took an unfortunate turn…

Reality.

I was due to start work remotely that evening.

Unfortunately, the campsite internet had other ideas.

The Wi-Fi wasn’t exactly setting any speed records, and mobile reception was barely better. I was seeing download speeds hovering around 2 Mbps, which isn’t exactly ideal when you’re trying to log into work systems.

Still, after a little patience (and a few deep breaths), I managed to get connected well enough to survive the evening.

Not quite the glamorous end to a holiday day I’d imagined—but that’s motorhome life. Sometimes everything goes perfectly, and sometimes you’re trying to remote into New Zealand from rural Devon over what feels like two strands of damp string.

Day 10 – Clarkson’s Farm, Cider & the Great Cotswolds Crawl

There are some places you visit because they’re beautiful...There are some places you visit because they’re historic.

And then there’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop… where you willingly join a queue in 31°C heat because Jeremy Clarkson told the world to buy jam.....well I didn't!  

---

After another warm start in the Cotswolds, Mum and I pointed the motorhome towards one of Britain’s most famous farm shops. I had visited around three years ago, so I knew exactly what to expect…

…or so I thought.

The queue.

The queue had somehow evolved into its own tourist attraction.

The official estimate was 1½ hoursto two hours. With the luxury of being here before I had a peek in the door not much has changed in the shop, and I tell you if this show gets any bigger he really is going to have to build something way bigger!  I had a good walk about the back where the goats were first put a few season previously, man so many people, I wasn't even able to get a bottle of cider to take with me.

Worth it?  Well… yes. But don’t tell Jeremy.

Before leaving we sat outside for a while, soaking up the atmosphere and watching the constant stream of people arriving. Love him or dislike him, Jeremy Clarkson has turned a simple farm shop into one of the UK’s busiest tourist attractions, all while showing the general public on the UK just what farmers go through to make their food and drinks.

It really is quite something to see and feel.

---

With little to now shopping at the far shop, we headed for Hawkstone Brewery at Bourton-on-the-Water.

If you’ve followed my travels for any length of time, you’ll know I have a slight weakness for British cider…

…purely for research purposes, obviously.

I picked up several bottles of Hawkstone Hedgerow Cider (one of my favourites), plus a few extra treats to take back to New Zealand. Mike may even get to taste some… assuming I don’t accidentally drink it all first.

---

From there we wandered through a few more of the beautiful Cotswold villages before stopping at a supermarket to grab dinner supplies.

By the time we rolled back into the campsite it had been another full day of exploring, shopping and collecting entirely too many things that somehow needed to fit inside the motorhome.

The evening was wonderfully relaxed and we had moved ptich sites and it turned out that we were now right next to the steam train line, and got to see the last train of the day heading back to base.

Dinner.  A little cider.  Some much-needed journalling.  A catch-up with Mike back home.  And a quiet moment to mentally prepare for heading back to work the following evening.

Not exactly the ending I’d planned for the long weekend… but if work has to return, at least I could toast the end of another brilliant day with a bottle of proper English cider.