Blog 212 Motorhome Trip No. 61: 13th-17th October 2025

Keef Hellinger
Oct 19
6 min read

Updated: Nov 4

Travel Blog Summary

NOTTS -> Arle Court, Cotswolds -> NOTTS (204 miles)

Created by KeefH Web Designs, October 18th, 2025, 9.36 AM

We spent a delightful four days in the Cotswolds, following a week of celebrating Annie's brother's birthday with our dear friends, Pete and Joy. What do we always say? A combined 284 years around the table, and we're still going strong! This time, we revisited the fabulous Gloucester for a day and spent two days at the wonderful Cheltenham Literature Festival. We soaked in four fascinating talks, bought a mountain of books, and sipped copious amounts of warmed mulled wine to fend off the chill—well, that was our excuse, anyway!

The fab four do the Cheltenham Literature Festival 2025 — The Fab 4 "do" lunch at Gloucester Quays Greek restaurant - Why Not?

We set off from home around 10:30 AM. Over the past few days, we’d packed everything up, so it was smooth sailing on the M1/A42/M42/M5, followed by a short jaunt down the A40 to the lovely Briarfields campsite. It used to be an ACSI site, but as far as I know, it’s not anymore. Our last visit was in the summer of 2015, and let me tell you, it looked a whole lot different back then! The convenience of the bus service is fantastic, even if my old bus pass had expired. But hooray! My new one has arrived, so I no longer feel guilty. Even without a valid pass, I don’t look a whole lot younger! #smile

When we last visited Cheltenham, there was a car and music festival on, so this was like 80 years' worth of festivals in one! Set in the heart of Regency Cheltenham, the festival site buzzes with culture and conversation. Montpellier Gardens transforms into a vibrant hub each October, with elegant marquees nestled among autumnal trees. The main tent, alive with literary luminaries and eager audiences, hosts headline talks, while smaller venues offer intimate panels, book signings, and workshops. Pop-up cafés and book stalls line the paths, creating a festive, intellectual atmosphere. The layout encourages serendipitous encounters—between authors and readers, ideas and inspiration. Whether you're dashing between events or lingering over coffee, the charm and energy of the site make it the beating heart of the Literature Festival.

Here’s an overview slideshow created by KHWD of the whole shebang!

A wonderful 4 days spent in the Cotswolds with dear friends

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Briarfield Campsite

Located just off the M1, a mile down the A40, Briarfields is a hugely convenient and well-tended campsite. We’ve been here before, and it’s now quite different. Much of the grass and pitches have been replaced by hard standing, but its major benefit remains: the closeness to two bus stops right outside the site—one to Gloucester and the other to Cheltenham. What could be better for four oldies with bus passes? #hintsandtips #CheltLitFest

Briarfields Campsite at Arle Court offers a peaceful, well-maintained base just outside Cheltenham. It’s ideal for exploring the Cotswolds or attending local festivals. With spotless facilities, level pitches, and excellent transport links—bus stops to Cheltenham and Gloucester are right outside—it’s perfect for both motorhomes and tents. The adult-only policy ensures a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, while nearby shops and eateries add convenience. Whether you're touring historic towns or enjoying the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Briarfields combines comfort, location, and tranquility. Its friendly staff and thoughtful layout make it a top pick for seasoned campers seeking a hassle-free, restful stay in Gloucestershire.

Fun in Gloucester

We woke up early, had breakfast, and then headed out to catch the 94 bus into Gloucester city centre. We arrived at the very modern bus station and walked through the city centre, admiring some very interesting old buildings, including some half-timbered ones. My personal favorite was the clockmaker's shop, with its almost Germanic outer bell time feature. Just wonderful!

After that, we discovered even more about Annie's relative, King Richard III, and made our way to the fabulous Docks area, which we had visited before. Surprisingly, it was quite quiet, but the old warehouses now serve as posh pad dwellings, and the barge cafés, along with fab history boards, made for a lovely time. We headed to the Gloucester Quays mall to shop until we dropped. It was a little too early for lunch, and after balking at the price of the docks museum, we popped into Weatherspoon's. Believe it or not, a pint of Ruddles was £1.89! I thought I’d time-traveled back to the late '70s. We then enjoyed a lovely Greek lunch—just super—before walking back through the dockyard area and city centre to catch the 94 back to the Briarfields site.

Once the bustling heart of Britain’s inland shipping network, Gloucester’s historic docks now blend industrial heritage with vibrant modern life. Victorian warehouses line the quayside, their red-brick facades repurposed into museums, cafés, and apartments. The National Waterways Museum anchors the area, telling the story of canal life and trade. Tall ships and narrowboats still moor here, echoing the maritime past. Cobbled walkways lead visitors past restored cranes and dry docks, while the shimmering canal basin reflects the city’s transformation. Gloucester Quays, a designer outlet housed in former warehouses, adds retail energy to the scene. The area buzzes during festivals, with food stalls, music, and heritage tours drawing crowds. Just steps away, the cathedral spire rises above the skyline, linking the docks to the city’s medieval core. Whether you're after history, shopping, or waterside strolls, Gloucester Docks offers a rich, atmospheric experience steeped in character and charm.

Once back at the site, we indulged in our traditional cheese and biscuits, wine, and port. Indeed, it was all about eating, drinking, and being merry—except maybe not so merry when playing Trivial Pursuit's travel version. The ladies absolutely trashed us blokes with ease. A very pleasant evening, indeed!

The Cheltenham Literature Festival CheltLitFest

I attended four sessions, one with Pete—PMQs unpacked. It was an interesting analysis, but the repeat questioning (six in total) from Kemi to Kier was a bit much. The panel gave a unanimous thumbs up to Kier. This was in the Town Hall, which had much more comfortable and less cramped seating than the next venue. All four of us saw the "Exploring the World in Later Life" session in the big tent at the Montpellier Gardens arena. It was interesting, and Joy bought the signed book by the lady who traveled around India in 80 trains.

The next day, Annie and I attended a discussion between a stone mason and an art historian about "Craftlands: Rediscovering Britain's Lost Arts." It was okay, but Annie pointed out that the absence of women on the panel was a significant omission. Again, this was at the Town Hall. Perhaps we saved the best for last: all four of us saw Ed Davey and the truly inspirational Lindsey Burrows discussing the importance of "Who Cares for Our Carers?" Too right! The Town Hall coffee shop was also a huge hit. Pete got a signed copy of Sir Ed's book with a dedication, no less. I had wanted a copy of Ben Elton's autobiography, "What Have I Done?" Even though he and Michael Palin were there the previous week, I managed to snag one of the few remaining copies from one of the many huge Waterstones pop-up shops around town—mine specifically at the Montpellier Gardens site. I also bought Edie a children's novel in the Waterstones kids shoppe.

#CheltLitFest so many books bought

There was also a whole set of free literary events in and around town, as well as at the main Montpellier Gardens site, complete with a well-produced guide to those free events. Maybe take a look at the slideshow to view that guide; I suggest running it in full-screen mode and stopping on the pages you’re interested in.

100 free events as well as paid sessions #CheltLitFest

Over 100 free events lit up the 2025 Cheltenham Literature Festival, transforming Montpellier Gardens and Cheltenham Town into a vibrant, accessible celebration of books and ideas. From 10–19 October, the Festival Village hosted 30% of the program as free-to-see, including fantasy map-making, community writing showcases, fairytale ceilidhs, and the immersive Wonderland adventure. Families could drop into The Den for crafts, comics, and storytelling, while adults enjoyed Lit Crawl, VOICEBOX, and post-event discussions in The Huddle and Times Square. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned book lover, the free program offers something for all ages.

Check out some of the people you could see! Ken Follett was also there promoting "Circle of Days," which I bought for Annie, plus sites around town and the Montpellier Gardens main layout.

Here is a link to some of the many posts on Facebook about the Festival. Note you may need to be a FB person to view, but I'm not sure—just give it a try!