By keef and annie hellinger, Jul 20 2016 08:57AM Electrics for Scandinavia Hints & Tips This handy guide to electrics for Scandinavia turns plug‑in prep into pure motorhome fun. From adapters and leads to campsite quirks, voltage tips and what actually works across Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, it’s a friendly, no‑nonsense rundown that saves hassle on the road. A simple, smart, feel‑good checklist that keeps your travels powered, smooth and stress‑free. Many of the sites in Denmark, Finland, Sweden & Norway use the European style 2 pin plug as indeed does the ferry from Sweden to Finland where they will give you electric hook up whilst crossing to keep your fridge going. What a shame no one else offers this service elsewhere on Ferries! Certainly did not get it from Smyril Line Hirtshal (Denmark) to Torshavn (Faroes) or indeed Seydisfjordur (Iceland) which was 2 day journey , could have been very useful Even some sites in Iceland and the Faroes do the same, see Blog 135 Luckily we travel with one just in case, maybe do the same! The newer sites use the standard UK bayonet fitting. Have fun, hope the tip helps hint and tip - electrics in Scandinavia, don't forget your connector SUMMARY & EXPLANATION Scandinavian campsites are generally very straightforward when it comes to electric hook‑ups, and the good news is that the vast majority use the standard blue 16A CEE (commando) sockets, just like the rest of mainland Europe. A detailed European campsite electrical guide notes that campsites in Denmark, Sweden and Norway consistently use the blue CEE 17 connectors, and that they have not encountered domestic plug types such as the Danish two‑pin DS Afsnit 107‑2‑D1 on campsites. However, travellers should still understand how two‑pin plugs fit into the picture, because Scandinavian wall outlets in homes, hotels and some non‑campsite facilities use Type C or Type F (Schuko) sockets — both of which are two‑pin systems. A Scandinavian travel guide confirms that standard Euro two‑pin plugs (Type C) and Schuko (Type F) are the normal domestic sockets across all three countries. This matters because a small minority of older or rural campsites may still offer domestic sockets instead of CEE, and in those cases a Schuko‑compatible adaptor is the correct solution. Electrical specialists emphasise that the CEE 7/7 Schuko/French hybrid adaptor covers almost all of Europe and Scandinavia when a campsite uses domestic sockets instead of CEE. In practice, this means: Expect blue CEE as standard on Scandinavian campsites. Carry one Schuko adaptor as a backup for rare domestic‑socket sites. Be aware of reverse polarity on Schuko sockets and check with a tester if needed. Overall, Scandinavia is one of the easiest regions for motorhome electrics — simple, compatible, and rarely surprising.

By keef and annie hellinger, Jul 21 2016 12:25PM Camping in Scandinavia Camping in Scandinavia - This Scandinavia camping blog bursts with fun, big landscapes and pure road‑trip joy. From lakeside pitches and forest walks to quirky campsites, ferries, wildlife moments and those endless Nordic skies, it’s a feel‑good rewind of your travels across Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. A relaxed, scenic, memory‑packed journey that shows why camping up north is simply unforgettable. UPDATE Nov 2022 Retrospectively numbered 9 because these clubs will really help (and reduce costs) for your camping in Scandinavia It is worth knowing that in most if not all Scandinavian campsites it is necessary to have a Camping Card Europe card. You can get away with ACSI, UK Caravan Club & UK Camping & Caravan club if you are lucky in one or 2 sites but that won't last for long and give you unnecessary hassle on what should be a relaxing holiday. Despite ACSI's notes that you MAY need one, you definitely WILL need one. Remember ACSI is a Dutch company, and their card is not used readable on most scandic campsite computers to automatically get your details off. No need to buy one upfront you can get one at the 1st scandic site you stay at costing about £14 (2016). What you will need for cheaper camping in the Scandinavian countries is DENMARK - CC Europe card, ACSI Discount card, pay on leaving (i.e., they keep your cards as security) SWEDEN - CC Europe card, ACSI Discount card, Pay up front FINLAND - CC Europe card, ACSI Discount card, Pay up front NORWAY - CC Europe card, ACSI Discount card, Pay up front Note in Germany, France and Holland the ACSI members card and discount card are fine and there is a mixture of paying up front and on departure. Do hope this hint and tip helps others. Kind Regards Keef & Annie Our site addresses There are 4 types of cards... in sequence on the slideshow Camping Radet / Camping Key card Buy at any Scandinavian site, these are ESSENTIAL ACSI discount card Buy up front online, ESSENTIAL for discount, well worth it ACSI registration card Used in place of your passport, Buy online from ACSI Buy both from their Web Shop UK Caravan & Motorhome club membership buy online

By keef and annie hellinger, Aug 30 2016 07:09AM New Lodge Farm Motorhome trip No28 : Aug 27-29th 2016 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->New Lodge Farm, Bulwick, Northamptonshire ->NOTTS 178 miles 250 years plus and 30+ camping years under our belts collectively ;) New Lodge Farm - The first trip to New Lodge Farm bursts with motorhome fun, countryside calm and a cracking farm‑shop feast. From spotless pitches and friendly hosts to animal encounters, village wanders and a cosy pub stop, this blog captures the charm that made Bulwick an instant favourite. A relaxed, foodie, feel‑good getaway that proves simple weekends can be the best adventures. Fun times with friends / travelling companions A lovely (mixed weather) August bank holiday weekend away with our dear pals Pete & Joy. Our usual yearly camping jaunt this year was made a little more tricky to find a adults only camp site by virtue of leaving it a bit late and it being a very popular weekend for folk to go away. However we were all pleasantly surprised by what a nice site and welcoming set of people there are at New Lodge farm. Called in on C&L on route to drop off Bondi Banana bread and a few pressies plus got a quick cuddle with baby Edie to set us up for the weekend #fab Then it was off via M1, A14 but found the A43 was closed near Bulwick so we made a detour via some lovely Northants villages, namely Weldon, Upper Benfield,Glapthorn & Southwick. Lovely sunny Friday afternoon so we checked in and set up including the awning on pitch 21 with nice views of the 200 acre farm and put up our table and chairs on pitch 23 to reserve it for P&J. After a bit of sunning ourselves we soon took the awning down when the wind got up! Nice evening meal of lamb burgers, bratwurst and salad with copious amounts of ale, wine , port & madeira to wash it down. Lovely evening chatting and catching up. Saturday we walked into Bulwick , alas Annie had a nasty tumble on route and grazed her arm, bruised her foot leg and shoulder and damaged her pride. We relaxed in the Queens Head garden until the rain started and made a dash inside to the snug. As it stopped-ish we went to the horticultural show in the church opposite to see the oversized vegetables. None of those but lots of other interesting stuff, including the under 4 who won 1st,2nd and 3rd place in the “my mum judged this” section! After that it was tea, coffee, cake and sarnies at the village hall, amazingly good value and then with minor drizzle back to the camp site. We had a drink in the café/ restaurant there when the heavens opened , just so dark at about 4-ish and what a hum dinger that was, thunder and lightening and it lasted for ages. On the positive side it reduced the humidity a bit however. We got changed and headed back for our lovely evening meal at the site restaurant. It is a farm shop as well with great produce. Nice friendly people Simon, Sarah, Mark and Caroline (I think). Overnight we had the gentle soothing thump of the illegal rave to “rock” us to sleep….. NOT! Sunday as Annie was feeling a little sore we had a cooked brekkie on the hot plate and sat in the sun reading and chillin and chatting. Lunch was a homemade Victoria sponge from the shop tea and coffee then we had a lovely greek-style Barbie that P&J did for tea, yummy Much Trivial Pursuit Globetrotter edition was played under the influence of alcohol, well that’s the excuse the boys are using for being so roundly thrashed. We said our goodbyes on Monday morning and hope to meet up again soon. Lovely weekend, nice site and area, we will be back as don’t really know Northamptonshire at all. See Blog 156 for our return trip to Bulwick with friends, interestingly on both occasions there was an old car rally, maybe because it was a bank holiday weekend or maybe because that is just where the classic car club meets normally, who knows, I didn't ask them although I did praise them on their jalopies 😉 PS tagged as "scary" because of Annie's horror trip on the road Friends, New Lodge Farm, Bulwick, Northants , our first visit cafe much changed on the 2nd visit #friends #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2016 #campsites

By keef and annie hellinger, Oct 8 2016 08:23AM Devon Cornwall Wiltshire Motorhome trip No29 : Sept 26th- Oct 6th 2016 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->Dawlish (Devon) to Fraddon & Bude (Cornwall) & Stonehenge (Wiltshire) ->NOTTS 698 miles Devon Cornwall Wiltshire - Sunshine, seaside wanders and motorhome fun fill this Devon–Cornwall–Wiltshire adventure. From Dawlish ferries and wild‑orchid walks to pub‑hopping in Cockwood, castle climbs, tropical gardens and Bude’s breezy coastline, this trip is pure feel‑good exploring. Great campsites, family laughs, fab views and a dash of history make this a wonderfully uplifting 2016 getaway. Amazingly good weather for this time of the year in the UK or maybe not, our Motorhome experience tells us that May & September are generally great months to go away weather wise! Anyhow travelled to the lovely Cofton Country Holiday Park (ACSI site) near Dawlish in Devon where we stayed for 4 nights. We called in on Dawlish before making camp and had a good look around. This is the coast where the railway was washed away by sweeping seas not that long ago and is a traditional seaside town , slightly run down but we liked it. At Cofton there is lots to do and lovely large grassy pitches, only a few hard standing. Met nice couple from Leicestershire of all places. One outdoor and one indoor pool, indeed on the last day we had it to ourselves for most of the time, plus games rooms, keep fit (you are joking?), bars ,cafes and restaurants . On our second day there we caught the Stagecoach bus just up the road to Starcross and took the ferry over to Exmouth landing at the fabulous marina. Great fun day out – well worth it. The next day we did the short country walk from Cofton to Cockwood passing very interesting wild flowers, nature gardens and loved seeing the wild pink orchids. It was a lovely sunny day and you come our at the boat moorings inlet of the river Exe. We did our own version of a pub crawl visiting both pubs in Cockwood. The Anchor (an old smugglers inn) did the better beer but the Ship had the best gardens and flowers. After our fab 4 day stay in Devon we set off to visit my sister Linda and her husband Ian in Fraddon Cornwall for 3 nights parking the van outside their lovely new house. On route we used our English Heritage concession membership to visit both Okehampton Castle (still Devon), originally owned by Baldwin de Brionne of 1066 fame and Launceston plus town. Launceston was the original capital of Cornwall (Kernow) and has lovely panoramic views from wherever you look and a load of history, namely St Cuthbert, the messenger who delivered details of Nelsons death at Trafalgar up to London and its place in the Civil war. We know the one in Tassie , Australia but not this one on home soil. They are quite unalike but we love them both. At Linda’s we went out for a lovely meal, visited Pendennis castle with lovely views of St Mawes, Fraggle lighthouse, Falmouth and the river Fal…. Views to die for! We also went to the very tropical gardens of St Marys and a café at Gyllyngavase beach , Tribute from a barrel, bliss and a nice drive around some great places they knew especially Chapel Porth. Only October but we also had a nice Xmas dinner including our nephew Adam. Saying our fond goodbyes we drove off to Wooda Farm (ACSI) site just past Bude (Cornwall) visiting the recommended Widemouth (pronounced wid-ee-muth) bay and the lovely Bude. Bude is fab, nice walk along the canal to the sea where it joins with the river tributary. Great craft shops as well and Annie got talking to the lady in the wool shop. We had 3 nights on pitch E50 at the site with a perfect view of Bude castle and coastline from our pitch, whilst very sunny it was mega windy on occasions forcing us to “come inside”. The site is great with many facilities – farm yard animals, woodland walk (with pixie dell see the pics if you don’t believe in them), lakes galore, 9 hole pitch and putt (big course probably golf really I’m no expert), restaurants bars and craft shops. We went walking 2 days in a row. Would highly recommend this site also its proximity to Bude. Falmouth Docks Cornwall with family #family #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2016 #campsites

By keef and annie hellinger, Oct 12 2016 10:06AM Motorhome Show NEC Birmingham We went with our dear friends Pete & Joy to this years show. Some very interesting new vans, great to have a chance to have a good look around. Motorhome Show NEC Birmingham - Step inside the NEC Motorhome Show 2016 where shiny vans, quirky gadgets and endless people‑watching turn a simple day out into pure motorhome fun. From dream‑van browsing to spotting the weird, the wonderful and the “who buys that?” moments, this blog captures the buzz, the bargains and the laughs. A light‑hearted wander through a brilliant show that’ll leave you grinning and planning your next upgrade. The ones we liked best were in no particular oreder 1. Bailey Autograph 79-4-T (length 7.9 mtrs, 4 seatbelts,T=twin bed) 2. Autosleeper Neuvo 3. Autoquest 115 4. All the Lunar 4 person vans 5. All the Besscarr 4 person vans Value for Money NOT.... the Morello supervan, at £385k it had only a 3 ring burner and a very small oven but on the plus side if you wanted to put your smart car in the large garage under the large double bed it would be no problem ;) Did you go? what were your thoughts? The 2016 Motorhome Show at the NEC Birmingham brought together an impressive mix of new models, clever layouts and eye‑catching designs, giving visitors the perfect chance to explore the latest trends in motorhome living. Attending with friends Pete and Joy, you spent the day touring vans of all shapes and sizes, comparing features, and picking out favourites. Among the standouts were the Bailey Autograph 79‑4‑T, Autosleeper Neuvo, Autoquest 115, and a range of four‑berth Lunar and Bessacarr models — all offering thoughtful layouts and practical touches that appealed to real‑world travellers. One of the most memorable exhibits was the Morello supervan, a luxury giant with a price tag of £385,000. Despite its impressive garage capable of storing a Smart car, its surprisingly small oven and three‑ring burner made it feel more showpiece than sensible purchase, adding a humorous twist to the day’s discoveries. The blog also preserves a nostalgic slideshow of motorhome designs originally created on your old Moonfruit site, ensuring those early digital memories aren’t lost. This adds a personal, archival touch to the post, blending the excitement of the 2016 show with your long‑running passion for documenting motorhome life. Overall, the blog captures the fun of exploring new vans with friends, the joy of comparing models, and the light‑hearted moments that make motorhome shows such enjoyable days out. cockpit of the german morello supervan - beam me up scotty 😉 I have also included a slideshow of various designs from the old Moonfruit site I put together in 2016 so they don't get lost, kinda memorabilia if you will #friends

By keef and annie hellinger, Jan 3 2017 08:04AM Christmas and new year with family Not the motorhome trip No 7 Christmas and new year with family - A whirlwind of festive fun, grandkid giggles and full‑on Peppa Pig World excitement, this Christmas 2016 & New Year 2017 blog is pure family‑fun gold. From Hampshire adventures to Santa’s steam‑train surprises in Leicestershire, it’s a joyful escape packed with cute pressies, warm memories, slideshows, and holiday mayhem. Dive in for nostalgia, laughter and a guaranteed smile all the way through. Lovely time spent with our immediate family. The Singapore Division were over from 19th Dec to 3rd Jan so we had a fab time initially taking Charlie to Peppa Pig World in Hampshire, then besides Xmas & Boxing day dinner we had a visit to the Santa special steam train in Leicestershire. The grand daughters both got a pressie from Santa Want to see the slideshows, one of which is a talkie, see below, you can also see many more on the FAMILY page , either the full Christmas set or have a look by year via the side bar Enjoy family fun on the steam train, santa express, nice pressies, leicestershire #family #christmas

By keef and annie hellinger, Sep 1 2017 03:28PM We Like Motorhome Fulltime What a traveller, what a supporter of Motorhoming in General, you can learn a lot from them Follow them on Facebook, visit their website (if you can find it - seem to have gone Nov2020?) We love them here at motorhome-travels.co.uk & motorhome-travels.net , not true I found them easily in 2026, try again the link works fine, thx Kx We Like Motorhome Fulltime - Discover a brilliant full‑time motorhome blog that proves some people really do swap houses for horsepower. This feature dives into life on the road 24/7 — the freedom, the views, and the occasional “where did we park yesterday?” moment. It’s inspiring, entertaining and packed with real‑world wisdom from folks who’ve turned wandering into a lifestyle. A great read for dreamers, planners and future nomads. blogs we like no 6 here at motorhome-travels.co.uk SUMMARY OF MOTORHOME FULLTIME'S ACTIVITIES The Motorhome Fulltime Facebook page offers a window into the lifestyle, routines and day‑to‑day experiences of people who live on the road in their motorhomes. Rather than presenting polished travel‑brochure moments, the page focuses on real, practical glimpses of full‑time motorhome life — the kind of content that resonates with anyone curious about long‑term touring or considering a shift to a more mobile lifestyle. Posts often feature short travel clips, behind‑the‑scenes looks at life inside different vans, and relaxed updates from the road. One example shows a Mercedes‑based Road Trip campervan being taken out for a spin, passing scenic campsites and giving viewers a look at the interior layout. The tone is informal and friendly, emphasising that these aren’t staged adventures but genuine slices of everyday life on wheels. The page highlights the freedom and flexibility of full‑timing — the ability to move with the seasons, explore new places at your own pace, and enjoy a simpler, more experience‑focused lifestyle. At the same time, it subtly acknowledges the practical realities: choosing the right van, managing repairs, navigating campsites, and adapting to life in a compact space. Although the page doesn’t present long written guides, its posts act as visual storytelling: short videos, snapshots, and quick updates that show what full‑time motorhome living actually looks like. This makes it a useful, relatable resource for anyone researching the lifestyle, offering inspiration without sugar‑coating. Overall, Motorhome Fulltime serves as a relaxed, authentic showcase of life on the road — part travel diary, part lifestyle insight, and part encouragement for anyone dreaming of swapping bricks and mortar for a home on wheels. It’s a page that celebrates movement, simplicity, and the joy of discovering new places from the comfort of your own rolling home.

By keef and annie hellinger, Oct 9 2017 03:21PM Blog 119 Houghton Mill Cambridgeshire Motorhome trip No30 : October 6th- 8th 2017 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->Houghton Mill National Trust Site, Cambridgeshire ->NOTTS 187 miles 252 years and 30+ camping years under our belts collectively ;) Blog 119 Houghton Mill Cambridgeshire - Step into your first Houghton Mill adventure, where riverside calm meets classic motorhome comedy. Expect scenic walks, curious ducks judging your parking skills, and a National Trust mill that looks far too peaceful to be trusted. This blog captures the charm, mishaps and gentle chaos of a simple getaway that turns into a surprisingly memorable escape. A lovely spot, a great wander and plenty to grin about. A very nice site in a gorgeous location next to a old working mill on the banks of the river great ouse in Cambridgeshire with our dear pals Pete & Joy, who arrived in their lovely new Baileys autograph motorhome. A lovely grassed site with very modern heated facilities. We would highly recommend this site but remember to take your ramps, many of the pitches require them. You can get food in the local NT café at the front of the site if you don’t want to venture further into either the village of Houghton or Hemingford Abbot (about a mile away over the river) We of course did both! We travelled via M1, A14, A151 to Houghton. Took about 1 hour 30. Lovely sunny Friday afternoon with sun so we checked in , filled up with water and set up on pitch 10 and put up our sign and water hose on pitch 53 next to us to reserve it for P&J. Weird pitch numbering system that we didn’t try and explore. After waving furiously at the wrong people (blush) who arrived in a Bessacar we net up with P&J. Its been a while. We had tea and some of Annie’s lovely homemade cake. We them walked to the 3 Horseshoes (own barrel room) for some pre dinner drinks then a simple evening meal of lasagne, salad and garlic bread. Lovely evening chatting and catching up. Saturday after a nice scrambled egg and smoked salmon brekkie we walked into Hemingford Abbot cross country and through the lovely village with many thatched cottages and 3 (yes 3) rectories. Had a lovely lunch and drinks in the Axe and Compass – a very nice old style pub. We then walked back past the cows and visited the Mill shop where we bought some Potto Brown flour. He is the local Quaker hero and miller born in Houghton. To find out more click here. Luckily back before the rain so we played who wants to be a millionaire, guess the wine and chatted followed by some nice cheese and bikkies . We said our goodbyes on Sunday morning and hope to meet up again soon. Lovely weekend, nice site and area, we will be back. As we were both not so well we cancelled our additional 2 days in Rutland and returned home early. pals at lunch Lunch at the Axe & Compass, Hemingford Abbot #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2017 #campsites #vanswelove pals swapping the bessacar for a baileys autograph, v nice van

By keef and annie hellinger, May 2 2019 03:51PM Blog 134 Clumber Park Motorhome trip No37 : Apr 30th – May 1st 2019 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS (home)->Clumber Park, C&MC site, Nottinghamshire ->NOTTS (home) 98 miles Revisit Clumber Park with a fresh perspective as this blog captures the calm, beauty and reliability that make this C&MC site a standout favourite. From peaceful woodland walks to wide‑open lakeside views, it’s a reminder of why returning here always feels right. Well‑kept facilities, easy relaxation and the timeless pull of the forest combine into a confident, grounded account of a place that continues to deliver comfort, nature and quiet escape. Almost exactly 7 years on from our first trip in the Wendy House we returned to the Caravan and Motorhome clubs site at Clumber Park, an area of preserved special interest. How nice to see the wild life, trees everywhere especially Lime trees and listen to the endless bird sounds of Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, Chaffinches, Robins and a whole host more. Beyond relaxing! This time we were on pitch 9, last time Blog 60 retrospective we were on pitch 7. Blog 134 Clumber Park - Revisit Clumber Park with a fresh perspective as this blog captures the calm, beauty and reliability that make this C&MC site a standout favourite. From peaceful woodland walks to wide‑open lakeside views, it’s a reminder of why returning here always feels right. Well‑kept facilities, easy relaxation and the timeless pull of the forest combine into a confident, grounded account of a place that continues to deliver comfort, nature and quiet escape. our return to clumber park nottingham, a M&CC site, the first we ever stayed at in Wendy 2012 We can thoroughly recommend the site, it is peaceful and extremely well serviced with new facilities and at least 3 motorhome service points. Whilst there we were principally trying out the van for the season after its engine and hab services. All tickerty boo thank heavens! We decided to walk into Hardwick Village on the understanding it was 10 mins away and less than a mile, 2 ⅔ hours and 5 miles later we returned but it was a fun walk. Stopping for coffee and a mars bar / kitkat at Beryl the land rover café on the edge of Lake Clumber by the weir. It was so so sunny and the views spectacular. Even the village owned by the Dukes of Newcastle was spectacular. We will return! #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2019 #campsites

By keef and annie hellinger, Feb 22 2020 06:40AM Blog 140 Knockerdown Farm Not the Motorhome trip No 13 : Feb 17th – 21st 2020 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->Knockerdown Farm, Peak District, Derbyshire, DE6 1NQ ->NOTTS 103 miles This was our 4th visit as a family to Knockerdown Farm, twice when the boys were younger and then for Annie’s 60th and now again during the half term break with Craig, Leanne and Edie. Lovely time although the weather as expected in early February was not that great being both very cold and wet, however this did not dampen our spirits one iota. Our full list of visits is 1. 3-6 Dec 1993, Wisels Cottage 2. Feb 1996, Wisels Cottage 3. 3-6 Jan 2014, Farwell Cottage 4. 17-21 Feb 2020, Sabinhay Cottage Blog 140 Escape to Knockerdown Farm — the Derbyshire getaway where the views are big, the walks are lovely and the pub next door seems determined to test your willpower. This blog captures a cheerful mix of countryside calm, cosy cottages and the kind of gentle adventures that pair perfectly with a pint. Expect friendly locals, fresh air and the occasional sheep judging your parking. A light‑hearted look at a spot that delivers simple motorhome happiness with zero fuss. Annie in the kitchen at Sabinhay cottage Left home about 1 pm on the Monday and went to Carsington water (see BLOG 49) where we had a bit of a damp stroll to the Visitors centre and a lovely cup of freshly brewed coffee in the mainsail café overlooking the lovely waters. We could not get into the cottage until 3pm and were surprised how close to the visitors centre the Cottages were. This time we were in Sabinhay, the one over the archway. In the past we have stayed in both Wisels and Farwell. Leanne and Edie arrived very soon after us and we all spent a bit of time unpacking the cars from in front of the cottage and then reparking them in the car park out front. Having settled in we went off for our daily swim. A ritual (including sauna for Grandpa) that we re-enacted daily, one of the real advantages of Knockerdown when the weather isn’t so great. Edie is really coming on in the swimming stakes, won’t be long now before she is a fully fledged dolphin ;) The other advantage is the very close proximity of the Knockerdown Inn, 2 yards over the road where we ate on both Tues and Weds evening. A very friendly family run pub with great food and Edie loved their doggies. We also discovered they run a campsite with facilities at the back of the pub so we may well yet we back in the motor home. Craig arrived after work at about 5.30pm. Grandpa cooked halloumi burgers with salad accompaniment for tea. We all retired pooped fairly early which was quite a theme throughout the hols , mostly a combination of fresh air and relaxing in my humble opinion. Edie on the roundabout Carsington Water playpark On the Tuesday C&L cycled around Carsington Water, a distance of about 8 miles. We took Edie to the playpark, Stone Island, button pressing in the Severn Trent exhibition area and then for a massive slab of choccy cake in the mainsail café. C&L joined us there after their ride. Walking By the visitors centre , Carsington Water, great views but cold Wednesday we visited Matlock Farm park where Edie cuddled a guinea pig called Cinnamon. We saw lots of other lovely animals but it was seriously cold so we warmed up with lunch in their café then some indoor fun for Leanne and Edie in the Rainforest shed on the big slide. Thursday Leanne left for her spa days with Claire and we headed off to the Crich Tramway museum only to find on arrival it was sadly closed. Maybe we should have checked first, DOH! Anyhow no worries we spent most of the day at the Unesco World heritage site of Sir Richard Arkwright’s Cromford Mills, great fun and educational. Grandpa cooked Hunters chicken, Jacket pot , Cauli cheese and carrots for tea. Friday morning we were all up early to breakfast and pack the cars, then we visited the National Stone Centre at Wirksworth where Granny bought Edie some polished stones. Quite an interesting walk around and somewhere we had never been before. We then returned to the Priory at Loughborough for a final family lunch together before heading homewards. All in all a fab family break. Annie and I loved spending time with family! If you would like to see the slideshows and videos please CLICK HERE Historical view of our current and previous visits to Knockerdown farm, love it! #family SUMMARY Your four visits to Knockerdown Farm tell a lovely story of a place that quietly became a firm favourite. Each trip brought its own mix of familiar comforts and new little discoveries, building a gentle tradition of Derbyshire escapes that always seemed to arrive at just the right moment. The first visit set the tone: big skies, peaceful walks and that wonderfully convenient pub next door, which immediately proved both a blessing and a temptation. By the second visit, you knew the rhythms of the place — where to stroll, where to sit, and which sheep would give you the “you again?” look. The third stay felt like returning to an old friend, with the site offering the same calm charm but with a few new stories to tell, whether it was changing weather, new walking routes or simply the joy of switching off. By the fourth visit, Knockerdown had become part of your travel DNA: reliable, relaxing and refreshingly fuss‑free. Across all four trips, the constant theme is simple happiness — good pitches, easy days, countryside air and the comforting pleasure of going back somewhere that always delivers exactly what you need.