Cheddar, Somerset - September 2011

I'm not sure how we got to September so quickly but we did and it meant another week away in Daisy!

We decided not to go too far this time so headed back to the lovely Somerset village of Cheddar where we had booked to stay for 5 nights on a lovely peaceful adults only site (Cheddar Bridge - highly recommended!) on the outskirts of the village.

We arrived on Friday afternoon to HOT (yes HOT!) sunshine.  My Uncle and Auntie were staying on the same site so we hooked up with them and spent the afternoon sitting outside catching up.  In the evening we walked into Cheddar for a meal and a few pints!

On Saturday morning we were up bright and early and as it was a dry day we decided to get our bikes out (and Paddy's trailer!) and bike along the Strawberry Line (a dedicated cycleway that starts just outside Cheddar).  It runs along the edge of Cheddar Reservoir (where we saw a black rabbit running around and munching grass with the other wild bunnies!) and through the pretty village of Axbridge, where we had our first stop.

After leaving Axbridge and crossing the busy A38 we headed back onto the trail to Shute Shelve.  This was a tunnel about 500yrds long and it was pitch black in the middle section.  Not something I'd choose to do again but of course I knew we had to travel back through it on the return journey!

Next stop was Sandford, which just happens to be where Thatchers cider is based!!  Whilst there we called into the cider shop (well, it would've been rude not to!) for some supplies.  I knew I'd bought a basket for my bike recently for a good reason!!!

On the return journey we stopped off at Sandford Station for a coffee and a browse around the station, which is now a museum.

We stopped off again a bit further along and sat overlooking Cheddar Reservoir for a picnic on the way back to the campsite.

We were joined by some friends on the campsite on Saturday night, so had another night enjoying the hospitality in Cheddar!!

On Sunday morning there was a massive car boot sale, just 15 minutes walk from the campsite so we spent the morning mooching around that followed by an afternoon in Cheddar village.

Back at the site I took some photos (before the rain came).  Cheddar Bridge has a mix of holiday cottages, statics, touring pitches and this lovely old style gypsy caravan to let.

On Monday Daisy was due into our motorhome dealer (very local to Cheddar!) for a few minor jobs.  They supplied us with a courtesy car for the duration of the job so we headed up to Burnham-on-Sea area (not a favourite area of ours!).

On Tuesday it was time to pack up and leave lovely Cheddar Bridge (not before we'd booked to stay over Easter 2012!).  We headed towards home and had originally booked 2 nights at Minnows (CC affiliated site) just outside Tiverton but the road noise kept us awake to we only stayed 1 night. We did however manage a walk along the Grand Western canal with Paddy that afternoon.



Autumn has definitely arrived early this year.  There was an abundance of both berries and colour.  At least the birds will be well fed this winter.

On Thursday morning after deciding to leave a day early we phoned another campsite (near Chelston) to see if they had a vacant pitch - they did, so that's where we headed for our last night.  It was another adults only site not far from the little town of Wellington where we spent the afternoon, after catching the bus from the site.  The rest of our time was spent relaxing on the campsite, sat alongside all the plastic animals they have dotted around the site.  Paddy didn't seem too impressed with his new neighbours!!!

We had a lovely relaxing trip this time and Paddy did really well with his walking (and biking!).

Our next booked trip is Christmas where we will be heading off to our favourite campsite, Ayr Holiday Park in St Ives, but I have no doubts we'll manage to sneak in 1 or 2 more trips in Daisy between now and then.....here's hoping anyway!