Site review done here Ok so this may not interest some, but we decided this was our best option for our w/end get aways.Tent holidays will now be for longer breaks. So with a winter search of local, within an hours drive of home, here is where we decided was to be our w/end retreat. So with us being at home this w/end for the 1st time since mid Feb I thought I would share some of the time we spent "stuck in our static".
So after finding the site we liked, what was it to be? Original idea was to get a tourer and get a seasonal pitch and leave it on site for the season. Had a look in a couple but for us found them too small to spend a lot of time. Had a walk round the park.....
Mmmm..got me thinking. Go on she says!
So a bit more strolling around
And saw this one for sale, and with the site fees left us with about £50 to spare. No Karsten for us then. So a new adventure begins.
Got in and within a couple of weeks, the white stuff showed up. Not much but enough to show that Mucker bioke.
Although the site has no playground (which pleased us) It still had to pass the grandkids test, So they came to stay..... Wonder how they slept?...
But Nanny wheres the swings & slide? We had thought of that and checked, and hey presto with a 5 minute walk and no upset to our fellow guests.......
Better than any on site playground I have seen anyway.
Ok, so lets head out.
Dover Castle, Taken at various times as we liked to go there so much to see and do
even managed to get one of the older grandsons out and off his computer.
So instead of turning right to Dover, Turn left to Walmer & Deal. Keeping with the castle theme... Walmer Castle & gardens.
then a stroll along the seafront to Deal.
Off to Sandwich for a sandwich
Steph & Doms house (off gogglebox)
Back to the van for a well deserved cuppa
Well not everyone.
Back out again, and one of the biggest surprises, Folkstone. We love it there.
Many troops made the march down this road to the station and off to war.Memorial arch knitted poppys line the fence.
A big let down for me. Folkestone Harbour Station, left to rot. Millions upon millions of troop movements departed from here during the wars. With many not returning. Should have been preserved.
White Cliffs Of Dover Walk.
A time to sit and remember loved ones who we wish you were here.
Canterbury for a romantic punt.
Dont know what I said to him, but looks like hes telling me to **** off
Ok so this could go on and on so a few more of other places all within a short drive.
Scotney Castle.
Ramsgate. (its a dump IMO)
Rochester Castle & cathedral.
Why are you lighting a candle here Grandad. .A conversation for another day me thinks.
Hidden Fort at Dover
Few random pics
Chips on the beach.
Wrestling a croc
Fishing instruction.
The happy couple
Kindred souls, both been worked to old age
Taken by our 3yr old David Baily.
So are we pleased we brought the static?.....What do you think.
I know we jest, and have a dig at it not being "proper camping", but when you read things like "120 nights" and "being at home this w/end for the 1st time since mid Feb", that takes some beating, to be fair. And it certainly smacks me in the face with a wet jealousy rag!
Looks a really nice area in general (We only took a quick peek at Folkestone, when passing through in Sept, literally a couple of hours or so in the late afternoon, plus a pub meal), and the site/pitches looks bloody fantastic! (I have had a nosey before, in addition to your pics!)
Is that a tent pitch immediately next door to your mansion?
Trouble for us is, at 3.5 hours, plus stops, plus "Friday factor" traffic, we'd need to book the Monday off too, and stop for 3 nights, to go that far. Not unthinkable, of course! Really need to see if we can squeeze this in at some stage in 2017, as we really need to start spreading our wings anyway. Need to get some new (to us) sites on our list!
Great "Trip Report". Great Pics. Great Static!
Thanks for taking the time... which would have been considerable, I guess, using only one finger!
I guess it is Hawthorn Farm...we always use this as an overnight prior to the ferry crossing to France.(pitch No.5)
A lovely site, marvellous sanitaires and just 10 minutes from the terminal
Brilliant report Geoff , you are certainly living the dream ,we like the statics and have been toying with the idea of one when I eventually retire , thanks for sharing
Thanks. Couple of answers: Stewart, you guess right,and thanks for the positive comments on the place. It seems a lot of people use it for the overnight stay before venturing off to Europe, and from what I have heard they cater very well for this,even got a field just for that reason. I wont be able to walk past pitch 5 now without thinking "is that you"? So a cuppa might be on the cards for 2017??.
Poppy, dont know why you cant see them??
Kennyboy, Thanks and yes we have really enjoyed our 1st season. Didnt want to break the bank getting one or take out any kind of finance to have one,so this van will do us fine. Even if we gave it up in a couple of years I feel we would have got good value for the good times we have had there. If you ever decide to get one and you want my advice on them, (as this is our 4th static) Feel free to ask, because they can be a very expensive indulgence and believe me I have been stung in the past.
Think thats everyone answered so far.
Oh yeah, Mucker, Hopefully some sunny day shots for you to enjoy and deliberately put some pics of the 2 youngest grandkids, who have given me and Wendy such joy, even on some "dark" days. The space next to us is defo NOT for tents, not even Karsten owners are allowed down our end I wish I had taken more shots of the site, and my choice for a tent would be up the side road hext to the boat picture. There are a few small paddock areas each being able to take about 4units on grass and a second toilet block tucked away and out of sight. As for a 3 hour drive? You can do it I could even send GW over to add some fairy lights and soft furnishings. I will keep them in the van, in case you need them.
Greg, Happy Christmas, and that goes to all on here. Yes Dover Castle is a great day out, not cheap but as we joined English Heritage and National Trust all these castles and gardens can be visited as many times as we like for our yearly membership fee. So good value if you use them a lot like us.
Hi Geoff , thanks for the offer of advice on the statics ,when and if we do decide to go for it will be taking you up on your kind offer had a brief look into it and probably go in to it with the idea it is not an investment , but like you for the fun times and enjoyment side of it Happy Christmas and new year to you and yours
Enjoyed the photos Geoff, your static looks the biz. Also enjoyed seeing blue skies and sunshine, a rare site up here.
Think we will end up going the static route in a few years when we give up our touring van.
------------- It is a wise man who has something to say.
It is a fool who has to say something.
Not for the first time since my signing up to these pages, I'm reading comments that lead me to believe that, despite my utter contempt for all things wheeled, I fully expect, quite probably against my will and better judgement, to be the "proud" owner of a MH by 2019, then a touring caravan by the time I hit the big 6-0 four years later, then when I'm really, really old, ála my good friend Mr Printer, a final resting place... sorry, I mean final upgrade... to a grand mobile home that nobody actually bothers to move!
Whilst I'll do my best to carry on fighting the above scenario, I can only pray that, should my best efforts fail, that you old 'uns are still around to at least gloat, and get the chance to say "I told you so".
Some nice photos.I was born in Deal and went to Dover Grammar School so a bus trip everyday.
We usually stay at Black Horse Farm for a day or two on our way back from France.
We stopped off on our way out and back on our months trip to France in late August, visited the Battle of Britain museum and also Deal. There is a very good fish and chip shop opposite the pier-massive portions, we went for the smaller ones glad we did'nt go for large!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: 120+ nights stuck in a static
So a new adventure begins.
Oh this sounds lovely! I can't see any of the photos though - is it just me? 
