A Flying Visit To Wiltshire

Wednesday 23rd February
Day 1

We woke 7.30 having not made a decision where to spend the next couple of day, we has thought of going to whitchurch in Shropshire but were concerned with the flooding in the area, then noticed a THS in the Brecon Beacons but again if the weather closed in it would have been a waste not being able to take in the views then there was south Devon but there was a lack of sites open this time of year.
We eventually decided to pop down to Wilshire and the C&CC site at Devizes.

We booked via the clubs call centre at £26.52 per night was not a cheap option but did give us hard standing and electricity should it go wet, windy or cold or even all three.
The trip down was pleasant until we got to Malmesbury and our route was closed, signs said to follow the diversions but there were no signs to follow, we followed the town centre, although a very picturesque wasn't  quite the right direction, we eventually got back on the right road and arrived at the site at 1.30pm
After a very friendly welcome we were shown to our pitch, the site is flat with mainly hard standings and some grass pitches, the toilet block the usual facilities which were spotlessly clean, there is fresh water taps around the site as well as a MHS (motorhome service point)

Keni the crow at Devizes C&CC site

After a spot of lunch we took a walk along the Kennet & Avon canal which runs along the side of the site, Izzy found a narrow boat in her name,

I name this ship

Kennet & Avon Canal

We had planned to walk the the Caen flight of locks but Izzy wasn't having any of it and after a mile or so wouldn't go any further so we returned to the van for a cup of tea and a hot cross bun.
We read and caught up with our blog over a glass of gin, we started tea, being on electric gave us the chance to use the cooker so we had a lamb chop dinner which was lovely all washed down with a glass of wine. 

Thursday 24th February
Day 2

We woke at 7.30 to grey skies and a very disturbing weather forecast, heavy snow!
Forecast for SNOW!

Over breakfast, full English eggs bacon, sausage, tomato, fried bread, the skies brightened so hopefully no snow, we drive out to Devizes and the Caen Hill Flight, a section of 29 locks on the Kennet and Avon canal



From the locks we went onto Avebury, a world heritage site, one of the best known and largest stone circles in the world, it was great to see but as its spread over such a large area it was difficult to see as a whole.

Avebury Stone Circle

Avebury Stone Circle


The weather had improved with blue skies and sunshine. From the stones we took a look at Avebury Manor, a 16th century Manor house now owned by The National Trust, unfortunately, visiting it was by timed ticket, so we just had a look around the outside.

Avebury Manor


before leaving we visited the Church of St. James which dates back to around 1000AD.
After a spot a lunch we drove the 20 odd miles to visit Norman and Jean in Westbury who we had not seen since the Scottish trip last year.

we returned to the site, hooked up and had a G&T as we wrote the diary, Adele cooked tea, crab linguine washed down with a tasty glass or two of pinot grigio followed by bread and cheese.
Hopefully tomorrows weather will be as good as todays as we plan to visit another of Wiltshire's prehistoric sites.

Friday 25th February
Day 3

Woke 7.30, to blue skies and sunshine, cold but nice, over breakfast we decided to travel down to Stonehenge to the English Heritage World Heritage site, not been before but even more impressive in real life.

Stonehenge World Heritage Site

The Stone Circle - English Heritage

We took the courtesy bus from the visitors centre to the stone circle, the online commentary was great giving us details of the way the circle was constructed where the stones came from, the way the stones were aligned with the sunrise and sunset.
On returning to the vistors centre we saw a reconstruction of how the stones were moved and a Neolithic village.

Neolithic Village

Transporting The Stones


It was a great day out, as English Heritage members it was free but if not £21.50 per adult its very expensive, you can park for free and walk down the right hand side of the visitor centre across the fields and see the stones from behind the perimeter fence for free.
Time was now pressing we decided to move onto Malmesbury one of the villages we passed through on the way down, we found free parking on the long stay and walked into the village past Malmesbury Abbey, founded in 675AD unfortunately we were unable to visit inside the Abbey but the town was delightful.

Malmesbury Abbey

The oldest Pub in England - The Old Bell

The Stone Cross Malmesbury - C1490


Time was again against us, we called a C&CC cs for the night, hard standing and electric for £12.50 but when we got there there was only one hard standing a the rest was very muddy, we decided not to stay.
Another phone call got us pitch CAMC cl Flaxlands Fisheries, a lovely cl, overlooking the lakes with the sun setting was stunning, the only issue was that its next to the M4 motorway so suffers from background traffic noise, we sat with a G&T as the sun set talking about our day.

Sunset at Flaxlands Fishery


No fresh food in the van so it's hard tack for tea, chilli con carne, rice and garlic bread.

Saturday 26th February
Day 4
 
We woke after a cold and restless night, we set the heating a little too low and the sound of the motorway traffic was constant throughout the night. The sun was shining and we have had a frost, were heard the sound of geese outside the van, there were about eight of them feet away from us.
We had a leisurely breakfast watching the fishermen sat around the lakes below us before packing up, we dropped our waste water and CDP. It was almost mid-day before we started to make our way home.

Flaxlands

We have had a really nice mid-week break, we have been to Wiltshire so many times over the years but have seen some great sights and visited placed we have not been to for decades, we have had a very relaxing time, so much so that it feels like we have been away for weeks. The weather has been much better than we expected although cold its been dry whilst we have been out.
The drive home was pleasant and uneventful, here to the next weekend away, mini break or full on holiday.

benivanadventures - travels in our campervan

Trip Details:

Miles: 298.1
Ave MPG: 31.1 
Fuel Cost: £67.15 / £1.559 ltr
Car Parking: £0.00

Nights: 3
Camp Fees: £69.65
C&CC Devizes: £53.65
Flaxlands cs: £16.00

Camp Ave per night: £23.21 

* * *


We put our holiday photos in to small slideshows and videos which are uploaded on to our YouTube Channel, benivanadventures, they are not professionally produced but give a feeling of the area and places we visit - Click on the link below:

A Flying Visit To Wiltshire


PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE
Thank You for Watching
See You Again On Our benivanadventures

 


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