Family Fun In The Forest
Every October we attend the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC. It’s a great chance for us to network, meet some of our lovely friends and followers, and see all of the shiny new caravans, motorhomes and accessories that fill the halls. During the week, the Caravan Writers’ Guild also holds an awards dinner, and I was absolutely thrilled to be announced as this years winner! [more on that here]
It’s fair to say that the week went by in a whirlwind. Each day, we dashed across the squeaky vinyl floors, trying to accomplish the long list we had set out to. Don’t get me wrong, we love the show, but when it all came to an end, it finally felt like time to breathe.
So we headed to one of our favourite places to unwind — The New Forest.
Aaaand Relax
Setthorns was our campsite of choice. We love this site because it’s part of the Camping In The Forest branch, so it really feels like you’re… well, camping in the forest! It’s spread across a wide area, with lots of cosy nooks and crannies hidden amongst the trees. Having tried a “Standard Pitch” previously, we opted for a spacious “Select Pitch” this time, nestled further away from reception and equipped with a picnic bench.
By now, autumn was in full swing, so we pitched our caravan on a bed of fallen leaves and pine needles, and once the owls had finished their evening conversation we drifted off to sleep to the sound of absolute… silence.
The following morning we opened our blinds to reveal a bright blue sky and sunshine bursting through the trees, flooding our caravan with a mottled light. The air was fresh, greenery surrounded us in every direction and birdsong was in full chorus. It was quite a contrast to the bright, artificial lights and air-conditioned halls that we’d grown accustomed to the previous week.
A ‘Spook’tacular Time
Later that day, we were joined by Stephen’s brother, his wife and their four month old, Ennis. Laurence and Laura are seasoned tent campers, but this was their first time trying a caravan (a Bailey Unicorn Valencia, kindly borrowed from Stephen’s Dad). And it was Ennis’ first time ever staying away from home!
The good thing about having a baby in your group (other than the cuteness overload), is that you have an excuse to do all of the fun things designed for kids. And with Halloween just around the corner, the campsite had prepared a spooky trail for the little ones (and big ones!) to enjoy. Armed with a map, we set off on the surprisingly long trail, which took us throughout the enchanted woodland of the campsite in search of clues. Our quest had us looking for haunted characters hidden amongst the foliage, each revealing a letter of an anagram, which would later win Ennis (us) a prize. But alongside the ghosts and ghouls, we discovered the wonders of nature. Towering above us stood tall pine and birch, while the forest floor was awash with moss, burnt-orange ferns and perfectly-formed mushrooms that belonged in a fairytale. We all remarked that if it wasn’t for the caravans and motorhomes dotted around, we’d have never known we were on a campsite. We could have easily just been on a walk through the forest.
Taking a Drive On The Wild Side
By the next day, the rain began to set in. Usually this would put a damper on things (quite literally!), but when you’re in such an environment, you just have to embrace it. The gentle pitter patter of raindrops, the earthy scent, and steam that lifted from the sodden ground only made the site more atmospheric. And we grew to love the pond that was forming between our pitches!
There are lots of fantastic wheelchair accessible walks in the New Forest, but that afternoon Stephen and I fancied going for a drive. So we hopped in the car without a sense of direction — Our only purpose being to absorb more of the ancient woodland. First we drove over the open moorland, spotting ponies on the sweeping roadside, before heading into Brockenhurst. It feels ridiculous writing this, but one of our favourite things about this quaint village is the ford that crosses the road. On this wet autumnal day its waters were high, so we parked up nearby and watched brave drivers wading their cars through, sending a huge cascade out from each wheel.
After enjoying this show for longer than I’d like to admit (we’re easily entertained, okay!), we passed through the ford ourselves and headed for the most magical part of the forest — Ornamental Drive. This section is home to some of the oldest and tallest trees in the region, and their dense canopies shielded us from the rain as we drove through, admiring the whimsical views. Passing one of the many car parks along this stretch, we were surprised to see a bright yellow ice cream van standing out against the moody grey sky. It was too ironic to not stop, so we ended our scenic drive with a 99 ice cream in the car, watching the raindrops sliding down the windscreen whilst giggling at the situation.
Back on site, we gathered for our final evening of fun, laughter and food. Stephen, of course, playfully teased his not-so-little brother about having ice cream without him.
The weekend had flown by, but it felt fantastic to be using the caravan for its intended use once more — Escaping into nature, living spontaneously and making the most of every moment. And even better, spending quality time and making memories with family!
Just what we needed after a week at the NEC!