Our centenary trip, could anything go wrong with all of this experience behind us? Well yes it can, for the first time ever I drove past the site entrance!
For this landmark trip, I decided to head for a weekend in Brompton-on-Swale. A small CS site that was fairly new, it ticked all of the boxes for our requirements and was also located close to Richmond, as I though a trip there on Sunday would be a good idea. So we picked the ‘van up and had a smooth ride down the A1. The first snag was that the usual access road from the A1 into Catterick had been closed, so a diversion to South of Catterick was required where we picked up the new road structure and headed into Catterick. From here we headed into Brompton-on-Swale, but the site entrance is concealed around a bend and even with the sat-nav showing the exact entrance, I still overshot the entrance. So, a nice extra journey down the B road heading for Richmond pursued. Not the best of places to find somewhere to turn around! The sat-nav indicated a road we could take to turn around, this I initially followed and luckily found a spot where we could turn around. Just as well as it was looking a little narrow in places a little further on. Now heading back to the site, I took it a little more cautiously near the entrance and made it in this time.
We entered the site and found that the only access to the pitches was via a rather sharp right turn bend down a little ‘steep drop’. We managed to get around (just) without taking any plants with us. There were 3 empty pitches so we headed for the middle one, pitch 3. The access road is not wide enough to accommodate a reverse in without being on the grass, so we used the mover to position the ‘van. The weather has been very wet of late and there would be issues being on the grass. We were soon set-up after this. Not the best of starts to the weekend, but it keeps you on your toes!
The owner made a brief appearance to check we could pitch okay and then resumed his roadworks. He and couple of other guys were making good the top end of the access road. This they duly finished on Saturday which is when we realised that you can have an easier drive in the top way, rather than the first tight turn. The toilet block, located at the top end of the site consists of a toilet, sink & shower – one each for both male and female. CDP is also located here. The water tap is on the field itself, which I managed to miss and pondered around the toilet block looking for it! EHU is 16A so perfect for a winter stay.
Saturday came and went as usual. Sunday, following breakfast we headed in Richmond as planned. We eventually found the car park after trying to park in the centre of the village – a very busy place. We walked around the shops that were there and managed to pick up a plant pot which was required for home. There are plenty of cafes and pubs for meals and drinks, but we didn’t stay. Returning back to the site, we relaxed for the rest of the day.
Monday, weekend over so we began our usual packing routines. Once ready we used the mover again to hitch up. We then took the access road via the top end of the site, this is perfectly wide enough but very bumpy, with many potholes. We took it very slowly, 1st all of the way out! Back on the road, we were soon heading home and back to storage.
The site has good potential, the toilet block and 16A EHU are good points for positives. Some things to look into for improvements would be: level out the access road; ease the drop on the entrance turn and make it wider (move the plants). The access road by the pitches is only hardcore for tyre tracks, the middle is still grass, which means in the rain you get very muddy. Make this track all hardcore and widen it so you can reverse in without using the grass. Despite this, a great little site which I hope does well.
- Date: 17th February 2018
- Nights: 2
- Pitch #: 3
- GPS: 54.395204, -1.674980
- A1 > A6136 > Bridge Road > B6271 > Parkgate Lane