The trip this weekend would take us back down memory lane, not because we’ve been there before, well yes we have, but not with the caravan. The site chosen for this weekend was Percy Wood Country Park, the site that mum and dad used to have a static on. We’ve been here many times, when the kids were young to visit, so it was only fitting that now the site accepts tourers, as of last year, we would return.
The journey there is straightforward, a quick run up the A1 and you are there basically. We pulled into the site and spotted a tourer to our left, so we headed down the road which used to take you the part of the site where mum and dad’s static was, but this road has now been converted into the touring section, with a fence at the bottom, so no through road anymore. We pulled up the gravel provided for new arrivals and duly booked in. Reception is a very nice building and were warmly greeted by a chap who tried to book us in. All was well but following a little confusion with the pitch, 36 or 37, 4th in on the left – we eventually got sited on WS37, after checking the booking confirmation, it should have been WS36, but not really our fault and the site was quite empty, so no harm done.
The pitches are of course based on the old concrete standings for the statics that used to be there. But gravel has been placed awning side and another small section for the car, so nicely done. EHU is 16A and water tap on each pitch. Large stones are placed on the corner of pitches, which is a little odd, as it makes maneuvering a little awkward, plus we had the speed bump outside our pitch, minor niggles though. Weather not great today, so we stayed inside and let Saturday roll on and do its usual thing.
Sunday morning, following breakfast a trip to the Aln Valley Railway was on the cards. This heritage railway is located in Alnwick and is indeed in the process of recreating the line from Alnmouth into Alnwick, albeit not into Alnwick town itself, due to the A1. Shop, cafe, model railway and a diesel ride can all be had here. The track is still in the process of being laid up to Alnmouth, but it is still worth a visit to support the project. They were running diesel driving experiences whilst we were there, so I was more than chuffed to drive my first diesel! Following this we headed back to the site where we decided to go for a wander, to see what was different from when we were last here, some years ago. After this, we retired for the evening and completed yet another weekend away.
The site is well laid out, easily accessed from the A1. As mentioned, 16A EHU and water tap on every pitch. The amenities block houses 1 male, 1 female and 1 disabled room, each with toilet, sink and shower. Whilst perfectly usable, with a full 19 pitch capacity I think a slightly larger affair might have been better. With the kids playground just being by the entrance to the tourers, kids also used it as a convenience, not ideal. During our weekend stay it wasn’t cleaned once, which again is something that needs addressing. CDP was fine, although again surprised to note that there was no grey water point, so in the hedge it went! The site is open all year round, so handy for some out of season touring. Overall a good addition to our local weekend getaway sites.
- Date: 20th May 2017
- Nights: 2
- Pitch #WS37
- GPS: 55.329930, -1.747660
- A1 > Lane > Leamington Lane