Away to Slimbridge and the South West

Cornwall was the original plan for this summer’s road trip. Months before, watching Rick Stein may or may not have had something to do with it, we decided we should explore this unknown corner of the country.

Usual amounts of research occurred, which is to say, very little. We did* know 2 things about Cornwall.

1. It’s massively busy in summer.

2. The roads are narrow.

Perhaps due to this* lack of knowledge, and reading Slow Road to England and Wales, we decided to break up the trip into bits:

A slow road meander through the countryside in Bristol and Somerset, including Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Cheddar Gorge and Glastonbury Tor
A cheeky stop off in old haunts in South Devon, with a lucky booking at Slapton Sands campsite
5 days on and around the Lizard Point in Cornwall
A hazy, unplanned, slow meander back home, possibly via Avebury.

First stop was Tudor Caravan Park, just down the road from Slimbridge, for 2 nights to allow us the opportunity to peek at the birdies. Some numbers and that:

191 miles to Tudor Caravan Park
Lunch stop at Worcester Woods Country Park – free parking (spaces a bit tight), play area, cafe, toilets – nicer than motorway services. Hot dogs dispensed.
Pub next to campsite, and right by the Bristol to Sharpness canal. Plenty of towpath for all your canalside needs.
85 quid for 2 nights on hard standing with EHU. Contactless check in. Weird. Police presence. Even weirder. Boy lost football in stream. Sad.

Food at pub ok. 4 main courses and 4 drinks 80 quid.

14-minute walk to Slimbridge WWT. No pavement. Big carpark on site.
70 quid entry for 2 adults and 2 kids including gift aid and visitor guide.
Lunch 27 quid for sausage rolls etc and drinks
14 quid for 4 x double scoops of ice cream. Prob cheapest all holiday.

Girl child’s new ambition- to stroke a carp

I dont really know what to make of Slimbridge. I was expecting a more RSPB scenario where you see what you see, with hides and the like, but it was more akin to a wildlife park, with enclosures and attractions and creatures from further afield like Hawaian geese and Flamingoes of all hues. There was a canoe safari, which turned out to be on a pond, for a tenner a boat (no) and various zoo-like houses and fenced areas. We had a v. pleasant day, but don’t need to go back.