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Travel

Travelling in ‘God’s Country’

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It’s God’s Own Country. At least that’s what they say in Yorkshire

The ‘secret garden’ doorway’ behind the motorhomes and caravans at the Chatsworth Park site, which leads to the Chatsworth House estate in Derbyshire

Many other parts of the UK would dispute that, but it’s clear the White Rose county has a rich tapestry of gently sloping wolds, delightful dales, quaint villages and the stunning moorlands so vividly displayed in TV’s Heartbeat.

Not to mention picturesque seaside town like Whitby, Filey, Bridlington and Scarborough – and plenty of pubs and wildlife.

A lot to take in in what is a huge county so a touring holiday gives the freedom to pick and choose various campsites that each offer something a little bit different.

We chose a motorhome. It has been a few years since that last adventure when we hired a vehicle from one of the many rental sites.

But now a big fish has entered the market. Swift has set up its own bespoke rental service, operating initially from a swish new base in Stockport, which has dozens of different motorhomes to choose from and which is convenient for the motorway network.

The firm, based in Yorkshire, plans another six depots countrywide by 2022.

The ‘secret garden’ doorway’ behind the motorhomes and caravans at the Chatsworth Park site, which leads to the Chatsworth House estate in Derbyshire

Our four-berth Escape is a compact brand new vehicle, ingeniously designed, as they have to be, to give the comforts of home living in a relatively tiny space.

So we loaded up and set off on a tour which took in North Yorkshire and eventually north Derbyshire.

Our destinations were Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, or sites affiliated to the group.

The club has more than 200 club sites and 2,500 privately owned places to stay in the UK and more than 300 sites across Europe.

Our first port of call was Wharfedale, near Skipton in North Yorkshire. This is one of the top sites with a peaceful atmosphere and excellent facilities including a pristine shower block and a pub nearby to slake your thirst after a long walk in the stunning countryside.

The next site couldn’t be more different. A couple of miles up the road from Whitby at Sneaton, it is on a working farm, offering limited facilities but a spectacular view over Whitby bay.

There are only a few hard standing pitches but water and waste disposal is available. It is peaceful and secluded and the sheep are never far away. For essentials a pub and farm shop are nearby.

Lack of facilities is not a problem as the Escape is fully equipped with toilet and shower facilities, hob, oven, microwave, fridge and toaster, plus all the pots and pans to go with it.

Hook up to the electrics and off you go. Otherwise a gas supply and leisure battery will provide power.

The motorhome has a sturdy and ingenious fold away table and chairs and if the weather is kind, like it was for us, you take your meals al fresco.

Steaming in on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

So relax, fold out the integral awning and settle down with a Merlot or two and start counting the sheep.

If you like peace and quiet and a friendly welcome this fits the bill.

A trip in Whitby is a must to try the famous fish and chips or a special shout out to The Plough a traditional pub that sells a pint for £1.40 and cost us £4 for two lagers. Whitby is also hosts the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This railway, which has recently featured on Channel 5 and runs to Pickering, with various stops along the way.

If you are a Heartbeat fan, then stop off at Goathland, home of the Aidensfield and, sorry to labour the pub angle, the Aidensfield Arms, which packs in the visitors. It is a beautiful journey through the moorlands and steam enthusiast or not, people love it

Filey is just about 40 minutes down the road and weary travellers can stop off at another affiliated site. The Honeypot Inn offers a small number of pitches with electric and toilet facilities on a field with a view towards the seaside resort. The pub itself boasts a varied menu of home cooking and real ales. Filey itself is a pretty unspoilt seaside town in a picturesque bay, the kind of town you would be happy to visit on a day trip.

Our final destination took us back inland to the imposing and sprawling Chatsworth House estate in Derbyshire. Chatsworth Park is another Caravan and Motorhome Club site offering a full range of facilities and with a couple of magical extras. Although walled off from the estate, campers are provided with a key to a ‘secret garden’ type entrance door to the estate, which allows access to wander around, take in Chatsworth House, although charges apply for entry and provides a relaxing walk down a path to the village of where there is a shop, and yes, two pubs and a hotel. The site is also inhabited by families of tame ducks which just love to be fed, a real treat for children and the site shop provides reasonably priced bird food.

The motorhome itself is easy to drive and set up and provides plenty of freedom to move around.

Relaxing at Monks Farm, near the resort of Whitby

A big bonus on all models is the free, inbuilt wi-fi and excellent TV reception. While it may not offer the freedom of a caravan, it does mean you do not have to face the chore of towing. Considering their size and weight, they are also pretty economical to run. It is certainly worth trying.The UK has plenty of different sites for all tastes, especially if you love pubs and animals.

  • TRAVEL FACTS
  • (Information correct at September 2018, otherwise, visit respective websites(
  • For a week’s hire of a family-sized motorhome, sleeping four, prices start around £700 in low season rising to around £1,050 in high season. Motorhomes can be hired for three or more nights. Visit www.swiftgo.co.uk
  • Join the Caravan and Motorhome Club to save 15 per cent off motorhome hire and get free collision damage waiver (worth £15 per night) when booking with Swift Go. Visit caravanclub.co.uk/membership
  • For attractions in Yorkshire visit www.yorkshire.com
  • For the railway visit www.nymr.co.uk
Travel

Island paradise

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Beautiful Rhodes

The beautiful island of Rhodes is famous for a number of things among them the Colossus of Rhodes, a statue of the Greek sun-god Helios, erected in 280 BC and, ahem, Anthony Quinn.

Why Anthony Quinn? Well, he was one of the stars of the blockbuster Guns of Navarone, which was partly filmed on the island.

The Colossus has long gone, but Quinn left a lasting legacy.

Beautiful Rhodes

He so loved the island he bought some land with a fabulous beach and it became Anthony Quinn Bay, near Falaraki.

It’s not the only fabulous beach. Rhodes is the largest and most popular island of Dodecanese. With 300 days of sunshine, it offers plenty of choice for holidaymakers and a famous medievel old town which is an absolute must for a visit.

Our first visit to the Greek islands to us to the huge Aldemar Resort in Kalithea, not far from the capital, which includes the impressively located Amilia Mare hotel and Paradise Village.

Beautiful Rhodes

We stayed in the main hotel complex on a fully inclusive basis. The well-equipped rooms offer either garden or sea view, with ours, the latter, offering a spectacular vista across the Mediterranean. The rooms are comfortable and spacious with modern bathroom, TV, fridge and free wi-fi.

The hotel itself is huge with a number of bars, inside and out and a choice of restaurants serving food and drink throughout the day and if you are still peckish late on, a sandwich supper is laid on.

There is a choice of themed restaurant, two buffet eateries, and speciality restaurants dealing in Italian, Greek, Chinese and French cuisine.

A big bonus on a stay of this nature is there is no need to cross a road to get to the resort’s private beach

Sunbeds, umbrellas, outdoor showers, changing rooms and beach towels all part of the package and for those a bit more active water sports facilities are also available on the beach.

If you don’t fancy the sea, there are outdoor pools, two freshwater and three are salt water, plus for the more adventurous an 80 metres water slide and seemingly endless facilities with floodlit tennis, minigolf, football and a huge outdoor chess board.

Inside there’s a games room with internet access, gym and spa facilities. Daily programmes of activities includes everything from water polo to basketball and beach volleyball from an extremely lively entertainments team, which carries on with shows in the bars during the evenings.

Thinking of getting hitched and a small chapel on the grounds provides couples with the perfect backdrop for a civil wedding ceremony.

It’s not the newest of hotels which the management acknowledge, but is in the process of going through an extensive refit. Having said that, the whole place is spotlessly clean, the staff, all of them that I met, were unfailingly polite and friendly and informative. The prices are also competitive.

It’s fair to say food is excellent, both in how it is cooked and the variety. You also have the option of dining on the restaurant balcony over looking the Med

Rhodes town is just a 20 minute ride on one of the hotel shuttle buses for around a fiver each return to the impressive medieval town with its huge walls surrounding the central tourist area in the old town.

Beautiful Rhodes

It features strong walls, an impressive castle, paved paths and elegant stone mansions.

It is also packed with bars, restaurants and shops of all descriptions, literally scores of them competing for the tourists, particularly those off the giant cruise ships who have deep pockets.

It certainly attracts the rich and famous with huge yachts joining the cruise liners anchored in the busy harbour

However, beware of ordering a large beer. We ordered two and they duly arrived in huge wellington-shaped glasses, each containing two litres and costing a healthy 40 euros.We could have sent them back, but, when in Rome, so to speak, battled through for a couple of hours.

Quite an experience in one of the finest old towns I have ever visited.

Further afield, hire a car and the pretty resort of Lindos with the Acropolis on top is a must.

Beautiful Rhodes

Elsewhere there are some magnificent beaches including the picturesque and secluded, certainly when we went, Tsampika Beach. With soft golden sand the bay offers an almost Caribbean atmosphere with its drinks huts and and food stalls few and far between, while parking is also free on the edge of the beach itself.

Just the ticket if you want even just a bit of break from the wall to wall eating and drinking at the hotel.

The first time visiting the Greek islands, it won’t be the last.

FACTFILE

Stay at the Aldemar Amelia Mare in Kalithea, Rhodes on all-inclusive basis with prices from £686 per person for 10 June departure from East Midlands Airport with return flights, transfers in resort and 7 nights accommodation with garden view on all-inclusive. Call TUI on 0203 636 1931 or visit www.tui.co.uk Transfers from Rhodes airport are just 25 minutes.

To book your own flights from a number of different airports including Birmingham check out easyjet and for accommodation visit www.aldemar-resorts.gr

For general information on the island of Rhodes check out the Greek Tourist Office www.visitgreece.gr