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Big Bhalu - Campervan Life

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04/10/2026

5 photos from Pateley Bridge Showground 🚐

This weekend’s home was Pateley Bridge Showground with Central Yorkshire DA — £13 per night for this meet and probably one of those locations where being able to leave the van parked up is the biggest advantage.

Pateley Bridge itself is only a short walk away, with at least three pubs and more cafés than I’ve got fingers. Plenty of them are dog-friendly too, which obviously matters when Oscar is part of the travelling committee. 🐾

There’s a recreation ground directly opposite the showground, plus a locally sourced food van by the main entrance, and the site has its own toilet block available during the meet.

Central Yorkshire DA also had a Saturday night social at a local pub and a Sunday morning coffee morning at the stewards’ van. We attended neither because apparently our approach to club socialising this weekend was simply to acknowledge that it existed. 😂

The location is particularly good if you like walking. Yorke’s Folly is accessible from the area, there are reservoir walks further up Nidderdale, and Coldstones Cut is only a short drive away — or a considerably more committed uphill walk.

Plenty to do without having to go very far, and a really useful base for exploring Nidderdale.

CampingAndCaravanningClub CentralYorkshireDA ClubMeet

27/09/2026

5 photos from Stanhope Showground 🚐

A weekend club meet with Durham DA at Stanhope Showground, and a very handy base for exploring Stanhope and Weardale without needing to move the van.

The centre of Stanhope is only a short walk away, with a couple of cafés, a pub and plenty of access to some brilliant walking routes straight from the area.

We paid £14 per night for this particular meet. There was no electric hook-up, but there were water taps dotted around the showground and Elsan disposal near the main building.

One of the things we liked about this meet was the club room, which opened for drinks, music and bingo. When the club room was open, the toilet facilities were generally available too.

The camping area itself had plenty of space and some lovely Weardale scenery around it.

A simple, sociable club weekend in a really convenient location — and a particularly good one if you like being able to park the van and head off on foot. 🐾

CampingAndCaravanningClub DurhamDA ClubMeet

06/09/2026

5 photos from Bilton Park Farm, Harrogate 🚐

We spent the weekend at the Camping and Caravanning Club North West Region Temporary Holiday Site at Bilton Park Farm.

At £14 a night, this was a really useful base for exploring without having to move the van every time we wanted to go somewhere.

Knaresborough was around a 30-minute walk, Harrogate about 50 minutes, and Ripley roughly 90 minutes if we were feeling particularly enthusiastic. There’s also a wet pub just a short walk from the site for a rather less energetic outing. 🍺

The THS is on grass with bins, water and Elsan disposal, plus some electric hook-ups available on a first-come, first-served basis. Despite being close to another campsite and a dog hotel, we found it surprisingly quiet.

Nothing complicated — just a very handy location, plenty within walking distance and good value at £14 a night.

CampingAndCaravanningClub TemporaryHolidaySite THSCamping

23/08/2026

Apparently we came to Seaburn for a relaxing long weekend.

I came for the important things:

🐾 Beach directly across the road
🐟 Several chip shops within walking distance
🍟 Humans surrounded by food opportunities
🚐 My bed conveniently parked nearby

I have thoroughly inspected the arrangements and can confirm that somebody has finally planned a holiday properly.

10/10 for proximity to chips. Would supervise again. 🐶🚐🌊

17/08/2026

🚐 Seaburn Showfield THS, Seaburn

We spent a long weekend here with South Yorkshire DA of the Camping and Caravanning Club — and you really couldn’t ask for a much handier location.

🏖️ Out of the gates, across the road… and you’re on the beach.

🛒 Morrisons is right next door, and it’s only a short walk to at least four different chip shops, plus plenty of other places to eat and drink at The Stack.

The site itself is Seaburn Showfield, being used as a Temporary Holiday Site (THS), so nothing fancy — just a great base for getting out and enjoying the area.

Definitely one of those sites where you can park the van up and barely need to move it again for the weekend. 🚐🌊

📍 Seaburn, Sunderland
🏕️ South Yorkshire DA THS

23/06/2025

So, a few months ago our wonderful van ended up in the garage with some breathing difficulties. The original garage sadly made the issue significantly worse, resulting in a dropped valve and the need to replace the “indestructible” engine (maybe stay away from Merc “specialists”?).

Thankfully, we were able to quickly source a replacement engine and a very capable mechanic used to switching up parts roadside, who took on the job of bringing Bhalu back to life.

Now that the van is running better than it ever has during our ownership, we figured the body also needed a bit of a glow up. We are now working on Bhalu 3.0 in between enjoying as many trips away as possible to make up for the 10 weeks without a CAMPERVAN - how did we survive so long without one?

The eventual plan is black and grey but it will need to be done in shot bursts because of the great British summertime weather, our need to climb another 16 Wainwrights ( )…. and motorbike rallies…. and life….

We have no plans for any campervan festivals but never say never but we will undoubtedly see you down the road!

17/06/2025

Starting to look a little naked there, Bhalu!

16/06/2025

New(?) campsite near a short walk from Braithwaite and Keswick. If you like a red carpet on arrival, then this place isn’t for you but if you like a fuss-free turn-up-park-up experience that offers amazing views, clean facilities and cows who come to greet you at the fence, then get booked onto this site!

09/06/2025

Let the glow up commence!

28/12/2024

Popped into Burford but I’m really not feeling myself. I had a grumble at a dog and that’s not like me at all. I wouldn’t even pose for pictures for my favourite human

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Braithwaite New Farm
Keswick
CA12 5RY

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