Campervan touring 2021

In June 2021 we took Ethel the campervan for her longest road trip yet. We drove north from our Sussex home to Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire, then on to Scarborough in North Yorkshire, Robin Hood’s Bay near Whitby, Harrogate, York, Wensleydale, then on to Buxton in Derbyshire.

Robin Hood’s Bay coastal wildflowers and walk

Robin Hood’s Bay is in North Yorkshire on the East coast of England, just a few miles South of Whitby. We headed off on a fab sunny walk from our campsite towards Whitby along the cliffs, then after a few miles headed back along a disused railway track. The best part of this trip was sitting on the cliff eating our lunch while watching what looked like six whales with our binoculars (we could see fins and thought the animals were too big and slow to be dolphins).

Greater stitchwort pod – Stellaria holostea

I think this little pearly seed pod is Greater stitchwort, Stellaria holostea but I struggled to find pictures online for comparison – do let me know what you think!

Kidney vetch – Anthyllis vulneraria

This downy vetch is easy to ID!

Russian comfrey – Symphytum x uplandicum

I saw this plant many times on this trip, including Fountains Abbey. It is tall with purple flowers.

Cow parsley at Whitby Abbey

The ruins were floating in a sea of white flowers.

Heath speedwell near Falling Foss

We went on a beautiful shady walk in the woods and came across this Heath speedwell, Veronica officinalis. You would think it would be a Wood speedwell but no! Read more about Speedwells.

Monsal Dale

Monsal Viaduct is truly eyecatching, and you can walk or cycle over this former train track.

Fields of Buttercups – Ranunculus

There were yellow meadows both sides of the viaduct. Read more about buttercups.

Dames violet flowers – Hesperis matronalis

I really must remember to try and smell all the wildflowers I come across!

Chatsworth wildflowers

Chatsworth is known for its beautiful gardens not its wildflowers but it was great to see so many wild pockets. My personal highlight of the visit was paddling in the cascade, which I also did last time I visited age five-ish!

Red valerian – Centranthus ruber

Two flowered everlasting pea – Lathyrus grandiflorus

This pea was something I’d come across at various points during the holiday. The flowers were larger than the latifolia that I’m used to seeing at home, and the stems more delicate. Read more about Lathyrus.

More about our campervan

I have mentioned Ethel our van a few times before so will try not to repeat myself. She is a converted Renault Trafic mobility vehicle which we bought from a father who had bought it, newly converted, to take his teenage son surfing in Spain.

She has a pop-up roof which we can use for headroom or an extra bed. The front passenger seats rotate so they can face into the van. There is a fridge, sink, microwave (not my idea of camping!), gas hob and solar panel. The rear seats can pull down to form a double bed, and we usually use a drive-away awning, which is handy as storage. We usually just do weekends away, so this two week jaunt was a big outing for us! Here is a pic of her on a weekend away in Devon.

We stayed mostly in Camping and Caravanning Club sites on this trip.

Wildflower spotting on this holiday included visiting Kirkby Moor nature reserve in Lincolnshire

Jervaulx Abbey in Yorkshire   |   Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire

Grin Low SSSI in Buxton, Derbyshire   |   Upper Dove Valley in Derbyshire

 

We sometimes take our van on trips in the Autumn – read about camping in the cold!