Pootling around Devon

Oscar was remarkably well behaved while we were packing up at Merrose Farm CAMC Site, and even better behaved in the car on the journey. It’s almost as though he’s finally getting used to the routine. Either that, or he’s realised travelling in the car means onto new adventures.

We arrived at the next leg of our trip, Putts Corner CAMC Site in Devon, to a very warm welcome.

With the forecast promising glorious weather, we decided not to bother putting up the canopy. First things first, though, we set up Oscar’s pen so he could settle into his new surroundings while we returned everything to its rightful cupboard and wound the steadies down.

We managed to bag a pitch with a generous patch of grass behind us, which proved irresistible to squirrels and robins. Oscar was in his absolute element, glued to the view, his tail twitching as he watched every movement. You could almost see him wondering whether he’d still got what it takes to hunt if only someone would let him out for five minutes.

As the sun slowly sank lower in the sky, I finished my book while the entire campsite collectively perched on the edge of their seats watching England. Then came a huge cheer that echoed around the site, they were through to the next round! For a few moments it felt less like a campsite and more like a football stadium.

Our tandem ride took us over what felt like an endless succession of Devon hills before finally rewarding us with a glorious descent to the coast at Sidmouth. Thankfully, what goes down doesn’t always have to come back up immediately.

Sidmouth is a charming little seaside town large enough to have plenty to explore, yet small enough to retain its relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We arrived near Connaught Gardens, a beautiful series of terraced, walled gardens that have been open to the public since 1934. Rising gracefully from the seafront to the upper terrace, they’re beautifully maintained and well worth wandering through, with stunning views across the coastline.

Connaught Gardens is also home to the statue of the ‘Sidmouth Fiddler’. We were relieved to see he actually held a fiddle.

Rolling down into Sidmouth, the sea shimmered a brilliant shade of blue beneath the summer sunshine as we set off on the important mission of finding fish and chips for lunch.

Food gets mentioned rather a lot in our blogs. We’d like to think we’re simply doing our bit to support the local economy… although, if we’re being completely honest, we just really enjoy good grub.

Another day saw us heading to Exmouth, this time by car. My poor, untrained little legs had already made it perfectly clear they were not interested in tackling any more Devon hills on the tandem.

Exmouth is definitely worth a visit, with its long promenade stretching alongside a beautiful golden sandy beach. We wandered along the seafront and, apart from the beach itself, a handful of cafés, bars and an amusement arcade, there’s not a great deal else to distract you. But with a beach that impressive, who needs anything more?

The beach was buzzing with people making the most of the glorious sunshine. Out on the water there was plenty going on too. The tide had retreated a remarkably long way, leaving a vast sandbank offshore. Between the beach and the sandbank lay a huge expanse of calm, shallow water where swimmers, paddleboarders and windsurfers were all happily making the most of the perfect conditions.

We eventually found ourselves sheltering beneath an enormous parasol outside a beachside bar, cold drinks in hand, doing one of our favourite holiday activities, watching the world go by.

Before we knew it, it was our final evening at Putts Corner. It had only been a short stay,just three nights, as we slowly began making our way back towards home. We made a start on packing away a few things ready for the morning. The outdoor chairs disappeared beneath the bed, along with Oscar’s fan, while the rest could quite happily wait until tomorrow. After all, there’s no point rushing the inevitable.

The site’s Wi-Fi and 4G signal were both a bit hit and miss, but apart from that, Putts Corner is a lovely campsite. Like many sites in Devon, there are plenty of sloping pitches, but fortunately we managed to find a reasonably level hard-standing pitch and counted ourselves lucky.
There are two toilet blocks, one larger than the other, but both are modern, spotless and very well maintained.

Would we come back?
Absolutely.

Although next time, I think the tandem might just be staying at home… my legs have voted unanimously.