One Last Stop, Salisbury Hillside CAMC Site

Salisbury Hillside CAMC site is somewhere we’ve visited before. Way back in 2017, I noted in my review that we paid the princely sum of £20 a night for a pitch. Nine years later, it’s costing us… considerably more. Let’s just say inflation has been working harder than the campsite has.

Apart from rising utility costs and a handful of new hardstanding pitches, the site is pretty much exactly as we left it.

What I failed to do before booking was read my own review. In fairness, I assumed things might have changed over the best part of a decade. They hadn’t.

The site is split into two distinct areas. At the top, near reception, are a handful of pitches clustered around the facilities. The rest of the site tumbles gently down the hillside, with pitches tucked away in little wooded glades. It gives the whole place a cosy, secluded feel and, with only around 50 pitches, it’s tiny compared with some of the sites we’ve worked on or stayed at during this trip.

The one crucial detail I’d completely forgotten? The Club Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the hillside pitches. Neither, it would seem, does any enthusiasm from my phone to connect to a 4G signal. Had I remembered that little nugget from my own review, we’d probably have pitched nearer reception.

We didn’t.

Instead, we picked a lovely little glade with plenty of room behind the caravan for Oscar to enjoy some shade. I even confidently worked out where I thought the sun would rise and set before dropping the steadies.

Turns out I was spectacularly wrong.

The caravan enjoyed lovely cooling shade throughout the morning, but by around 1.30pm the sun had swung round and was doing its absolute best to turn it into a fan-assisted oven. With temperatures climbing to around 29°C, our daily routine became fairly obvious. If we wanted to get out and about, it had to be first thing in the morning before it became too hot for Oscar. We even improvised a makeshift sail canopy as our canopy was little more than useless in direct sunshine.

One morning we wandered over to Stockbridge, a delightful little town that’s exactly what you hope an English market town will be. Its attractive High Street is lined with independent shops, while the crystal-clear River Test flows alongside and even underneath parts of the street. There are no chain stores dominating the place, just proper butchers, bakers, delicatessens, cafés and an assortment of quirky boutiques. Right in the middle sits the picturesque church, quietly watching over everything as though it’s seen centuries of shoppers come and go. It’s the sort of place you end up wandering far more slowly than you intended.

Romsey, Hampshire’s hidden gem
couldn’t feel more different. It’s a much larger town with a bustling centre and one standout attraction, Romsey Abbey.

The Abbey is magnificent. In truth, it’s every bit as impressive as Winchester Cathedral, just without quite as many coach parties wandering around inside. Built in the 10th century, it’s one of the finest Norman churches in England and well worth a visit, whether you’re interested in history or simply appreciate stunning architecture.

The town itself has a pleasant mix of independent shops, cafés and parks, making it a lovely place to spend a few hours.

For much of our stay at Salisbury Hillside, however, sightseeing took a back seat to one simple objective, finding shade and surviving.

The three of us spent most afternoons moving around like backwards sunflowers, trying to avoid the sunshine rather than follow it. By bedtime the caravan had usually cooled enough to become habitable again, and by around 3am wonderfully cool air drifted through the wide-open roof lights. Those early morning hours became everyone’s favourite part of the day.

Looking Back on an Incredible Month
Our final night at Salisbury Hillside wasn’t just the last night on this site, it marked the end of our month-long adventure.

Over the course of four wonderful weeks we stayed on eight Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, beginning in Wiltshire then Somerset before travelling through Devon and into the depths of Cornwall before gradually making our way back to Wiltshire once again.

The trip exceeded every expectation we had.
Mostly because of Oscar.

At the beginning of June we genuinely had no idea whether he’d cope with being cooped up in a caravan with us for more than a week. He’s an antisocial old gentleman at heart, happiest pottering around the garden before disappearing into the bushes for a few hours of peace and quiet.

Instead, he adapted brilliantly.
He took to travelling in the car, settled into caravan life almost immediately and became the perfect travelling companion. We honestly couldn’t have asked for more.

We cycled uphill and downhill and covered some miles and saved a fortune on car parking fees which is always a bonus. we’ve had our money’s worth out of the tandem this trip, although it would have been better had it been a little flatter.

Favourite Site?

If I had to pick one favourite site, it would probably be Merrose Farm, near St Mawes.
Not because the facilities were dramatically different, Club sites are generally reassuringly consistent. You know exactly what you’re getting before you arrive.

No, Merrose Farm wins purely because of its fantastic location and the number of great days out it offers without having to drive for miles.

As for the Club sites themselves, there were a couple of recurring irritations.

A good few of the sites we visited had older facilities blocks and those showers must’ve been designed by someone who’s never actually needed to get dressed afterwards. Tiny cubicles, not always having a bench to sit on, and never quite enough hooks to hang everything without something ending up on the floor. And then there’s the Wi-Fi.

Calling it “fit for purpose” on some sites would be wildly optimistic. If your idea of using campsite Wi-Fi is checking the weather or sending the odd email, you’ll probably survive. If, like me, you occasionally want to upload photographs or check your social media then it’s about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

If I Could Change One Thing…

If I had the power to change just one thing about the entire trip, it would simply be to turn the thermostat down by three or four degrees.

Without even trying, I’ve come home looking like I’ve spent a fortnight somewhere in the Mediterranean. Whilst a tan is all very nice, living in those temperatures day after day is another matter entirely. Still, I’m certainly not complaining.

Until Next Time…

Oscar, you’ve well and truly earned your caravanning badge.

Let’s get the school holidays out of the way, enjoy a bit of normal life again, and then…

Watch this space.

I have a feeling we’re already planning your next adventure.