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Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:41 pm
by Alun
I've been checking out camp sites around Stratford upon Avon today for the Midlands ABR Rally. The first is essentially a wild camp i.e. we'll be in a field in the middle of nowhere, no one to bother us and we'll not be a bother to anyone else either.
Charles, the farmer, has said that we can have camp fires, bring our own beer, invite a burger van to the field, hire a portaloo etc. Plus we have an off road wonderland on our doorstep, literally. Now the downside; this is a wild camp, and may not suit all, especially after being spoiled up at Takota. There is a toilet of sorts up by the farm but it's grim. As Charles said, feel free to go behind any hedge you want. And there are no wash facilities other than the stream running aside the field.
The second option is almost the opposite, the camp site on Stratford Race Course is the Stepford Wives of camp sites. Everything appeared regimented, organised and hi di hi. It's a 20 min walk from Stratford town centre, there's male and female toilets and showers, plus there's an Indian restaurant and shop about 10 mins away. We'd have to share this camp site with lots of other visitors, check out the photo's to see what I mean. And there would be defo no camp fires.
And now the pics;
Let's start with the grim news, here's the bogs up at the farm. There's just the one potty and a hand basin, I'll leave the internal shot to your imagination.
- Camp sites near stratford 001.jpg (116.74 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And now the good news, here's the 'road' to our potential camp site.
- Camp sites near stratford 002.jpg (126.71 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And here's the camp site. Nice and flat, remote and it's all our own.
- Camp sites near stratford 003.jpg (164.39 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
This is the view you'd have out of your tent door.
- Camp sites near stratford 004.jpg (122.39 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And 100m from your abode you can join this trail
- Camp sites near stratford 006.jpg (182.48 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
or this one
- Camp sites near stratford 007.jpg (174.32 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
to be continued.....
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:46 pm
by Peejay
Alun, the farm looks as good as anywhere! the TT travel event had about the same facilities, and camping in a copse behind the ind est.
Suits me, perhaps if we all chipped in for a couple of portaloos in the field for the bashful :whistle:
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:47 pm
by Alun
And a little further on the view looks like this
- Camp sites near stratford 008.jpg (146.41 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And if you want it the going gets a little tougher
- Camp sites near stratford 010.jpg (185.78 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And a little more technical
- Camp sites near stratford 011.jpg (206.77 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
Pic a spot and ride to it - notice the 'course' up on the hill.
- Camp sites near stratford 012.jpg (160.19 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
Rip across this field and you will get some air under you from the natural lay of the land
- Camp sites near stratford 013.jpg (144.19 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
The farm is split by a lane and across the other side things get far more interesting if you like your off road.
to be continued.....
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:52 pm
by Alun
Just across the lane it starts off easy enough and your playground is as far as the eye can see
- Camp sites near stratford 015.jpg (89.33 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
You can take these dirt tracks as fast or as slow as you like, there's nothin g technical so far
- Camp sites near stratford 016.jpg (163.68 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And then the fun starts
- Camp sites near stratford 017.jpg (142.04 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And it keeps getting better
- Camp sites near stratford 018.jpg (176.13 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
It's an outdoor playground
- Camp sites near stratford 019.jpg (156.02 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And then it's down more dusty trails to the far corner of the farm where you come across.... to be continued
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:58 pm
by Alun
At the far corner of the farm you get to test your riding ability to the full
- Camp sites near stratford 020.jpg (124.41 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
This is why I bought a DRZ, but the Tenere done fine
- Camp sites near stratford 021.jpg (152.95 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
If you want mud, you've got it
- Camp sites near stratford 025.jpg (193.44 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
More mud? No probs
- Camp sites near stratford 026.jpg (189.6 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
A little jump maybe?
- Camp sites near stratford 024.jpg (160.51 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
That's the end of option 1, the wild camp. The hi di hi option is coming up soon.
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:11 pm
by Alun
I wouldn't exactly call the camp site at Stratford Race Course bike friendly but after talking to them for a while and convincing them that we were not going to rape and pillage all the time they settled down and smilled.
Anyway it's all a little sterile..
- Camp sites near stratford 028.jpg (110.3 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
And this flat section would be ours
- Camp sites near stratford 029.jpg (109.09 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
If you like your potties clean and your water warm then you'll enjoy these
- Camp sites near stratford 030.jpg (116.12 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
We'll not be allowed to do this but I couldn't resist the temptation
- Camp sites near stratford 033.jpg (92.04 KiB) Viewed 6958 times
Okay, now for the financials.
The cost per night for a tent on the farm wild camp which includes unlimted use of all the off road courses £10 per tent.
The cost at hi di hi including a posh potty and shower £4.50 per night per person, so if there's two of you in a tent that's, er, £9.
So, what do you think? Wild camp or posh camp?
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 2:17 pm
by Peejay
2 squid extra for being able to have a good time without others whinging, and an off road tootle..............Farm for me.
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:31 pm
by CRAIGREVO
Well the farmer normally charges £10 a day to ride there so the camping is free. :woohoo:
I wouldn't like the race course as it would spoil the relaxed atmosphere.
My vote is for the farm.
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:52 pm
by scrambled eggs
farm for me too please:woohoo:
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:18 pm
by Nicoli
Farm looks good, will be interesting on our street bike, with road tyres haha