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.
And now the good news, here's the 'road' to our potential camp site.
And here's the camp site. Nice and flat, remote and it's all our own.
This is the view you'd have out of your tent door.
And 100m from your abode you can join this trail
or this one
to be continued.....
Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
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:
Suits me, perhaps if we all chipped in for a couple of portaloos in the field for the bashful :whistle:
BMW R1200 GS Adventure
KTM 990 R Adventure
Wheresoever you go. Go with all your heart.
KTM 990 R Adventure
Wheresoever you go. Go with all your heart.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 4801
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:54 pm
- Location: Stratford upon Avon
- Has thanked: 254 times
- Been thanked: 394 times
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
And a little further on the view looks like this
And if you want it the going gets a little tougher
And a little more technical
Pic a spot and ride to it - notice the 'course' up on the hill.
Rip across this field and you will get some air under you from the natural lay of the land
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.....
And if you want it the going gets a little tougher
And a little more technical
Pic a spot and ride to it - notice the 'course' up on the hill.
Rip across this field and you will get some air under you from the natural lay of the land
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.....
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 4801
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:54 pm
- Location: Stratford upon Avon
- Has thanked: 254 times
- Been thanked: 394 times
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
Just across the lane it starts off easy enough and your playground is as far as the eye can see
You can take these dirt tracks as fast or as slow as you like, there's nothin g technical so far
And then the fun starts
And it keeps getting better
It's an outdoor playground
And then it's down more dusty trails to the far corner of the farm where you come across.... to be continued
You can take these dirt tracks as fast or as slow as you like, there's nothin g technical so far
And then the fun starts
And it keeps getting better
It's an outdoor playground
And then it's down more dusty trails to the far corner of the farm where you come across.... to be continued
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 4801
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:54 pm
- Location: Stratford upon Avon
- Has thanked: 254 times
- Been thanked: 394 times
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
At the far corner of the farm you get to test your riding ability to the full
This is why I bought a DRZ, but the Tenere done fine
If you want mud, you've got it
More mud? No probs
A little jump maybe?
That's the end of option 1, the wild camp. The hi di hi option is coming up soon.
This is why I bought a DRZ, but the Tenere done fine
If you want mud, you've got it
More mud? No probs
A little jump maybe?
That's the end of option 1, the wild camp. The hi di hi option is coming up soon.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 4801
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:54 pm
- Location: Stratford upon Avon
- Has thanked: 254 times
- Been thanked: 394 times
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
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..
And this flat section would be ours
If you like your potties clean and your water warm then you'll enjoy these
We'll not be allowed to do this but I couldn't resist the temptation
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?
Anyway it's all a little sterile..
And this flat section would be ours
If you like your potties clean and your water warm then you'll enjoy these
We'll not be allowed to do this but I couldn't resist the temptation
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
2 squid extra for being able to have a good time without others whinging, and an off road tootle..............Farm for me.
BMW R1200 GS Adventure
KTM 990 R Adventure
Wheresoever you go. Go with all your heart.
KTM 990 R Adventure
Wheresoever you go. Go with all your heart.
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
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.
I wouldn't like the race course as it would spoil the relaxed atmosphere.
My vote is for the farm.
-
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:09 pm
Re: Wild Camp or Hi Di Hi at the Midlands rally - the choice is yours
farm for me too please:woohoo: