Devon Camping 2019 Day 1 - Stone Henge

As we went to Euro Disney earlier in the year (which was quite expensive to say the least) we decided to have a camping holiday in the UK for our summer holiday as opposed to going abroad. So we booked a Park Dean campsite in Croyd, Devon as none of us had been to North Devon before and we fancied something different from Cornwall. 

It was a pretty long journey and the car was absolutely rammed even with a roof box meaning that none of us had much space (next time we are either getting the tow bar fitted for the trailer or taking 2 cars for sure). To break the journey up we stopped at Stone Henge which is as near as dammit half way. Amazingly I am 47 years old and had never visited Stone Henge. Tina had only been once as a young kid and our three had obviously never been.

It was blowing a gale across the fields surrounding Stone Henge and we ended up dashing back to the car for our coats. As we are English Heritage members we got in to Stone Henge for free and were also entitled to free audio guides which the kids absolutely loved (especially Brandon). The audio guides gave so much more information about this landmark which you never would have got from just walking around. In total we spent about 2 hours at Stone Henge before squishing back in to the car for the second half of the journey.

The last 6 miles in to Croyd were certainly an experience with meandering single lane country roads which went up and down steep valleys and had absolutely no space for traffic passing in the opposite direction!!! Unfortunately by the time we got to Croyd the strong gusting winds from Stone Henge had not died away and if anything were stronger as we were so close to the coast. As we pulled up to our pitch we noted several other tents which had been destroyed by the weather and simply abandoned by the owners (didn't bode well for 10 days camping!).

Holly seeked shelter in the car whilst me, Tina and the boys tried putting the tent up, but it soon became apparent that we had absolutely no chance of getting the tent up on our own in these winds. Fortunately a family of 4 had just set-up on the pitch next to us and came over to help get our monster tent up. The extra 4 hands made light work and soon enough we were up and running.

As we were so close to the beach we took a wander down to get our bearings and then went for a well earnt dinner at the on-site Italian restaurant. Me, Brandon and Tina all ordered carbonara which was pretty rank, but Joshua hit the jackpot with his pizza which was big enough to feed the whole family!

A very wet and windy Stone Henge as we stopped off enroute to Devon. 

Amazingly I am nearly half a century old and have never seen this famous British landmark.

A selfie which went wrong as Holly is hiding under her hood.

So we found another visitor to take a family picture for us.

The direction of view to catch the sunset.

Brandon was like a sponge absorbing facts from the audio guide.

Amazing to think they found over 65 bodies underneath Stone Henge.

Me trying some clever photography which didn't quite work.

To this date they have no idea how the lintels were positioned on top.

Me and the kiddies at Stone Henge.

This building might have been a bit stronger than our tent given the high winds. Holly bought the little sheep teddy as a souvenir.

Trying to move one of the sarsen stones - epic fail. Puts it in to perspective how the hell someone did this 5,000 years ago with no cranes, lorries etc.

The sarsen stones are huge and were somehow transported from as far as Wales.

Finally arrive at Croyd and the easy part was getting our ground sheet down.

Holly had the right idea keeping warm in the car.

Slowly we started getting the poles in, the weather looks good but it was really windy.

Brandon helping trying to hold the tent down and stop it blowing away.

Me and Tina fed through all the steel poles ready to try and elevate the tent.

Luckily some very friendly campers came and helped out otherwise we would have had no chance of getting the tent up on our own.

A race to get the guidelines in before the tent blows away or collapses down.

And in no time at all we are set-up and ready to enjoy the holiday.

After pitching the tent we realised we had set it up facing the wrong direction. Whilst we had a lovely view of the sea, it meant the coastal winds were blowing directly in to our porch area. Too late to change it once it was up though.

We were staying in a camp site called Ruda which is part of the Park Dean chain.

Before going to dinner we took a nice stroll out to explore the nearby Croyd beach.

The tide was well and truly out showing a very expansive beach.

There were lots of little pools of sea water which the kids enjoyed dipping their feet in too.

Another rain cloud is approaching so time to head off and get some dinner.

Joshua and Brandon exploring Croyd beach.

Anyone seen Holly's feet?

The Croyd beach certainly got our seal of approval and over the course of the next 9 days the kids spent many an hour body boarding on this very beach.

Some unusual and very linear rock formations at the end of the beach.

Joshua hit the jackpot in the Italian restaurant, check out the size of that pizza!