As we travel around the UK in our campervan we often stopover at pubs, campsites and other off grid sites. Here are our recommendations. If you would like to add your recommendations please contact us with the details of the location.
Bricklayers Arms, little Bentley, Essex
While heading to Piratemania Germany in our campervan via Harwich we discovered this basic pub stopover, free as long as you use the pub. The Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley, Essex is about 20 minutes from Harwich port making it very popular with campervan owners traveling from Harwich to Hook of Holland. The pub advertise space for 5 vans and request you phone ahead to reserve a space but the night we stayed there was at least 9 vans many of which had not booked. The food is very good and the beer excellent. Do check on opening times as we found they were different than quoted on the website.
For the geocacher there is a cache on the green opposite the pub GC8HCV4 K6 Red and many more locally including the 007 puzzle series.
Address: Bricklayers Arms, Little Bentley, Essex CO7 8SL
Telephone: 01206 250405
Coordinates: N 51° 53.428′ E 001° 04.518
Cost: Free as long as you use the pub
Facilities: None, apart from toilets during pub opening hours
Comments: Very friendly owners who welcome their campervan customers. Tuesday nights there is either live music or a quiz. No Caravans.
Manor Farm, Main Street, Catthorpe, Leicestershire
Manor Farm campsite is very close to Catthorpe Interchange, which is located at the southern end of the M6, the western end of the A14 and junction 19 of the M1. A convenient stopping point for anyone traveling along these major routes. The campsite gets very busy at weekends, during week nights they usually have space but it is still advisable to book. All the staff are very friendly and helpful. The farm shop is crammed with the farms own produce as well other locally produced products. We enjoyed a cooked breakfast in the farms cafe and stocked up on goodies from the shop before continuing our journey.
For the geocacher the nearest cache to the site is GC86JHC Lillaburna, sadly there is no caches in the village.
Address: Manor Farm, Main Street, Catthorpe, Leicestershire, LE17 6DB
Telephone: 01788 869002 option 22 (07766 756316 after 5pm)
Coordinates: N 52° 23.901 W 001° 11.501
Costs: Non electric per night £24 (includes up to 2 people)
Electric per night £32 (includes up to 2 people)
Dogs are welcome (max of 2 per pitch) FREE
Facilities: Each pitch is a generous 9m x 10m, grass, remember your levellers as there is a slope to the field. Electric hook up available. There is a double pod each with a shower, loo and basin. One has a hairdryer and both are heated with electric driers. There is also an outside sink for washing-up (please note, there are only 2 toilets on the site).
Comments: In the village there is a pub, The Cherry Tree, but currently it is only open at weekends and bank holidays.