A Weekend at Blackshaw Moor CC

We have just returned from a wonderful weekend at the Blackshaw Moor CC site. This was our third visit to this site in the last 12 months and it continues to be one of our favourites.

The site was a former Prisoner of War Camp during the second world war and is just 40 miles from home making it an ideal option for short weekends away. We arrived at the site around 4.30pm on the Friday and opted to pitch on one of the smaller gladed areas to the higher rear of the site which we prefer best.  The pitches at the lower part of the site can suffer from road noise and in particular from motor bikes who enjoy the moorland roads in the area especially on a pleasant Sunday!

Having enjoyed the peace and quiet of the site for the remainder of Friday we were up early on Saturday morning and made the short drive – approx 4 miles – to the centre of Leek. It is a lovely shopping centre with a wide variety of shops and a market.  We even enjoyed the large troupe of Morris Men who were dancing in the centre that morning.

Having stocked up on all those naughty but nice goodies to satisfy my sweet tooth and apparently ever increasing waist line we made the short drive – approx. 15 – 20 minutes – to Hulme End and the start of the Manifold Trail. This area is rich with small villages nestled in the valleys amidst wild moorland giving a taste of everything good in England.

We had a quick cuppa at the café housed in the old engine shed next to the information centre before setting off for a wonderful afternoons walking along the Manifold Trail. The trail follows the old track bed of the long lost Manifold Light Railway and takes you along a varied and every changing landscape as you progress along the valley.

Dependent on the recent weather you may enjoy the river running along side the trail but it can apparently run dry after spells of dry weather. Needless to say on our visit we were accompanied by the relaxing sound of running water for most of our walk

Along the route you can if you wish take a short detour and take the steep climb up to Thors Cave. Its well worth the effort not just for the cave itself - which you can enter - but for the views of the surrounding area – magnificent.

During Saturday afternoon we walkers were out numbered by cyclist and we kept having to stop to allow them to pass. Just a small niggle but it didn’t spoil our enjoyment on a lovely afternoons walk in some gorgeous countryside.

We woke up on Sunday morning to lovely sunshine and after paying a pitch fee to extend our stay for the whole of the day – the wardens want 12 noon departures -  we set off for the Tittesworth Reservoir  which is a short walk from the site itself. The 4 mile walk around the reservoir may not be exciting but it is pleasant and on this day with the wind blowing certainly bracing with the Roaches providing a stunning back drop.

At the car park of the reservoir there is a great visitors centre with what looked like an excellent café. Opposite the visitors centre there is also a large children’s play area filled with equipment for all ages. Families could easily spend the day here without having to spend a great deal of money. Picnic and barbecue areas are also provided.

We returned to our van early afternoon enjoying a relaxing lunch enjoying the peace and quiet of the site and the views of the Roaches in the distance. We set of home around 5pm for the short 80 minute journey having enjoyed a great weekend on a great site without a great deal of expense on pitch fees or fuel.

The joys of caravanning – what a wonderful  lifestyle!!  Can’t wait for the Jubilee Weekend and our longer trip to the Frairs Ing CL at Leyburn!