We need a brill site for a sick child?

[Jane_5071203]

My husband and I are fairly new to caravanning. We were hoping to be quite adventurous this year - however, sadly our 14yr old daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia in April this year and is undergoing some very vigourous chemo which will last 2 years!

The hospital have said she has a break in treatment though before they start again - and there is a 10-14 day break from 8th-10th July.

My plea to you all is PLEASE can you tell us a good place to visit to make her one and only break this year a good one? We had thought of Longleat - but apart from the Park and Bath we didn't think there would be much else to do. Katie (our daughter) fancied Emmerdale country - but would that be hard as she is a wheelchair for long distances?

We have a mini schnauzer who we like to take with us so we are looking for a dog-friendly, fun/interesting, beautiful place to go. PLEASE HELP!

Jane Costigan, Winchester.

 

[Gary_5039903]

Emmerdale country (Yorkshire) is great for walking, but I don't think there will be much to see & do if your daughter has to use a wheelchair. Its all down to the individual, but I always say you can't beat Cornwall & Devon for a mixed variety of entertainment. The Isle of Wight would be another good place.

 

[Matthew_5040954]

How about Strid Wood near Bolton Abbey, this is a CC site and though I never been to this site I live only a few miles away, there are lots of walk that can be access with a wheelchair plus it's not far from the market town of Skipton with it's castle, there's also Haworth famed for the Brontes only about 15 miles away and you can either drive their or stop off at Keighley and get a steam train to Haworth on the Worth Valley Railway thinking about it you could get the train from Skipton to Keighley and then the train from Keighley to Haworth as the Worth Valley Railway starts at the keighley station.

Then there's the City of leeds thats easily accessible by both car or train, Settle and the surrounding area

Anyway hope this is helpful

Matthew

 

[Tina3]

Hi Jane

I'm sure you are going to get lots of replys with people desperate to help you out! I agree that Cornwall will probably have the excact mix you require, between a bit of adventure and some relaxing quiet times, wherever you go best wishes to you all and especially your daughter,have a great hol wherever you decide !xx

 

[CaptainKangaroo]

Go to the Isle of Wight,

My two boys (10 + 9) loved it earlier this year, even out of season there is plenty to see and do. Go to the tourist info website to see the full range of things to see and do

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Hi Jane. Try Widend Caravan site at Marldon near Paignton. The site is very clean and wheelchair friendly. THere is a small clubhouse on the site overlooking the swimming pool (no entertainment just social drinks). The site is also very central for Torquay and Paignton. Paignton has the steam railway running along the coast to Dartmouth which is a pretty run and Dartmouth is a small nice shopping town. I think you will find this site quite central also for other attractions such as Totness, Newton Abbot, etc. The site fees are very reasonable and the owners are extremely helpful . There is also a dog walk on the site. The telephone number is (01803) 550116 and speak to Julie. (The brochure you will receive does not do the site justice - I have told them this).

 

[CliveV]

Hi Jane

I am biased because I am lucky enough to live here but what about the New Forest. Sandy Balls Holiday camp has fantastic facilities (we use them in the non-holiday times) and I am sure they would look after you well if you let them know the situation.

Bournemouth, Southampton, Salisbury & IoW all within easy driving distance.

Incidently Sandy Balls refers to the geological sandy areas that exist at the northern edge of the New Forest.

Very easy to get to via M3, A34 or A36 though the later is not so good as the first two.

Hope this helps

 

[CliveV]

Hi Jane. Try Widend Caravan site at Marldon near Paignton. The site is very clean and wheelchair friendly. THere is a small clubhouse on the site overlooking the swimming pool (no entertainment just social drinks). The site is also very central for Torquay and Paignton. Paignton has the steam railway running along the coast to Dartmouth which is a pretty run and Dartmouth is a small nice shopping town. I think you will find this site quite central also for other attractions such as Totness, Newton Abbot, etc. The site fees are very reasonable and the owners are extremely helpful . There is also a dog walk on the site. The telephone number is (01803) 550116 and speak to Julie. (The brochure you will receive does not do the site justice - I have told them this).

That sounds really good - I have just rung them for a brochure myself.

Lets hope Jane & her daughter have a great time wherever the choose.

 

[Lorraine_5040934]

Hello Jane

Hope your daughter is making good progress and keeping her chin up. I love Cornwall and Devon but some of the places can be slightly awkward with a wheelchair. If she loves Yorkshire, there is the Caravan Club site at Hawes (Brown Moor) with lovely facilities and a fairly level site for the wheelchair. From this site you can stroll (all level) into the village of Hawes with lovely shops and all quite picturesque. There are lovely surrounding walks for the dog and some very pretty car drives, i.e. over the Buttertubs Pass to the highest pub in England at Tan Hill - its really pretty.

Strid Wood is also very pretty although the site does have some quite steep hills and there is a very fast flowing deep river (The Wharf) behind the site which involves walking down a steep slope through woodland. Yorkshire is a hilly county.

The New Forest is a good "flat" area, and also so is Norfolk, we stayed on the Sandringham Caravan Club site which is also flat, from there you can visit Sandringham itself, Kings Lynn and the surrounding coastal towns (all quite flat apart from Cromer which has slopes to get onto the beach). Hope your family enjoy a very happy holiday together. Best Wishes.

 

[Jane_5071203]

Thank you all sooo very much for all your ideas. We are looking at them all to make a decision. We'll let you know where we go and how we've got on.

Thanks again.

Janex

 

[LadyMaureen]

Hi Jane,you haven't said what area you live in and how far you want to travel.Let us know and then we can maybe throw in some more suggestions.

 

[petercoachman]

hi jane hope your daughter gets better soon do try sanndy balls in the new forest there are some walks that are wheel chair freindly and all the little fouls are around at the mowment they also have an indoor swimming pool nice site and you are close to bournmouth portsmouth and southampton which all offer plenty to do our daughter had hodgkins when she was 20 she's now 42 and fine it's a lousey couple of years all the best