Willowmere was our first ever campsite and as a result, holds a special place in our heart. It was a great site for newbies like us. Not too big or overcrowded. Very clean with all the amenities we would need. It was nice and quiet and was within walking distance to the nearest pub. There were also some good local walks to explore and Lavenham, with all its history and unusual slanting buildings, was a short drive away.

That said, there was no getting away from the fact that this was a ‘test’. Before setting off, we had had a dry run of putting the tent up , in our house but how would we cope with life under canvas? Sleeping in a small 3-person tent with little space left over after we had squeezed in our king size inflatable mattress. Not to mention trying to find space for our dog Sam. He’s not the biggest dog but insists on finding that space between us at every opportunity. We had to leave the majority of our equipment and clothes in our car. Which was fine as it was parked right next to our tent.

In the end, we easily adapted to our new found love of camping, which was enhanced by sitting outside in the sun and firing up a portable BBQ (which has quickly become a tradition) and drinking lots of wine. We also got chatting to a lovely German couple who had parked up in their Motorhome on their way to meet their daughter. This was another dimension to camping that appealed to us. Meeting people from other places with stories to tell.

It was also during this trip that another tradition was started. Following the sun. We had vaguely planned this trip –” We’ve got 10 days; Let’s follow the sun”.

So after only three nights in Willowmere Camping & Caravan Park, we said our goodbyes to a friendly and welcoming campsite and headed for Middlewood Lane, North Yorkshire.211 mile away but that’s where the sun was.