It’s summertime, let’s go motorhoming!

Cross Keys Inn Aldeburgh

The Cross Keys Inn Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Well, not quite, judging by all the snow about at the moment. However, the clocks do go forward in the UK and Europe tonight. This is a time of year I love especially now we will have the brighter longer evenings. Imagine parking up your motorhome within walking distance of a nice pub and enjoying a drink as the sun goes down. It can be in the UK, Europe or wherever you fancy.

I have very fond memories of a lovely evening in May a few years ago, we were staying at the campsite in Aldeburgh, Suffolk and we popped out to the Cross Keys pub down on the seafront. The actual main street in Aldeburgh is named after the poet George Crabbe. The poet George Crabbe was born in Aldeburgh in 1754, died 1832, and the town forms a loose basis for his poems The Village’ and The Borough. He also wrote a poem about an Aldeburgh fisherman Peter Grimes, on which Benjamin Britten’s opera was based. Anyway back to the pub, The Cross Keys has a outdoor seating area on the beach side which is a great place to enjoy a pint of Southwold’s finest Adnams Ale.

The camp site in Aldeburgh is Church Farm Holiday Park, Church Farm Road, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5DW. This actually at the north end of Aldeburgh.

The town of Aldeburgh doesn’t seem to be suffering in the recession like some coastal resorts seem to at the moment, all the shops were taken and were mostly independent retailers. There are lots of places to eat and drink and two chip shops. There are only two small supermarkets, both the local Co-op, one on the main street and the other a 5 minute walk from the site. I seem to remember that there is a Waitrose in nearby Saxmundham.

The area is quite flat and there are footpaths everywhere. If you have a bike I’d recommend you take it even if you’ve not cycled for a while. People cycle everywhere and there are plenty of routes sign posted, it’s an excellent way to see Suffolk.

Grandpa in My Pocket

James Bowlam from 'Grandpa in My Pocket'

If you have children of a ‘CBeebies’ age you might like to know that ‘Grandpa in My Pocket’ is actually filmed in Aldeburgh, where it is called ‘Sunny Sands’. This is a children’s TV program starring 60s legend and Likely Lad – James Bowlam, who has a special shrinking cap that makes him become pocket sized. I must take my girls to Sunny Sands, before they get too big.