Our last trip this year before we put the van to bed for the winter we drove to Robin Hoods Bay to stop for 4 nights at Hooks House caravan park.

Misty on arrival and next day fog covered the site and bay but as soon as we drove out of site towards Whitby there was none!

Drove to Grosmont and did a 7 mile hike over to Goathland across the moors, with a little veer off course (its Roy's speciality). Arrived just in time to see a steam train come in. Good job we didn't choose tomorrow to do this walk as The Flying Scotsman is coming, it will be manic! Lovely flat trail back to Grosmont on cinder path. Roy had a little reminisce at the tunnel where there used to be cottages where he stayed as a child for holidays.

FUNGI TIME

Tuesday, another 7 mile walk from the campsite down into Robin Hoods Bay then up along the cliff path to Boggle Hole ( tide was in so couldn't walk along the beach). We had to stop for a coffee/hot chocolate and a shared cake despite only having walked half a mile! Inland then on peaceful tracks which seemed mostly uphill but with views back to Ravenscar! Past Ramsdale Mill, Fylingthorpe posh school then on to another cinder path and back.

Our last day, we walked from the site along the Cinder path to Stoupe beck, sadly tide was still in so we went over the cliff top to Boggle Hole for the obligatory tea, hot chocolate and cake. Still the tide was in so more climbing out of the Hole along the cliffs to Robin Hoods Bay and back to the site. Roy said it was about 4 miles! I reckoned 5 at least! We had a bit of a sea fret while eating lunch at Stoupe Beck then amazingly the sun came out.

Roy trying Nordic walking to help his aching knee

STOUPE BECK

LUNCH AT STOUPE BECK

MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2025

After a huge thunderstorm last night the day turned out fine, just a little cooler.

Drove into Luz Saint Sauveur and had a sightseeing, shopping day. Visited the market, the Eglise Templiers, Chateau de Saint Marie and Pont Napoleon. A lovely day!

Anne at the Chateau

PONT NAPOLEON

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

Sunny day, drove up really windy mountain roads through Cauterets, did a 2 hour walk up and back along some pretty cascades. Had lunch half way then went in car up more devilish roads to Pont d'Espagne, 8 Euros to park for day a huge complex with cable cars and magnificent falls. Back for a swim.

WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER

A hot sunny day, we drove half an hour to Gavarnie to hike the spectacular Cirque de Gavarnie, attracts more than half a million visitors a year. The glacier - scoured wall of rock rises more than 1300m/4265ft from the valley floor with a circumference over 3km/2 ml.

We did a 7 mile circular hike to the base of the Grande Cascade and back along a high narrow trail through woods. A hike not to be missed, its cirque is one of the great spectacles of the world. Photos do not do it justice as sun so strong. Loved it!

FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

Drove up to the Col de Tentes to hike to the Refuge des Sarradets for the magnificent view of the Breche de Roland, a gap in the wall of rock that forms a natural frontier between France and Spain. Legend insists that this curious breach in solid rock was caused by a blow from Durandel, the indestructible sword thrown by Roland when he was mortally wounded by his Saracen foe.

The scenery was magnificent, the hike quite hard but so worth the effort. I was so proud of myself.

SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER

We pretended we were in the Tour de France but drove up the Col du Tourmalet, what an epic ride! Hundreds of cyclists and motor bikes joined the race up!

We then finally found the cable car to take us up the Pic du Midi with the observatory on the top! Two cable car rides took us up to the roof of the world with hundreds of mountains below us, what an awe inspiring area!

MONDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

Long drive yesterday as we left the beautiful Pyrennes, took 6 and half hours but easy as lot on motorway which was cheap. Arrived at the coast to discover it was heaving with tourists First 2 campsites full but pleased as we discovered a lovely little quiet site - Aire Naturelle Les Bruyeres with electric and showers and loo for 15 euros,

We did some shopping then drove to the very famous Grande Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe. The whole place was a bit like butlins carparks, coffee shops, tourist stuff but the Dune itself was amazing. Had a walk a fair way on the top before coming down instead of the steps we went up on we ran down! Roy bless him lost his boots off back of rucsac as I was videoing.

TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

Drove from Biscarrosse to Chaille les Marais had an hour and half queue around Bordeaux but rest of journey fine on motorway.

Lovely campsite Lille Carrot near Maran. Had swim in warm pool then good chat with a couple who were from Malton and she goes wild swimming at Pool Bridge.

Roy went back for some diesel. Got lovely frites from Snack bar on site to go with burgers Sunny and warm after cool start.

Wednesday 10 September

Rained overnight, left at 10-20 and arrived at 4.20. crazy drive stuck for an hour in La Roche sur Yon with protestors blocking the slip road with them only letting one or two at a time through, then took wrong slot an then went wrong way on motorway luckily got off soon then went long way round Nantes and finally arrived in Brittany at Camping du Menhir near Sarzeau.

MAREUIL SUR LAY DISSAIS

PLAGE DU KERVER

CAMPING DU MENHIR NEAR SARZEAU

THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

Mixed weather sunshine and showers, we drove a few miles to look at the Chateau de Suscinio, thinking we would just take some pics. It was superb, cost 12 euros to go round and took us 2 hours, then we did a 45 minute walk around the lake to the plage de Suscinio.

FRIDAY 12 SEPTEMBER

A sunshine day with cool winds at times. Drove to near Port Navalo on the Golfe du Morbihan. Had a walk along the coast past different beaches. My first impression of Brittany is Plages, Bateaux and La Mer!

SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

A rainy drive for 4 hours over to the north side and then the sun came out! Arrived at Camping Tourney about 2,30 and was heaving but we managed to get one of the last site. Had a lovely walk on part of Le Sentier des Douaniers de Ploumanac'h. Superb!

SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

A cloudy day but missed the showers, we did the other part of Le Sentier des Douaniers de Ploumanac'h along La Cote de Granit Rose, including the superb Sculpture Park.

MONDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

We left for our last campsite in St Malo, rainy day on and off. Queued 3/4 hour for a man to cut the pittling small amount of grass on outer road along barrier, Crazy!

Got to lovely site in a Chateau - Domaine de la Ville Huchet 25 euros a night. had 2 pools. Found Aldi for last bit of shopping.