Exebridge Lakeside Caravan Club Site Friday 3rd July - Friday 20th July 2015

We had planned to be touring for a two week holiday at this time and had sites booked in Derbyshire at Chatsworth, then on to Yorkshire and finally Northumberland unfortunately the cold that both of us had was still taking its toll and so we cancelled.  We spent the first week of our holiday at home feeling generally sorry for ourselves and keeping ourselves awake at night coughing!  
Towards the end of the week we felt we could manage a trip away.  We both love Exmoor and have always had at least one camping trip a year under canvas on Exmoor at a fantastic campsite just outside Exford at Westermill Farm.  Our frequent visits meant that we knew the top end of the moor very well but we were not so familiar with the lower end of the moor towards Devon. The Caravan Club has three sites in the Exmoor area Minehead, Dulverton (Exmoor House) and Exebridge Lakeside.  We decided to try Exebridge.  We were not disappointed.  
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The site overlooks beautiful countryside and is set on three levels
There are grass and hardstanding pitches as well as some serviced pitches.  We chose a grass pitch on the top level.  Although the road from Tiverton runs behind the site we didn't find it too noisy.  The weather forecast for extensive thunder storms did not materialise. There was a clap of thunder, a few lightning flashes and some heavy rain that was shortlived.

What did keep us awake was the coughing, had we made the right decision to travel? Saturday morning we went to the lovely little town of Dulverton, to buy cakes and pies (the best pies ever) a treat we always indulge in when on Exmoor.  We also visited the chemist for some cough mixture in the hope of peaceful night's sleep.  We returned to the caravan and spent the rest of the day catching up on sleep.  Sunday morning was mainly misty to start with but turned to sunshine in typical Exmoor fashion. We found Tesco's in Tiverton and stocked up on provisions. Back on site we walked around the lakes that give the site its name and that lead to the Anchor Pub on the main road.
Monday we visited Westermill Farm at Exford. We bought a cake on the way and spent the morning in the farmhouse kitchen with the owners the  Edwards family, eating cake and drinking coffee.  On our return to the caravan we cooked our pies on the Cadac using it like an oven, another cooking option but you do need to use a wire rack to keep the bottom of the pies from burning.  
Tuesday we went to find the sea.  Drove to Bideford and on to Croyde and were sad to find that there was no traditional seaside as we had imagined it.  There were lots of surfers out and vast expanses of sand but we didn't find much else, we may have been looking in the wrong place!
Wednesday we decided to get back to familiar ground and visited Lynmouth and Minehead where the tradition of fish and chips from the shop on the harbour at Lynmouth was upheld.

Thursday we decided to make use of our National Trust membership and visit Knightshayes Court near Tiverton.  The house was once owned by the Heathcote-Amory family who had a lace factory in nearby Tiverton which can be seen from the master bedroom of the house.  The house is built in a gothic style and has some interesting features including a galleried landing.  There are extensive grounds and woods to wander through.

Friday we packed up to go home the time has gone by so quickly we both feel we could live like this for a month easily.  It would be good to travel around as we had planned to do and hopefully we will do this on our next holiday.