Moulin de Campech

... a little bit of heaven on earth. We selected this site chiefly for it's situation: a reasonable drive to the ferry at Santander and not too close to the crowded coast but also partly because of its English owners and the fact that we could speak to them and clearly understand the situation, which is that we're at high season and Bastille Day is this Sunday, so like any bank holiday in UK there's going to be high occupation. Lady Marian spoke to them and booked for six nights. We arrived here on Thursday afternoon and as I drew in to the site I was closely followed by a large camper with an Andorran license plate. I gave my details to the owner at reception and while she was getting something for me the driver of the other van spoke to me in unaccented English. As we walked the site to select our pitch we noticed that every car or campervan we saw had a UK plate. So Moulin de Campech-shire it is!

I've never been one to go for the Little Englands on holiday, always feeling that I like to experience the culture of the place where we're staying but I have to say that at the end of our longish holiday, where we've seen very few Brits (except for our time with M's sister), it is a joy to be able to find out things easily, relax and and chat a little to fellow campers.

But that's just part of it. The site is nicely laid out with just 47 hedged pitches and trees giving shade for part of the day. The wc & shower facilities, although not the most modern, are beautifully clean. There's a very nicely kept swimming pool, ideal for a dip and for sunbathing but there's very little for children, so consequently there aren't many, meaning it's fairly quiet with no bikes buzzing around the place. There's a lake with trout and carp for those who want to fish, or those who like to look at water. There's a bar at the reception area and a restaurant which opens for just a few hours, you have to order before eight, which suits us fine and it looks out over the lake. Yes, there are a few mossies but not too bad at all.

Tonight there will be a barbecue and dancing afterwards (Rock'n'Roll and Salsa - coincidentally two of the dances we learned earlier in the year). As I said, a little bit of heaven on earth or Little England at its best.

I hope you're enjoying the heat wave. We'll be back home in a few days so save some for us!

David