It was a last minute decision to join friends camping in the Cotswolds last week. They had found an adults only, over 30s site just outside of Bourton on the Water so we were hoping that it would be a tranquil and peaceful campsite. Field Barn Park was that and more. Generous 100sqm pitches with hedges for privacy, electric hook up and water points near every other pitch. Although a mile and a half from the hubbub of Bourton, it could have been 500 miles away as it was so relaxing and calm. It even had a farm shop with an honesty box and food waste disposal (a rarity on UK campsites).

We arrived on the Monday afternoon (August 18) just before our friends, Caroline and Val with their gorgeous dog, Luca. We had a chilled evening with a BBQ in the setting evening sun. A perfect start.

Next morning, Sue and Sheila arrived in their little Go-Pod caravan. It’s a tiny caravan but very sweet and easy to tow. After a late breakfast/brunch we walked over the fields into Bourton to find it overflowing with tourists. It felt like an assault on the senses. We quickly ducked into a pub before making our way back to the campsite as the next lot of friends, Ben and Liz, were arriving late afternoon. The weather was good enough for another BBQ and we were all in bed by 22.30 which was probably no bad thing for the rest of the campsite with all our chattering!

Going away with friends is about lazy mornings and late breakfasts, which we did in style as we never ventured out of the campsite before 13.00! On Wednesday we had a shortish walk through fields before meeting up with our old hairdresser from Harpenden who now lives in Burford. It was only a 20 minute journey to her house and so good to catch up with all her news. Back to the campsite a delicious Indian takeaway delivered to the site.

On Thursday we decided that we would walk to Hawkstone Brewery just outside of Bourton. It is owned by Jeremy Clarkson and had a tap room. More importantly, no one needed to drive. The beer was quite good if a little pricey but the shop was doing a roaring trade with cases of beer being sold every minute. It was a five mile round trip which Jo managed (just) and was the longest she had walked for well over a year. Once back at the campsite, it was time for another BBQ to make the most of the weather.

Caroline, Val and Luca were leaving Friday morning so the six of us who were left decided to drive to the nearby Sherbourne Park Estate for a walk in the National Trust grounds. It was a delightful walk that started at Ewe Pen Barn and took us through the estate and the village of Sherbourne where it was compulsory to stop for a bite to eat at the local shop/cafe.

As it was our last night, we took advantage of the pizza van that comes to the site on a Friday evening. They weren’t bad and it saved on the washing up. We went to bed relatively early as we all needed to be up and away promptly on the Saturday morning.

We decided that we would make a slight detour on the way home to visit the Farmer’s Dog pub, owned by Clarkson, just outside of Burford. The large car park was beginning to fill up at 10 in the morning. The pub itself was shut but the farm shop and tap room were open. We picked up a sausage roll and a lamb pasty for lunch and then made our way to Asthall village where the Mitford sisters were raised. The six sisters were pretty notorious during the 1930s and 1940s. There’s a Netflix drama, Outrageous, that gives you a good insight into their lives. Just outside the village, we spotted Ellen Degeneres’ home/farm. We couldn’t get very close but the public footpath did allow us a view of it.

After lunch in the van, we made our way home arriving back around 14.00. A lovely few days away despite being August and in a very touristy part of the UK.

Miles since last trip: 188