It's a relatively hilly site, but all pitches are level, most being hard-standing, and a large proportion come available with an electric hook-up. The toilet & shower block looked to be very new, and there is a pub and swimming pool on site.
We had previously visited in our car to have a look around, and had booked a specific pitch (number 48) which was in a great location overlooking the gorgeous Purbeck hills with a view down towards Swanage Bay.
We arrived in the dark, but had no trouble finding the pitch and getting everything organised. This was the first time we had used the electric hook-up, so to make sure everything was set-up correctly I referred to the motorhome owners manual, just to ensure that I didn't end up frying Annie or myself to a crisp! All went well, and within a few minutes we had power in the van, and were settling in for an evening in Big Brig. The blinds were all closed, and we felt really cosy & homely inside our Big Brigadier.
Another first-time experience was using the oven! On our Red Shoot evening we had cheated a little and eaten in the pub. So on the first night at Ulwell Annie cranked up the gas oven, and rustled up a superb meal of roasted piri-piri chicken thighs, ratatouille, stuffed mushrooms and chips! Mighty delicious it was too!
We went to bed early that night as both of us were exhausted from the week at work. The bed in Big Brig is made up by pulling the seats together in the rear lounge, to make an enormous double bed! We had also bought a brand-new duvet specifically for the van, which made everything feel so much more special (previously we had used the duvet we have on our bed at home, which meant carting it into and out of Big Brig when packing up and unpacking).
Awaking on the Saturday morning, the caravan park was covered in a thin mist, which gave the surrounding hills a haunted appearance. We were up early having both slept well, and within an hour we had both had a shower, and finished breakfast. We headed off into Swanage on foot, and as the morning progressed the sun came out and really took the chill out of the air.
Annie on Swanage promenade during our walk into the town
We spent a good few hours mooching around Swanage, not really buying anything, but just gathering ideas for Christmas presents. We also had a little flutter in the amusement arcade, and for once in our lives we came out on top, walking away with £26 more than we arrived with! A vary rare occasion!
On the way back to Ulwell we toasted our good fortune with a Mr Whippy ice cream (it seemed crazy to be eating ice cream in November!).
Our plans for the evening were the primary reason for camping in Swanage. It was fireworks night, and we had seen a advertisment for a pub in Corfe Castle (Corfe Castle info from the National Trust) that was putting on a display and also had a band playing afterwards. So we spruced ourselves up and then hopped into a taxi for the short trip over to Swanage.
The views over the castle are stunning, and as we arrived the sun was just beginning to set, bathing the ruins in an amber glow.
We spent an hour perusing the village shops, and then headed to the Bankes Arms Hotel (www.corfecastlehotel.co.uk) for a couple of pre-dinner drinks, before swapping to the Greyhound Inn (www.greyhoundcorfe.co.uk) for food and the firework display.
After the display we hurried back inside the Greyhound to find a good position to watch the band, which didn't disappoint. The rest of the evening was spent singing along at the top of our voices to all the hits that the band covered.
In the Greyhound Inn enjoying the live band
As you may well imagine, there were a couple of sore heads in Big Brig the following morning, but our check-out time from Ulwell was 11am, so we hauled ourselves out of bed, and got everything cleared away and packed up on time. We decided to drive in to Swanage for a spot of breakfast on the beachfront, and then we parked up for a couple of hours right on the promenade and just read papers & magazines, enjoyed the views, and watched all the tourists milling about. We have found that people can't really see into the motorhome due to the windows being partially tinted, which provides a great sense of privacy even though we can see out completely unimpeded.
Chilling on Swanage seafront
Mid afternoon we headed back to Studland to catch the chain ferry back over to Poole (Map), heading home.
In the queue for the chain ferry across the mouth of Poole Harbour
Sandbanks Beach public phone box - isolated and wind battered, often 4 foot deep in sand!
So that was the end of our first proper weekend in Big Brigadier. Both Annie & I had thoroughly enjoyed it, and our heads were full of pleasing thoughts of where our next adventure in Big Brigadier would take us...
