(30th May 2021)
DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY, GO SEE FOR YOURSELF
Off to Plymouth in the south west of England to view the university with Berty and Little Blue came too.
The first trip for my daughter, the youngest of my three and exciting for us all. My only concern...she can be a messy little minx who tends to live amongst a pile of clothes! Not ideal in the confinement of a camper van.
Decided to trial the park4night app for this trip. It's easy to use - download the app, type your chosen area into the search bar and you're away. I would advise reading all or as many of the reviews as you can. They really paint a picture of a place and can help you to make an informed decision on the stay that suits you best. The app is great, a FREE park4night can generally be found for wherever you are and the app costs nothing...it's a thumbs up from me.
We found a lovely spot, Devils Point, in a car park overlooking the ocean. There were no height restrictions and had space for around 50 vehicles. There are regularly cleaned toilets (20p) and showers (£1) a couple of minutes walk away and a tidal swimming pool (free) about a 5 minute walk away. There is also a coffee and snack shack which is useful if you don't have cooking facilities in your van.
It was a perfect central base from which to explore the city on foot (which, after all, she will be doing as a student). It's a 20 minutes walk to the city and university along the coastal path and a 5 minute walk in the opposite direction takes you to the lovely Royal Dockyard. This is a lively area with a variety of restaurants and bars...loved it!
Just a couple of things to consider at Devils Point:
The car park is on a slope so wheel chucks are useful.
There was some disturbance from youngsters in their noisy cars for a short while (late evening) but nothing that would stop me staying there again.
PLYMOUTH IN A SNAPSHOT
PLYMOUTH HOE
Great views across the sound from the park lands of Plymouth Hoe...how do you know you're in the right place?Just head to the iconic Smeatons Tower, the red & white striped lighthouse, you can't miss it. I t really is a great spot with superb views.
TINSIDE LIDO
The swimming pool in the sea and yes, it is seawater so yes, it is cold but very refreshing on a hot sunny day. It's clean, extremely well maintained and certainly big enough to actually swim in. There is normally an entrance fee but as we visited at the time of reopening following Covid restrictions, there was no entry charge for us. We will definitely visit again and would be only too happy to pay for this great facility.
THE BARBICAN
This is a popular,vibrant area of quaint cobbled streets with independent shops and interesting historical buildings. It has a plethora of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from. Really loved this area, very relaxed with a chilled vibe, gorgeous on a sunny summers day.
ROYAL DOCKYARD
Just a short walk away from Devils Point and what a find this was. With its impressive naval architecture, this dockyard has been given a new lease of life and is an amazing place to eat, drink and watch the sunset over the water. Stunning area with a variety of bars and restaurants...I would definitely recommend, I'll be back.
PLYMOUTH GIN DISTILLERY
Not to be missed if gin is your tipple of choice. The tour included the history of distilling, botanicals talk, taster sessions, a gin at the bar and a money off voucher should you choose to purchase a bottle of this gorgeous gin...good job we were walking.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT TO KNOW IT
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