Our July 2026 Journey to the UK
July has a way of making travel feel larger than life. The days stretch long, the light lingers late. That is how our July 2026 journey to the UK began: with over packed camper, a loose plan, and the quiet excitement of finally seeing places we had talked about for years.
We did not try to see everything. The United Kingdom may look compact on a map, but it is full of layers: Roman walls, medieval streets, royal parks, seaside piers, train platforms, tiny tea rooms, and villages where time seems to slow down. Instead of racing from landmark to landmark, we built the trip around a few meaningful stops and left room for wandering.
Our route took us through Sussex, Kent, Yorkshire, the midlands , and into Wales.
Our July 2026 Journey to the UK gave us more than a set of photos. It gave us a new sense of how much variety can fit into one trip: capital city energy, Roman history, village quiet, medieval streets, and northern drama. Each place had its own mood, yet the route connected naturally.
What made the journey work was not a perfect plan. It was the balance between structure and space. We knew where we were going, but we did not fill every hour. That left room for rest, wrong turns, and unexpected favorites.
That is what the trip became in the end. Not a race across the UK, but a collection of clear, lasting moments. July gave them long light. The journey gave them meaning.
After a leisurely drive through France, we boarded the ferry at Dieppe for a smooth crossing to Newhaven, disembarking with minimal delays.
We then headed to Ramsgate for our first night’s stop, both of us noting the poor condition of the UK roads and the litter scattered along the roadside.
first stop was the chippy some thing we miss living in France
Next morning after a good breakfast with friends we hit the road travelling to Bempton in Yorkshire we where hoping to see the puffins but we where to late we missed them by a few days we stopped for the night high in the Yorkshire Dales at the Bear inn having an excellent meal before retiring for the night in the camper
Next morning we traveled to Crich to visit the National Tram museum in Crich upon entry you was given an old penny which you used to purchase your tram ticket National Tramway Museum - Wikipedia
followed by a visit to the Great British car museum. The Great British Car Museum is an interactive attraction located in Ambergate, Derbyshire, England. It features over 150 iconic British cars, offering visitors an immersive experience into the history of British motoring. The museum is family-friendly, with activities for all ages, including quizzes, challenges, and a Mini Land Rover Adventure. It also offers a unique driving experience where visitors can drive their own cars, complete with digital cameras to capture the moment. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
welcome to rip off Britain 32 quid to park in a field not even a shower block but the only place you can camp close to Bempton cliffs . Bempton Cliffs, on the spectacular Yorkshire coast, is home to one of the UK's top wildlife spectacles. Around half a million seabirds gather here between March and August to raise a family on the towering chalk cliffs that overlook the North Sea.
The huge white chalk cliffs at Bempton are impressive at any time of year. But visit between April and July, and you'll find them transformed into England’s largest seabird city. Here Puffins, Gannets, Kittiwakes and Guillemots live life on the edge. There are more Gannets acrobatically diving into the deep here than anywhere else on mainland England.
We spent 2 days here walking and cycling the cliff tops We moved on to visit friends in Barnsly stopping on the way and spent the night beside the canel at Barnby Dun
After our visit to friends in Barnsly we headed for Wales firststop was Ryhl
no glamorous stop tonight just parked up in a line of camper by the harbour next morning saw us at Rhuddlan castle Rhuddlan Castle (Welsh: Castell Rhuddlan; Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ ˈr̥ɨðlan]) is a castle located in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, Wales. It was erected by Edward I in 1277, following the First Welsh War.
Much of the work was overseen by master mason James of Saint George. Rhuddlan, which was not completed until 1282, was built concurrently with Flint Castle, at a time when King Edward I of England was consolidating his conquest of Wales. It was temporarily his residence, and his daughter, Elizabeth, is presumed to have been born there.
next stop was the Orme tram The Great Orme Tramway is Britain’s only funicular, or cable-hauled, tramway that travels on public roads. Delighting visitors since it opened in 1902.
The Tramway climbs a mile (1500m) through the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve to the Great Orme’s spectacular summit. Re-live the experience of travel more than 100 years ago in the lovingly restored original tramcars, each named after a Saint.
After a good walk around the hills we drove to Beaumaris where we found a layby right beside the coast we where woken in the morning by the sound of water lapping against the seawall
after breakfast we moved on to Porthmadog
After refreshments we arrived at Tan-Y-Bwitch station
Harlech castle was the last stop of the day
that evening found us camping beside the estury at Llechrb
Driving alone the road we spotted a sign for Castell Henllys Iron Age Village this is a unique historical site located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, offering a glimpse into the lives of Iron Age communities. Visitors can explore authentic roundhouses, participate in
Castell castle
that night we went to a stopover beside a river the directions said narrow lane we had to pull the mirrors in to fit between the walls at the top of the lane
we drove to Fishguard loads of narrow streets and lack of suitable parking places ment we could not stop and explore
Melincourt waterfalls we stayed the night here after for about 1/2 hour all uphill walk we found the water falls but due to it being such a dry summer there was not much of a flow
Next stop Breacon beacons national park
Brecon catheral Standing at the heart of the historic market town of Brecon, Brecon Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon. It is both a place of worship and a living heritage site, welcoming pilgrims, visitors, and worshippers from across Wales and beyond.
Brecon Cathedral's story stretches back over 900 years, beginning as the priory church of a Benedictine community founded in 1093. Built on the site of an earlier Celtic church, the Cathedral has been a place of Christian witness for centuries, shaped by the prayers, music, and ministry of generations.
Today, it serves as a vibrant centre of worship and mission for the diocese, offering daily services, special events, and a warm welcome to all who enter its doors.
Brecon canal basin
for our wedding anniversary we went to the Coach and Horses a village pub beside the canal
Next morning saw us heading for Tretower house and castle A visit to Tretower Court and Castle is a unique journey through history spanning five centuries. Against the backdrop of the Brecon Beacons stands a stark round tower, clearly a military fortification of great antiquity. Its companion piece, in contrast, is a handsome stone manor house.
Oldest Tretower is a substantial 13th century stone keep built on the remnants of an earlier Norman earthwork castle. By the more settled 14th century, the castle's inhabitants felt secure enough to build a spacious new court. This evolved into the glorious house we now see before us, a fine example - rare in Wales - of a grand late-medieval country residence adorned with exceptional woodworking.
having spent the morning wandering around we decided the next stop would be the Cotswolds but then disaster struck Di said i can smell burning i said yes look the hedges and banks have been on fire...... 5 mile further on and smell is still there and getting stronger we stop and notice smoke coming from the fridge vents ripping them off we discover the wiring to the fridge has burnt out every thing disconected and straight back to my sons workshop in Ashford here we discover the module on the back of the fridge has melted so new one ordered takes a week to arrive wiring renewed fit new module and wiring starts to get hot fridge is faulty so new fridge ordered only 3 days to be delivered Then the hot water system failed faulty controller orderd saturday for delivery tuesday phoned seller wedneaday morning sorry been busy will post by lunch time tracking shows he posted it at 17.58 first class then takes royal mail untill Monday to deliver it and it arrives broken
managed to get it all done in time to catch the ferry home
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