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DATE: 4-10 SEPTEMBER 2025

Seemed like a good idea to have a few “end of the season” days away, since I’d elected NOT to go away for my more “usual” 4 weeks in September (normally Scotland ). I think part of it had to do with two important medical appointments, so travel had to fit round them and any potential consequences. 

I was also in need of a steam train “fix”….

I always like to wrap my short away travels around some sort of event, which this time was a camping/caravan/motorhome show at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet. 

This was closely followed by the East Somerset Railway – just up the road from where I was camping. The second half of the week included the Swanage Railway (on the Isle of Purbeck) and a severely sprained ankle – more of that later……

September 4^th. First campsite stop was the Oakhill Camping and Caravan site situated on the edge of the Mendip Hills, based on a working family farm in a small Somerset village called Ashwick. It’s what the Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) call a Certified Site, which basically means it’s a small site with reasonably sensible facilities, but not as big as a full CCC site. 

Thankfully, nice and dry for tent erection after a VERY wet journey from home. There was more rain overnight…… was my normal holiday good weather mojo about to desert me ?????? 

Next day nice and sunny for the South West Motorhome and Campervan Show 2025 at the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet. Never been before, so a bit of a novelty. As usual, plenty of stands trying to sell you stuff that you probably don’t really need, plus ginormously expensive motorhomes by the dozen.  

I got very interested in the Morris Commercial stand showing off the re-imagined electric powered J van. A lot of money has already been spent on body mouldings, etc, so hopefully they get plenty of orders. I seemed to have spent a fair while with the owner/founder of the company talking about road vehicle certification – as one does – been there-done that !!!! FYI, it’s the same van as used in some of the recent People’s Lottery adverts on the TV.

YES, I did look at a few campervans and YES I would still like to have one. Perhaps I might hire something on the next Scotland trip, just as a try out.

Saturday 6^th September was a trip on the East Somerset Railway. It was built by the East Somerset Railway Company in 1856 and opened in 1858 as a broad-gauge line from Witham Friary to Shepton l a project championed by that well known engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was extended to Wells in 1862, but was acquired by the Great Western Railway in 1874 and converted to standard gauge. Passenger services ended in 1963, but freight continued until 1985 before the line became mostly disused. 

In 1974, David Shepherd revived the line as a heritage railway based in Cranmore, which now runs steam-powered services and celebrates Somerset’s railway history.

As the founder of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF), he has dedicated his life to raising awareness and funding for Wildlife Conservation efforts, using his artistic skill to inspire change and to make a positive impact on the preservation of endangered species and their habitats. Renowned for his wildlife art works, David often painted aircraft, steam trains, portraits and landscapes – he did like steam trains !!!

The line is only 2.5 miles long at the moment, but like all preserved railways, there are plans to reinstate more of the old route. A lot of effort has been made to restore things to as near as possible original, including a WH Smith’s kiosk, a 1950s style ticket office and waiting room etc. The cafe also does good food as well – twice sampled by my goodself. You can also get to see work being done on locos, etc, in the engine shed.

They must do loco driving experiences, as a guy called Matt had been given such for his 30^th birthday by his family, including a suitable adorned boiler suit ! 

Nice sunset….and dry !!!!

Sunday 7^th September. Now to move off to the CCC campsite at Moreton in Dorset. However mother nature decided to intervene and provide me with another lesson in how to pack up camp in the pouring rain. Literally, as I woke up it started to absolutely tip down, biblical style.  After an hour or so, it relented, so I quickly packed up the tent.

That left the groundsheet. Yes, you guessed, it bucketed down again… Indeed, at one point I had to take shelter in the nearby toilet block.  Luckily, we have a well-engineered (!) procedure for dealing with this wet stuff, called big tough plastic bags, so the car innards didn’t get too soggy.

So with me now soaking wet, it was off to Dorset. Naturally enough it stopped raining soon after I drove out the Oakhill campsite !

Arriving in Moreton, somewhat bedraggled, the kind staff gave me a bit of priority over the queues of caravans waiting (no entry until 1 pm – for anyone !) and drying out time started. Luckily, the site soil is quite sandy, so quick draining, thus allowing the rapid drying of me, the groundsheet and the tent. Meanwhile, I was in a very welcome hot shower…… 

Another railway tomorrow !

Monday 8^th September. Sun out today ! The Swanage Railway is located on the Isle of Purbeck, adjacent to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.

It operates full-size steam and diesel passenger trains along the five and a half miles of line from Norden to Corfe Castle and down to the Victorian seaside town of Swanage. The line has stations at Corfe Castle and Harman’s Cross as well as a halt at Herston, on the outskirts of Swanage. 

I decided to park at the Swanage end of the line, as I wanted to have a look round Swanage itself as well. After a quick beachside coffee, it was onto the train. Being where it is, the railway replicates a typical Southern Region station, so green and cream everything. 

Back in Swanage after the rail journey, it was still sunny enough to be able to indulge in those well known “normal” seaside day-out pursuits, like a stroll along the main Shore Road, fish and chips, ice cream, sitting on the beach, walking the length of the pier, etc. You can even hire out a beach hut for the day (or a week) complete with chairs, table, electric points, etc. – very civilised…… 

 I have to say that it’s been a while since I enjoyed a day at the seaside, Swanage provided a very pleasant surprise.

 On the drive back to the campsite from Swanage, I’d been advised to keep off the main A351 (due to long term gas main renewal work – with attendant traffic holdups) and use the more northerly B3351 instead, which is actually the road down to Studland, the ferry to Sandbanks and Poole. 

A mile or so out of Swanage is a fantastic viewpoint (complete with the mandatory ice cream van), which looks out over the whole of the Poole Harbour bay, including Poole itself, Brownsea Island and Bournemouth. A most unexpected visual treat (especially on a sunny day) which would have been impossible to video/photograph.  “Lovely”, as Mr Verstappen would say……

Tuesday 9^th.  Well what can I say? As is well documented elsewhere, I have a dodgy left ankle, which, despite a remedial operation, physio, etc, continues to surprise me by “letting go” without warning and depositing me unceremoniously onto the ground.  Yep, it happened on my first early morning loo visit.

 “Oh dear”, I said………no not really, some very loud swear words were forthcoming. Not much else to do than to go into a well-practiced recovery routine – the Tank Museum at Bovington will have to wait another day.

Wednesday 10^th. Now that my ambulatory capability had been somewhat restored, it was time to head home. Hey, guess what ? It started to rain just as I woke up !!! Is somebody trying to tell me something ????

YET AGAIN a wet pack up, but this time I left my ablutions to the end, so I was nice and dry for the drive home. Went via Blandford Forum, Shaftsbury, Warminter and Chippenham, all on the A350, a road that (incredulously) I’ve never driven on in my life.  Very scenic…..

Got home, threw the wet tent stuff outside (sort it another day) and made a cuppa.

So a bit of a break, two more heritage railways ticked off the list and a bit more of jolly old England explored…..

AUTHOR’S NOTE: ANY RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THIS POST AND THE SIMILAR ONE I WROTE FOR THE SILVERSTONE CLASSIC MEETING IN 2022 IS ABSOLUTELY INTENTION. AFTER ALL, I WENT TO THE SAME LOCATION AND CAMPED AT THE SAME CAMPSITE.
I’LL TRY NOT TO REPEAT TOO MUCH OF THE SAME VERBIAGE JUST IN CASE YOU’VE ALREADY READ MY REPORT ON THE 2022 MEETING.
SO HERE GOES……

This is another event that has been off my list for a few years, the last time I went was in 2022. For those that don’t know, it features all sorts of classic race cars from many different categories, from Formula Ford, through to Classic F1 cars and loads of Touring Cars – “tin tops” to you and me…. If you know me well, you know I have an ENORMOUS soft spot for saloon/touring cars, especially ones from “my” era…….

The event has now changed its name to the Silverstone Festival and again runs over the August Bank Holiday weekend. There seemed to be even more of a “carnival” atmosphere than last time I went. I guess it’s all about getting more punters through the doors.

Apart from the actual racing, there was plenty of other stuff to see, including displays of all sorts of cars from various car clubs, stuff for the kids, stalls to buy memorabilia, etc, etc.
Thankfully, one of the best features about this event has not changed, in that is you can get really close up to the cars in the various paddocks (and elsewhere). This has ALWAYS been the heart of the event for me – I like to look at the machinery, especially as I remember most of it the first time around ! Most of the time, most of the guys (and gals !) are really quite enthusiastic about talking about their machines – if they’re not in the middle of a gearbox changing crisis that is !

I had no reason to change my campsite selection, so it was the 4 days package at the Woodlands Campsite. Again I had the electric hook up option so I could use my brand new cool box- no expense spared…… I always travel up early on the Thursday, ready for the first “proper” day on the Friday.

The Woodlands Campsite location is ideal, as it’s only a quick stroll to the nearest Silverstone Circuit entry point. The only “negative” aspect is there is a bit of a route march from the “electric hook up” area down to the loo’s and showers, but a small price to pay. Bonus is the on-site pub and various food stalls, if you want to be lazy about your catering…..

Silverstone also puts on a fleet of buses to take people around the perimeter road, so it’s easy to get from one good viewpoint to another or into the available grandstands.

The evening entertainment headliners were Natasha Bedingfield (who ?) on the Friday, Craig David on the Saturday and the Ministry of Sound Classical setup on the Sunday. (Spoiler alert: I only went to the Sunday gig, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC !!!!)

So I stuck to my “normal” plan of spending Friday looking round the various paddocks (less busy than on the actual weekend, obs) and watching some of the practice/qualifying sessions as well, choose a few to races on the Saturday and Sunday to watch (some cars being more attractive for me than others….) and then have a general schmooze around the displays, etc in between times. No change this year, why fix it, etc, etc ( just like the words in this paragraph…..).
One great thing about getting to the campsite early – you get your choice of pitch, although the stewards will TRY to corral you into the next available space, NOT where you would like to go. It certainly filled up later in the afternoon !

So here’s a few notes on some of the stuff that caught my eye – in no particular order……….there was lots more, this is really just a sample.

WARNING: LIKE MY EARLIER GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED AND SILVERSTONE POSTS, THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF CARS IN THIS POST – JUST SAYING…….

They even have their own Silverstone beer ! By a bit of blatant chicanery and downright nerve, a small group of us invaded the balcony of the Hilton Garden Hotel overlooking the track. I guess the price of “entry” was the beer……

I felt that last time I didn’t really do the rally boys display very much justice, so that was my first port of call this year. For the audience, they run what they call a “slowly sideways” demonstration, with two cars competing at a time (starting on opposite sides of the course….) over a loop on the old circuit tarmac – fastest man wins.
Loads of familiar looking machines, including Escorts, Mini’s, Rovers, etc. The demonstrations were pretty full on as well, with that characteristic rubber burning smell, as they negotiated the 180 degree turns at each end of the loop.

Just along from the rally cars was a section devoted to dragsters, including a beast of a turbine powered funny car, more normal funny cars (if there is such a thing !) and the most incredible STEAM POWERED ROCKET BIKE – I kid you not !!!!

One display had what I presume is like an “entry level” introduction class for dragsters, essentially a scaled down version of the bigger ones and powered by a lawnmower engine…….Fascinating and with the same attention to detail as the big boys.

And then there was this – the world record holding steam rocket bike – a truly spectacular bike built with phenomenal engineering. Since I love “steamy” things, I spent quite a time talking to the guys, including about the rocket technology, the boiler (including the certification of same), how it gets up to speed, procedures, etc, etc.
There is a website http://www.force-of-nature.com and they have a Facebook page as well. I shall have to find out when/where it will be running next.
Unbelievable…….. you gather I was most impressed !

One of the major themes of the event was to celebrate 75 years of Formula 1, which, as everybody knows, started off at Silverstone. So it was hop on the first bus of the morning, round to the International Paddock on the Hamilton Straight. My target was the World Champions Collection of cars. I wanted to get there before it got crowded – the effort was well rewarded……
Wow, what a completely overwhelming collection of machinery. Essentially the cars used by all 34 World F1 Champions, from 1950 right up to Max Verstappen’s 2022 Red Bull RB18. Whoever put this lot together needs a knighthood. There was certainly a lot of dribble flowing down my chin…..

Sorry, lots of photo’s here……….in no particular year or importance order

Talking to some of the other visitors, we all agreed that it would be unlikely that there would ever be such a collection put together ever again ! I could have quite easily gone home after looking at this splendid display, so please forgive me for indulging in a few pages of pictures. Had to go and have a sit down after so much drooling. Motorsport informed security guards were much in evidence – God knows how many millions was on display ! You may have gathered that I was quite impressed…..

After all that lot, the rest of the day seemed to pale into insignificance, but it was now time for some garage hopping….. Friday is a good day for this, Saturday and Sunday are normally manic and more “keep out” barriers usually appear for the weekend.

One of my all time favourite sports cars is the Peugeot 90X. It was an interim design which then spawned the second-generation Peugeot 908, running in the World Endurance Championship. This particular one is powered by a 3.7litre twin-turbo V8 instead of the 5.5 litre V12 in the preceding 908 model. I have to say that although it made mincemeat of the other cars in its class, I missed the noise of that F1-based high revving V12……

By this time, the qualifying sessions had started, so I drifted over to the holding area to spot some of the now “classic” saloon cars  awaiting their turn to thrash round the circuit, ready for the proper racing on Saturday/Sunday. They have an excellent TV presence at this meeting, so wherever you are on the circuit you can keep up with the action on the giant screens.

I even spotted a certain Mr R Hammond (of Top Gear “fame”) who was down to drive an Austin Healey in the Historic Tourist Trophy races.

I could not resist a snap of this immaculate Cooper S. My old hillclimb car was very similar, but with bigger wheel arches.

Lunchtime provided the opportunity to look around the shopping village stands, as well as grabbing something to eat.

And then there was Mr Newey’s RB17 – a snip at a STARTING price of £5m a pop. I’ve ordered 3….. Sensational looking machine, essentially an F1 machine with a super slippery body. He designed/built the RB17 without any regulation constraints, with F1 type track lap times in mind. Lots of active aero and a howling naturally aspirated V10 engine. Not exactly a shopping car but must be sensational to drive…..

In stark contract was this….

I can readily confirm that it looks 100 % WORSE in the flesh than in pictures, films, etc. IMHO, revolting. I sincerely hope they don’t get UK homologation for it – it’s HORRIBLE !!!!

Also, there was a display of tractors, next to the funfair.

Another highlight for me was the Silverstone Museum. The last time I saw it was just as a steel skeleton, but now fully open. Entrance during the Festival was free, but that meant possible long queues to get in. I got there early on the second day. All very well controlled, people being let in in batches, so the whole place didn’t get overcrowded.
Some fantastic exhibits, including a complete history of Silverstone over the years with much period correct memorabilia as well. There’s plenty of interesting TV displays featuring many personalities from motorsport – old and current.

Lots of interactive stuff for the more stupid amongst us including things like aerodynamic loads on wings, how racedays work, examples of current car technology. All very well put together IMHO, well worth a visit in its own right.

Oh by the way, there were plenty of gobsmacking cars as well…….

Somehow I fitted in some of the races, moving from one vantage point to another. Briefly (as it was impossible to take sensible photo’s of the action) races for Formula Junior, F2/F5000, Transatlantic Touring Cars ( including big American beasts like Mustangs, Ford Falcons), Historic F1 cars ( mostly powered by the ubiquitous 3 litre Cosworth F1 engine), lots of different types of sports car and saloon cars. Most of the above got another bash on the Sunday as well.

Another group that sparked my engineering interest was the guys (and gals !) running 500 cc F3 cars. When the Grand Prix of Europe was run in 1950, the support race was for these small racers, using a tubular chassis and motor bike engines. There were both amateur and professional teams with Cooper being the most prolific manufacturer.
Apparently, this meeting included 54 cars, the biggest turnout since the the movement’s peak in the 1950’s. Picture below is not mine, but just look at the numbers…….

Many well known drivers (including for example Sir Stirling Moss) started their racing careers in this formula.
Again, the engineering got me and I spent quite a time chatting to some of the entrants. They only had one race, but it was a humdinger. They have to use period correct tyres and compounds, so some of the cornering could only be described as lurid – great car control……

On the Sunday, I had a bit of a mooch round the car clubs before the racing started. One perk for these guys is that they get to do a lap of the track as part of a “demonstration” run, between races – fun stuff.
Few nice Alfa’s to drool over including a very original (amazingly rust free !!) Alfa Sud. Plenty of TVR’s as well, plus oodles of BMW’s, Porsches, Aston Martins, MX5’s, Caterham’s, Ferrari’s, Loti – you name it, there was a club display….

More racing throughout the day. I must’ve walked miles… Indeed, my Fitbit total for the 4 days was over 60 km !!!!! Astonishing….

Altogether a pretty intense but rewarding 4 days. I always enjoy the whole thing but it can be pretty tiring at times so it’s always good to get back to the tent and have a refreshing drink.
Going every two years seems to be about optimal, although over the last few years other things have obviously intervened in my life, so going back this year was almost refreshing in a way. I gather that there won’t be another Silverstone festival as such, as it’s being combined/taken over by the Chris Evans Carfest, which is moving from its current site in Hampshire onto the Silverstone circuit for 2026.
We shall see…….

DATE: 16 AUGUST 2025

Now I can sometimes be accused of going a bit mad regarding my affection for trains, but I think this day adventure probably tops the lot – so far ! The more astute will readily work out that Cinderford in the Forest of Dean (where I currently live) is not exactly anywhere near Minehead. So how did I get there ? By train, of course.

Let me explain. 

When I lived in Tunbridge Wells, many, many years ago, our house backed onto the London/Hastings railway line, approx 100 m down from the Grove Junction signal box. This was in the days of steam trains, with the Schools Class locomotives hauling trains up and down to London.

When these steam-hauled trains were eventually replaced, it was with the specially built class 23 diesel electric sets. The 6 coach units, incorporating diesel generators at each end, were unique in having especially narrow bodies which enabled them to pass through the unusually narrow tunnels on the Hastings line.  They were withdrawn from service in 1986. I well remember doing the T/Wells to Cannon Street run quite often with my father.

Some of these units (“affectionally” known as “Thumpers”, due to the engine noise, etc, especially loud in tunnels) have been preserved by a group of enthusiasts known as Hastings Diesels Ltd (HDL), running out of the original maintenance depot at St Leonards-on-Sea (next to Hastings on the south coast).

Just by chance I saw advertised this trip to Minehead using these “Hastings DMU’s” run by UK RAILTOURS, starting at Tonbridge, Kent and running via Waterloo and eventually on to the West Somerset Railway  (WSR) at Norton Fitzwarren (near Taunton), thus to Minehead.

How could I not miss such a big slice of schoolboy nostalgia……. It was probably that childhood input that resulted in me working in the rail industry for more than 20+ years !  

One small snag, well two really. Firstly, starting at Tonbridge station ( 3 hours in the car from home….) and secondly leaving at 0715 !!! So I booked a couple of nights at the Rose and Crown Hotel on Tonbridge’s High Street, arriving the the night before, so a mere 10 minute walk from the station in the morning. Not been to Tonbridge for decades……

Bright and early, we all assembled on the platform at Tonbridge station, expectingly waiting for the DMU to turn up. Unfortunately some trespassers had got onto the main railway line at St Leonards, which therefore had to be shut down, resulting in a very late arrival at Tonbridge. See video below.

Undaunted, we all piled on ready for the journey to Minehead. Running late, the train had to do even more fitting in between “normal” scheduled trains than had been planned, but the driver certainly gave the old gal some beans on the mainline past Basingstoke, Salisbury, Warminster and Westbury. 

I was sat opposite a guy who had what looked like official NR route diagrams and was following progress on a specialised app on his phone – just a bit too nerdy for me, but interesting all the same. Once on the WSR, speed was reduced to a mere 25 mph, as the operating licence for heritage railways doesn’t normally allow anything quicker.  Again, we had to fit in with their scheduled operating timetable, which meant stopping a couple of times in stations with passing loops – plenty of photo opportunities though.

Eventually we arrive in Minehead. I’ve been there on the WSR before, so knew the layout a bit. After being cooped up for hours, it was good to get some fresh sea air, complete with obligatory ice cream and a bag of chips……

Because of the good sunny weather, Minehead was busy, helped by the fact that it “features” the biggest Butlins resort in the UK, situated on the seafront. 

I had a walk along to the harbour, including a visit to the RNLI station.

Unfortunately, the late start meant the time in Minehead was a bit truncated, as the train had to leave at its scheduled 1535, in order to try and maintain all the correct return route slots.  A different way back via Newbury, arriving at Waterloo just after 8 PM. Another hour or so and we were back in Tonbridge.  Stayed in the Rose & Crown again. 

Not surprisingly ended up with a bit of a headache – they aren’t called “Thumpers” for nothing !

 A LOOOOOOOOONG day, but worth it really. I had quite a chat with one of the HDL guys (who turned out to be a solicitor !)  which eventually lead me to putting my hand in my pocket and becoming a shareholder – well you can’t take it with you, so might as well get involved…….