The Cottage Loaf, Thurstaston

As always, Marge is a magnet to the person you don't want to spend a night next to. The van behind her, engine was run for fifteen minutes last night to charge up the leisure battery, and then there was multiple door banging between half five and six this morning which woke John. Once again the morning was wet, which always makes packing up awkward. We were keen to begin our journey down to Arrowe Park Hospital at Birkenhead to visit John's daughter.

The weather was atrocious, rain and spray making for difficult and dangerous driving conditions.

Thankfully after emerging from the Mersey Tunnel the weather had settled, and despite a keen wind we enjoyed some welcome sunshine. 

After a couple of hours at the hospital we drove to nearby West Kirby for a much needed stroll, before returning to the hospital for John to visit again for a short while. Angela was tired and  waited in Marge, surprised to see after yet more rain showers the sky showing signs of an autumn sunset.

Tonight we are staying at The Cottage Loaf pub in Thurstaston. We stayed here between Christmas and New Year for a night at the end of last year on our way to Anglesey.

Pub stops are great. Some of them require you to have drinks and a meal, others just a drink. If you choose not to use this pub, the cost to stay overnight is £10.20. Angela just wasn't feeling great, so John went into the pub for a well deserved alcohol free old mout cider.

Because of the seriousness of John's daughters ailment we will be staying locally again tomorrow night, probably back here at The Cottage Loaf.

What the internet says about the Cottage Loaf 

The Cottage Loaf is a popular, cosy country pub and restaurant located on Telegraph Road in Thurstaston, Wirral. Positioned perfectly for walkers, cyclists, and day-trippers, it sits right on the doorstep of Thurstaston Common and the Wirral Country Park, making it a staple stop-off for a pint or a hearty meal after exploring the local sandstone cliffs and the Wirral Way.

History & Recent Changes

The building has a rich history tied to the local area:

The Origins: It originally opened in 1930 as a set of tea rooms before being acquired by the Birkenhead Brewery in 1962 and converted into a pub.

New Ownership: While it was long known as a prominent fixture of the Greene King chain, the pub underwent a major transition when it was taken over by Edmund's Pub & Kitchen. Following a brief closure for refurbishment, the pub reopened with a refreshed interior and a focus on fresh, home-cooked quality pub food rather than standard chain menus.

Food, Drink & Vibe

The Cottage Loaf balances classic rustic charm with a modern, relaxed atmosphere.

The Menu: The food focuses heavily on comforting British pub classics, including steaks, gourmet burgers, pies, and indulgent desserts. Their Sunday Roast remains a major highlight for visitors. They also cater well to specific dietary requirements with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

The Drink: They maintain an excellent selection of beers, wines, spirits, and well-kept cask ales.

Atmosphere: It features a family-friendly, welcoming environment with a spacious garden area for the warmer months.

Practical Information & Perks

Dog Friendly: Dogs are very welcome in the bar areas and garden, making it highly convenient for those walking dogs on the common.

Motorhome Stopovers: The pub has a reputation in the campervan community as a fantastic Britstops / overnight stopover location. Motorhomes can stay overnight in the large, flat car park for free if you are buying food or drinks inside the pub (just ensure you register your vehicle registration at the bar counter when you arrive).

Parking: There is a large, free on-site car park, though it can get exceptionally busy during peak weekend hours and sunny summer days.

Pickering Arms, Thelwall

Muddy Marge's 'Return to the Highlands' has begun. Packed to the gunnels this trip because of our backpacks, tent and all those things you need whilst going on a hike. As usual, an overnight stop at The Pickering Arms, Thelwall where we spent a pleasant afternoon chatting to some locals before enjoying a meal with John's daughter and her husband. Tomorrow we will cross the border into Scotland and Marge will officially begin her Highland fling.

Coming soon on the 3rd of September!

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Trigon Farm Campsite, Near Wareham, Dorset, England (day 2)

Day two in Poole, and lots to do. Most importantly haircuts. It's been fifteen weeks since we were both coiffured. Whilst away in Marge our hair began to become a little wild, so Angela decided to trim John's and her own. When it came to her own, the back was guesswork. The hairdresser today amused, commented, 'you missed a bit'. The strip down the centre at the back of her head resembling a Mohican. Oh well, a girl can only do her best. So now we both have very short hair, it was the only way to rectify Angela's  attempt at do it yourself hairdressing. They say, never trust an Italian with anything that has handle bars or a steering wheel, in Angela's case, scissors and hair clippers! So a busy day, but after our jobs were done we rewarded ourselves with drinks outside a bar on Poole quay before a meal at the nearby pizza restaurant.

The area is quieter now, the holidaymakers few. The weather this evening on the turn, cooler and fresher, somehow we think we may wish for the hot days of July and August to return.

Trigon Farm Campsite, Near Wareham, Dorset, England

We're working away from home. Honest. Some maintenance and  inspections on two of our rental houses in Poole. A night in the Premier inn Poole, £127.00!. Thankfully we have Margery, a little more comfortable than Marge. £27.00 for two nights sounds much more reasonable. Angela joined us up for the Caravan and Motorhome club when there was a special offer on the joining fee. All over the country there are CL sites, mostly on farms. Large fields, sometimes amongst trees with facilities ranging from none to water, waste, toilet and shower.

 Tonight, fish finger rolls, water, waste disposal and a peaceful setting in the Dorset countryside at Wareham Forest, just half an hour from Poole. Much more us. We've been home now after our Moroccan trip for a month, so the chance to leave home and living in our van for a couple of nights excited us as we find it hard to be at home when the weather's good. Tomorrow, we drive back to Poole, but we don't mind, once the jobs are done we'll be in holiday mode.

Nice view from our sliding side door.

Thame, Oxfordshire, England

Upton upon Severn is a pretty town. Black and white houses and historical buildings add to its charm. The River Severn, Great Britain's longest river silently flows by, willow and alder trees lining its banks. This morning Marge all packed up, Angela once again walked around the pretty riverside town whilst John visited the VW T3 Bus Meet where he hoped to view and collect information on the vehicles.

Marge's days might be numbered it seems. The two nights we've spent here near the Malvern hills has proved that a full blown adventure covering many weeks may be great, but a micro adventure can be fun also. We enjoyed returning to this area, forgetting how charming it was.

For now, time to return home and  carry out all the tasks and attend all the appointments we allocate to the month of August. Roll on September, when we will embark on another trip. Who will accompany us? Will it be Marge, Margery or someone new?

The Swan Inn, Worcester Rd, Newland, Worcestershire, England

We'd like to give a big shout out to The Swan Inn at Newland. What a fantastic pub with a great overnight parking area. And tonight we are spending a second night here.

After a walk around Upton upon Severn this morning John realised the VW show he has come to see won't really be worth visiting until tomorrow, so we decided to stay in the area. Different neighbours tonight. Older folk to our left both with Romahome campers. The second larger van arrived in a flurry of chaos. A couple, just friends, he, driving the van, her in a car. Sleeping arrangements seem to be both in the van. Instructed by a member of staff where to park, it took him around ten minutes of maneuvering before the van was parked askew. The elderly lady, glass of beer in hand offered ignored instructions, right a bit, left a bit, which were totally ignored. After the handbrake was secured the man lept from the vehicle, grabbed the woman's beer and took a long draught, presumably to calm his nerves. Angela loves these folks, classic blog material. Next to them a mother and daughter with a toilet tent erected behind. A first in a pub parking area. The very nice toilets in the pub are available during opening hours, after that it's down to van owners to provide their own facilities. However cramped our facilities, we mustn't be tempted to sneak in the toilet tent after dark.

At the pub this weekend there is a beer festival with live music which has been very pleasant to listen to. During the interval the only sound we can hear is that of the willow on the wood from the adjacent cricket club. Honestly we can't recommend this pub stop enough. As for the weather it's been beautiful during the day, but last night a cold 9c, forecast again tonight. The Romahome owners might need to curtail the urge!

The Swan Inn, Worcester Rd, Newland, Worcestershire, England

It's been nine days since we returned home from our Moroccan road trip. The wanderlust in us decided that was long enough. Time for a few days away. Since returning home we've found it hard to settle. After nine weeks squeezed into Marge we've found it hard to adjust to living in our house. So here we are at a very nice pub, The Swan, just outside of Malvern.

At the rear a very nice area for the vans to park overnight, and all for as little as a the price of a couple of drinks and a bag of nuts. What's not to like? Why Malvern? Well this weekend the VW T3 Bus Meet is on just down the road at Upton upon Severn. John is thinking he might like one of these vehicles, fot the next trip to Africa. 

Don't tell Marge. Angela, whose warmed to Marge these last few weeks thinks she should stay, be given the TLC she deserves and taken on more adventures. Whilst the weather is fine we want to be able to go away as much as possible, and as tonight's stop shows, you don't have to travel far. At the park up tonight many like minded travellers around our age embracing the moment. Sounds good to us!

Some street art in Upton on Severn