MAKING A HOME RUN

A meander through the middle of England allows Susan Taylor to enjoy an easy getaway from her doorstep

- Susan Taylor

Usually, weekend wanderings in our motorhome take us to areas two or three hours’ drive from home – far enough to feel ‘away’ without spending the entire weekend driving to and from our destination. Recently, though, I realised that this leaves us with a wide circle of potential touring spots and interesting places, all just an hour or so away.

One of these is the National Herb Centre, in Warmington, which is just a bit too far for a relaxing afternoon out, but closer than we would normally consider for a weekend.

Being keen on ‘growing my own’, to coin a phrase, I have long wanted to visit, but never quite got around to it. Until a few weeks ago, that is, when we decided to spend a weekend at Fir Tree Campsite, near Banbury, just over an hour’s drive from Buckinghamshire.

Fir Tree is a fairly small, relatively basic (but very clean and friendly) campsite which regularly hosts music gatherings, car rallies and other events. It sits on the edge of the pretty Warwickshire village of Warmington, only a 10-minute walk from the National Herb Centre.

As well as an array of culinary and medicinal herbs (including the cola plant, which actually does smell like the fizzy drink), the National Herb Centre has a good selection of traditional garden plants, a gift shop and a small bistro/coffee shop.

Looking for local wildlife 

When we were all shopped out (how many plants can you transport in a motorhome?), we followed the shortest of the three nature trails leading from the centre into the countryside, looking out for rabbits, foxes, badgers and deer along the way.