Rally Chat Jurassic Fields Festival & Seaside Meet, Highlands End Park, Bridport 12-16 July 2018

[Wombles]

Spotted this upcoming music festival http://jurassicfields.com/ in the lovely town of Bridport, Dorset & thought it could form a good part of a Fun Meet by the sea There is basic 2 night camping (campervan £40) as an option for just the festival but our proposed Meet (if you choose to join us for a bit of luxury camping ) is 4 nights at Highlands End Holiday Park https://highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk/with pitches from £87 for 4 nights with EHU if booking quoting the Fun discount code. With (early booking) festival tickets for the weekend starting at just £15 each (if over 60) going up to £27.50 for Friday night plus Saturday all day & into the night entertainment from bands some of which play at top festival venues it looks like great value We also like that the profits from the festival go back into the local community. You don't have to like festivals to come along to this meet as the campsite & area have many attractions so will add some more info. below then more about the festival to follow.
If you might be interested please post a message here or PM us for the discount code.

Suggested Itinerary:
Thursday - arrivals at Highlands End from 1pm (normally 3pm but earlier time now agreed )
8pm onwards meet up in the campsite bar &/or beer garden with fellow Funsters
Organise any taxi sharing if wanted?
Friday - Jurassic Fields Festival 6pm-11pm with possible taxi share trip back.
Saturday - Jurassic Fields Festival 11am-11pm with possible taxi share trip back.
Bridport Farmers Market in the Arts Centre Bridport.
Bridport Street Market 8am-mid afternoon.
Sunday Evening - meet for a meal or just a drink in campsite bar &/or beer garden.
Monday - time to say goodbye & leave campsite by 11am.

Anytime:
At Highlands End - swim, steam & sauna, play tennis or 9 hole golf (pre-booking advised). Have a drink or meal in Martins Bar & Restaurant. Coffee & cake in the Cowshed Cafe & admire the view.
Coastal walk to Downhouse Farm Garden Cafe for a light lunch, afternoon tea or a Dorset cream tea
Pub meal or drink at the New Inn pub (short walk) in Eype & watch the sun set from their terrace.
Walk to West Bay beach & harbour & have a fresh crab sandwich or fish & chips for lunch.
Walk to Eype beach & village.
Walk via footpath downhill to Bridport town for some exploring & shopping.
Visit Palmers Brewery (near Festival) for a brewery tour.
Bridport Museum (free entry but donation welcomed) - rope & net making displays plus fossils.
Golf at Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club - great location on the coast & a good restaurant open to non-members.
Or do your own thing! No pressure to join in.

Booked At Highlands End:
Wombles - Alan & Karen
DuxDeluxe - David & Alison
DC4JC - Dave & Janice
Doug4rose - Doug & Rose
Rangitira - John & Maureen
Dizzy Izzy - Lesley & Chris
Ginster - Ginnie
Nana - Toni & Mike
Crazylegs - John & Deborah
Carolyn - Carolyn & Nick
Patricia the newbie
Popeye - Griff & Jackie
Shaky - Phil & Sally

Booked At Festival Camping:
Scottie - John

 

[Wombles]

Options to book for the Meet:;
Grass pitch with EHU £87 (website price £94.60)
Gravel pitch with EHU £109 (website price £118)
Hard pitch (not suited to large motorhomes) with EHU, water & drain on pitch £112 (website price £122.60)
Site map here https://highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk/files/2012/12/2017-Highlands-End-Map.pdf
This price is for 4 nights camping from Thursday 12 July 3pm until Monday 16th July 11am for up to 2 adults, motorhome, awning or Quest type mesh screen house & car. Shelters & gazebos are not to be used as they can do harm if it's windy but if you have the Quest type mesh screen house well pegged down instead of an awning that would be fine as long as it does not encroach onto someone elses pitch and is immediately adjacent to the unit. The winds are quite strong at Highlands so we have been asked to point out that it would need to be securely fastened down and if it did blow away then it is at your own risk and may damage other peoples units.
You book your pitch type then pick which one you want from those available on arrival.
We couldn't negotiate a bigger discount as July in Dorset next to the coast & with the festival that weekend the pitches will be fully booked but good availability at the moment if we are quick! The campsite has a 2 dogs maximum policy & dogs are normally charged at £3 per dog per night but they have agreed that the first dog is no extra charge for Funsters for this Meet. They do have an off lead exercise field for dogs plus an area to walk on the lead. Eype beach a short walk away (in photo below) allows dogs all year round.
Please note that although there is a footpath from Highlands ending near to the festival in the town in Bridport we understand that it is a 30 minute walk downhill there but uphill back so takes longer. There are licensed local taxi companies with 4, 6 & 8 seater vehicles so if sharing late night returns to Highlands shouldn't be too much as not far. Standard 4 seat ones should charge £5-£6 per trip up to 11pm then around £9 after - local tip is to be dropped off/picked up in Morrisons car park as very near to the festival. Another option is to bring a car for those that might struggle with so much walking or alternatively book the 2 night (campervan) camping for £40 (on top of the ticket price) on Jurassic Fields website which although basic will be nearer.

 

[Wombles]

Eype beach

West Bay beach - a short walk away from the campsite - it was where "Broadchurch" beach scenes were filmed.

 

[TheBig1]

Thankyou for running this meet, there has been a couple of people asking about a Bagwell meet this year but we are having a year off. Will only do Bagwell 2019 if there is enough interest

 

[Wombles]

Thankyou for running this meet, there has been a couple of people asking about a Bagwell meet this year but we are having a year off. Will only do Bagwell 2019 if there is enough interest

We enjoyed Bagwell when we went & would be great to have more ralllies there plus in other parts of Dorset, Devon & Cornwall.

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[big map]

I would love to do this but we’ve got no holibobs left

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Very interested......... please can you put me on the list. Thanks

 

[Wombles]

I would love to do this but we’ve got no holibobs left

If you could do just the weekend it might be worth checking with the campsite to see what their minimum number of nights would be but the rate would be higher. The festival has basic camping for the Friday & Saturday night for £40 (campervan rate) on top of the ticket prices

 

[Crazylegs]

It’s a fantastic site Wombles, with great walks along the cliffs in either direction, let me look at my diary.

 

[Wombles]

Great to have some feedback from someone who has been there - thank you @Crazylegs
Highlands End has very good reviews here https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel...End_Holiday_Park-Bridport_Dorset_England.html & a Tripadvisor Certificate Of Excellence. As well the views from the campsite, all the motorhome pitches have EHU, there are 2 toilet & shower blocks, washing up areas, launderette & motorhome service point, there are lots of other facilities:

Indoor heated pool with sauna & steam £3.50 each

10 acre 9-hole Pitch and Putt golf course £4 each (golf club hire is extra)

Tennis Court £4 (racket & ball hire available at extra cost)

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[Wombles]

There is a bar & restaurant ideal for Funster gatherings

Or have a coffee & a chat looking at the view from the Cowshed Coffee Shop

 

[irnbru]

Oh that looks very tempting. I've never been down that way before. Its too early for me to commit though but will bookmark this and keep eye on it.

 

[Wombles]

Thank you for all the positive comments & messages so far - looks like us Wombles won't be all by ourselves!
Tired eyes now but will post more about Jurassic Fields Festival & things to see & do in Bridport tomorrow.

 

[Marty Gilly and Pup]

Looks very interesting. Good reviews and just what we’re looking at for a summer week. Long way for us but we’ll probably break the journey and make it last a week or so. Count us in.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I’m going to go anyway........

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[carolyn]

We have been many times and it is a lovely campsite. Food in the restaurant is good but we really hated the refurbishment of the restaurant. It used to be like a cosy pub despite being a huge area. Since the refurb last year it looks like a transport cafe/school canteen although the food remains good.
Loos and showers are quite old but spotless. As its July I would recommend not parking by the playground if you don't like the sound of children having fun.
Walks are great if you are fit, we've gone as far as Golden Cap and back. If you are'nt fit then the walking will be quite a challenge. No way you could walk to the centre of Bridport in 20 mins, more like 30-40 and I've done a couple of the Breast cancer moonwalks! You will need a car or taxi for sure, especially on the way back, there's one busy bit of road.
The views are amazing but as you can imagine it can be very windy.
We love it there especially as it's so close to us.

 

[Wombles]

Thank you @carolyn for the advice above - have amended the walk time info. now & will contact the taxi company for prebooked prices. Perhaps nearer the time we could arrange taxi shares between those interested. We need the exercise so will be walking down to Bridport on Friday & Saturday via the footpath (understand there is an underpass that avoids the busy road) but a taxi back at the end of the festival entertainment does sound like a good idea rather than us wandering around the fields with a torch lost in the dark!
From the map https://highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk/files/2012/12/2017-Highlands-End-Map.pdf looks like the gravel pitches (grey blocks) are all a distance away from the play area so maybe a quieter option.
For those who have a tow car it is included in the pitch fee so worth considering bringing it & if you can offer fellow Funsters a lift (if you have the space) then sure you will be very popular

 

[Wildge]

Sounds brilliant ...but sorry ....we're already booked drinking Cider and playing Skittles..

 

[Wombles]

Sounds brilliant ...but sorry ....we're already booked drinking Cider and playing Skittles..

It's Sods Law there are always date clashes as the summer isn't long enough but it's good to be spoilt for choice & hopefully enough Funsters to support multiple meets/rallies

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I’ve booked.

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[triclops]

We’re very interested.
Just 1 question - does selecting your pitch when you arrive mean we won’t be pitched together? Not that it matters, but it gives me a good excuse to raise the Funster flag

 

[Wombles]

We’re very interested.
Just 1 question - does selecting your pitch when you arrive mean we won’t be pitched together? Not that it matters, but it gives me a good excuse to raise the Funster flag

The more pitches Funsters book the more chance that we will be near each other but should be within waving distance of each other wherever on the site & hope to have get togethers in the bar/beer garden so those that want to can mix. If enough numbers can also explore a group meal option - could be the on site restaurant if they can do a reasonably priced set menu or elsewhere locally. Other suggestions are welcome too & happy for anyone to organise anything & invite others. There is a local brewery that does tours so an idea for any enthusiasts. Fine to do your own thing too - no pressure to join in.

 

[movan]

I would love to have gone here but am booked in on another finster meet. .. maybe next time.

 

[Wildge]

I would love to have gone here but am booked in on another finster meet. .. maybe next time.

Another one on the Scrumpy
Eh Joy ??
Hope you all enjoy it sounds great !!

 

[Wombles]

One more facility at Highlands End is the shop - ideal for essentials & treats so you don't have to leave the campsite if you don't want to!



However the tourist leaflets might tempt you to do some trips

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[Wombles]

More about Jurassic Fields Festival now - here's their promotional video

 

[Wombles]

It's a "proper" family festival with over 40 acts & early booking prices at just £15 each for weekend tickets if you are over 60! Sorry it's £27.50 each if younger but still great value Last year they had 12 acts who were also at Glastonbury Festival & 4000 people attending. Prices here .
These Early Bird prices will increase from £15 to £25 each & £27.50 to £37.50 each so best to buy now if you want to go.
If you want 2 nights basic camping near to the festival & Bridport town then you need to add a campervan pass for £40. So for a couple at Early Bird prices that's from £70 - £94 for the festival & camping or solos can book just from just £55 - £67.50. The prices are so good as it's run by local people volunteeering their time to raise money for the Bridport area so even if you aren't sure if the type of music suits you your money would be going to a good cause
We have seen some of the headline acts before at ValleyFest where Early Bird tickets start at £86 each without camping! We were there as volunteers.

 

[DC4JC]

All booked.

Fantastic site in great location and beautiful area.
Last went 8 years ago, so revisit well overdue.
We'll have our new dog with us and she will love it there.
Look forward to seeing anyone else that decides to go.

 

[scottie]

Just booked for the 2 days near the festival. I like walking, but not that much. Also reluctant to pay couples rate, when I tend to go on y own. So hopefully will meet up with some of you, will have my Funsters badge on. Thanks Karen for making us aware of this one,nice to have an event close to home.

 

[Wombles]

Just booked for the 2 days near the festival. I like walking, but not that much. Also reluctant to pay couples rate, when I tend to go on y own. So hopefully will meet up with some of you, will have my Funsters badge on. Thanks Karen for making us aware of this one,nice to have an event close to home.

Sure we will see you there Hopefully some others going solo or who only want 2 nights will join you at the festival camping.

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