Karen Wright: A perfect first weekend at our Ripon caravan

We chose the location for a few reasons, but the main one was the proximity to home. Doorstep to doorstep is exactly an hour which means we can spend as much time at the caravan as we want but can be back home quickly if circumstances dictate.

The site is about a mile from the town centre so it's just a couple of minutes in the car. There is also a bus service that runs from campsite reception a few times each day, so there are plenty of options for getting around. The first day we had an amble around Ripon, and I thought it was just great. The cathedral bells were chiming and the sun was out, so everything felt perfect.

On Sunday we decided to visit Fountains Abbey, which is a mere three miles from Ripon. As it was a cold and murky sort of day, I fully expected that it would be quiet but how wrong I was. The car parks were quite full, and people were milling about everywhere. We are members of the National Trust, so it was free for us to visit.

I think I must have visited the site before, as a child we went somewhere most Sundays during summer, but I didn't recognise the landscape or the abbey as it came into view. We were lucky with the timing of our visit as there was a guided tour starting just as we arrived. We joined the group and spent just over an hour with the guide who talked to us about how the abbey was founded and its evolution right up to and beyond the dissolution of the monasteries. The life of those early Benedictine monks was very harsh, and it was fascinating to hear all about their living conditions all those centuries ago.

Of course, there is always so much more to see but, as the weather was quite poor, we decided we would come back later in the year to take in the water gardens and the deer park. It was a good morning out and just a 10-minute drive from the caravan. It was great to get back into the van which was toasty and warm and settle down for an afternoon relaxing in our new home from home.