Camping at Saxdale House Farm, Hunmanby, Filey

Most of our family and friends have got either a motorhome or caravan, and sometimes get together for mini-rallies. However, Mum's in her 70's and Aunty in her 80's and sleeping in a field is low on their must-do list. The solution is to stay on a site with a Bed and Breakfast attached. We wanted to go camping in North Yorkshire and a quick search came up with Saxdale House Farm, a Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Site run by Jonathan Leonard, ably assisted by Jeremy. They not only had availability for 3 motorhome pitches over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, but also room in the B and B - all at very good prices. We were in!

Jonathan has owned the site for 4 years, and has been developing it ever since. It's immaculate, with large, individual pitches surrounded by tall hedges, and everything is very well looked after. "Strictness with a Smile" should be Jeremy's motto, as he laughingly asked us to keep Holly on a lead at all times, and explained why.(She chose exactly the wrong moment to escape at high speed from the awning). There's a rally field, (in use whilst we were there) a small toilet and shower block (with notices about not putting various items down the loo's, and what will happen if you do) and a lovely shop in the barn with a wide selection of essential items and gifts. Unusually, there are home-cooked meals - lasagne, moussaka, liver and onions, soups etc. As Jonathan says " The Aga is on all the time, so we make the most of it". Two mornings, warm fresh-baked scones were for sale straight from the oven.

There is a short dog walk on the site, behind the camping field (for up to 20 tents). Dog lovers are encouraged to dispose of poops in the special bin, or risk a hefty fine. Jonathan is happy to explain why, if asked (but probably best not to unless you have a strong stomach). Over the road is a large area of scrubland where dogs can have a good run round. Hunmanby village, a nice little place, is about a mile away, with a supermarket, post office and pubs, an excellent Chinese Take-Away -China China, who will deliver for a small charge, and a Fish and Chip shop.

Filey is 3 miles away, with plenty of parking - £3 all day - at the Country Park for cars with caravans and large motorhomes. Bridlingtonand Scarborough. are just 9 miles and Whitby is 30 miles. The best parking in Whitby for motorhomes is up at the Abbey. You can pick up the Whitby Open Top Tour Bus from there, a hop on hop off service, so you don't have to walk back up the 190 steps at the end of the day. Some of us queued to eat inside the famous Magpie Fish and Chip Restaurant, the rest of us joining the long queue outside for take-aways then dodging the seagulls as we scoffed our meal. The cafe, which opened in Whitby in 1939, can attract more than 1,000 customers a day at the height of the tourist season and has recently been extended to accommodate 130 customers.

We spent Sunday on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. A Day Ticket allows you to get on and off at any halt between Pickering and Grosmont, and we spent the whole day trying to catch a steam train but just missing it and ending up on the historic, but smelly, diesels. The company that run this amazing private historic railway does a wonderful job, and the pride, enthusiasm and sheer hard work which is put into running it is tangible. It's a great day out for anoraks and non-anoraks alike.

Mum and Aunty gave the B and B full marks - "one of the nicest we've ever stayed in -and such good value for money too". There are just two en-suite guest rooms, which are light, fresh and nicely furnished, with huge picture windows with lovely views of the garden and surrounding countryside. And apparantly the breakfasts were "yummy".

Without doubt J and J run a very tight ship - and it shows. Would we stay there again? Definitely!