Camping, Farm Style

Texel, camping farm style, was a positive delight, and from the photographs below, the sun did shine, on occasions.   The camping ground, called De Hoge Kamp (The High camp), is situated on low ground by the way, as there are no hills, as such, on the island, just sand dunes around the edges.   So I am not sure where the name came from, but interesting anyway.

The owners were very friendly, and told the girls they could go in any building as long as the door was open.   They have about 320 sheep on the farm, but of course the number had doubled, as it was lambing time.    All the fluffy little lambs gamboling around the fields put me right off purchasing any meat from the owners, delicious as it may have been, being farm killed, so as to speak.  

The camping ground was also 1 1/2 km from Den Burg, an easy ride in, in case of running out of food, but the head wind coming back made the ride extremely difficult.   And, yes, it was also slightly uphill, ever so slightly, hence the high ground.   We were also close enough to town to order a take away pizza on the first night.   We liked that arrangement.   Camping comforts.

The owners had planted a thick belt of small trees around two sides of the camping ground, thank goodness, otherwise we really would have been blown away.   Many of the farms have high banks of earth around the edge of fields, in order to give shelter for the sheep.    An old method of providing shelter belts, apparently.

The motor home, standing in the shelter of the trees.   There were no hard standings, but the ground was sandy and water drained away very quickly, so no danger of becoming bogged.   The fold up chair did not get any use, due to the need to stay inside in the warmth.

Mia and Abit loved the trampolene, and spent many hours bouncing on it, even when it was wet.   The little house behind it is a rental cottage.

The ablutions block, bought from a camping ground that had gone out of business in Den Helder.   Apparently the owners had great difficulty getting it over on the ferry.    One of the best ablution blocks we have seen, as each shower, toilet and handbasin was a separate cubicle.   Lovely hot water too, spotlessly clean, and cosy.    Such an important feature on a campsite.

The old barn in the foreground has recently been renovated, typical of the old sheep sheds on the island.   It is still used to shelter sheep in the winter, even though there is a huge open shed on the opposite side.

Mummy and her lambs.   I think this mummy fosters the lambs, as they are hand fed.

Mia and Abi having fun feeding the lambs.    A special treat for the girls.

Hens wandering everywhere, but I was especially taken with these very fat and fluffy hens, who waddled around slowly pecking at the grass.   I am not sure whether they waddled because they had so many feathers or were full of fat.    No foxes on Texel, so these beauties could wander freely, without fear of being gobbled up by Mr Fox.  They looked very happy hens.

Walter loading the bikes back onto the van, sadly not having been used very much.  This photograph was taken the evening before we left, during a patch of fine weather.

Then we said our goodbyes to the friendly owners, and to the lovely fluffy sheep and hens, and reluctantly drove away in the rain and the wind.   This was one campsite that we would all like to return to some day.