{"id":7786,"date":"2025-06-14T09:36:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T09:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7786"},"modified":"2025-06-14T09:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T09:36:54","slug":"poland-and-the-baltic-sea-a-first-for-jess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/06\/poland-and-the-baltic-sea-a-first-for-jess\/","title":{"rendered":"Poland and the Baltic Sea. A first for Jess…!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The northern Polish coastline on the Baltic Sea<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Week 2.<\/em> 7th – 13th June 2025. Lieblingshof, Germany to Lundakrahamnen, Sweden\u2013 375 miles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Lieblingshof, Germany to Lundakrahamnen, Sweden\u2013 375 miles<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Saturday 7th June 2025 – <\/strong>Lieblingshof, Germany to Dziwnow, Poland \u2013 122 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We still have our poor kitten outside that we met yesterday. It\u2019s been raining on and off all night and this morning. Today, we\u2019re heading to Poland, where we have a two-night reservation at the Black Pearl Campsite. Just as we\u2019re about to leave, the sun comes out!<\/p>\n\n\n

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A road to nowhere. Thanks Google…<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The drive has been challenging. Hayley has to navigate narrow roads in Germany, with trees leaning into the road. We swap over before reaching the border, so Del has to handle very tight roads and heavy rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It isn’t long before Google sends us down a nasty, narrow cobbled road to…? No idea… There is a new motorway with maintenance being done once you cross the border into Poland. Speed limit 35mph…!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome to Poland, and rain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some roadworks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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…and some more rain!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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Hmmm. Not sure.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We\u2019re in Poland! One of the first things we do is to stop at a border shop and try some Polish chocolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are staying at a campsite for a couple of days. The journey has been nonstop since we left home\u2014long days of driving. Once we’re settled, we do our weekly cleaning of Jess, which involves pulling everything apart to remove dust and dirt. It feels good to have her spotless inside. All surfaces are thoroughly wiped down. She now looks in showroom condition inside, although the outside is beginning to look a bit sad. The rain and motorway driving have made her filthy.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Very flashy, very not worky well<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We encounter a power issue at the Dziwnow campsite. The pitch sockets are only outputting 180 volts, which isn\u2019t enough to power the battery charger (it took us a while of pulling the van apart to test fuses before we managed to figure this out).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the fridge can\u2019t run on mains power. Luckily, the fridge is a multi-power source unit\u2014AC, battery, and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing all the chores, we settle into a very clean and tidy van with a cold German beer. It has started to rain again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For dinner tonight, we set out to a local restaurant. We eat too much again, but it’s very tasty. We try the local dish of Pierogi, which is very nice, a dumpling with meat inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pierogi – Very tasty…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Here we are in Dziwnow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Baltic Sea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We are so full of food, we decide to walk it off by heading to the beach to have a look at the Baltic Sea. The view is fantastic. We will be crossing it on Thursday to go to Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday 8th June 2025 – <\/strong>Day 2 in Dziwnow, Poland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have big plans today to go cycling around here; it’s nice and flat, and by the sea. No chance… there’s more rain today in Poland and, in fact, the whole of northern Europe. We are hoping to get a break in the weather to go for our bike ride later. It has rained on and off all morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is finally a slight break, enough for us to go to the nearby model village<\/a>, which is very popular here. 9 quid to get in, it\u2019s very nice. Well tended to, clean and lots of working model trains. The main theme of this model village is Polish lighthouses. Well, why not…? There are 16 of them here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Del admiring….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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…trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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more trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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oh, and a lighthouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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and yet more trains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We get into the flow of the park when suddenly… we have a massive thunderstorm with heavy rain, but really heavy. We take shelter in the model workshop thanks to a worker there. When the next break in the rain happens, the lady in the ticket office gives us a couple of umbrellas from a pile she has in the office, clearly a regular thing, this heavy rain thing. We are now the only two walking around in the not-so-heavy rain. Good though, we like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It rains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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and rains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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and rains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We make it back to the van for some hot tea and put the heating on. We cosy up with a good dinner in, and a couple of episodes of Clarkson’s Farm while the rain and now the strong winds batter the van. Nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday 9th June 2025 – <\/strong> Dziwnow to Wolin – 20 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rain has stopped, and the wind has died down. We\u2019re driving to a small town, slightly south of Dziwnow called Wolin. When we arrive, we find that the area is essentially a large, well-organised car park that accommodates campervans. Full services are available, though: you can empty your toilet, fill up with fresh water for a small fee, and dump grey water. It\u2019s very convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Looks like a carpark, but…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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It has a lot more…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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…much more!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Once the rain clears, the weather improves, so we take a walk into the town of Wolin. On the way, we pass a new wooden structure\u2014a viewpoint called Wie\u017ca widokowa w Wolinie.<\/a> It offers spectacular views of the surrounding lakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Up the wooden tower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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to some spectacular views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We continue our walk into Wolin, which has a rustic charm. It reminds us a bit of Grimsby in the 1980s, but we enjoy the walk. To us, this is what it’s all about. Our trips are not just about fantastic views and spectacular drives, it’s about seeing where other people live and how they do it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cheers from Wolin. Poland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We stop for a cold beer before heading back to the van. Overall, we manage a 4-mile walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinner in tonight… A fantastic, juicy, thick steak done to perfection and fries…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tuesday 10th June 2025 – <\/strong> Wolin to Marina Wicko, Zalesie – 11 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a grey but calm day so far, no rain and no strong wind. We enjoy a fantastic breakfast in Jess this morning (aren\u2019t they all?). Then, a short 11-mile drive to the town of Zalesie. The place we are going to is right at the end of a lake with kayaks for rent, so all being well, we will have a go at that. There is also a V3 museum here. The V3 was also known as the V3 London Cannon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The campsite is fabulous\u2014small, rustic. It’s looked after by a couple of guys who are very helpful and accommodating. They make us feel very welcome despite the language barrier. It\u2019s charming and \u201chandmade<\/em>,\u201d with kayak hire, a BBQ area, and a communal cooking space. We really like it. The V3 museum is just across the road, so what’s not to like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, the bad weather has set in again, with rain and increasing wind. We decide to wait it out before heading to the museum. It looks like the kayak rental is off, which is a shame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next break in the rain, we go across to the road to the smallest museum in the world, a tiny room filled with various items, but very interesting. It doesn’t take us long to look around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We are not able to climb up the launch area as they are replacing some steps to it, but we are shown where we can see some of the concrete mounts used to place the pipes and the barrel. We knew nothing about the V3, but we do now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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…and now<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a model village nearby. They seem to be very popular in this part of Poland, so we set off for the short walk. It’s rather impressive, with famous buildings from many European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For dinner, we have a lovely meal cooked in the van.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rain and wind don’t dampen our spirits; we stay in and enjoy a movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Wednesday 11th June 2025 – <\/strong> Zalesie to Miedzyzdroje – 3 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s finally a sunny day, but still a bit windy. We are sad to leave our little, cute camping spot, but we must move on. Our next campsite is in the town of Miedzyzdroje. Forest Camp is a 10-minute walk to the front, where all the action is. There’s white fine sand for miles in either direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The town of Miedzyzdroje is one of the top 4 beach holiday destinations in Poland. It has a great feel to it. We visit the Polish Walk of Fame (we don\u2019t know anyone there), and the Chopin Park (we know him), which has a statue in honour of the man. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Krzystof Kolberger – actor and director (the one on the left)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n
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We have ice cream and some currywurst, and chips – a lot of the town is set up for the large number of German tourists that they get here, as Germany is just next door. Back at Jess, we have a small beer in the sun. Dinner in tonight is a typical Polish feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pierogi with meatballs, very nice. \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomorrow we catch the ferry to Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday 12th June 2025 – <\/strong> Mi\u0119dzyzdroje, Poland to <\/strong>Klagshamn, Sweden -140 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s warm today. We\u2019re off on a ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden this afternoon, after a service at the campsite, we set off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jess finally gets a good wash\u2014after a thorough scrub and wax, she looks showroom new. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A job well done. She needed a good bath that one!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We do a bit of last-minute shopping before making our way to the ferry port to join the line to board the ferry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Right at the front!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A lighthouse… Again…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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…and here’s the model<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ferry is excellent\u2014very, very empty. We have a comfortable cabin at the front of the boat with a window for the 6-hour crossing, and enjoy a good dinner of Swedish meatballs in the restaurant before arriving into Trelleborg. We only need to do a 30-minute drive north to a free overnight parking area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arrive just before sunset and watch the sun go down behind the \u00d6resund Bridge, which connects Sweden to Denmark.<\/p>\n\n\n

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It’s a fantastic welcome to Sweden. We head back to Jess for a celebratory glass of ros\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome to Sweden<\/strong>…!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday 13th June 2025 – <\/strong> Klagshamns to Landskrona – 37 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It gets dark here at 10:30 at night and light at 4:30 in the morning. It’s a beautiful day today, clear blue skies, bright and sunny, lovely. After a short breakfast, we set off, driving north to the town of Landskrona to Lundakrahamnen marina, which allows campervans. The roads here are excellent, clean and well made. Fabulous. <\/p>\n\n\n

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What…? It’s a supermarket!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

We stop off at a supermarket. It might sound a bit sad, but we love checking out foreign supermarkets; they are all so very different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We get a few things and set off for the short drive to the marina. <\/p>\n\n\n

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We find a space, it’s already busy as we are going into the weekend, so not only are the foreign van people out, like us, the Germans and Dutch, but the Swedes are also out in force as the weekend weather is promising to be very good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After paying 295 SEK (\u00a323), we find a space sandwiched between a Dutch couple and a German couple who are very friendly and chatty to us. We later get chatting to an elderly Swedish lady who lived in the UK, Salford of all places…!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We get settled in quite quickly and go for a short walk to see what’s what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del starts the laundry (they have a washer and dryer), it’s a thankless task, but one that needs to be done all the same. Hayley gets on her bike and sets off for the town to get some Swedish cash!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hayley’s bike ride snaps…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walkway to a sauna<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dinner tonight is outside. It’s a lovely evening and the place we are at is so peaceful and so relaxing, we could live here!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dinner in the evening sun<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Tomorrow we are moving onto a forest location, which sounds really good on the campsite finder app, but will we get in?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Week 2. 7th – 13th June 2025. Lieblingshof, Germany to Lundakrahamnen, Sweden\u2013 375 miles Saturday 7th June 2025 – Lieblingshof, Germany to Dziwnow, Poland \u2013 122 miles We still have our poor kitten outside that we met yesterday. It\u2019s been raining on and off all night and this morning. Today, we\u2019re heading to Poland, where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7786"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7786"}],"version-history":[{"count":117,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8060,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7786\/revisions\/8060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vantours.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}