Eight caravan holiday parks have been voted the best in England and are to go through to the Excellence in England Tourism Awards 2004, in association with Enjoy England*. The winner of the Caravan Holiday Park of the Year category will be announced at the national awards ceremony at Kensington Palace in London on 22 April 2004, on the eve of St George’s Day.
The finalists have all come through rigorous awards run by England’s nine regional tourist boards, where they battled it out against hundreds of other entries for a chance to win the Excellence in England Tourism Award accolade for Caravan Holiday Park of the Year.
The winner will have shown commitment to providing excellent accommodation, services and customer care as well as strong environmental policies. They will also have invested in staff training and development and made provision for disabled guests in line with the new Disability Discrimination Act* coming fully into force in October this year.
The Caravan Holiday Park of the Year national finalists are:
Holgates Caravan Park – Cumbria Tourist Board www.holgates.co.uk
Holgates Caravan Park is a luxury family-owned business in an idyllic setting close to the Lake District. The facilities are excellent and include an indoor leisure centre complete with sauna, steam room, gym as well as a restaurant and bar, supermarket, launderette, games area with pool table and adventure playgrounds.
Searles Leisure Resort – East of England Tourist Board www.searles.co.uk
Searles is a family run leisure resort situated just 200 yards from the beach at Hunstanton, Norfolk. They have invested in 'All Year Round' lodge & caravan accommodation, complementing their superb leisure and entertainment facilities which include bars, restaurants and pools, along with a golf course, bowls green and fishing lakes.
Blackmore Camping and Caravanning Club Site – Visit Heart of England www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Located in Hanley Swan at the foot of the Malvern Hills, Blackmore Camping and Caravanning Club site provides a great base to explore the rural landscapes around Hereford and Worcestershire. Over one million pounds has been invested in the facilities on site over the last three years.
Ord House Country Park – Northumberland Tourist Board www.ordhouse.co.uk
Ord House Country Park is a 40 acre tree-lined caravan park in north Northumberland. Guests can choose from luxury holiday home caravans or timber-clad lodges all with superb views over the park and onto Halidon Hill. Facilities include a bar and family room and award-winning shower and toilet facilities. There is also crazy golf, giant draughts and a field for ball games.
Sunset Park – North West Tourist Board www.sunsetpark.co.uk
In the countryside near Blackpool. Five Star, holiday park with indoor heated pool, spa, sauna and coarse fishing pond. Licensed club and bar with entertainment. Meadow Point is a new development of luxury holiday lodges for sale and is the home of the Hambleton Denver and Rio Grande miniature railroad.
Wood Farm Caravan & Camping Park – South West Tourism www.woodfarm.co.uk
Wood Farm Caravan & Camping Park lies to the west of the coastal village of Charmouth overlooking spectacular rural views. The Park is enhanced by fishing lakes, an excellent dog walking area and a recycling centre. Recent improvements include the creation of 26 Premium Pitches set on level terraces, and information room with internet access and a recreation room with a soft play area.
Southland Camping Park – Tourism South East www.southland.co.uk
Situated near Sandown and Shanklin, Southland Camping Park offers a high quality and environmentally-friendly holiday. As well as providing superb facilities such as baby and family rooms and a recycling centre, the owners are also concerned with helping the environment. They recently purchased land adjacent to the site to provide an area for people to relax in. Known as ‘The Meadow’, this land is also a conservation area where a nuttery and native trees have been planted to encourage wildlife.
Far Grange Caravan Park – Yorkshire Tourist Board www.fargrangepark.co.uk
Far Grange Caravan Park is not a caravan park that stands still – a major one million pound expansion is well underway and will result in an increase of hire accommodation to 60 units, all of which will be bookable on-line. There will also be 147 holiday home pitches in landscaped avenues.
