Park News

Judges in the annual AA holiday awards have told the family owners of Norfolk's Searles Leisure Resort that they are the UK's champion holiday providers.

The Hunstanton park was named this autumn as the overall winner in the "Holiday Centre of the Year" category of the honours, beating thousands of other parks in Britain to the title.

Awards given by the AA – based on guest reviews and a "secret shopper" visit by inspectors - are regarded as the Oscars of the holiday parks industry.

The park first began welcoming campers over 60 years ago onto what was then a farm, and it has since grown to become one of Eastern England's largest and best-loved holiday centres.

Major park operators Park Holidays UK and holiday home manufacturers Prestige have joined forces to create the ultimate fantasy escape at Sandhills Holiday Park in Dorset.

It takes the form of a high-tech £420,000 bespoke luxury lodge with one of the most picturesque beach-side settings to be found anywhere in Britain.

And this autumn, the keys to the holiday home were officially handed over to its extremely proud new owner.

A Camping and Caravanning Club Certificated Site had a royal visit on Tuesday 3 July.  Club Director General Robert Louden MBE joined HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire, as The Duchess of Cornwall named the first foal born on the farm in five years. 

The farm is a Certificated Site, a small member-only campsite open to members of The Camping and Caravanning Club, and is one of more than 180 Certificated Sites across Wales.  

After meeting the Duchess of Cornwall in the main barn, Robert said: “It was an honour to be invited to this event and join The Duchess of Cornwall to admire and celebrate the hard work of all at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm.  

When three-year-old Amber Kibbey fell in love with a hedgehog at Devon's Riviera Bay Holiday Park earlier this year, her mum Claire knew that it was the real thing. So when they made a return visit to the park this autumn, the family had a big surprise in store for Amber – a matching mini-version of the pretty pink outfit worn by her heroine!  It was presented to the star-struck toddler just before she set off for the Brixham park's daily children's show where mascot Penny Prickles was due to be on stage.

And in front of a cheering crowd, Amber went under the spotlights to receive the admiration – and a big hug – from the hedgehog which had won her heart.

A Somerset holiday park which has helped release hundreds of birds and animals into its woodlands has been praised by the charity behind the scheme.

Holiday Resort Unity in Brean Sands has been working this year with Secret World Wildlife Rescue to give crisis-stricken creatures a fresh start in life.

Each has been cared for by the charity following injury, sickness, or being abandoned by its parents – and then put back into their natural habitat on the park.

Now Holiday Resort Unity has celebrated its successful partnership by naming its two acres of woodland after the volunteer-led charity.

From now on, it will be known at the park and on local maps as Secret Wood. 

Savills, on behalf of private owners, has sold Ddol-Hir Caravan Park in Llangollen to new owners, an established park operator. The property was sold from a guide price of £749,000.

Located in north Wales the park is set over 7.30 acres (2.95 hectares) and has planning permission for 19 static caravans, 25 touring caravans and a camping field. A two bedroom owner’s park home was also included in the sale. Ddol-Hir Caravan Park is close to the many of north Wales beauty spots including the Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Berwyn mountain range.  

Savills, on behalf of Carr Royd Parks Ltd, has sold Sunset Park Holiday Village and Hambleton Country Park in Lancashire to a park operator. The properties, a holiday park and adjoining residential park were marketed with a guide price of £5.5 million.