Feature
Top 5 Caravan Sites in the UK
Choosing a ‘Top 5’ list of sites for touring caravans (or motorhomes) has been a pleasure and a challenge. So, with apologies to all the other wonderful campsites out there that there wasn’t room to include, in no particular order, here’s Auto Trader’s Top 5 sites..
Words by: John Rawlings
Published on 31 August 2018 | 0 min read
The pleasure came from looking at all the different places to take our caravans in this beautiful country (and beyond), so the challenge is narrowing it down to just five spread across the UK. If we had included all of Europe as well, would have made choosing just five even harder!
It’s obviously a challenge trying to cater for everyone’s personal preferences and budgets, so we’ve selected a variety or campsites, or touring/holiday parks, including family-friendly, adult-only, award-winning and budget-friendly options. As most people go caravanning to get outside, relax and do some touring, the criteria for this shortlist has been good views, clean facilities, a variety of things to see and do in the area, plus some award-winning credentials, rather than because they have facilities like swimming pools, bars , bars or restaurants. So, with apologies to all the other wonderful campsites out there that there wasn’t room to include, in no particular order, here’s Auto Trader’s Top 5 sites:
It’s obviously a challenge trying to cater for everyone’s personal preferences and budgets, so we’ve selected a variety or campsites, or touring/holiday parks, including family-friendly, adult-only, award-winning and budget-friendly options. As most people go caravanning to get outside, relax and do some touring, the criteria for this shortlist has been good views, clean facilities, a variety of things to see and do in the area, plus some award-winning credentials, rather than because they have facilities like swimming pools, bars , bars or restaurants. So, with apologies to all the other wonderful campsites out there that there wasn’t room to include, in no particular order, here’s Auto Trader’s Top 5 sites:
1. Trevalgan Touring Park – Cornwall
With the South West being one of the most popular holiday destinations for touring caravanners, it almost seems unfair just to pick one from all the sites there is to choose from in Devon and Cornwall. In the end, we let the people who voted in the AA Caravan and Camping Awards 2018 decide, and the AA Regional Campsite of the Year 2018 in the South West was Trevalgan Touring Park, Trevalgan, St Ives, Cornwall. It is also listed by The Best of British so this independently-owned campsite comes with an almost solid guarantee of being a good quality one.
It is two miles from St Ives and within walking distance of the South west Coast Path. It boasts coastal and countryside views, luxury washrooms with underfloor heating and large rain-head showers, an outdoor children’s play area, a dog-free zone, wetsuit wash, laundry room, Wi-Fi and shop offering fresh baguettes and pastries each morning. It is open from the start of May to the 29th September with 135 pitches offering the choice of non-serviced, serviced, multi-serviced and hard-standing multi-serviced. Prices range from £17 to £43 per night for two adults in 2018.
It is two miles from St Ives and within walking distance of the South west Coast Path. It boasts coastal and countryside views, luxury washrooms with underfloor heating and large rain-head showers, an outdoor children’s play area, a dog-free zone, wetsuit wash, laundry room, Wi-Fi and shop offering fresh baguettes and pastries each morning. It is open from the start of May to the 29th September with 135 pitches offering the choice of non-serviced, serviced, multi-serviced and hard-standing multi-serviced. Prices range from £17 to £43 per night for two adults in 2018.
2. Love2Stay – Shropshire
This is one of the newest campsites in the UK, so is modern and actually calls itself a resort as it has an onsite fitness suite, spa, café/restaurant, fishing lake, natural swimming pool, and more. If that’s not enough to keep you busy, the Shropshire hills and Welsh borders are both nearby, or there’s the medieval market town of Shrewsbury. It is owned by Salop Leisure, which has its accessory shop and caravan and motorhome showroom adjoining Love2Stay.
There are 122 fully-serviced pitches, top-notch facilities and even a dog shower room and a machine to empty and clean your cassette toilet for you. It is located at Emstrey, just outside Shrewsbury, and is open all-year, with touring pitches available from £21/night.
There are 122 fully-serviced pitches, top-notch facilities and even a dog shower room and a machine to empty and clean your cassette toilet for you. It is located at Emstrey, just outside Shrewsbury, and is open all-year, with touring pitches available from £21/night.
3. Eye Kettleby Lakes – Leicestershire
For those that want peace and quiet without children, and like pork pies and fishing, will like this adults-only ‘touring and camping park’ just outside Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
It is part of a 400 acre farm and has won many awards, including a 5-star grading by Visit Britain, the ‘Best Adult Only Site’ by Practical Caravan magazine, and also received a ‘Platinum Loo of the Year’ award. It has just invested over £1m in developing a new, 69-pitch extension with luxury facilities, and landscaped with 50,000 trees and shrubs. It has also enlarged its popular, dog-friendly clubhouse which serves afternoon tea and meals and hosts various special events. Many people come for its eight coarse fishing lakes, but also like to tour the surrounding area, especially the home of the pork pie – Melton Mowbray. It is open all-year, with prices ranging from £21 to £40 per night, depending on type of pitch and time of year.
It is part of a 400 acre farm and has won many awards, including a 5-star grading by Visit Britain, the ‘Best Adult Only Site’ by Practical Caravan magazine, and also received a ‘Platinum Loo of the Year’ award. It has just invested over £1m in developing a new, 69-pitch extension with luxury facilities, and landscaped with 50,000 trees and shrubs. It has also enlarged its popular, dog-friendly clubhouse which serves afternoon tea and meals and hosts various special events. Many people come for its eight coarse fishing lakes, but also like to tour the surrounding area, especially the home of the pork pie – Melton Mowbray. It is open all-year, with prices ranging from £21 to £40 per night, depending on type of pitch and time of year.
4. Low Moor Head Farm – Cumbria
This site is the smallest and simplest of this ‘Top 5’, but made our shortlist because of that, and because it offers a great get-away-from-it-all experience in another beautiful part of the UK. It is just outside Easton, near Longtown, close to the Scottish Borders (six miles from Hadrian’s Wall) and only 20 minutes from the Lake District.
Caravan and Motorhome Club members voted it their ‘CL of the Year’ in 2017 – a CL is an abbreviation for Certificated Location, which means it is only licenced to have a maximum of five caravans or motorhomes at any one time, so it’s never going to feel crowded! You don’t have to be a CAMC member to stay here unless you want to book through the CAMC website. Despite being a small and simple site, all its pitches are hardstanding with electric hook-up and individual water supply, plus there is a heated toilet and shower available. Everyone gets complimentary free-range eggs. There are woodland walks and cycle routes close to the site, or walk in to the local town, which is one mile away. Low Moor Head Caravan Park is open all-year, with prices ranging from £18 to £19 per night for a pitch with two adults during low and high season, or £25 per night over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Caravan and Motorhome Club members voted it their ‘CL of the Year’ in 2017 – a CL is an abbreviation for Certificated Location, which means it is only licenced to have a maximum of five caravans or motorhomes at any one time, so it’s never going to feel crowded! You don’t have to be a CAMC member to stay here unless you want to book through the CAMC website. Despite being a small and simple site, all its pitches are hardstanding with electric hook-up and individual water supply, plus there is a heated toilet and shower available. Everyone gets complimentary free-range eggs. There are woodland walks and cycle routes close to the site, or walk in to the local town, which is one mile away. Low Moor Head Caravan Park is open all-year, with prices ranging from £18 to £19 per night for a pitch with two adults during low and high season, or £25 per night over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
5. Cachel Campsite, Loch Lomond – Scotland
Like Cornwall, Scotland had to feature on our Top 5 caravan sites as it’s on everyone’s bucket list of places to visit, and where better than the Camping in the Forest’s Cashel Campsite on the shores of Loch Lomond.
You can launch your own boat on the site’s slipway, or rent one nearby to explore its islands, or choose a fishing spot. If the stunning views of the water and mountains beyond isn’t enough to please you, then there’s always the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, or the West Highland Way which passes the entrance to the site. There are 168 pitches, plus a shop, toilets and showers, a children’s play area, plus dishwashing and laundry facilities. It is open from March to 29 October, and costs for a pitch with two adults range from £15 to £28.25, with an electric hook-up costing an extra £6.15 or £6.65 per night, depending on type of pitch (grass or hardstanding). Age concessions and family deal rates are also available.
You can launch your own boat on the site’s slipway, or rent one nearby to explore its islands, or choose a fishing spot. If the stunning views of the water and mountains beyond isn’t enough to please you, then there’s always the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, or the West Highland Way which passes the entrance to the site. There are 168 pitches, plus a shop, toilets and showers, a children’s play area, plus dishwashing and laundry facilities. It is open from March to 29 October, and costs for a pitch with two adults range from £15 to £28.25, with an electric hook-up costing an extra £6.15 or £6.65 per night, depending on type of pitch (grass or hardstanding). Age concessions and family deal rates are also available.
Looking to buy a caravan?