Caravan Park and Campsite Gradings Update

What a year this has been for top awards, ratings and upgrades! Now that our touring, camping and glamping parks just for adults have had their annual inspections, there are more top ratings than ever before with high scores and upgrades. This news is in addition to the many awards Tranquil Parks won this year, including TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence and Top 100 Sites awards.

In this article we’ll be taking a look at the major nationwide rating schemes for rating caravan parks and campsites. We’ll also give details on how our member parks have scored this year. For Tranquil Parks membership at least 4 stars are required from a national assessment body such as VisitEngland or Visit Wales, or at least 4 AA Pennants.

Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park is one of the parks in both the VisitEngland and AA schemes. Park owner Keith Betton believes that the VisitEngland inspection is the most rigorous and the park’s recent score of 99% is very impressive indeed. “Seventy-six separate items are assessed, ranging from cleanliness and quality of personal facilities, through to the site layout, grounds care, lighting and even the quality of tourist information provided” he explained.

How Do the VisitEngland and Visit Wales Grading Schemes Work?

To achieve 4 Visit England stars, touring parks or campsites need to score 90% on cleanliness, 85% on the park grounds and over 80% on everything else, such as reception and facilities. To achieve 5 stars parks need scores of over 90% or 87% on all criteria. The Gold Award signifies that a park has maintained its high score for more than a year.

The Visit Wales assessors use the same criteria to assess holiday accommodation as the other national bodies to award 1 to 5 stars. The stars are intended not only to show the quality of the facilities, but also that of the overall experience.

How Does the AA Pennant Scheme Work?

The AA gives caravan parks and campsites which join its scheme 1 to 5 pennants for scores of at least 50 out of 100. At least 4 black pennants are needed for Tranquil Parks membership, which equates to a score of at least 80 out of 100.

At the top of each AA tier, pennants are gold rather than black. And at the very top of the 5 pennant tier is the platinum level for the highest scores.

The inspectors make a subjective assessment on the quality of facilities, customer care and the park’s overall landscapting, which is based on their experience. The pennant scheme score applies to touring pitches and facilities, rather than any accommodation or static caravans on site. (The AA operates a star scheme for hotels, B&B and self catering accommodation.)

Park Upgrade News this Year

Well done to the team at Exe Valley Caravan Site in Somerset on the upgrade to AA 5 Platinum Pennants this year.
Back of Beyond Touring Camping & Glamping Park in Dorset also went platinum with a score of 95%. The inspector commented on cleanliness and investment in the site.
York Caravan Park’s AA score went up to 92%, earning them ‘Gold Status’.
Killiwerris Touring Park in Cornwall achieved 5 Gold Pennants for the first time this year.

Visit England 5 Stars + Gold Award

Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park, Bath & NE Somerset
Delph Bank Touring Park, Lincolnshire
Exe Valley Caravan Site, Somerset
Lamb Cottage Caravan Park, Cheshire
Old Oaks Touring & Glamping Park, Somerset
Somers Wood Caravan Park, Warwickshire
Stretton Lakes Touring Park, Rutland (self catering lodges are also 5 Star Gold)
Trethem Mill Touring Park, Cornwall

Visit England 5 Stars

Long Acres Touring Park, Lincolnshire – also holder of the prestigious VisitEngland Rose Award 2021 in Recognition of Service Excellence
Blue Rose Country Park, East Riding of Yorkshire
Brookside Country Park, Lincolnshire
Cherry Tree Springs, Lincolnshire
Greenacres Touring Park, Somerset
Run Cottage Touring Park, Suffolk
Two Mills Touring Park, Norfolk
Wolds View Country Park, Lincolnshire

AA 5 Pennants

Daisy Bank Caravan Park
Green Acres Caravan Park, Cumbria, also winner of AA Campsite of the Year North West England 2022/23
Red Kite Touring Park, Powys
Two Mills Touring Park, Norfolk, a huge achievement for the new team who are now working to improve their scores for next year

VisitEngland 4 Stars + Gold Award

Keal Lodge Caravan Park, Lincolnshire

Visit England 4 Stars

Chain Bridge Touring Caravan Site, Northumberland
Overbrook Caravan Park, North Yorkshire (The Station House Holiday Cottages in North Yorkshire next to Overbrook Caravan Park and run by the same team are 4 Star Gold Award)