News from our parks March 2025
March is not only the start of spring, it’s the start of the touring and camping season for most of our adult only caravan parks. This month saw 20 Tranquil Park reopen or open fully – almost half our Tranquil Parks. Three opened in February and 15 stayed open throughout the winter, so there are 6 more due to reopen in April and May.
With park teams working through long to-do lists and starting to welcome guests back, we’re grateful to the Tranquil Parks that have found the time to share their latest news!
Top photo: Exe Valley Caravan Site, Somers Wood Caravan Park and Eye Kettleby Lakes
This time 5 years ago
This month we’re remembering the start of the pandemic 5 years ago. No sooner had the season begun than we were all told to stay at home and our parks, like many businesses, had to close. We reported on what the teams did during lockdown here: Keeping busy while our parks are closed. (Please note that this report includes parks that have since closed, stopped touring pitches or have left our group.)
It was an unprecedented and worrying time for so many in so many ways, and for some it was completely devastating. Our park teams will always be grateful to guests who supported them through this difficult time by postponing rather than cancelling stays. This photo shows empty pitches at Fields End Water Caravan Park Lodges and Fishery and the Government message “Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.”
Awards News
Thirty winners and finalists inTop 100 Sites Guide 2025
We’re pleased to see so many Tranquil Parks in this annual guide published by Practical Caravan. Congratulations to them all, and especially Old Oaks Touring Camping and Glamping Park, named Overall Winner! To see all the winners and finalists, go to: Tranquil Parks winners and finalists in Top 100 Sites 2025.
Let’s help New Lodge Farm win a ‘Rural Oscar’
New Lodge Farm near Bulwick in Northamptonshire are finalists in the national Countryside Alliance awards following their recent regional business award. These awards are based on a public vote, so Simon, Sarah and the team would really appreciate your vote.
How to vote:
Go to https://www.research.net/r/CAmids25, fill in your name etc. and on the next page select ‘Rural enterprise’ then you’ll see New Lodge Farm listed among the contenders. Voting closes Sunday 6 April.
Stretton Lakes accommodation award
Stretton Lakes were recently finalists in the Tourism Excellence Awards for Greater Lincolnshire & Rutland in the Self Catering Accommodation category. Here are Rachel and Rowland receiving their certificate at the Lincolnshire Showground ceremony. The touring park has also just been awarded a Platinum Loo of the Year award.
Win a stay at Parkland in our new giveaway
We’re very excited to offer the chance to win a touring break at Parkland Caravan, Camping & Glamping Site this month. This park is in the South Hams area of South Devon, near the popular towns of Salcombe and Kingsbridge in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Offering the ultimate in peaceful getaways, Parkland is dog free as well as childfree! There’s a range of pitch types, a new luxury guest lounge, a licensed shop and immaculate modern facilities. The whole park is beautifully looked after by a family team that has run the park for the past 40 years.
What’s new from the parks?
Louise is officially Somers Wood’s new manager
If you’ve stayed at Somers Wood Caravan Park in Meriden, North Warwickshire, you may well have met Louise. She’s the daughter-in-law of park owners Angie (shown here with Louise) and Marc Fowler, and she starts this season officially in her new role as manager of the park.
“Over the years she has gained lots of experience in all areas and has slowly but surely taken lots of jobs & duties off my shoulders, which has allowed me to take a step back and begin to enjoy semi-retirement” Angie told us. “Although I’m still involved in the business, the practical side of running the park is now Louise’s domain” she said, adding “Louise is not afraid to get stuck in and tackle lots of jobs around the park. We are very thankful to have her and wish her all the best in her new role.”
Louise has helped enormously with the Tranquil Parks stand at the NEC Caravan Camping and Motorhome shows. We’d also like to congratulate her and send her our best wishes for her new role.
Killiwerris new self-service room
Steve and Josie at Killiwerris Touring Park near Truro in Cornwall have just completed another new room – a self-service cafe. Here you can purchase meals, snacks, cakes and drinks, using an honest box or BACS. Steve has even moved and rebuilt the park fountain, providing a lovely area to sit in or look at from the new room.
This adds to the new games room (in last month’s news) and the studio, where you can do yoga classes via Zoom or join Josie for a stretching session (both by prior arrangement).
Anniversary and glamping at Delph Bank
Stewart and Savanna at Delph Bank Touring Park near Fleet Hargate in Lincolnshire are about to celebrate their 3rd anniversary as park owners. What a great job they are doing developing the park and winning a VisitEngland ROSE award last year.
One of their upgrades is the introduction ofluxury glamping pods (with ensuite loo and basin). Here are some excellent new professional photos of the pods, which the lucky winner of our recent Delph Bank giveaway can choose as a prize. Watch this space for news about the clubhouse which should be opening soon.
Yr Helyg / The Willows launch website and dog sitting
The team from Yr Helyg / The Willow Caravan & Camping Park near Abersoch in North Wales are excited to announce that their new website is now live! It’s fast and easy to navigate with some great photos of the park’s fantastic location and views – check it out at helygwillows.com.
A dog sitting service will be available onsite this season, subject to availability. You can book with Alaw Thomas via the ‘ROVER’ app. The Willerby static caravan, which is available to rent, now has a brand new modern shower room installed. It also has incredible views across the countryside to Snowdonia and over Cardigan Bay.
Old Oaks’ New EV chargers, signage and lounge photos
At Old Oaks Touring Camping & Glamping Park near Glastonbury in Somerset, the constant drive for improvement, high standards, environmental ethos and attention to detail has resulted in many awards, including this year’s Top 100 Site Overall Winner award. The most recent improvements are the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers, smart new signage on the shop and reception building, plus new photos of the bar area in the park’s new lounge.
Great opening and popular baps at Back of Beyond
The team at Back of Beyond Touring Camping & Glamping Park near the New Forest in Dorset completed a long list of winter improvements in time for reopening. You can read all about them on the park’s website – What’s New at Back of Beyond in 2025. There have been some major improvements to pitches, including the conversion of all large Astroturf pitches (shown here) to fully serviced pitches.
They had a very successful reopening weekend with the sun shining, drinks flowing and guests loving the new Sunday caterer with the breakfast baps proving to be a great hit.
Eye Kettleby Lakes confirm food vans and tribute night
The team at Eye Kettleby Lakes near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire are pleased to confirm the lineup of visiting takeaways from April to September:
- Tuesdays – the Burgerologist
- Thursdays – Fire & Embers Pizza & Quiz Night
- Saturdays – Fish & Chips van plus live music
They have also confirmed The Bee Gees Experience for Saturday 22 November.
Quality pitches and frothy coffees at Bath Chew Valley
The pitches at Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park are looking superb for the new season thanks to the grounds care team’s hard work. Standard pitches are top dressed with fine gravel to provide all weather comfort for tents, and also have 16 Amp electric hook up and a fresh water tap nearby.
Froth Café has become a popular treat for guests at weekends. Baristas Rachel and Karina serve freshly ground frothy coffee and a tempting selection of cakes from their mobile cafe in the car park at weekends.
Discover Grooby’s Pit lodges
Here’s Grooby’s Pit near Skegness in Lincolnshire, winner of Best Small Site in this year’s Top 100 Sites Guide, on reopening day, 1 March. There is a lodge to purchase and a lodge to rent on the residential site, Bellwater Park, a development of just 7 bespoke lodges around the nursery lake. The lodges can be used for residential or 12-month holiday use and the first year’s ground rent is included.
Every year returning guests at Grooby’s Pit receive a locally made gift. This year’s is a tea towel made by Countryside Art at Spilsby. We’re sure guests will love them.
York Naburn Lock shower block and pub update
We’re looking forward to sharing photos of the new facilities at York Naburn Lock Caravan Park near York. The brand new shower block was nearing completion at the time of writing.
In other news, there will be a pizza van on site every Saturday 4.30-8pm called Even Pizzas. You may also be interested to know that the local pub, the Blacksmith Arms (about 10-15 minutes walk from the site) has reopened under new management.
Quick reminders from Greenacres and Overbrok
Greenacres Touring Park on the outskirts of Wellington in Somerset has a new KFC, Greggs and Costa Coffee all within a short walking distance. There’s also a nearby pub, the Skylark, serving food all day. You’ll find plenty going on in the town and around Somerset – for information, see www.visitsomerset.co.uk/festivals-events.
As more parks introduce electric metering, Overbrook Caravan Park in the pretty village of Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire would like to highlight their much improved meter tariff. Some guests have even mentioned that their latest domestic electricity deals are even dearer than the park’s commercial one!
Posh pooches on parade and fond farewell to feline icon
Somers Wood Caravan Park was busy earlier this month with guests attending Crufts at the NEC. Here are a couple of recent guests and professional preparations for the show (top row).
Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (bottom row) named its enclosed, all weather dog walk ‘Pups’ Parade’ and these two guests gave it a waggy-tail seal of approval.
Sadly, the team at Back of Beyond Touring Camping & Glamping Park recently had to say goodbye to Monty the cat, a well known character on site. He will be missed by the team, but his name lives on at ‘Monty’s’, the onsite bar named after him.