Working through winter at Tranquil Parks

Many Tranquil Parks are busy with improvements while closed for winter and the COVID-19 lockdown. It takes continual investment and innovation to maintain high standards and top gradings. Sometimes the investment is behind the scenes on admin systems and booking systems but much of the work involves working through all weathers to improve pitches, buildings, facilities and roadways. Here are some of the major upgrades that you’ll be able to see or enjoy when you next visit our adults only campsites.

Green energy in South Wales

Hywel tells us that they’ve installed a 7Kw electric car charging point at South Wales Touring Park near Llanelli.  They’ve also covered the shed roof with 9Kw of solar panels. These feed into an energy storage battery pack.

Another interesting project is the installation of an air heat exchanger in the showers and toilet block. It means that any stale air and heat generated by the showers is taken up by the system and fresh air is then brought in. As the heat is exchanged over to the fresh air coming in, it prevents any waste of heat and energy. And with COVID still about it’s important to keep fresh air circulating in buildings. Read more at www.southwalescaravansite.co.uk/environmental.

Renewed fishing pegs at Grooby’s Pit

At Grooby’s Pit near Skegness they’ve been working on the fishing pegs. They’re replacing concrete with decking. Tracy has also shared some photos of the amazing winter sunrises.

Lamb Cottage touring area has new entrance

Peter has been busy renewing the entrance into the touring area of the park at Lamb Cottage Caravan Park in Cheshire.

Adult only changes at Trethem Mill

Trethem Mill Touring Park in Cornwall will become adults only for the first time when they reopen. In preparation for the change they’ve dismantled the play area.

Back of Beyond builds fully serviced pitches

Back of Beyond Touring Camping and Glamping Park in Dorset is introducing fully serviced pitches this winter with electric hook-up, water and a grey water drain. When the park reopens there will be a total of 67 hardstanding pitches and 21 of them will be fully serviced. The Superior Hardstanding Fully Serviced Pitches measure around 23 x 12 metres on average, with some over 25 metres long!

This upgrade has contributed towards the park’s new AA rating of 5 Pennant Gold. There are also new roadways, pathways and car parking spaces for the glamping village. Read about the upgrades and AA awards in the park’s news.

Hens have arrived at York Caravan Park

You can now buy fresh, free range eggs from the hens at York Caravan Park. The hens arrived recently and live in a small woodland area next door to the campsite. The park has also expanded the dog walk area and added a gate.

Major expansion for Hallsdown Farm

Andrew and Claire have been undertaking major expansion and improvements at Hallsdown Farm Touring Park in Devon. They’re pleased to report that they have added 10 new premium fully serviced pitches complete with their own individual ensuite toilet/shower block. Five of them are available to book as touring pitches.

Brookside Country Park upgrades

All the touring pitches at Brookside Country Park  in Lincolnshire are being upgraded to fully serviced with their own electric hook-ups, taps and grey waste drainage. You can also book online for 2021 and 2022 via the website with the new online booking system.

New reception at Blue Rose Country Park

Construction has started on a new reception building at Blue Rose Country Park in Yorkshire. To make use of the old reception block it’s going to become a ‘hub’ – a comfortable place to relax with library and internet access. This park is also taking bookings for 2021 and 2022 from the website through a new online booking system.

Major builds for Wayfarers Caravan Park

In addition to a completely new shower block, there’s a new service block under construction at Wayfarers Caravan Park in Cornwall. This will house washing up sinks, a laundry and fridge-freezer for campers, plus a drying cupboard and shower toilet room. Outside there will be brand new chemical waste and grey waster disposal units.

Three hardstanding pitches have been turned into fully serviced pitches, plus they’re upgrading the WiFi and installing a pizza oven in the bistro. Three additional holiday homes will be set up by May, and there’ll be a new security barrier at the entrance.

News from The Willows

There’s a new couple on board to help Anna and Miles run the The Willows Caravan and Camping Park in Abersoch, North Wales, for the first time ever. This year’s improvements include:

• Increasing the number of pitches with 16 amp electric hook-up to 42
• Laying gravel on all the roadways
• A new online booking system which recently went live
• New freezer, fridge and noticeboards in Tourist Information
• Return of the static caravan due to popular demand
• Two pods have become dog friendly
• A new floor in the laundry, repairing of pitches, tree cutting, painting and gardening

Building and pitch upgrades at Woodland Springs

The new shop and reception building at Woodland Springs Touring Park in Devon is nearly finished. It’s a traditional wooden frame construction made from local trees. The glamping pods are now in a new area and they’ve finished some new hardstanding pitches for campervans with electric hook-up, picnic bench and grass seating area.

The construction of spacious ‘Plus’ pitches is almost complete. These have a hardstanding area of at least 10 x 8 metres, plus a generous grass surround and no immediate neighbouring pitches.

Green Acres build new pitches and amenities

It’s just over two years since Josie and Mike gave up their careers to run Green Acres Caravan Park in Cumbria. The big projects continue this winter, including:

• A new facilities block with six individual five star wet rooms, including a disabled wetroom
• 19 new serviced pitches (16 amp electric hook-up, water tap and grey water drain) in a new area of the park
• A new viewing point ‘Henry’s Hill’ – great for sunsets and fell views
• A new motorhome service point which includes a drive-over grey waste drain and a fresh water tap
• The new sports hall is now up and running with badminton court, pool table, table tennis and darts

Guest suggestions take shape at Killiwerris

The new owners of Killiwerris Touring Park in Cornwall, Josie and Steve, have lost no time in asking guests for suggestions and acting on them. They’ve added an extension to the shower block to include a dog/boot and wetsuit wash. There are also two extra outside sinks and a new chemical waste disposal where you can rest your cassette whilst emptying and then shower it off.

A great new addition for dog walkers is a new path connecting with the nearest bridle path from inside the campsite. You no longer have to leave the site to reach the bridle path network that leads to the local village, Chacewater.

Some pine trees have been removed due to falling cones and needles, shade and excessive noise during rain. Steve is erecting a new fence along the whole area. This park has also added a motorhome service point. It means guests can empty grey waste underneath their van. With the addition of an extra tap and electric point, the couple plan to use it as an overflow pitch when needed.

Additional improvements include double-sided roadside fencing to enhance peacefulness, upgrade of pitches (in progress) to extend smaller pitches, renew gravel and hook-up points. The freshly pointed shower block now has a music system and seats in all the cubicles. There’s a caravan and annexe in the house grounds for rental (adults only). Bike storage is available if needed, free WiFi is now in place and a new CCTV system is on the way.

Briarfields work on pitches and hedges

The team at Briarfields Motel and Touring Park are upgrading 14 pitches to become fully serviced. They’ve also extended 20 pitches to make them longer. To give guests greater privacy, they’ve planted another 500 hornbeam hedges, which will also support wildlife on the park. Many of the perimeter hedges have been cut back to allow more sunshine in.

New Lodge Farm creates hardstanding pitches

Work is progressing at New Lodge Farm in Northamptonshire to create five new hardstanding pitches in time for reopening. The team is also concentrating on generating an additional four-pitch tent area at a new location on the site.

Park improvements for Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park

Some pitches are being completely relaid to improve comfort and drainage. This follows on from re-landscaping the south west corner of the park in 2020. The team are excitedly looking forward to watching the new shrub plantings come into bloom when it’s time for guests to return.

Major new development at Fields End Water

A whole new section of Fields End Water Caravan Park, Lodges and Fishery in Cambridgeshire will be opening for the 2021 season. The new Waterside development has 20 lakeside fully serviced pitches and four glamping pods. The park will also be stocking the new lake with fish.