2017 Top 100 Sites Guide, Including Many from Those with a Motorhome Or Caravan, Too
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TOP 100 SITES GUIDE 2017 Sorted by UK region Up-to-date prices Voted for by you! Touring caravans Motorhomes Tents Holiday caravans In association with ,1) (+%)" %/ */*,#*( - -*)' %/# - ,1) /*," ,1) */*,#*( ' - (+ ,1) ' - *0)/,3 *" - "* &7* 45*3 $ =5147* 9-* '*89 4+ 479- "* 14;* *;43 +742 94<+47)ŰŰŰ %- !(%'3 *2) 2, 2%))%)" /*0,%)" ,1) (*/*,#*( ) (+%)" -%/ '*- /* *( ,/%) *,/# 1*) &(.1.9.*8 3(1:)* )**, / 2%((%)" **' %/# 0// ) ,43 *'! *,- %%)" )/, -/0,)/- ,- /*,( $ %)% )**, ** 0) & /%1%/% - **') '&- )/-/% (%'3 )/ ,/%)( )/ űg g 894<+47)Ű(4Ű:0 Introduction Welcome to our Top 100 Sites 2017! TRYING TO JUGGLE a busy life and planning your TOP 100 next touring or camping holiday can sometimes be stressful – in the end it’s always worth the effort that SITES you’ve put in, of course, but there is often a huge amount to think about. One of the most time- 2017 consuming aspects is selecting the best site for your needs; there are so many to choose from, and it’s tricky to know which ones come highly rated. That’s where our annual Top 100 Sites scheme comes in. Every year, we ask those who have stayed at UK parks to nominate their favourites; we then count up all the votes, and our expert team from Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines has its say to come up with what we believe is the best guide out there on where to stay in your touring unit, tent or in a holiday caravan. This year we’re delighted to announce that we’ve teamed up with Bailey, one of the country’s leading producers of caravans and motorhomes. It has a long and hugely impressive heritage; the perfect fit, we think, for enjoying the many great destinations that you’ll discover on our home shores. So, don’t wait: turn the page now to start finding inspiration on a fabulous site at which to stay, no matter where in the British Isles you’re planning to travel. Let us know how you get on – and enjoy your trip! Sarah Wakely, Guide editor A word from our sponsor Key to listings “Bailey of Bristol is delighted to sponsor the Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome Top 100 Sites Guide 2017. “Memories begin with Bailey, and we believe that Caravans Tents every one is precious. With a Bailey caravan or motorhome behind you, and the open road in front, whether your destination is the dramatic coastline or beautiful Motorhomes Holiday sandy beaches, the right campsite will help caravans you create memories that you’ll treasure.” An outlined icon indicates Simon Howard, Marketing director, no accommodation of Bailey (www.baileyofbristol.co.uk) that type at the site Guide editor Sarah Wakely Designer Simon Mortimer Chief sub-editor Claudia Dowell Contributors Stacie Pardoe, Rob Keenan Group editor Alastair Clements Editorial secretary Cathy Wythe Sales manager Craig Evans Display sales executives Rosie Hunter, Beth Fifield Classified sales executive Beth Brown Deputy production manager Carrie Malcolm Senior production controller Kevin Conroy Publisher Alastair Clements Published by Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome Bridge House, 69 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SP Tel 020 8267 5629 Web www.practicalcaravan.com & www.practicalmotorhome.com © Haymarket Media Group www.practicalmotorhome.com/top100 | TOP 100 SITES 2017 | 3 3LWFKHV IURP £10 ³. ) n !n%) ) n3 ´ • Luxury 5 star facilities +LGGHQ 9DOOH\ • Family restaurant & bar 4XDOLW\ IDPLO\ KROLGD\V • Luxury lodges and caravans for sale +LGGHQ 9DOOH\ 3DUN :HVW 'RZQ 1U ,OIUDFRPEH 1RUWK 'HYRQ • Woodland walks & dog exercise areas (; 18 • 4 miles from Woolacombe Beach • Wi-Fi across the park LQIR#KLGGHQYDOOH\SDUNFRP • Children’s play areas ZZZKLGGHQYDOOH\SDUNFRP Contents 1 Northern Ireland ..................................7 2 Scotland ...............................................11 3 Wales ................................................... 17 4 North-East England ......................... 29 5 North-West England ........................ 37 6 Eastern England ............................... 45 7 Heart of England ...............................55 8 South-East England .........................63 9 Dorset .................................................. 71 10 Somerset, Avon & Wiltshire ......... 79 2 11 Devon ................................................85 12 Cornwall ...........................................99 Overall winner ................................111 Category winners............................... 112 Index .....................................................114 1 2017 5 4 Top 100 Sites 100 Sites Top Ten of the best You’re guaranteed a great stay at any one of our 100 parks, but some offer just that little bit more; our team has recognised this by giving six of them our special ‘Best Site’ awards, for eco-friendliness, family- 7 6 specific facilities and more. You’ll find details of some of the winners on p112, 3 and all of our Best Site winners have the relevant logo alongside their listing. BEST SITE BEST SITE BEST SITE Open all year Green Small 10 BEST SITE BEST SITE BEST SITE 8 Pet- Adults friendly Families only BEST SITE BEST SITE BEST SITE 11 9 For For For caravans motorhomes camping 12 BEST SITE For holiday caravans In association with www.practicalmotorhome.com/top100 | TOP 100 SITES 2017 | 5 ! ! ! ! ! Northern Ireland Northern Ireland STUNNING NORTHERN IRELAND Ballyness has undergone something of a renaissance over the past few years: it’s a simply fantastic place to tour, offering a warm welcome, Derry breathtaking scenery and vibrant cities in the form of Belfast and Derry. There are too many highlights to fully list here, but on your must-see list should be the rugged Causeway Coast – including a visit to Giant’s Causeway itself, the Carrick-a-Rede bridge and the Bushmills Distillery – Belfast Derry’s historic city walls, the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh, and the granite Mourne Enniskillen Mountains in County Down. Two top Northern Irish sites make it into our guide once again this year; Rushin House they’re located about as far apart as you can get, so you’ve no excuse not to visit every corner of this wonderful 2017 and picturesque destination. Ballyness Caravan Park Top 100 Sites 100 Sites Top Address 40 Castlecatt Road, Bushmills BT57 8TN Tel 028 2073 2393 Web www.ballynesscaravanpark.com Open 16 March-1 November 2017 Touring pitches 49 Pitch+2+hook-up £25 We say… The Gypsy’s Way dog walk is a new addition to Ballyness Caravan Park over the past year or so; you can take your pet on the pathways that wind through five acres and 2500 trees! Meanwhile, there is a trio of areas where you can set your tourer or motorhome, and each pitch has electric, water and drainage hook-ups. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, an indoor games room, a children’s play park and a motorhome service point. Exploring the local area is easy, thanks to the Causeway Rambler bus service that takes you along the beautiful nearby coastal route; it operates during the summer season and calls in at the site by reception. You say... “ This site is beautifully kept and still peaceful even when all the pitches are full. It is perfectly situated for Bushmills village (10 minutes’ walk) and even has its own bus stop. The owners are so helpful, friendly and kind. We love this site. It definitely deserves to be in the Top 100!” “ A dog-friendly site with excellent hardstanding pitches with full services, a superb and scrupulously clean shower block, friendly service, and a fantastic location for exploring the glorious Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland.” In association with www.practicalmotorhome.com/top100 | TOP 100 SITES 2017 | 7 Northern Ireland Rushin House Caravan Park Address Belcoo, Enniskillen BT93 5DU Tel 028 6638 6519 Web www.rushinhousecaravanpark.com Open 15 March-31 October 2017 Touring pitches 38 Pitch+2+hook-up £25 We say… Rushin House Caravan Park, TOP 100 located on the beautiful shores of Lough MacNean, SITES opened in 2007; since then it has grabbed a host of awards, including numerous 2017 victories as Regional Winner for Northern Ireland in our REGIONAL WINNER Top 100 Sites awards. Congratulations go to all at the park, because it takes the top award once again this year. It’s the ideal place to explore County Fermanagh, and its many attractions; you won’t have to travel far to visit the village of Belcoo, as well as historic Enniskillen and Sligo. The Fermanagh Lakelands, where you can take a trip on the water, are within easy reach, too. It’s the site’s tremendous facilities that make it so popular, though: the 38 touring pitches are immaculate, there’s free Wi-Fi and you’ll even find an outdoor gym! The focus is firmly on the environment, with extensive recycling, wind-generated electricity and eco-friendly outdoor furniture all featuring. Top 100 Sites 100 Sites Top You say... “ Ideally located beside the lough, this terraced site afforded everyone a very relaxing environment with grand views. The lovely owners are very friendly and welcoming… they related lots of information about getting around and things 2017 to do and see. Belcoo is close at hand (a pleasant kilometre’s walk), with a couple of good restaurants/bars and an excellent small supermarket in the town centre.” “ We are seasoned motorcaravanners with extremely high standards. Rushin House never drops its standards! The park meets all of our criteria when deciding to stay at a campsite. In fact, we compare all other sites’ facilities with those of Rushin House before we book.” 8 | TOP 100