Caroline Mills - Cool Caravanning: A Selection of Stunning Sites in the English Countryside

Published 2017IMM Lifestyle Books

www.IMMLifestyleBooks.com

IMM Lifestyle Books are distributed in the UK by Grantham Book Service, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 7XQ.

In North America, IMM Lifestyle Books are distributed by Fox Chapel Publishing, 1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520, www.FoxChapelPublishing.com

Copyright 2010, 2017 by IMM Lifestyle Books

Copyright 2010, 2017 in text: Caroline Mills

Copyright 2010, 2017 in maps: William Smuts

Copyright 2010, 2017 in photographs: Caroline Mills, except:

pages 901, bottom Les Hurley Photography, courtesy of Stratford Racecourse Executive

pages 134-5, top Lincoln Farm Park

Caroline Mills has asserted her moral rights to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.

ISBN 978-1-5048-0071-6

Printed in Singapore

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that all information given in this book is accurate, but they cannot accept liability for any resulting injury or loss or damage to either property or person, whether direct or consequential and howsoever arising.

Cool for...

LANDSCAPE LOVERS

The best sites for fabulous views

Castlerigg Farm

Lound House Farm

Howgill Lodge

Woodend Farm

Usha Gap

Highside Farm

Rowter Farm

Bakewell

Fir Tree Farm

Monaughty Poeth

Whitcliffe Campsite

Rowlestone Court

Chine Farm

Bolberry House Farm and Karrageen

North Morte Farm

Napps

Treloan Coastal Holidays

Beacon Cottage Farm

Treveague Farm

FIRST-TIMERS

For those new to the game

Coniston Park Coppice

Stratford Touring Park

Sandringham

The Dower House

Run Cottage Touring Park

Waterclose Meadows

Lincoln Farm Park

Hurley Riverside Park

Tanner Farm Park

Burrowhayes Farm

Pentewan Sands

KIDS

The top sites for families with young children

Coniston Park Coppice

Sleningford Watermill

Church Farm Organics

Rowlestone Court

The Dower House

The Orchard Campsite

Lincoln Farm Park

Wellington Country Park

Tanner Farm Park

Riverside Lakes

Burrowhayes Farm

Napps

Tristram

Treloan Coastal Holidays

Pentewan Sands

BEACHCOMBERS

If you are looking for sand, sea and surf

Chine Farm

Napps

North Morte Farm

Tristram

Treloan Coastal Holidays

Beacon Cottage Farm Touring Park

Pentewan Sands

TREE LOVERS

Sites in and around beautiful woodland

Borrowdale

Coniston Park Coppice

Howgill Lodge

Haltwhistle

Oaklea

Sandringham

The Dower House

Wellington Country Park

Denny Wood

Postern Hill

Corfe Castle

Alpine Grove Park

WATER BABIES

For those who love water, be it river, lake or coast

Sleningford Watermill

Usha Gap

Finchale Abbey

Haltwhistle

Bank House Park

Fir Tree Farm

Monaughty Poeth

Willowcroft

The Orchard Campsite

Waterclose Meadows

Hurley Riverside Park

Chertsey

Chine Farm

Riverside Lakes

Tristram

Treloan Coastal Holidays

Pentewan Sands

WALKERS

For those who like to put their best foot forward

Church Stile Farm

Borrowdale

Coniston Park Coppice

Howgill Lodge

Woodend Farm

Usha Gap

Highside Farm

Rowter Farm

Bakewell

Bank House Park

Fir Tree Farm

Monaughty Poeth

Denny Wood

Corfe Castle

Burrowhayes Farm

Halse Farm

Bolberry House Farm and Karrageen

North Morte Farm

Tristram

Beacon Cottage Farm

CITY FANS

For urban pleasures, try out these great sites

Church Farm Organics

Stratford Touring Park

Whitcliffe Campsite

Lincoln Farm Park

Chertsey

GOURMETS

Places to eat, drink and be merry

Castlerigg Farm

Highside Farm

Church Farm Organics

Bank House Park

Rowlestone Court

Hayles Fruit Farm

Tristram

Treveague Farm

Pentewan Sands

OUTWARD BOUND

The best sites for those who want action and adventure

Sleningford Watermill

Kielder

Stratford Touring Park

Burrowhayes Farm

Tristram

Treloan Coastal Holidays

Pentewan Sands

ALL SEASONS

These campsites are open all year round

Lound House Farm

Woodend Farm

Usha Gap

Finchale Abbey

Church Farm Organics

Oaklea

Fir Tree Farm

Monaughty Poeth

Hayles Fruit Farm

Run Cottage

Chertsey

Tanner Farm Park

Postern Hill

GROWN-UPS

No children allowed; adults only

Finchale Abbey

Oaklea

Introduction

Hello and welcome. Welcome to the updated second edition of Cool Caravanning , specifically for people who love to spend time in caravans or motorhomes, or at least use one as a base for exploration.

Most guides for caravanners whether your van has an integrated engine or not give a little bit of information about lots of campsites, often in symbol format, with maybe the odd picture, but nothing more. Cool Caravanning is different.

You might say Cool Caravanning is a movement, all about getting back to the fundamentals when selecting a campsite. So often the focus is on facilities; the accreditation system of stars, ticks or any other keyboard character used to grade campsites and caravan parks places more importance on the hairdryer and shaver points and other modern conveniences than on the location or the beauty of the site.

Cool Caravanning seeks to redress the balance and return to the reasons for why we go camping location, location, location. Modern caravans and motorhomes tend to have every kind of luxury imaginable on board these days complete wash rooms, kitchens and heating, with huge energy reserves and, often, solar-powered top-ups so, all we really need from a campsite is a fresh water tap and waste disposal points. Most of the sites in this book have far more than that, though one or two dont. But what they all do have are fantastic locations without ugly uniform rows of vans, unless theres good reason.

If there is one thing we want when we go to a campsite, its a great view or a superb place to stay. Thats what camping is all about. It might be a panorama of the coastline, a view of the hills, a woodland setting or a pitch by a bubbling stream. It could be a site that allows things to happen, a city break, for example, or an opportunity to ride the waves. Each one of the sites included here has something special to offer.

But campsites are also about people. So often a campsite reflects the character of the owners; it is in many instances their home after all. And these sites represent that side of camping too. A great view of the hills can look terribly bleak if the welcome is frosty and unappealing. So, in the search to find a personal and hand-picked selection of the very best places to stay in England with a caravan or a motorhome, Ive also looked at the background to a site the ethos and the approaches to camping as viewed by the owners and wardens. Campsite owners are such a diverse bunch of people, from the youngest-at-heart to those with young families. Whats apparent is its cool to own a campsite some have had long-held dreams of owning one.