WHEN THE STAY BECOMES THE STORY

THE ORRYN LODGE from Pinelog transforms the park landscape with a striking roofline and an inviting, experience-led design. With thoughtful design inside and out, The Orryn encourages guests to relax, socialise and create lasting memories in every season.

The increasing importance of experiential holiday park accommodation…

Holiday park accommodation is no longer a functional backdrop to a break away. It now shapes how guests relax, socialise and remember their stay. Comfort, design quality and usable space increasingly influence booking decisions and revenue.

The Orryn, the latest lodge design from Pinelog, has been developed in direct response to guest demand for memorable, experience-led accommodation. Rather than focusing solely on the internal layout, the design treats the lodge as a complete living environment, inside and out.

A defining feature is its projecting roofline. Architecturally, it creates a strong visual identity on park. Practically, it transforms external decking into a sheltered, year-round living and entertaining space. The extended roof projection provides protection for hot tubs, seating and dining areas, and can even accommodate a sauna, allowing operators to add premium features that remain usable in all seasons.

Like all lodges in the Pinelog range, The Orryn benefits from a fully bespoke approach. Layouts can be adapted to suit different guest profiles and park strategies, with options including integrated saunas, games rooms, accessibility features and pet-friendly additions.

These reflect growing demand for wellness, entertainment and multi-generational stays, while helping parks differentiate their offer and increase per-stay revenue. As experiential travel continues to shape the holiday park sector, Pinelog’s bespoke offering continues to lead the way in helping park operators move their accommodation into a central part of the guest experience, delivering stronger appeal and long-term commercial value. For luxury, memorable timber lodges, speak to Pinelog’s expert design team.

Pinelog
01246 942842
www.pinelog.co.uk

THE UK’S TOP CAMPING AND GLAMPING SITES

The AA Caravan & Camping Awards 2025–26 have once again set the benchmark for excellence across the UK’s camping, glamping and holiday park sector, recognising operators that are raising standards, innovating sustainably and delivering memorable guest experiences at a time when demand for high-quality outdoor stays shows no sign of slowing.

This year’s awards celebrate 13 standout sites across the UK, from coastal touring parks and woodland retreats to luxury glamping destinations, all selected following rigorous inspections by the AA’s expert team. Together, the winners reflect a sector that continues to evolve – balancing affordability with premium touches, and environmental responsibility with commercial success.

At the top of the honours list, St Helens in the Park, North Yorkshire, was named AA Campsite of the Year for England and crowned Overall Winner. The park impressed inspectors with its exceptional facilities, immaculate presentation and consistently high levels of customer satisfaction.

Set within a mature, landscaped environment, St Helens in the Park exemplifies how traditional camping and touring can be elevated through thoughtful design, attentive management and a strong sense of place. The accolade reinforces North Yorkshire’s position as a powerhouse for domestic tourism and highlights how well-run parks can thrive by focusing on quality, community and repeat custom rather than scale alone.

Elsewhere, the AA Glamping Site of the Year title went to Camp de Rêves in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The award recognises the site’s ability to deliver a high-end glamping experience while remaining rooted in its natural surroundings.

WHITEFIELD FOREST Touring Park, Isle of Wight – awarded AA Campsite of the Year for South East England

With demand for glamping continuing to grow among couples and families seeking comfort without compromising on the outdoors, Camp de Rêves stands as an example of how design-led accommodation and strong storytelling can differentiate a destination in a competitive market. Sustainability also took centre stage, with The Quiet Site in Cumbria awarded AA Sustainable Park of the Year.

Long regarded as a pioneer in environmentally responsible tourism, The Quiet Site continues to demonstrate that sustainability and commercial viability are not mutually exclusive. From renewable energy initiatives to waste reduction and nature-first planning, the park shows how long-term investment in green practices can enhance guest appeal while future-proofing the business.

The national campsite winners further highlight the geographic and operational diversity of the sector. Whitefield Forest Touring Park on the Isle of Wight and Old Hall Caravan Park in Lancashire were both recognised as National AA Campsites of the Year, reflecting excellence in customer experience, facilities and location.

Whitefield Forest’s woodland setting and strong connection to the island’s tourism offer underline the value of destination-led marketing, while Old Hall Caravan Park demonstrates how well-established touring parks can continue to evolve and compete through ongoing investment and attention to detail. Regional winners across England also showcased the strength of local operators.

Parks such as Love2Stay Shrewsbury (Heart of England), Alders Caravan Park (North East England) and Treloy Touring Park (South West England) illustrate how tailored offerings – from activity-led stays to peaceful rural escapes – can meet the varied expectations of today’s campers and tourers. Beyond the headline winners, the awards also recognised progress and adaptability within the industry.

HOPTON HOLIDAY VILLAGE, Norfolk – awarded AA Holiday Park of the Year, highlighting excellence in large-scale holiday park operations.

Eye Kettleby Lakes in Leicestershire took home AA Most Improved Campsite of the Year, highlighting the impact of targeted upgrades and responsive management. Hallsdown Farm Touring Park in Devon was named AA Small Campsite of the Year, proving that smaller operations can compete at the highest level through personal service and a clear identity.

Meanwhile, Hopton Holiday Village in Norfolk received AA Holiday Park of the Year, underlining the continued relevance of larger holiday villages within the wider outdoor accommodation landscape. With strong entertainment offerings, accommodation choice and coastal appeal, the park demonstrates how holiday parks can successfully cater to multi-generational audiences while maintaining quality standards.

Hosting the awards, Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, noted that British camping and caravan parks are “more inspiring than ever,” offering everything from peaceful rural retreats to dramatic coastal locations. His comments reflect a broader industry reality: guests increasingly expect more than just a pitch or pod – they are seeking experiences, authenticity and reassurance around quality.

All award winners are featured in the 58th edition of the AA Caravan & Camping Guide, reinforcing the continued importance of trusted third-party endorsements in influencing booking decisions. For park operators, recognition from the AA remains a valuable marketing asset, supporting both direct bookings and wider destination visibility.

As the sector looks ahead to the 2026 season, this year’s winners provide a clear snapshot of where the industry is heading: towards higher standards, stronger sustainability credentials and guest experiences that turn first-time visitors into loyal advocates. For holiday park owners and operators, the message is clear – investment in quality, people and purpose continues to pay dividends.

TURN YOUR WIFI AND BROADBAND SERVICES INTO PROFIT AND ENGAGEMENT

We hear from Kendal Stacey, Holiday Parks & Leisure Lead, Wifinity

I work with 4/5 of the UK’s largest holiday park operators, including Parkdean Resorts, Butlins and Haven. One topic keeps coming up. With tax, business rates, utilities, staffing and supplier fees rising, parks want to make every asset work harder.

Connectivity is one of those assets, delivering commercial returns when set up in the right way. Look beyond basic guest WiFi and towards the potential of your network as an income generator, an operational tool and a differentiator. This article shows how it can support your commercial goals.

Your connectivity affects booking decisions, guest satisfaction, spend on site and the workload for your reception team. Some parks create direct revenue through tiered or upgraded packages. Others drive indirect returns like better loyalty, increased venue footfall, longer dwell times, smoother digital journeys or reduced strain on reception teams.

CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS:
1 Basic or traditional WiFi A small number of outdoor access points create a simple mesh. It’s easy to install and is enough for very small parks with low demand. Performance drops at peak times, indoor coverage is patchy and it’s unreliable for streaming or remote work.

2 Park-wide professionally managed network A purpose-designed network with consistent coverage across the park and units. Handles many devices, supports streaming and work use, cuts your support burden using central management. Larger operators choose this.

3 In-unit broadband Each unit gets its own router or customer premises equipment for a private, home-style connection. Works well where predictable performance matters – lodge owners or long-stay guests. Supports tiered or premium packages. Backhaul is critical in every case. You’ll have several options like private 5G, fibre or fixed wireless access.

COMMERCIAL OPTIONS:
• Free access for all: Simple to communicate. Removes barriers for guests.
• Freemium. Basic free access with optional paid upgrades.
• Paid only. Be mindful that most visitors expect basic free access.
• Revenue share. A supplier like Wifinity, owns and manages the network.

Income from paid passes is shared. Different parks choose differently based on layout, guest type and commercial priorities. We consider things like terrain, accommodation mix, guest behaviour and operational goals.

That context usually points to the right model. At Parkdean Resorts, for example, we moved from a mix of legacy systems to a consistent managed network with in-van routers and structured backhaul. The focus wasn’t on headline speeds but on stable coverage and reducing support issues, which also enabled digital services. If you’re reviewing connectivity ahead of the season, start with what you want the network to deliver for users and the right model becomes easier to choose.

Please click here for more information.

STABLE, FAST, AND PROFITABLE: the right network can transform your park’s guest experience and commercial returns.