PICTURE PERFECT

Landal GreenParks offer an impressive 18 locations across the UK and Europe with new destinations being steadily added. I was immediately struck by the immaculate grounds and welcoming atmosphere as I arrived at Landal Gwel an Mor holiday resort at Portreath, near Redruth in Cornwall.

Set against the backdrop of rolling hills and overlooking the turquoise shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, Landal Gwel an Mor presents a postcard-perfect scene that promises relaxation and adventure in equal measure. Boasting 140 lodges, accommodation options at the resort are varied and cater to every taste and preference.

From cozy Scandinavian lodges nestled in woodland settings to contemporary luxury eco-friendly lodges boasting panoramic sea views, there’s something to suit families, couples, and solo travellers alike. The Scandinavian-style lodges with stylish decor feature kitchens, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, as well as furnished sundecks.

THERE ARE 18 STYLES of accommodation offered with the 140 lodges on site.

Some have hot tubs and barbecue grills.There’s a Mediterranean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Other amenities include an indoor pool and a spa, as well as a sauna, a steam room and a gym. Walking paths, tennis courts and rental bikes are also available.

During my stay, I opted for one of the eco-friendly lodges, which seamlessly blended modern amenities with sustainable design, providing a comfortable and guilt-free stay. One of the highlights of Landal Gwel an Mor is its commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.

The on-site nature reserve, home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, offers guests the opportunity to reconnect with nature through guided walks and wildlife encounters. Whether observing the wide variety of birds between trees or spotting seals basking by nearby cliffs, the resort’s dedication to preserving Cornwall’s natural beauty is truly commendable.

LANDAL GWEL AN MOR presents a postcard-perfect setting including its fishing lake.

GREAT ESCAPE
For those seeking relaxation, the resort’s leisure facilities are second to none. The luxurious spa, with its range of indulgent treatments and serene ambiance, provided the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Meanwhile, the heated swimming pool and state-of-the-art fitness centre catered to guests looking to maintain their wellness routines while on vacation.

Adventure awaits around every corner at Landal Gwel an Mor, with a plethora of outdoor activities to suit all interests. From surfing and kayaking along the rugged coastline to exploring nearby hiking trails and picturesque fishing villages, there’s no shortage of ways to immerse oneself in Cornwall’s rich natural heritage.

The resort’s dedicated activity centre offers expert guidance and equipment rental, ensuring that guests can make the most of their time outdoors. No visit to Landal Gwel an Mor would be complete without sampling the culinary delights on offer. The on-site restaurant, The Terrace, serves up an array of locally sourced dishes, showcasing the best of Cornwall’s culinary heritage.

From freshly caught seafood to hearty traditional fare, each meal was a culinary journey that delighted the senses and left me eager for more. Landal Gwel an Mor holiday resort offers a truly unforgettable holiday experience in the heart of Cornwall. With its breathtaking surroundings, top-notch amenities, and commitment to sustainability, it’s a destination that caters to the discerning traveller seeking both relaxation and adventure.

ON SITE FACILITIES include an indoor soft play area.

LANDAL LABEL
Landal GreenParks is a market leader in the field of holiday resort management, operation, and rentals. Landal GreenParks has more than 100 resorts in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, offering a total of almost 14.000 holiday accommodation units and campsite pitches.

Taking the portfolio to 18 destinations, Landal GreenParks UK announced the addition of two new resorts into its UK portfolio earlier this year. The new sites, which will benefit from a multimillion-pound investment, will showcase the Landal experience and build on the strong demand for UK holidays in 2024. Landal Whalesborough Resort & Spa in Bude, Cornwall and Landal Twin Lakes in The Lake District.

Each year, more than 3.2 million guests opt for Landal GreenParks, resulting in a total of 15.6 million overnight stays. The resorts and the company’s various offices employ a staff of 3.500 people. A proactive approach to sustainability has resulted in all Landal GreenParks’ resorts obtaining Green Key certification. Landal say they have witnessed a surge in last minute bookings that is driving an increase in summer holiday sales.

ATTENTION TO décor detail makes an immediate impact.

The self-catering holiday specialist has seen summer bookings up 20% YoY, with 30% of its breaks being taken within a month and 10% going within a week of being booked. The south-west continues to be the best-performing region for Landal GreenParks UK, with new and additional accommodation offering at its resorts, helping contribute to a 30% increase in summer bookings compared to last year.

There is also demand in the Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland due to pet friendly staycations – with bookings up 25% compared to 2022. The company has also noticed a trend for shorter summer breaks, with almost a third of all summer bookings being for four nights. Landal GreenParks UK launched their summer campaign with up to 40% off summer breaks starting from £479.

Landal Resorts
Landal Gwel an Mor
Tel. 01209 842354
www.landal.co.uk/gwel-an-mor

BARKING BRITAIN

BARKING BRITAIN

A ruff guide to welcoming those furry friends...

COFTON WAS SHORTLISTED in the iTravel Staycation Awards 2020/21 for Dog- friendly Accommodation of the year.

 

This autumn, Lola, my much-loved three-year-old spaniel, and I, will be undertaking an extended East then West coast tour of England and Scotland, plotting a map of dog- friendly stays to break the journey there and back. We will have plenty of canine company. Thousands of holiday makers will enjoy UK holidays with their furry friends this year. If we have booked carefully, we know we can expect a warm welcome of a comfy bed, fresh towels, and delicious homemade biscuits – and that is just for the dog!

Mapping out our journey, preparation has included basic checks such as rules and regulations per stop, access to dog-friendly areas including restaurants as well as a quick survey of outstanding nearby walks including beaches and coastal walks. Our on-line research offers up plenty of choice. There were more than 3,000 locations willing to accommodate one or two dogs with their human guests. Perhaps not surprisingly, only 172 would take a booking for three dogs and a mere eight locations willing to welcome four of more dogs.

 

WHY NOT ESTABLISH a link with your local vets to provide guests with holiday advice and information.

 

BIG BUSINESS
A nation of dog lovers, dog accommodation is big business not overlooked by the industry’s biggest players. For instance, Haven offers mile upon mile of countryside and coastline for visitors to explore just a stone’s throw from their 33 dog-friendly parks. They can offer a list of dog-friendly beaches that will welcome dogs all year round while making its Saver, Bronze and Silver caravans are all accessible for humans and their four-legged friends. When it comes to the best locations for a dog-friendly caravan holiday, the Haven park that stands out is Lincolnshire’s Golden Sands. At Golden Sands, the pooch facilities are second to none.

Equipped with a Bark Yard obstacle course, your Fido doesn’t even need to leave the park to be entertained. Golden Sands is also surrounded by pooch-perfect places to visit, from the Lincolnshire Wolds with its Rolling hills, hidden valleys and gentle streams to Mablethorpe Beach, a nearby paradise with a Blue Flag Award to its name. Multi award-winning holiday park Cofton Holidays has invested £300,000 in four new dog-friendly lodges to cope with record demand for staycations from dog owners. Shortlisted in the iTravel Staycation Awards 2020/21 for Dog-friendly Accommodation of the year, the family-run holiday park, situated close to Dawlish Warren’s Blue Flag Beach, has added to its existing luxury hot-tub lodge collection with four dog-friendly Kingfisher lodges close to the coarse fishing lakes.

 

COFTON HOLIDAYS has invested £300,000 in four new dog-friendly lodges.

 

ONLINE SEARCHES
The launch follows research conducted by Cofton which showed that online searches for UK dog-friendly holiday destinations increased by 665% year on year between May 2020 compared with May 2021. Helen Scott, Director of Cofton Holidays, is looking forward to welcoming owners and their dogs to the new lodges, Cofton’s latest investment: “Lockdown has seen a huge rise in dog ownership, and that’s driving unprecedented demand for dog- friendly holidays. “As dog owners ourselves, we know just how important it is to be able to take your dog on holiday with you. That’s why we have gone the extra mile to ensure that Cofton is leading the way in dog-friendly breaks.

The introduction of our new lodges is our latest response and builds on our collection of pet- friendly cottages and holiday homes.” Offering all the creature comforts, the Kingfisher dog-friendly hot tub lodge collection offers two-bedroom lodges from £428 for a four-night mid-week break, £474 for a three-night weekend break, and £651 for a week break. The decking areas are safely enclosed with one gate at the entrance to the lodge and another separating the hot tub area from the outdoor al fresco dining area.

 

DOG-FRIENDLY VACATIONS are big business and not overlooked by the industry’s biggest players. Pic.Whitehill

 

Dogs are welcomed with a pet mat, blanket, stainless steel water bowl and food bowl, whilst their owners can look forward to the complimentary hamper filled with local handmade treats. Guests also have access to a dedicated dog exercise field, miles of cycle paths and nature trails that take you through woodland to Dawlish Warren’s dog-friendly beach. Cofton benefits from the added advantage of the Dawlish Countryside Park right on its doorstep where dogs can run free around its circular walks.

With a minimum of research, you can reassure human guests of a warm welcome for them and their pets, by supplying some pre-arrival tips on making their stay as smooth as possible. Don’t bog visitors down with red tape rules but keep essential messages positive. Offer a check list of essentials such as basic equipment and why not establish a link with your local vets to provide guests with emergency contact advice Encourage guests to walk dogs on a lead, on site, and if walking in dim light, to wear an LED collar. Remind them to pick up poo with bags and use the special bins provided. Perhaps you have provided a few in their welcome packs to help out?

 

DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS are big business which is why thousands of holiday destinations are offering pooch-friendly stays.

 

POOCH PATROLS
The UK is home to plenty of tail- wagging destinations. So you need to make sure you stand out from the crowd. A pre-season safety check can ensure you are confident of a safe visit and plenty of return visits. Hidden hazards could include certain mushrooms, compost and over- zealous use of weed killers and other environmental control such as rat poison. Pet owners love spending on their pampered pooches. So, don’t forget to add a few dog toys, including balls, to the site shop.

Add a couple of lines of dog food and treats, even a few collars and leads -- not to mention poo bags. For many, having a holiday with their dog is non-negotiable. Not only is Tewkesbury Park a beautiful family owned resort, boasting an exquisite 28 hole golf course and destination spa, offering stylish, comfortable luxury in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, it’s also a pet-friendly retreat offering the paw-fect place for a summer staycation for you and your canine companion to enjoy.

 

HUMANS AND THEIR CANINE companions can be sure of a warm welcome on Tewkesbury Park’s Bow Wow Breakaway package.

 

And on top of its already very popular ‘Scrumbles Dog Retreat’ package, Tewkesbury Park is launching a ‘Bow Wow Breakaway’ package, which is suitable for all guests and their pooches. All of Tewkesbury Park’s dog-friendly rooms come complete with a private patio. Double doors open directly onto a grassy patch, which is self-contained so they can snuffle around. Dogs are also welcome in the piano lounge, which means they are able to accompany you while you enjoy a drink or bite to eat.

One small matter of paperwork though; dogs are asked to remain on leads when outside of bedrooms, if only to avoid them chasing after those pesky rogue golf balls. With the Bow Wow Breakaway package, guests can enjoy a luxuriating two-night stay with dinner and a bottle of wine on one night, along with a Cotswolds dog walking booklet from £339 per night, based on two sharing. The tour begins…woof!

 

Wish You Were Here…Berwick Holiday Park

Picture postcards from Berwick Holiday Park in Northumberland...

postcard3

Set on a clifftop, with views overlooking the North Sea, Haven’s Berwick Holiday Park offers the ideal location for exploring the Northumberland coast.

There are two sandy beaches scattered with rock pools, which can be accessed via steps from the park, or guests can discover the rugged coastline via the coastal path.postcard1

Facilities at the park include a convenience shop and a recently refurbished restaurant and bar with a dedicated sports area. Other amenities include a multi-sports court, launderette and the Showbar, not forgetting the 18-hole golf course situated next to the park.

Berwick Holiday Park’s extensive water play facilities are a highlight for holidaymakers.

Facilities include an indoor heat swimming pool with a water chute, a heated outdoor pool and a dancing water play splash zone, which is open from May until the end of August.

Nearly 70 per cent of the caravans on the park are privately owned and owners can make use of their own lounge and health suite, themed parties and events and generous discounts in the shop, restaurant and on all activities.

Berwick Holiday Park - Tel. 0333 202 1463  www.haven.com

 

Touch Wood

Attracting all types of visitors from long weekend holiday lets to permanent holiday homes, log cabins have been used in the UK for more than 40 years.

Currently enjoying a boom in popularity, the first timber lodges began to appear on UK sites as far back as the Seventies. Forty years on, some of those early trend setters, on the banks of Lake Windermere, are still in use today.

While budget is always going to be the primary consideration, it is important to consider your target market, location and site layout before making an investment commitment.

“A lodge park could look to invest anything from between around £20,000 to over £100,000 for a single lodge,” says David Hollyhead, a specialist lodge consultant.

“The lower end often attracts a high turnover of clients paying lower rates and although this can provide a rapid return on investment, higher costs may be incurred from refurbishments and replacements,” he advises.

“At the higher end, the incredible quality and finish of topend units matches any top-class housing project and owners have the option of becoming more involved in the design of the home and its interior,” adds David.

PREMIUM RATES

Robert Matthews from Baltic Timber Lodges says that many 50-plus retired people, with good disposable income, will pay a premium for premium locations without the noise of a typical caravan park; summer rates of £650 plus are not uncommon.

“We recently constructed four larger lodges on a site that overlooks a golf course in a popular holiday resort; an investment of £250,000 has returned £700,000, plus weekly site fees,” Robert reveals.

A cheaper initial investment than the larger lodges and cabins, camping pods typically attract a transient market of walkers, fellwalkers and hikers, to those sites located on popular trails and routes, such as the Pennine or Cumbrian Ways.

Robert says: “A complete camping pod for two people can be constructed from around £4,000.

“If occupied for 90 nights per year a pod will give a return on investment of around 68 per cent in the first year, based on two sharing at £30 per lodge per night.”

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Company Contacts

David Hollyhead Developments UK
Tel. +44 (0)7976 256436
www.davidhollyheaddevelopments.co.uk
 
Baltic Timber Lodges
Tel. +44 (0)8450 216873
www.logcabinlodge.co.uk
 
 
The Dream Lodge Group
Tel. 0845 123 6333
www.thedreamlodgegroup.co.uk