POLMANTER TOURING PARK TAKES GOLD AT VISITENGLAND AWARDS 2025

Posted on November 12, 2025

The 2025 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrated the very best in UK tourism, with the coveted Camping, Glamping & Holiday Park of the Year category highlighting outstanding parks across the country. This year’s Gold winner was Polmanter Touring Park in Cornwall, with Rebecca and Phillip Osborne proudly accepting the award on stage at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.

Joining them were VisitEngland Advisory Board member Allan Lambert and compere Peter Hancock. Polmanter Touring Park has long been recognised for its exceptional customer service, welcoming atmosphere, and outstanding facilities. Its award-winning status reflects a commitment to quality, innovation, and creating memorable experiences for visitors.

The Osbornes’ dedication to both the park and the wider tourism community was evident in their heartfelt acceptance, with many praising their attention to detail and passion for the holiday park sector.

Silver was awarded to Mendip Basecamp in Somerset, a site known for its adventurous glamping offerings and family-friendly activities, while Bronze went to Hippersons Boatyard in Suffolk, which impressed judges with its combination of traditional charm and modern facilities.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence continue to showcase the innovation and dedication that make the UK holiday park and glamping sector one of the most competitive in Europe. Winning parks, like Polmanter, set the standard for service, quality, and guest experience, inspiring operators across the country to aim higher.

For holiday park professionals, the awards serve as a benchmark for excellence, proving that attention to detail, creative offerings, and a focus on visitor experience remain the keys to success in this growing and dynamic sector.

The awards serve as a benchmark for excellence, proving that attention to detail, creative offerings...

ECO REWARDS

Posted on October 28, 2021

ECO REWARDS

ACQUIRING THE SITE 20 YEARS AGO, 55,00 visitors a year are attracted to the Ullswater location.

First UK holiday park is awarded sustainability Queen’s Award…

A family-run Cumbrian resort has become the first holiday park to win a Queen’s Award for sustainability.
The Quiet Site in Watermillock is located near the shores of Ullswater where “green tourism” has been on the agenda for over 30 years.
The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development highlights Britain’s most environmentally responsible businesses.
Daniel Holder and his son George have been presented with a certifcate signed by The Queen and the Prime Minister, and a crystal glass vase. The Quiet Site is also now permitted to fly the Queen’s Award flag for the next five years.

HER MAJESTY’S LORD-LIEUTENANT OF CUMBRIA, Claire Hensmen presents the trophy to park owner Daniel Holder.

PROUD MOMENT

“This is an immensely proud moment for us, and a fantastic spur to our efforts to allow people to enjoy this beautiful region without creating a negative impact,” said Daniel.
“Cumbria’s economy relies heavily on tourism to support businesses and provide jobs, and we believe this needn’t be inconsistent with protecting the natural world.
“For example, we have invested heavily in sustainable technologies over the years, including solar panels and biomass heating, as well as banning single-use plastics.
“We also operate a very popular “zero waste” food shop specialising in Cumbrian produce free from unnecessary packaging, and with the fewest possible food miles under its belt.
“The Quiet Site’s holiday homes, including our underground Hobbit Holes, are highly insulated, extremely energy effcient, and built from sustainable materials.
“At the same time they provide an exciting and memorable alternative to traditional holiday accommodation, and are especially loved by young families.
“Hopefully we are also sending out the message that, by making even minor adjustments to our lives, it’s possible to make a real difference to our environmental impact,” said Daniel.
Since acquiring the park 20 years ago as a simple camping field, Daniel and his wife Anne have created one of the Lake District’s most celebrated parks.
The Quiet Site is attracting 55,000 visitors annually. As well as its 15 Hobbit Holes stays, the park offers 15 camping pods, 15 glamping cabins, holiday cottages and 60 pitches for motorhomes and tents.
Innovative accommodation, marketed as Gingerbread Houses, are new to The Quiet Site for 2021. The 15 units produce more energy than they use so have a positive effect on their environment.

THE QUIET SITE boasts a new zero waste shop.

POSITIVE IMPACT

“Holidays should not cost the earth,” emphasises Daniel. “Our hugely popular Hobbit Holes were the starting point in our thinking.
“Gingerbread Houses boast all that works well in a Hobbit Hole being simple, warm and comfortable, with a large, covered deck and private facilities.
“To this we have added a full-size shower, a simple kitchen and the ability to generate its own power. Heating is provided by a remote ground source heat pump and electricity is generated from their solar PV panel roofs,” explains Daniel.

15 GINGERBREAD houses on the site generate more energy than they use.

“The simplicity of this accommodation and lack of soft furnishings lends itself to an ease of cleaning and fogging that makes it incredibly safe,” he continues.
“They will be wrapped in a lovely beach hedge so will become virtually invisible – unless you know where to look! These hedges will become vital to helping our site become more biodiverse.”
Last year, The Quiet Site scooped another major national green accolade when it took a silver in the finals of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in the sustainable tourism category.

The Quiet Site
Tel. 01768486337
www.thequietsite.co.uk

: AN EXTRAORDINARY OLDE-WORLDE BAR dating from 1680, complete with large open log fre is open between 4 and 10pm every day.

: SHOWERS, WCs AND WASH BASINS use solar, biomass and ground source heat energy.

Family’s Holiday Park Is A Natural Winner

Posted on June 4, 2020

ABOVE: Moss Wood Park’s winning team members are (from left) marketing co-ordinator Neil Darby; seasonal warden Dave Dean; seasonal warden Sue Partington; groundskeeper Chris Peacock, and wardens Sandra and Ian Stokes

Family’s Holiday Park Is A Natural Winner

Moss Wood has been heralded as Lancashire’s torch-bearer for businesses with a conscience. Judges in the Lancashire Tourism Awards named the family-run park as first place in the ‘ethical, responsible and sustainable’ category of the awards, beating a strong line-up of contenders from across the North West. It means that Moss Wood will now be fast-tracked through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence later this year in the same category. An awards ceremony, held at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Arena, was attended by tourism and business chiefs from across Lancashire.

Henry Wild accepted the award on behalf of his father Syd who first started the park over 40 years ago, and who still plays an active part in its running. Moss Wood, judges said, puts sustainability and care for the countryside at the heart of its business culture, bringing great benefits to the natural environment. The park was also praised for the way it encourages holiday guests and members of the local community, especially children, to engage with nature and to help protect its wildlife.

Henry Wild said that everyone was absolutely delighted to have taken the top sustainability prize: “We are very fortunate to be able to attract staff who share our enthusiasm for the natural world, and for doing everything possible to protect our flora and fauna. “Their knowledge and skills mean we are never short of new ideas for safeguarding wildlife, and for helping youngsters to enjoy making new outdoor discoveries,” Henry continue. “Our family feels very privileged to live and work in this beautiful part of rural Lancashire, and I hope this award will help raise awareness of its very special qualities,” he added.

Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. The park has been presented with the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level for more than 20 consecutive years, recognising its raft of conservation initiatives. These include a recently created 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a 3000 square-foot wild flower wilderness providing vital foraging for honey bees and butterflies.

There is also a spring-fed lake at Moss Wood which acts as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, water fowl and a host of other different aquatic species. In addition, the park plays host to thousands of bees in hives on its grounds, and supports bee-keeping charities with the sale of its own artisan beer produced by a local micro-brewery.

Boom In Home Tourism

Posted on September 8, 2015

Boom In Home Tourism

Brits continue to choose UK destinations for short breaks and holidays. Pic: VisitBritain / Rod Edwards.

The growing ‘staycation’ trend has fuelled a record-breaking performance for domestic tourism already this year, with numbers up by almost a fifth.

The latest results from the Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) published by VisitEngland revealed that 28.7 million trips were recorded in England between January and April this year, an 18 per cent increase on the same period in 2014.

Expenditure is also up by 18 per cent on last year, totaling almost £5 billion.

VisitEngland’s Chief Executive Officer, James Berresford, said: “We hope this strong performance will continue to boost the industry – and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure we remain globally competitive, a world-class destination that entices domestic and international visitors.”

Poston Mill Takes Top Spot

Posted on July 4, 2015

Poston Mill Takes Top Spot

Poston Mill received the top gold honour in the parks category at May’s VisitEngland awards ceremony.

Herefordshire is now home to England’s highest rated holiday park after Poston Mill emerged as the overall victor in the 2015 VisitEngland awards for Excellence.

Poston Mill received the top gold honour in the parks category at May’s VisitEngland awards ceremony, beating nearly 2000 other eligible parks in England to the title.

Stepping up to receive the accolade from VisitEngland chief James Beresford at The Sage in Gateshead were the family business’s co-owners Wayne and Sarah Jones.

Sarah commented: “From the outset we wanted to make this a park where guests would feel genuinely welcome.

“That’s why the VisitEngland award for excellence means so much to us, because it is based not just on the quality of the park, but also the standards of service we provide."

Beautifully landscaped, Poston Mill has come a long way since first being taken over as a basic farm-based park just over 20 years ago. Since then, Wayne and Sarah have invested much time and energy into creating a high quality destination for discerning guests.

“I hope that one effect of our award will be to help other tourism businesses in the area by highlighting what a beautiful region this is to enjoy a truly memorable holiday,” added Sarah.

Top Tourism Finalists

Posted on June 10, 2015

Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland took gold in the Holiday Park of the Year category in last year’s VisitEngland Awards and has been announced as a finalist in the 2015 competition.

Top Tourism Finalists

Five holiday parks are among 75 finalists chosen from across the country in this year’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

On the shortlist in the Holiday Park or Holiday Village of the Year category is Cofton Country Holidays in Devon, Poston Mill Park in Herefordshire, Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland, Searles Leisure Resort in Norfolk and Trethem Mill Touring Park in Cornwall.

The Awards recognise businesses that incorporate best practice and demonstrate excellence in customer service throughout their operation.

Winners of each of the 17 categories will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Sage Gateshead conference centre on 11 May with each finalist guaranteed a gold, silver, bronze or highly commended in the category.

Accolade For Outstanding Parks

Posted on July 3, 2014

The team from Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland were presented with a gold award at the VisitEngland Awards of Excellence.

Accolade For Outstanding Parks

Holiday parks from across the country have been recognised in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

The awards, which celebrate their silver jubilee this year, promote quality in England’s tourism industry and celebrate the very best the country has to offer.

Leading the pack was Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland, which scooped the gold award in the Holiday Park of the Year category. Located in the small fishing village of Seahouses, the family-run park offers a mix of touring pitches and holiday lodges to hire or buy.

Allison Thompson of Seafield Caravan Park said she was delighted to win gold - the second time the site has landed the top prize. She added: “It is testament to the continued investment in the park and most importantly to the dedicated and motivated team at Seafield, who continually strive to not only maintain but to improve the customer experience.”

The silver award for Holiday Park of the Year went to Gwel an Mor Resort in Portreath, Cornwall. Leaplish Waterside Park at Kielder Water in Northumberland and Waldegraves and Cosways Family Holiday Parks in Essex were awarded joint bronze in the category, and Hoburne Bashley came highly commended.

VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: “The VisitEngland Awards celebrate the very best in the tourism industry. It is the highest accolade in English tourism and recognises the true champions of our industry, and the top quality visitor experiences we are fortunate to have on offer in England.”

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