Two Lake District campsites have been named among the best in the UK.
The prestigious AA Camping and Caravanning Awards celebrate the UK’s best campsites and caravan parks. The winners were chosen by AA inspectors for outstanding overall quality and high levels of customer care. The AA said the winners had excellent reputations.
The Campsite of the Year for the North West and the England overall winner was Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside.
It has over 300 privately owned holiday homes and 150 touring pitches, plus glamping options including luxury safari suites, adventure safari tents and pods.
The AA said: “Located in a beautiful setting close to Windermere, in the grounds of a former mansion. Touring areas are dotted in paddocks around the extensively wooded grounds, and the all-weather pitches are close to the facilities.”
Park Foot Holiday Park in Pooley Bridge was named most improved campsite of the year.
Owned by the Allen family for over 70 years, the park was praised for its achievements in protecting wildlife and generating its own carbon-free power.
The AA also highlighted Park Foot’s investment in new guest facilities over the past 12 months, including a new development of luxury lodges and the creation of additional play facilities.
Fiona Bell, a director of the park with her sister Barbara Allen, said the family was humbled and delighted at being named as England’s most improved park.
She also paid tribute to Park Foot’s staff team which number almost 50 local people in the summer months.
She said: “They have played a big part in helping us create features such new wildflower areas which provide vital foraging for honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
“One of our team has also started keeping bees in hives spread around the grounds, and they are already producing honey.
“Other green initiatives have included the introduction of wildlife corridors, the planting of new native hedges, and the installation of living habitats for animals and birds.
“These features not only help sustain our flora and fauna, but are also much loved by holiday guests who have chosen our park because of its glorious natural surroundings.”
The AA also commended Park Foot’s success in lowering its carbon footprint by installing over 400 solar panels to generate clean power for the park.
The family has additionally swapped four of its diesel vehicles for all-electric models, and installed charging points for the growing number of guests arriving in EVs.
Park Foot won praise too for its community involvement which in the last year has seen it raise £3,500 for Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team though a voluntary online booking donation scheme.
Another beneficiary of the park’s local fundraising work has been the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group for which £2,200 has been collected in the past 12 month.
“It’s wonderful to have our efforts, and those of our park team, recognised by this AA award – and it’s certainly helped our year to finish on a high!” said Fiona.
