Winning pitches! Britain’s best camping and caravanning spots for 2024 named by the AA, from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ glamping to a seaside wildflower site
From serene natural retreats to luxurious glamping destinations, the annual AA Caravan and Camping Awards has revealed Britain’s best outdoor accommodation for 2024.
According to the AA, the award winners provide ‘an ideal destination for the 16.7 million camping and caravanning trips’ made in Britain each year. The awards went to twelve locations across the country, hand-picked by the AA’s inspectors, who judged them based on their ‘exceptional quality and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction’.
Awards included Glamping Site of the Year, Campsite of the Year and Most Improved. Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Media, said the winners demonstrate ‘unparalleled quality’ and ‘commitment to ensuring their guests’ experiences are truly exceptional’.
AA CAMPSITES OF THE YEAR
See The quiet place in Ullswater, Cumbria, which took home the crown for England’s Campsite of the Year and overall winner for 2024
The quiet place in Ullswater, Cumbria, took home the award for England’s ‘Campsite of the Year’ and was also crowned overall winner, with AA inspectors describing it as a ‘beautiful park’ with ‘stunning views of the lake and the surrounding hills’.
Equally impressive, they add, is owner Daniel Holder’s “commendable ethos of sustainability and… exemplary standards in developing one of the country’s greenest parks,” which is “90 percent self-sufficient.”
In Scotland, first place went to Sands of Luce holiday park in Dumfries and Galloway, overlooking the ‘vast golden sands’ of Luce Bay. Inspectors praised the park’s new ‘accessible path to the beach’ and electric vehicle charging points. ‘TThis well-managed and presented holiday park provides a positive first impression on arrival and this feeling only improves as you explore the park,” she added.
In Wales, Home Farm Caravan park in Anglesey took home the crown for its ‘peaceful rural setting close to Moelfre beach’ and ‘first class’ service run with ‘passion and enthusiasm’. Inspectors liked the ‘high and remote location, sheltered by trees’ and the ‘views of farmland, sea and mountains of Snowdonia’.
ENGLAND REGIONAL WINNERS
In North West England the crown was awarded to Manor Wood Country Caravan Park in Cheshire, with its ‘peaceful rural setting’ and ‘extensive views across the Cheshire Plain’, seen in the photo above
Inspectors in South East England awarded gold Holidays in Ninham Country (above) on the Isle of Wight, where guests ‘drive between corn fields’ to reach the ‘very spacious grass pitches’
At the regional prices Saint Helens in the park, North Yorkshire, took first place ahead of North East England. It was described by inspectors as ‘immaculately maintained and thoughtfully laid out’
Kick-off of the regional awards, Fields End Water Caravan Park and fishing took first place on the winners’ podium for Heart of England in Cambridgeshire, with inspectors hailing the ‘high level of customer service, excellent security and peaceful environment’.
Taking first place in North East England, Saint Helens in the parkNorth Yorkshire, was described as a ‘immaculately maintained and meticulously landscaped’ park with ‘stunning floral displays’ and ‘extensive planting of wildflowers attracting a wealth of wildlife’.
In North West England the crown was awarded to Manor Wood Country Caravan Park in Cheshirethanks to its ‘memories of a Roman past, many attractions and good shopping’, all set in a ‘peaceful rural setting with extensive views over the Cheshire Plain’.
Inspectors in southeast England reported the gold Holidays in Ninham Country on the Isle of Wight, where guests ‘drive between corn fields’ to reach the ‘very spacious grassy pitches beyond’, which are ‘fringed with wildflowers and new hedges’.
Towards the tip of England, Cornwall’s Porthtowan Tourist Park took first place for the Southwest. The family-run park was described by inspectors as ‘top quality’ and ‘spectacular wherever you look’, nestled in a ‘secluded rural setting on Cornwall’s spectacular north coast’.
FURTHER PRICES
The prize for the Most Improved Campsite of the Year was awarded Back of Beyond Touring Park in Dorset, above, where staff have ‘consistently renewed and upgraded facilities’ to ‘appeal to a wider audience’, inspectors said
The Holiday Center of the Year award was presented Warren Farm holiday centre (above) in Somerset, praised by inspectors as a ‘comprehensive’ and constantly improving holiday park,
The AA also handed out a gong for Glamping Site of the Year, which went to The secret garden glamping in Lancashire, with inspectors describing it as ‘a unique holiday destination’ that gives adults the chance to ‘relive their childhood Alice in Wonderland moments’ with easy access to the Fylde Coast and the Yorkshire Dales.
The prize for the Most Improved Campsite of the Year was awarded Back of Beyond Touring Park in Dorset, where staff have ‘consistently updated and modernized facilities’ to ‘appeal to a wider audience’, inspectors said. New additions include ‘excellent’ glamping pods, shepherd’s huts, huts and a yurt.
The main prize for Small Campsite of the Year was awarded Deepdale Camping & Rooms, Norfolk. The ‘eco-friendly site offers 85 pitches and on-site bike hire with access to ‘peaceful walks’ near ‘natural salt marshes’.
Last but not least, the Holiday Center of the Year award was presented Warren Farm holiday centre in Somerset, praised by inspectors as a ‘comprehensive’ and constantly improving holiday park in a ‘glorious spot’ on the coast.
The full list of this year’s winners can be found on the AAs Rated trips website. All winners will also be featured in the 56th edition of the AA Caravan & Camping Guide.
The AA added: ‘Inspectors work anonymously to select the winners of the annual awards and visit businesses to assess them on standards of facilities, customer service, cleanliness and overall experience.’