Park yourself in Cumbria
A caravan break on Morecambe Bay is the perfect way to slow down
THERE are many challenges in the holiday season. Where to go? What to pack? How to cope with inevitable envy as others fly to ritzy locations. It’s this third one which makes a caravan park in Cumbria seem so, well, puny compared to other people’s stylish city breaks and jet-set destinations.
‘Caravan park holiday’ conjures up images of toilet blocks, tiny accommodation, no privacy or quiet and, probably, not much to do when the weather’s grim, which it has been known to be in the north of England.
With this in our minds, we formed a subdued group – my husband, our eight-year-old and I – as we headed for Silverdale Holiday Park.
However, as we left the M6, the rain stopped to reveal pretty villages as the road snaked past. Sunlight glinted on Morecambe Bay and our gloom lifted.
By the time we were installed in our spacious static caravan and had carried out a cursory exploration of the leisure centre, the possibility we might be on the wrong holiday vanished.
‘This is great,’ announced the eight-year-old. And that was before he’d discovered the pool, Jacuzzi, bowling alley, play area and tasty food.
He was right, though. Owned by the Holgate family for more than 60 years, Silverdale Holiday Park has a reputation as one of Cumbria’s most outstanding holiday destinations.
A glance around the immaculate grounds and the sweeping views across Morecambe Bay gives some clue as to why people return year after year, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Certainly, there are fastidiously clean and well-appointed caravans, offering both views and privacy, but there’s more. More even than 100 acres of woodland paths and award-winning environmental initiatives.
What makes Silverdale so special is good old customercomes-first service. From the minute you are greeted by reception staff who are clearly pleased to see you, there’s the sense you will be looked after.
Much of the attention to detail is the kind that goes unnoticed. The caravans have all you’d ever need for comfortable self-catering, a shop stocked with reasonably priced essentials and spot- less leisure facilities. However, we soon realised self-catering might become unnecessary as the leisure complex offered a tasty home-cooked menu.
Tempting as it was to spend our whole time relaxing in the park, we decided to see what was nearby, so the eight-yearold and I walked to Arnside in search of ice cream.
The well-signposted route took us through woods and brought us out beside the beach at Morecambe Bay. In Arnside, we found ice cream and pies at the Old Bakehouse, and an unspoilt village with independent shops and cafes, and a deliciously slowpaced life.
Refreshing as this unhurried approach may have been, our time at Silverdale came to an end far too quickly. Very reluctantly we packed up and headed back to the motorway, vowing to return as soon as we could.