Southeast
BERKSHIRE
The Thames Path is a long-distance walking trail, following one of England’s best-known rivers for 184 miles from the Cotswolds into the heart of London. In Berkshire, this trail travels past Hurley Lock towards Henley-on-Thames, passing Hurley Riverside Park, too. It’s a lovely location with plenty of open space and riverside picnic spots.
Also in Berkshire is the royal residence of Windsor Castle, founded by William the Conqueror in the eleventh century, and Basildon Park near Reading. In the care of the National Trust, there is an eighteenth century house and 400 acres of historic parkland and gardens. Pullingshill Wood, near Marlow, is home to the most complete set of WWI training trenches in England, and for a day of racing and luxury why not head to Ascot?
HAMPSHIRE
Occupying the majority of the southwest corner of Hampshire is the New Forest National Park.
Perfect for walkers, cyclist and lovers of the outdoors, the forest is home to ponies, deer and a host of wildlife. There are also pretty villages to be discovered. Shamba Holidays is situated near Ringwood, practically on the edge of the New Forest National Park, with a clever swimming pool with sliding roof so the pool can be either indoor or outdoor depending on the weather.
Just over three miles away is Moors Valley Country Park and Forest, where you can walk and cycle, play golf, go fishing, hire a Segway, enjoy a ride on a steam train and even scale new heights at the Go Ape Treetop Adventure – there’s essentially plenty for a day out for all ages.
KENT
At over 350 miles, Kent has one of the longest coastlines of any county in Britain. Margate, in the northeast, is a traditional seaside town with an amusement park that’s home to the UK’s oldest wooden roller coaster.
Just two miles away is Botany Bay with its stunning chalk stacks, and Broadstairs is a little further with its quirky lanes and fisherman’s cottages. The fourth coastal town we suggest is Ramsgate, home to a busy marina and award-winning beach. For a site that’s central to all those places, consider Quex Holiday Park, only 30 minutes’ drive from Canterbury.
Another thing Kent has in abundance is castles, more than any other English county in fact. The mighty Dover Castle is the crowning glory of the White Cliffs. Venture deep underground into the secret wartime tunnels and explore the medieval interiors. Deal Castle is among the earliest and most elaborate of a chain of coastal forts running all the way to Cornwall. Perched on the picturesque coastline, Walmer Castle has awardwinning gardens and woodland. If you enjoy cycling then there is a cycle path that links Deal and Walmer castles along the beachfront. To easily visit all these castles there’s Hawthorn Farm Touring and Holiday Park, just four miles from Dover.
If you enjoy a good walk along the
coast, from Little Satmar Campsite and Holiday Park you can walk down the lane onto the clifftop path and walk all the way to Samphire Hoe – a nature reserve created by Eurotunnel from the Channel Tunnel excavations. Other places to visit nearby include the Battle of Britain Memorial and the port town of Folkestone.
Away from the coast, Kent still has plenty to see. Tanner Farm Park, near Marden, is a campsite surrounded by glorious countryside with Tunbridge Wells, Sissinghurst Castle Garden and Bedgebury Pinetum all within 30 minutes’ drive. Tunbridge Wells is great for shopping and eating, with the al fresco feel of The Pantiles being a perfect place to amble. At Sissinghurst Castle Garden you can see a riot of colour and then walk amid some of the largest redwood trees in the UK at Bedgebury Pinetum.
The High Weald is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty comprising a landscape of wooded hills and with sandstone outcrops across Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Broadhembury Caravan and Camping Park lies just outside the Kent section and offers both adultsonly and family pitching areas. In Ashford, four miles away, you can follow a heritage trail into lanes lined with medieval, Jacobean and Georgian homes. In addition, Tenterden, with a pretty tree-lined green and excellent shopping, is only 10 miles away.
OXFORDSHIRE
When someone mentions Oxfordshire, one of the first attractions that springs to mind is the city of Oxford itself. Full of the stunning architecture of many historic buildings (there are over 1,500 listed buildings in the city) and famous the world over for its university, Oxford certainly is somewhere you should spend some time. But did you also know that Oxfordshire includes parts of three
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty? First is the Cotswolds, noted for its pretty villages and delightful English countryside.
Then, there are the chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs, along with the wooded hills of the Chilterns.
Lincoln Farm Park, with its indoor pool complex, lies between the Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs, and is a 25-minute drive from Oxford’s park and ride service at Redbridge if you want to avoid the stress of parking in the city.
Located on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, Swiss Farm Touring and Camping is less than a mile from beautiful Henley-on-Thames. Adjacent to the river and best known for its annual Royal Regatta, this is a town to savour and enjoy when time is of no importance. You can wander the market square, along the
Thames Path by the riverside, or play a round of golf at one of the many courses nearby.