East of England
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Leisure options abound in Cambridge. You can walk or cycle around the city, admiring the stunning architecture, or see things from a different perspective punting on the River Cam. Cambridge is also full of shops, cafés and restaurants, and free-to-enter museums, which cater to a wide variety of interests.
The second smallest city in England is also in Cambridgeshire, at Ely. It is famous for its unique octagon cathedral tower and national museum of stained glass.
Ely also has a waterside area where you can enjoy a boat trip, take a riverside walk or indulge in an afternoon tea by the river.
To easily explore both these cities you could stay at Highfield Farm Touring Park.
Surrounded by open countryside and with plenty of space, there’s a park and ride for Cambridge a short drive away or a bus stop within walking distance.
ESSEX
If you’re considering heading to Essex and fancy a beachside location with everything you could want available on site then you need Waldegraves Holiday Park on Mersea Island. A short walk from the pitches and you’re at the sea, and the site has a host of facilities and activities.
Nine miles from Colchester, Mersea Island is a tiny estuary island, perfect for seafood lovers and full of old-world charm. West Mersea has a small town centre with cafés and shops, and there’s even a vineyard located here.
East Mersea, by contrast, is mostly farmland, with Cudmore Grove Country Park at the far eastern tip. This nature reserve of over 100 acres is perfect for a picnic and birdwatching.
The Roman town of Colchester is a short drive from Mersea Island and has a castle with the largest Norman keep in Europe.
There is also a zoo four miles southwest of the town if you’re in need of a day out with grandchildren.
LINCOLNSHIRE
With a long coastline to the North Sea, Lincolnshire is a big county with lots going on. The very south is Fenland countryside, with wide open skies and easy walking. A major historical attraction in southern Lincolnshire is the town of Stamford, with its Georgian architecture, narrow alleyways and hidden courtyards. There are of course plenty of places to eat and drink here, too.
Just on the outskirts of Stamford is the grand Elizabethan stately home of Burghley House. Facilities include gardens, a restaurant and beautiful walks around historic parkland, home to a herd of fallow deer.
Only 10 miles from Stamford, amid the flat Fenland landscape is adultsonly Keal Lodge Caravan Park. With only 11 pitches this is the perfect rural Lincolnshire retreat.
Futher north, heading up the east coast towards the Lincolnshire Wolds, is another adults-only site – Long Acres Touring Park. Under half-an
hour from both coastal Skegness and inland Boston, you have the perfect choice between coast and countryside.
A little less well-known is the pretty village of Woodhall Spa, with its Kinema in the Woods – a cinema dating from 1922, and home to a Compton Kinestra organ, which is regularly played. Other places of interest include the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, with a pair of white lions and 10 Bengal tigers among other species, and the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
NORFOLK
Norfolk is known for its sandy beaches, Broads and nature reserves. The National Trust’s Blakeney
National Nature Reserve is a haven for wildlife. Visit in winter and you will likely see an array of grey seal pups.
Further along the coast is Sheringham Park. This landscaped park is famous for its rhododendrons and azaleas. Just northwest of the park is the village of Weybourne, which has a stopping point on the North Norfolk Railway line. You can ride steam trains from here to Holt and Sheringham.
In fact, Kelling Heath Holiday
Park, near Holt, has its own stop on the line. This site is set in 300 acres of woodland and heathland. Its sister site, Woodhill Park, lies on the clifftop between West Runton and Cromer. Perfect if you want a coastal site.
We can’t talk about Norfolk without mentioning the Norfolk Broads, with over 125 miles of navigable, lock-free waterways. Potter Heigham is one of the major boating centres and is just four miles from Clippesby Hall. With lots to do on site, there’s a mix of secluded pitches or more familyorientated lawns. Clippesby is only a 20-minute drive to Norwich, too.
Another campsite option for exploring Norwich is Cobbleacre
Park. Set 10 miles north of the city, there is a nearby bus stop or local park and ride services. With five lakes on site, this is ideal for fishing fans.
SUFFOLK
There is a well-known nature reserve on the coast in Suffolk, too. RSPB Minsmere hosts a variety of birds that can be seen on a walk to the coastal lagoons.
Further south is the small coastal village of Thorpeness, and the town of Aldeburgh where pastel-coloured holiday villas line the promenade and the four-metre-high sculpture Scallop dominates the beach.
Cakes and Ale Holiday Park is an ideal base for exploring these places.
For an adults-only choice of site for Suffolk we would pick Run Cottage Touring Park. It’s open all year and close to Woodbridge. This market town on the banks of the River Deben has an 800-year-old water mill, plus a host of charming shops, pubs and cafés.
A short drive from Woodbridge is Sutton Hoo, the National Trust’s Anglo-Saxon royal burial site. Dogs are welcome here and there are 245 acres to explore.