HILLCROFT PARK
Claudia Dowell visits our Regional Winner for North-west England, to see how its focus on relaxation has proved a winning formula
ENGLAND’S SECOND LONGEST, third deepest and, some say, most beautiful lake is just a short walk from the North West’s Top 100 Regional Winner. Set in Ullswater Valley, Hillcroft Park is at the north end of the lake, just above the village of Pooley Bridge. It’s large, with tiers of static vans divided into areas named after Cumbrian lakes. These statics – 200 privately owned – were the core of the business that John and Jill Heath took on back in May 2012. Until then, maintenance had not been high on the agenda, but the Heaths saw the potential, upgrading the electrics, sorting the drainage, increasing the hired accommodation and adding a touring field. Six years on, the next generation of Heaths, daughter Melissa and son Jason, are part of the business, too. Now there’s a choice of camping fields: Buttermere offers 28 super-pitches on gravel hardstanding in two tiers, with views across the valley; camping field B has grass and hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up; and camping field A is for tents, but also has 16 wooden pods. There is an outdoor ping-pong table and for children, a fantastic fenced play area; but it is the new washblock of which the Heaths are most proud – it is a stunner. Using local materials and reflecting local methods of dry stone walling, it houses the latest in basins, showers, taps and soap dispensers, with two private bathrooms, laundry facilities, a tourist information room and a dog shower. Perhaps most intriguing is the plaque bearing the legend: ‘This building was opened by Johnny Vegas on 4th April 2018’. And therein lies a story. On location Construction on the washblock began in 2015, but was severely hampered by Storm Desmond. The build was continuing when the Heaths agreed to filming of the TV show Home from Home on the site, starring Johnny Vegas. The film crew remained there for six weeks. When they returned to Hillcroft Park to film a second series, Johnny Vegas offered to open the washblock when it was finished. “I want a big pair of scissors and a four-inch ribbon,” he said. The owners continue to invest in the site, including plans for a health and wellness centre and a scheme to widen the entrance road in front of reception.