10 top sites for… THE BEST FISH & CHIPS

You can’t beat traditional dishes when you’re dining near a beach. Claudia Dowell selects 10 campsites near fantastic fish & chip restaurants

10 top sites for fish & chips

You can’t beat fish & chips on the beach – or in your caravan!

1 Krispies

Krispies, overall winner of the 2019 Fish and Chips awards, shares recipes on its website (www.krispies.co.uk); but if you’d rather they did the cooking, it’s just a 10-minute drive from Exmouth Country Lodge and Prattshayes Campsite, in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Web www.exmouth countrylodge.com

2 French’s Fish and Chips

The north Norfolk coast is a magnet for wildlife watchers and families, who come for its legendary beaches. Wellsnext-the-sea is particularly beautiful, with an array of beach huts on stilts. Among the cafés and shops on the quay is French’s (www.frenchs. co.uk), where you can enjoy some of the best fish and chips in the country. It’s just a two-minute drive from Pinewoods Holiday Park, and a short walk from the beach. Web www.pinewoods.co.uk

3 Angel Lane Chippie

Angel Lane Chippie (www.angel lanechippie.co.uk) is tucked away in a pedestrianised area of the historic market town of Penrith, just off Great Dockray, where you will find plenty of parking. After a day shopping in Penrith, exploring the Lake District or the Eden Valley, either eat in or take away some of Cumbria’s finest fish and chips to your pitch at Thacka Lea Caravan Park, which is a six-minute drive away.

Web https://thackalea caravanpark.webs.com

4 Harbour Lights

Fishing boats are a common sight in the deep-water harbour of Falmouth, Cornwall, so you know the fish at top Cornish chippie Harbour Lights (www.harbourlights.co.uk) will be super-fresh. If you want to earn your supper with a walk, it’s 40 minutes from Menehay Farm Touring Park to the harbour – or 10 minutes by car. Web https://menehayfarm.co.uk

5 The Dolphin Takeaway

Lying 20 minutes’ drive west of Maghery, on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, is Dungannon Park. At the heart of the 70-acre parkland is a fishing lake, adjacent to a modern site, with great facilities, a shop, a barbecue and picnic area, and a children’s playground. There are plenty of walks within the parkland, but if you fancy the best fish supper in Northern Ireland, a 30-minute stroll will get you to the Dolphin Takeaway (www.dolphintakeaway.com) in Dungannon. Web www.midulstercouncil.org

6 Fish ‘n’ Fritz, Weymouth

With acres of sandy beach, Weymouth has long been a popular holiday spot, and there are plenty of eating places to tempt the tourist; but for top-quality fish and chips, head to Fish ‘n’ Fritz (www.fishnfritz.co.uk) in Market Street. Either eat in, or pick up a takeaway after exploring Nothe Fort and Gardens and before heading back to East Fleet Farm Touring Park. On your pitch, tuck into your hake and chips overlooking the Fleet and Chesil beach, then wash it down with a pint at the site’s Whynot Inn. Web www.eastfleet.co.uk

7 Malt and Anchor

Stunning architecture is one reason to visit the capital of the Cotswolds, but this ancient market town also boasts a rather fine chippie. Cirencester’s Malt and Anchor (www.maltand anchor.co.uk) is on the 2020 shortlist of the National Fish and Chips Awards, with sustainably sourced fish and local pies and sausages. Perfect for supper at Cirencester Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site. Web caravanclub.co.uk

8 Quayside Gourdon

Quayside Gourdon (www.quayside gourdon.co.uk) is an award-winning chippie with an attractive restaurant that overlooks the harbour at Gourdon and further out across the North Sea. The fish could not be fresher. Pick up a takeaway to eat on the quayside or back on your pitch at Miltonhaven Seaside Caravan Park – the ideal base for exploring the eastern coast of Aberdeenshire. Web http://miltonhaven.co.uk

9 Mister C’s, Selby

You can find the award-winning Mr C’s (www.mistercs.co.uk) in York and Selby, and both are a bus ride from Approach Farm Caravan Site. Visit on a Tuesday and you can ask for gluten-free fish and chips. If you prefer to eat in your van, it’s a 15-minute drive in either direction to pick up some first-class fish and chips. Web https://yorksouth.co.uk

10 No1 Cromer

Staying on the North Norfolk coast, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to great fish and chips. The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Seacroft site has its own restaurant and bar – as well as a swimming pool and leisure complex – where you can tuck into the seaside staple, or you can stroll one mile into Cromer for award-winning fish and chips at No1 Cromer (www.no1cromer.com). A table at Upstairs at No1 gives you fantastic views over the pier and the sea and, if you time it right, a stunning sunset. There’s also more than fish and chips on offer, so you can ring the changes. Web www.caravanclub.co.uk