The holiday park experience has certainly changed since I was a child. Back then it was communal shower blocks, pushing together the table to make your bed and bringing everything you’d be eating for the next seven days with you because once you parked up, that was it for the week.
Things are a little different now and Verdant Parks are one of the leisure operators in the industry who seem to have gotten it right with 11 award-winning holiday parks across Scotland and England and their newest – The Riverside Holiday Park in Wooler.
UK holidays have been on the up for a while and this year, there’s even more reason to avoid travelling abroad where volatile environments are causing price hikes, delays and increases to journey times.
With locations in Northern England, South East Scotland, Central Scotland and South West Scotland, there’s plenty to choose from once you’ve decided how far you want to travel.
Then there are the choices of accommodation. Whatever your budget and whoever you’re traveling with, there’s something for you. From newly developed luxury lodges to high-end glamping pods and beautiful budget caravans, there’s so much choice.
With Riverside Holiday Park having just opened near us in the Northumberland village of Wooler, we headed up for the weekend to enjoy the facilities. Unbelievably, a stay in one of their dog friendly superior oak lodes which sleep up to 6, is only £509 for a weekend stay Friday to Monday in May – that’s £84 per person for three nights!
These gorgeous new lodges (which are also available to buy), are equipped with everything you could possible need for a luxury stay in the great outdoors.
Our incredible spacious lodge included a boot room style entrance, expansive kitchen diner with huge terrace and three bedrooms – one double and two x two singles.
There were also two bathrooms – an ensuite with shower and a main with a bath and overhead shower, while all bedrooms had hanging or wardrobe space and plenty of cupboards and shelving.
Our kitchen had an oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, fridge freezer and washing machine as well as pots, pans, cooking trays, glasses, cups and crockery. There was even a dishwasher to pile everything into following a hearty meal at the end of the day.
Bed linen, towels for everyone staying, and basic kitchen items like washing up liquid, a tea towel, tea bags and coffee sachets are included as well as a toilet roll in each bathroom. There’s even a hairdryer and an iron should you need them.
The smart TV comes with all the channels you could possibly need including Netflix and Prime, which is great if you’re looking for a relaxing break, but there’s also lots to do if you’re looking for family activities so you might not spend that much time at your lodge!
Wooler’s Riverside is set on a large stretch of land just off the A189 which is linked to the A1. With reception, laundry and show homes (incase you want to buy one) on one side of the river along with caravans and lodges, a short drive across the bridge will take you over to the lodges we were staying at – Bamburgh.
Each colourful section of accommodation is named after a Northumberland town, making it easy to find your way around from the handy map you’re given when you collect your keys.
Just a 5 minute walk away from our lodge, we found the Canny Owl – a bar and restaurant catering for children with an outdoor play area and indoor entertainment, while you can also access the indoor heated swimming pool here.
On the Friday night we visited, there was live acts and children’s entertainment going on in the main bar, while there’s a quieter back section of the bar with a roaring fire (for the colder nights) and a dart board.
The menu is extensive and children are catered for – we went for nachos, pizzas, and fish and chips which were extremely generous portions. There’s also a decent wine list and prices are reasonable.
Daily activities during our stay ranged from craft making to create and make sessions as well as Aqua Jets (advance booking required) colouring competitions and Bingo Beatz where the numbers are replaced by songs.
We also ventured into nearby Wooler village with its pubs and cafes and a Co-op which is open late, but Budgens next to The Canny Owl is also a good place to stock up.
A walk in the Saturday sunshine took us along clearly marked paths by the river and we stopped for an absolutely amazing ice cream at Doddington Dairy Milk Bar which has an outdoor hatch and picnic style seating as well as indoor cafe.
There are several parks dotted throughout Riverside Holiday Park – with climbing frames, slides, swings and even a zip line. My 8 year old self would’ve loved the amount of kid-friendly things to do.
Luxury lodges at Riverside Holiday Park are a clean, calming retreat after a fun-filled day out. The sofas are plump and stacked with cushions and the beds have good quality mattresses.
Available to book from this May, Riverside Wooler Holiday Park will also have the UK’s first purpose-built neurodivergent-friendly family caravan – a three bedroom ‘Daisy’ caravan which has been specially designed in collaboration with Sunseeker Holiday Homes. Featuring sensory and safety-focused elements, there’s a fully equipped sensory den, adjustable lighting, calming interiors, noise-reduction features and a secure outdoor space.
I’ve looked at the prices several times trying to find a catch and there isn’t one. Verdant Parks are excellent value for money and it’s well worth getting your stay booked now before everyone hears about them!
A 3 night stay for 6 adults in an oak lodge start from only £419 or £509 with a hot tub. Just head to the website to book.