Southland: the hidden gem in the Caravan Club's crown

by Chris Jefferies
It’s often said that taking the ferry to the Isle of Wight is like taking a trip back in time by 25 years or so, and the quaint tea rooms, the peaceful streets and the Victorian piers all bear testament to this.
But there is nothing dated about Southland Caravan Club site, a recently renovated 155-pitch park, which may be one of the most underrated spots in the Club’s vast network.
Opened in 2009 and significantly renovated in 2010, this site offers every kind of pitch – grassy, hardstanding, hedged in, open plan, serviced – and all of them as flat level as you could ask for.
Despite the size of the site, it retains a quiet and relaxing feel, as if it’s a secret that hasn’t got out just yet.

To see more pictures of Southland Caravan Club site, click here

Graham and Sue Clay, wardens at the site ever since it opened, tell me that it fits in perfectly with the general feel of the island.
“There’s very little traffic and things move at a slower pace. It’s very quiet and always very pretty in the summer months,” Sue tells me.
Holiday island
Of course the Isle of Wight has long been a popular holiday destination, thanks in part to the sheer variety of sights and scenery all found on such a small island, which is known as ‘Little England’ after all.

With all four shores within a 40-minute drive of the centrally-located Southland site, it’s possible to visit the dramatic coastline of the Needles, take in some history at Carisbrook Castle, have a top-notch cup of tea in Ryde and be back at your pitch in time for dinner.
As a non-native, Graham is very impressed by how many events the locals lay on to attract people over from the mainland, including sailing and yachting regattas, vintage car rallies and even a garlic festival at the local farm.
Closer to the site, there are various cycle routes and copse trails for more active caravanners to explore and enjoy.
Or if you’re feeling more sedentary, there’s a pub just down the road in the local village of Newchurch, while the Southland shop offers ice creams, cold drinks and other such amenities for a lazy summer’s day.

As with all Caravan Club sites, Southland welcomes dogs and doesn’t charge any owners an extra fee. However, they must be kept on a lead at all times, with the exception of the dog walk area, where they are allowed to roam free.
A recent addition to the site has seen Wi-Fi internet being rolled out last April, an addition which has proved particularly popular among visiting families and silver surfers alike.
The site also prides itself on being fully accessible for wheelchairs, with spacious shower cubicles and broad ramps included for exactly this reason.
What’s more, Southland is taking part in the Caravan Club’s ‘Pitch Up For £1’, which means that you can pay as little as a pound for your pitch on selected dates*.
Hidden gem

Part of the reason why Southland is such a quiet site lies with the added dimension of taking a caravan on a ferry.
However, this experience certainly adds to the feeling of being on holiday and Graham believes that everyone who makes the trip over to the island sees that it is more than worth the journey:
“People expect good quality of facilities at Caravan Club sites and we don’t disappoint. We pride ourselves on how well kept the site is and the feedback from visitors is fantastic.”
The bulging comments book backs up his words with superlative compliments, and I’m reliably informed by one very happy camper that this site has the best toilet and showers blocks of any site he has visited in the UK in the last ten years.
All in all, visiting Southlands is a very relaxing experience and the urge to kick back and enjoy the scenic sunset views is almost overwhelming, but sadly the ferry home beckons.
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