By William Coleman
The Caravan and Motorhome Club and Alan Rogers have announced the winners of their annual Campsite Awards, which were held in Utrecht on Thursday 16th January. The awards recognise the very best from their extensive overseas campsite network consisting of over 340 Club approved campsites in Europe.
The Campsite Awards, which are held each year at the Vakantiebeurs travel and tourism fair, recognise campsites for their progress, friendliness and innovation, amongst other qualities that ensure Caravan and Motorhome Club members can pick the best ones to suit their needs. Winners are chosen by taking into account comments from campsite assessors and the head office team, as well as members and readers.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite of the Year Award
Camping Château de Chanteloup is an attractive and peaceful campsite located close to Le Mans in France, making it ideal for quiet stays, stopovers and motor racing enthusiasts. Set in the park of a 19th century château and run by the welcoming Souffront family, it’s no wonder that the campsite is so popular with members and has scooped this prestigious prize.
The campsite offers well-maintained facilities including a pool, bar and restaurant, and open and shaded pitches, some of which overlook a small fishing lake. Tours of the grounds by pony and trap can also be arranged, while those who prefer a faster pace are just 30 minutes’ from the famous Le Mans race track.
The Alan Rogers Campsite of the Year Award
Camping Turiscampo is an exquisite campsite with a beautiful Algarve location, offering an indoor heated pool, modern gym, sauna, hammam and beauty treatments*. Plus, it has an outdoor swimming pool complex surrounded by a terrace with a bar, and its restaurant has a varied menu including a snack-bar, bistro and a-la-carte, meaning there is something to please all diners.
While there’s plenty to occupy families at the award-winning campsite, the pretty seaside village of Luz is well worth a trip and Lagos and Sagres can both easily be reached by a bus that stops just outside the campsite. The campsite is also surrounded by many golf courses that offer lovely views of the open countryside, vineyards, and coastline, making it a great spot for keen golfers.
*A charge is payable to use the gym and spa facilities
The Progress Award
Camping Le Pin Parasol is a large, family-orientated campsite overlooking the beautiful Jaunay Lake reserve in the peaceful Vendée region of France. This popular five-star campsite has recently added an impressive range of new facilities and has created two distinct zones on the campsite – one for families with a great new children’s play area, and another more relaxed one offering a new indoor and outdoor swimming pool, and a new restaurant. This means the campsite is now certainly one of the very best in the area.
The campsite is within easy reach of the glorious sandy beaches of the Vendée and bustling harbour towns such as Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. There are lots of family attractions within driving distance too, such as the Puy du Fou theme park and the Parc Zoologique at Les Sables-d’Olonne.
Runner up – Huttopia Chardons Bleus – Ile de Ré, France
The Welcome Award
Eifel-Camp is an ideal spot for nature lovers, situated next to Lake Freilingen near Eifel National Park in Germany. Club members have frequently commented on the genuinely warm welcome that is provided by the multilingual staff, and the excellent advice they offer on how to get the best out of their holiday.
This superbly-run campsite offers great amenities, stunning views and a very safe environment for children. Germany’s Nürburgring is just a short drive through the forest; with its own indoor theme park, it’s perfect for car lovers of all ages.
Runner up – Camping Au Clos de La Chaume, France
The Dog Friendly Award
Camping Fornella is located on the shores of Lake Garda and offers stunning mountain views. The campsite has a great track record for innovation, and members and assessors alike have been particularly impressed by what it has to offer dogs and their owners. The campsite has a beach where dogs are welcome, dog showers, dog friendly rental accommodation and an area where dogs can run freely, off their leads. It also has a dedicated page about its amenities for dogs on its website.
Two-legged guests can enjoy the lagoon-style swimming complex, which includes a Jacuzzi and paddling pool, and entertainment in high season, not to mention all that the lake itself has to offer. The campsite’s rural location means nature walks and bike rides are popular activities, or you can enjoy a tour of the biggest island on the Lake, Isola Del Garda or explore nearby Verona.
Runner up – Camp Kovacine, Croatia
The Seaside Award
Les Criques de Porteils has a dramatic clifftop location overlooking the Mediterranean and offers direct access to private beaches and secluded coves. An impressive five-star campsite, it has three sets of stairs* leading to quiet private coves which are never busy, plus a watersports centre where you can rent kayaks and paddle boards. The campsite also has a great swimming pool complex and attractive restaurant.
The resort of Collioure is just a 30-minute walk away and the lively resort of Argelès-sur-Mer is just a little further, while an hour’s drive to the south will take visitors to Figueres with its café-lined rambla and Dalí Museum.
*This campsite is not recommended for those requiring accessible facilities as it is steep in places.
Runner up – Camping Zaton Holiday Resort, Croatia
The Country Award
Resort de Arendshorst is located in a tranquil and beautiful nature reserve in the Vecht valley, making it perfect for walkers, cyclists and nature lovers. A delightful tranquil campsite run by a friendly family and located on the banks of the River Vecht in the eastern Netherlands, it has miles of walking and cycle routes close by and is also an ideal base for a leisurely fishing holiday.
The campsite has a children’s petting farm and offers generously sized pitches arranged around large fields, all of which are level and grassy. Dalfsen, with its lively market, and Vilsteren are both within cycling distance, while children will enjoy a trip to the Wildlands Adventure Zoo. Rechteren Casle – the last of the province’s remaining medieval castles – is just a 30-minute drive.
Runner up – Camping Peña Montañesa, Spain
The All Year Award
Vilanova Park is a large and attractive campsite located midway between Barcelona and Tarragona. Guests are welcomed all year round by the friendly multilingual team and the reception is open 24 hours a day. The campsite has a wealth of high quality amenities including a pool complex, wellness centre and Catalan restaurant, and offers numerous social activities.
The campsite is well-placed for visiting Barcelona, which can be easily reached via the frequent shuttle bus service. Visitors can explore Gaudí’s famous cathedral and Park Güell, as well as the various art galleries and the bustling street of Las Ramblas. Historic Tarragona is also within driving distance and is worth a visit no matter what time of year.
Runner up Camping Caravaning La Manga, Spain
