By William Coleman
The the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s CL Site network keeps getting bigger and bigger with every new season. At one point they were the Club’s best kept secret, which is now a thing of the past as the Caravan and Motorhome Club announce this year’s winner of the Certificated Location of the Year Award 2018.
First of all, what is a Caravan and Motorhome Club CL Site? Well if you are looking for a peaceful, quiet and secluded spot to spend your time the Certified Location exactly what you need.
Unlike most sites in the Club’s vast portfolio the CL site needs to be small and off grid. The achieve CL status a location must have 5 pitches and in a very quiet secluded area which is off the beaten track.
Each site is totally unique and approved by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. From working farms to hidden country estates the CL location offers a very different experience from most sites across the UK. Each site is as varied as the next, so if you want to stay on a beach, river, golf course or near a historic landmark then the CL sites are for you. Oh and some will even deliver a cooked breakfast direct to your caravan.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club are delighted to announce the winner of its Certificated Location of the Year Award 2018 is Avon Bank Meadow situated in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. Close runners up are Poole Farm in North Cornwall and Keal Lodge deep in the heart of Lincolnshire.for members and provide them with a truly memorable experience.
New for 2018, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has introduced the Best Newcomer CL Award and Most Inspiring CL Photograph Award. The Best Newcomer Award celebrates a CL that joined the Club in the past year, meeting all criteria and going above and beyond.
Located on the Isle of Wight, Rodgebrook Farm scooped the Best Newcomer Award CL 2018 with many visitors coming to know the site for its level pitches, warm welcome, discounts on ferry fares and being very dog-friendly. In addition to this and also new for this year, the Most Inspiring CL Photograph Award celebrates all things CL and the site’s surroundings in visual format.
The winner of this award was Woody Kiln Farm from the depths of Pembrokeshire National Park with its stunning photo of Lindsway Bay, a beach accessible from the Pembrokeshire coastal path, just 20 minutes’ walk from the CL.
Winner – Avon Bank Meadow
Situated on the banks of the River Avon, Avon Bank Meadow Certificated Location offers an idyllic location for caravanners, so it is little surprise that it scooped the top spot at this year’s CL of the Year Awards. Run by Craig Brown and Sandra McAllister since 2015, the Worcestershire CL is full for most of the year attracting repeat guests.
The site itself offers five hard standing spacious pitches, set within half an acre. It is open all year round and encourages visitors to get out and visit surrounding areas, helping to sustain the local economy. Each pitch is fully serviced with its own electricity, water, drainage and aerial point meaning everything that any caravanner could ever need is at their fingertips. The site has also recently installed Wi-Fi and has undergone a lot of replanting with the silver birch trees being a popular hit with visitors.
Runners up – Poole Farm and Keal Lodge
Poole Farm Certificated Location in Cornwall has been owned by the Holmes family since 2015. Situated adjacent to the Tamar River, the site is also not far from the Devon border so is well placed to visit many stunning locations in the south west. All five of the pitches are hard standing and fully serviced; the site also offers battery charging, laundry and recycling facilities and dog walks directly from the site. The owners have even been known to deliver a cooked breakfast, piping hot, to members on site.
The site is renowned on the CL network for its warm welcome; the Holmes family regularly look forward to welcoming new visitors to their site. It is a real family affair with everyone having a role to play; Louise runs the business, young Harvey is responsible for recycling, newspaper delivery, ice-cream runs and on the odd occasion, playing his saxophone in the middle of the site to entertain guests, or running a ‘makeshift’ dog agility competition for our four-legged friends. Greg is head groundsperson, caravan fixer and generally an all-round handyman.
Wi-Fi is also included in a stay and local tourist attractions include Tintagel Castle, the Eden Project and Launceston Steam Railway.
Keal Lodge Certificated Location situated near Peterborough in Lincolnshire takes third place in this year’s CL of the Year Awards. Open since 1996, Keal Lodge, run by Alison and Keith Rogers, is no stranger to picking up CL Awards having won back in 2009 and scooped runner up in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Keal Lodge offers a relaxing tranquil break on its adult-only site. The pitches are designed with this in mind, allowing each visitor privacy within their area. All five pitches are hard standing with Wi-Fi available. A firm favourite, the site also has a two acre field to exercise and walk dogs, meaning even furry friends do not have to miss out on a holiday to Keal Lodge. Local tourist attractions include Stamford, Peterborough, Tolthorpe and Rutland Water.
