By William Coleman
Many holiday park companies and clubs across the UK are expanding at a very fast rate to meet the rise in demand for pitches and other “glamping” style staycations. To help keep the momentum and popularity growing the Camping and Caravanning Club has acquired two campsites in the Lake District National Park.
The two sites that are now part of the Camping Club’s ever growing portfolio are Scotgate and Braithwaite Bridges, are owned by Scotgate Holiday Park and located between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake close to the popular Lakeland town of Keswick.
When combined the two campsites total nearly 18 acres, cater for all forms of camping and are just 500 metres apart. They include 250 camping pitches, 65 hard standings, 21 holiday homes, 13 lodges and a 1.8 acre rally field.
There is also a licenced shop and café on Scotgate, with planning consent for further lodges and hard standings, along with a shop and café at Braithwaite Bridges.
The campsites have been owned, developed and managed by the Stuart family for 65 years, spanning three generations, and have been purchased from the company for an undisclosed sum.
Bob Hill, the Club’s Sites Director, said: “We’re delighted the Stuart family has decided to work with The Camping and Caravanning Club on the sale of these two popular and nicely-developed sites.
“The Lake District National Park is hugely popular with tourists. To secure these two campsites in prime, scenic locations is a real coup for the Club and is thanks to our Commercial Development Manager, Nathan Goodyear, who has worked closely with the Stuart family to secure a strong opportunity that will benefit the Club and its members for years to come.
We’re looking forward to working alongside the existing holiday park management team as we move into the 2019 camping season.”
The acquisition brings the Club’s total number of campsites in and around the Lake District to eight.
Bob added: “Scotgate and Braithwaite Bridges will be a really strong addition to our nationwide network of 104 Club Sites and sit well alongside our flagship operations in the north Lakes. We’re looking forward to continuing our strong association with local businesses and organisations to continue to promote the Lake District as a fantastic location to go camping and enjoy the great outdoors.”
Martin Stuart, the owner of Scotgate Holiday Park, said: “The two campsites have been an important part of the Stuart family for three generations and we wanted to ensure they continue to provide excellent facilities to campers for years to come by selling them to such a long-standing and well-respected organisation.
“The Camping and Caravanning Club already successfully operates six campsites in this region making it the perfect organisation to take our campsites forward and to build on our successes of the past 65 years.”
Scotgate Holiday Park is a year-round operation that welcomes visitors throughout the winter on the Scotgate site, and the two campsites will continue to operate under the Scotgate Holiday Park brand for the 2019 season.
The existing six Camping and Caravanning Club Sites in and around the Lake District are: Keswick, Braithwaite Fold, Windermere, Ravenglass, Derwentwater and Kendal.
