THE CARAVAN CLUB revealed the top Certificated Location sites in its network in a ceremony at the House of Commons.

 

The top three Caravan Club Certificated Location (CL) sites were presented with their awards by the Rt Hon Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and Minister for Tourism, John Penrose.

 

Certificated Locations are small, five-pitch, privately owned informal sites found right across the UK, often in remote rural settings, on farms, beside pubs and even in the grounds of stately homes. There are more than 2500 CLs and they can only be used by Caravan Club members, almost a third of who cite access to the CL network as their main reason for joining. Award winners are chosen based on the votes collected from members who stay on the sites.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Caravan Club chairman, Grenville Chamberlain, commented: “The Caravan Club’s CL network is a tremendous resource for our million caravanning members to enjoy, and I’d like to thank our national winners receiving their awards here today. We appreciate the welcome the CL owners extend, and also the care and investment that goes into running these small sites“

 

Overall CL Winners

[tl:gallery size=244×158]Overall Winner

Mr & Mrs J Haworth,

Manor House, Blackpool

 

This is the second time in three years that Manor House Park CL near Blackpool, has taken top honours in the awards and this beautifully tended site was also voted the ‘Most Picturesque Site CL’ on the network too.
CL owners Jeremy and Sharon Haworth took over the site in December 2007 and have never looked back, investing in facilities for their guests and welcoming them all year round to this fascinating part of Lancashire.

Sharon says “We’re very lucky with our location here – it’s a great base for the bright lights and buzz of Blackpool, but also for the quieter resorts nearby, and we’re only an hour from the Lake District.”

 

[tl:gallery size=151×208]2nd Place

Mr & Mrs J P Edwards

Bron Derw Farm, Llanrwst

 

Bron Derw on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park has been in the Edwards family for 33 years. The site is run by John and Beryl Edwards and club members appreciate their commitment to providing a comfortable site from which to enjoy the area. Their efforts have been rewarded with recognition in these awards and in the Practical Caravan Top 100, too.

 

[tl:gallery size=150×222]3rd Place

Mr & Mrs G Wiggins

Old Granary House, York

 

Glynn and Val Wiggins, are relative newcomers to CL ownership and it’s a tremendous achievement for them to receive a national award in only their second year running the site. They have created a gem of a site and also run a B&B business which is much appreciated by the non-caravanning friends and relatives of members staying on the CL.

 

Other highly recommended CLs

As well as the overall winners, there are a host of regional winners and sites with specific talents that warranted special mention. If you are looking for a quiet, good-value break but can’t decide where to go, these are the sites that Caravan Club members say you must not miss.

 

South West
Penlover, Cornwall

Southern England
Birch Trees Farm, Haywards Heath

Northern
Low Moor Head Farm, Longtown

Wales & West Midlands
Hillcroft, Kilgetty

Middle England & East Anglia
Keal Lodge, Deeping St James

Scotland
East Fortune Farm, North Berwick

Best Public House CL
The Windmill Inn, Thetford

Best Farm CL
Bron Derw Farm, Llanrwst

Best CL for Fishing
Fields End Water CL & Fishery, March

Most Picturesque CL

Manor House, Blackpool

Full address and contact details can be found in your Caravan Club Handbook or by logging in on the Caravan Club website.