Top 5 Disability-Friendly Caravan Holidays

Fancy a nice get-away but don’t fancy flying? In need of an exciting holiday but don’t like travelling? Do you struggle with finding the perfect holiday destinations that are accommodating to all hour needs? Maybe a caravan holiday would be ideal for you!

We understand that people with disabilities ranging from autism and Down’s Syndrome to physically-disabled conditions are more likely to struggle with travelling. Airports can be a minefield for people on the autism spectrum. Flying in an aeroplane can be crippling for people with anxiety disorders and ADHD. That is why I have decided to put together a list of alternative ideas for holidays that minimise stress for everyone in the family.

Here, we will take a look at a few examples of holiday destinations throughout the UK and other alternative holiday packages that don’t involve flying.

Caravanning is one of the most comfortable options for travelling. You are mostly in control and you don’t have to worry about the dreaded customs in the airport.

If you own a caravan or you are interested in hiring a static caravan, then there are loads of holidays scattered throughout the entire UK. All parts of England have beautiful places to stay and offer exciting things to do as well. Let’s now take a look at some of the best and most accommodating caravan/trailer holiday parks in the North of England…

Caravan Holiday #1

Photo taken by Aiden Dawson

Marton Mere near Blackpool (Haven Holiday Park)

Located on the outskirts of Blackpool, about a ten minute drive to the city centre, Marton Mere Holiday Park is a Haven resort for caravans and static trailers. People can book a caravan space and bring their own caravan with immediate access to water and electricity. The static trailers are a home-from-home accommodation perfect for families with children and pets. The entire site is also home to a beautiful nature reserve with plenty of footpaths to go on walks and explore.

Why Take Your Caravan on Holiday Here?

• Just a ten minute drive to Blackpool city centre and a 20 minute drive to Lytham St Annes- another beautiful area on the coast to visit.
• The holiday park is on the doorstep to so many tourist attractions, and there is something that everyone in the family will enjoy from theme parks to sea life centres, and fancy restaurants/bars to children’s play areas.

Attractions and entertainment include:

• The holiday park itself includes its own attractions for people of all ages and abilities.
• A swimming baths with both an indoor pool and outdoor pool area. There’s also water slide and bubble bath.
• Arcade centre, where kids can spend hours of entertainment.
• Miniature golf course.
• Outdoor play area for children.
• Pedal karts for people to hire and ride around the site.
• The entertainment centre is where many events take place on evenings such as bingo and karaoke.
• The main bar and restaurant that serves an extensive range of meals suited for all family members including kid’s menu.
• Nature reserve with plenty of footpaths, places to sit, and a view of the lake. Perfect for taking dogs for walks, and for kids and adults alike to explore.

Other amenities:

• A shop selling essentials including groceries, bread, milk, drinks (alcoholic and soft drinks), hot food counter, cash point.
• The tourist information centre is located next to the entertainment complex.
• Access to electric and water points on every caravan spot.
• Toilets including men’s and women’s and disabled. There is a toilet block located at different points throughout the site, and more toilet facilities in the main complex and in the swimming baths.
• Burger King and fish and chip shop serving food that can be taken out and bought back to your caravan/trailer.
• Washing up and laundry stations located at the toilet blocks, complete with sinks for washing up dishes etc.

To read more about this holiday park and details on accessibility, visit our listings page here!

Caravan Holiday #2

Witton Castle Holiday Park near Bishop Auckland

Witton Castle Holiday Park is a unique resort located on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland and within the country side of Wear Dale. It is one of the many resorts in the UK owned by Shorewood Leisure. The holiday park is established within a 330 acre castle grounds, of a 15th Century castle sitting on the bank of the dale.

Photo taken by Aiden Dawson

The park is home to some of the most luxury holiday homes and lodges, as well as loads of static trailers, all of which surrounded by woodland, green space and nature.

Why you should visit this location:

• It is located in County Durham, in Witton-Le-Wear near Bishop Auckland. It is just a 5 minute drive from Bishop Auckland town centre. You can check out the main hotspots where there are touristy things to do and see in Bishop Auckland- just click here to view our other blog about Bishop Auckland.
• It is also a 10-15 minute drive from the lovely Raby Castle Estate.
• Barnard Castle- another hidden gem in County Durham- is about half an hour drive from the holiday park.
• The holiday park is on the doorstep to the country side of Wear Dale, there is hundreds of places to go for walking/hiking and mountain biking or cycling.
• Also, checkout Hamsterly Forest- a commissioned forestry site located just 5 minutes from Witton Castle.
• And the beautiful nature reserve- Low Barns- is walking distance just down to the bottom of the hill from the holiday park and across the river Wear.

Attractions and entertainment:

• The castle is hive of activity that includes an indoor cinema showing classic movies to keep kids and adults and families entertained.
• Events take place on a weekly basis in the castle venue, including karaoke, bingo, killer pool competitions and discos. Check out there website to find out more about this here.
• There is a go-kart track on site.
• Miniature crazy golf.
• There is the cellar bar (in the castle’s “dungeon”) and the upstairs main bar in the castle (where most evening entertainment takes place).
• The restaurant is also located in the castle with plenty of indoor tables and chairs.
• There are pool tables in both bars.
• The café is located at the castle entrance, with both indoor and outdoor seating.
• There is also a soft play area for children in the café.
• Children’s outdoor play area located just outside the castle entrance.
• Other events take place around the site throughout the year. Check out their Facebook page to keep in the loop. Events include the Classic Car Show and Birds of Prey demonstrations.

Other amenities:

• All trailers are located within walking distance of the castle. All of them have plenty of their own grassy space.
• All the roads around the site are easy to walk on, and there are also footpaths.
• The café serves both hot and cold sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks. Gluten-free options and vegan-friendly options are included.
• The bars serve alcoholic drinks including beer, lager and spirits as well as snacks and soft drinks.
• The restaurant has exclusive menus that offer options for people of all tastes.
• The restaurant can be booked over the phone or online on the their website here.
• All holiday bookings can be booked on the website here, people can also buy their dream holiday home!! There is an office just off the entrance road as you drive in where you can find out about buying your own lodge.
• The tourist information and reception are located near the entrance of the holiday park.
• Free and disabled parking is available outside the castle café.

If this is something of interest to you, visit our listings page for Witton Castle Holiday Park here!

There’s more caravan sites including this beautiful spot in The Lake District…

Caravan Holiday #3

Threlkeld Hall Touring Site in The Lake District

Photo taken by Aiden Dawson

The Lake District is a major tourist hotspot in the North of England, in Cumbria. It is home to thriving, rustic towns and villages, and it’s main attractions are it’s nature- including the great lakes and the towering mountains.

The number of places to camp and/or stay in a caravan are almost endless, there are so many options of campsites and caravan sites in the vast area. One of the best ones is Threlkeld Caravan Site.

This site is located just off the main road A66 and is literally a ten minute drive to Keswick- a major tourist destination in the heart of Lake District. The site sits comfortable at the foot of the mountains in the dale, and is surrounded by nothing but country land including farms, fields and mountains. One of the most peaceful places in England.

Why you should visit this location:

• Keswick is a ten minute drive away. The town of Keswick is a thriving tourist hotspot, with abundant boutique shops, bars, restaurants, traditional pubs and of course, walks. There is the great park, and there is also the lakeside where people can go canoeing, hire a boat and even take up water sports including water-skiing. Keswick is also home to some fantastic museums including the Pencil Museum. Visit our other blog on things to do in Keswick.
• Whinlatter Forest is a major hotspot for mountain biking, walking and other outdoor activities. There is a Go Ape course at the forest too, and the place is just a 20 minute drive from the caravan site.
• The immediate surrounding area is bursting full of country walks. You can start walking from the site and undertake the mountain walks including Blencathra.
• The site sits just round the corner from the Keswick Golf Course.
• Honister Slate Mine is another tourist attraction in the area. Check out our listing here to find out more about this.

Onsite attractions & entertainment:

• The site is a quiet spot for families including people of all ages to stay at and relax. Walking is one of the major activities that people can do, as there are proper country walks and mountain walks starting from the site.
• Mountain biking and cycling routes. There are maps available at the reception. The main road has a broad cycle path, and there is a major cycle route going directly to Keswick.
• The nearest pub is just a 5 minute walk from the site- The Horse & Farrier- which sits on the foot of the mountain side and looks over the valley. The pub includes a food menu as well as traditional cask ales.

Other amenities:

• Electric points are situated around the site, so people can hitch their caravans as close to them as possible.
• The space on the site is ample. People can stay in each caravan slot and have their own personal space around them.
• The majority of the site is covered in gravelled terrain, but there is also a grass plot where people can also pitch tents.
• The toilets are onsite next to the reception and the owner’s building.
• The reception is in the owner’s building right at the entrance of the driveway.
• Recycling and waste bins are situated near the toilets.
• There is a water point next to the bins where visitors can access water for their caravans.

Check out our listings page here for more information on the area and the site’s accessibility!!

Caravan Holiday #4

Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan Club near Skipton

Located within the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is the town of Skipton. Skipton is a fantastic place for tourism and there is so much to do for people of all ages and capabilities.

Caravan sites around Skipton include the Bolton Abbey Estate which is in itself, a hotspot for family days out. The abbey is a 12th-century priory and ruins where which people can visit and be able sit inside and enjoy the peace of the church. There is also plenty of walks in the area and other attractions including Barden Tower, The Aqueduct, The Laund Oak  and The Money Tree. The caravan site is within the grounds of all these attractions.

Photo taken by Aiden Dawson

Why Take Your Caravan on Holiday Here?

• Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan Campsite is 15-20 minutes away from Skipton. Skipton is a beautiful Yorkshire town surrounded by country side. In Skipton you have everything to enjoy for people of all ages and all interests- from markets to cafes, to bars and restaurants. The town centre is famous for it’s canals and of course, the Skipton Castle (check out our listing for the castle here).
• The Yorkshire Dales are a beauty spot in the North of England. Bolton Abbey is surrounded by major country walks including Simon Seat (a decent mountain hike).
• Bolton Abbey Estate is a major location for family day-outs and the caravan site is within walking distance of it all. You have the old Bolton Priory and ruins, the famous stepping stones across the River Wharfe, loads of family-friendly low-level walks around the Strid Woods, along with the cafe, hotel and bar and playgrounds.

Onsite attractions & entertainment

• Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan Club is a quiet site and has it’s own cafe near to the main entrance.
• The caravan site is part of the Bolton Abbey Estate, so visitors can walk from the site, through the woods along the riverside down to the Bolton Abbey, where there is a large café and children’s playground, and plenty of other attractions.
• Barden Tower is just a few minutes walk up the riverside from the site.
• The site is ideal for mountain biking and cycling, with plenty of cycle routes starting from the site.

Other amenities:

• The site offers standard pitch types that include both electric and non-electric.
• There is a choice of hard pitches and grassy pitches.
• Visitors can stay in luxury camping pods as well as static trailers.
• Visitors can also camp in a tent.
• The site has storage facilities for people to store their caravans, which is great for visitors who want to stay here regularly.
• There is a shop on site selling essentials and it’s just by the reception at the entrance where people check in.
• There is a café just over the road opposite the entrance serving tea, coffee and hot and cold snacks.
• The toilet block is situated in the centre of the site so it’s not too far from all pitches. There is a ladies and men’s toilets and a disabled toilet too.
• There is a washing-up point at the toilet block for people to wash dishes etc.
• There is a Wi-Fi service but visitors have to pay to use it. The only downside is there isn’t an ideal phone signal on site, but just outside the site on the main road there is.

Check out the listing for this site here if you are interested in finding out more about it and it’s accessibility.

Caravan Holiday #5

Upwood Holiday Park near Haworth

Taken and edited by Aiden Dawson

Haworth is a fantastic destination for tourism and is full of proper English history. The area is surrounded by country side and not far from the city centre of Bradford and Leeds. Other towns nearby include Keighley and Skipton. There is enough things to do within the local area and it’s surroundings that people could easily stay here for a week and still not be able to fit everything in.

Haworth itself offers a massive range of things to see and do to enjoy spending the day. From the famous Bronte Sister’s Museum, to the  Keighley & Worth Valley Railway where one can ride on an old vintage steam train.

The Upwood Caravan Holiday Park is about a 5 minute drive from Haworth, and a 20 minute drive from Keighley. There are so many reason why you should book a holiday here…

Why you should visit this location:

• Haworth is a major tourist destination within the Yorkshire Dales, not far from Leeds and Bradford. This caravan site is just a 5 minute drive from Haworth. At Haworth, there is the fantastic high street running up and down a steep bank and it is buzzing with life. The high street it lined with quirky gift shops, cafes, bistros, restaurants, and craft ale pubs. The Bronte Museum and the famous graveyard are at the top of the hill. Then you have the famous Wuthering Heights which is a great, brisk walk across the moors and makes up half a day out during your visit at Haworth.
  

  Photo taken by Aiden Dawson

• Oxenhope, another beautiful, quaint village just 5 minutes from the caravan site, is the best place to catch a steam train and ride on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, all the way from Haworth to the town of Keighley.
• Keighley is about a 20 minute drive up north from the site and Haworth. You can also take the train there too, which takes 20 minutes or so (the train is an old locomotive). There are plenty of things to do at Keighley too, including Cliffe Castle, the Devonshire Park, and the famous bus museum.
• Hebden Bridge, another lovely tourist hotspot in Yorkshire, is about a 40 minute drive further south. Here you have the major canal with miles of walks around it. It is a hotspot for art and culture, with it’s many studios and museums. And it has ample amount of cafes, bistros and restaurants.

Onsite attractions & entertainment:

• At Upwood Holiday Park, there is a restaurant that serves all kinds of meals that are catered for people of all needs including dietary requirements.
• There is a bar/pub onsite with a beer garden. The bar serves traditional cask ales and draught beers.
• The indoor children’s play area is within the main centre where the bar and restaurant is.
• There is plenty of space for kids top play about, riding on bikes etc.
• Visitors can also set off on walks from the site, around the area and going into Haworth.

Other amenities:

• The caravan site offers plenty of pitches with electric points as well as static trailers to hire.
• There are glamping pods for luxury camping- ideal for couple’s getaways.
• The restaurant is open throughout the day and into the evening, people can have substantial meals and stay for drinks at the bar too.
• The onsite shop is next to the check-in reception, where visitors can buy essentials.
• Wi-Fi service available throughout the site.
• Toilet facilities located near to the main reception and bar.

For more information on Upwood Holiday Park’s accessibility, please visit our listing for it here.