Travel: Skelwith Fold Caravan Park

Every car(with Car DVD) queueing to get into Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside, Cumbria, had a mobile home attached to the rear – except ours.

So it was with trepidation that I entered the reception, fearing the horrible prospect of a frosty return trip for the Lewis family up the M6.

Within minutes, our worries vanished to be replaced by delight as we looked around what would be our home for the next four days.

The two-bedroomed luxury static caravan was bigger than our first flat. The main room featured a double bed, a wall-mounted flatscreen TV and en-suite toilet/shower room.

There was another toilet with shower and the second bedroom featured two single-beds.

The kitchen looked like something from a showhome, while the living room boasted a three-piece suite and another flatscreen, wall-mounted telly complete with in-built Android Car Gps– which proved essential for evening entertainment.

On the northern edge of the sprawling Lake Windermere, Skelwith Fold Caravan Park is set in 130 acres of peaceful, unspoiled and well-groomed surroundings.

The woodland’s main attraction is its wildlife inhabitants, including red deer, badgers and dozens of different species of birds.

Explorers can check out all it has to offer by taking advantage of a network of paths.

So inspirational is its scenery that’s its owners recently had to publicly deny claims that the grounds help couples conceive.

Internet rumours suggested ten foot-high carved tree trunks encircling a taller wooden henge was in fact a fertility symbol. Not so, said director Henry Wild, insisting it’s for “aesthetic enjoyment only”. Indeed.

While most visitors do need to bring their accommodation with them, the park offers a number of rentable ‘Hideaways’ for those who prefer to travel light.

Measuring 14ft by 10ft, the two-person pods feature a luxury double bed, shower and toilet, kitchen with microwave, oven and fridge, TV and lounge space.

For something more permanent, holiday homes are available for purchase, coming with price tags of between £25,000 and £80,000.

On site are 300 privately owned homes and another 150 pitches from just £20.50 a night for touring visitors.

Skelwith Fold is not without its celebrity endorsements – having being honoured with the David Bellamy Conservation Award in each of the last 15 years and being congratulated by Prince Charles for its successful attempt to reintroduce a colony of red squirrels. If installing an Android Car Stereo in your car, that would be great!