Member Article

Holiday lodge development in the heart of Yorkshire enjoys a stellar year

Akebar Park, an award-winning holiday park in picturesque Wensleydale, has enjoyed a stellar year.

Akebar Park, near Leyburn, has reported a record-breaking year, as the holiday park market in Yorkshire goes from strength to strength.

The park is owned by the Ellwood family, who first developed Akebar Park in the 1970s. Jack Reynard, who manages the park, is quietly confident that 2017-18 will prove even more successful.

He commented: “The quality holiday lodge market is buoyant, thanks to the strength of the so-called grey pound, and we have discovered that a well-equipped, high-quality and attractive holiday park is an idea whose time has come.

“Currently the fall in the strength of the pound means that holidays abroad are markedly more expensive and the idea of a ‘staycation’ is increasingly attractive. What better than making that staycation permanent by investing in a high-quality but affordable lodge in beautiful surroundings?” said Mr Reynard.

During the past 12 months, 28 Holiday Homes and Lodges have been sold at Akebar Park, which now boasts an occupancy rate of more than 96 per cent.

To celebrate the success of the past 12 months, Mr Reynard has launched an interest free offer of up to £30,000 to buy a new holiday home or lodge at Akebar. This offer lasts until June 30.

“We are proud of what we have achieved at Akebar and this interest free offer is both a celebration of the park and the opportunity to introduce new owners to a very relaxed and attractive way of life,” explained Mr Reynard. “Our recent open day has underlined their popularity.”

Akebar Park now accommodates 175 Holiday Home and Lodge plots as well as 120 touring pitches, along with an 18-hole golf course and an onsite pub and restaurant. It has recently undergone a comprehensive £800,000 redevelopment, following the introduction of a new management team less than three years ago. This year, for example, the park has had new tarmacked roads installed with major redevelopment to its overall infrastructure.

A significant new development for the park is an exclusive lodge area which has been created in a secluded, private area of the park named Trawden Gill. Trawden Gill is tucked away from the rest of the plots, offering a very peaceful area to relax and unwind. The Trawden development accommodates six brand new lodges, with spectacular south facing views over our 18-hole golf course.

This challenging and picturesque course has recently been improved, as has the on-site pub The Friars Head, whose kitchen and restaurant have been comprehensively refurbished.

Jack Reynard explained that the protection of the beautiful environment surrounding the park was absolutely crucial to its success and future. “Akebar Park has received the prestigious David Bellamy Gold Award for conservation on for the past three years. This award recognises how the park has taken measures to protect and enhance Britain’s natural environment. All parks that take part in the scheme are regularly assessed by the scheme’s team of local wildlife experts.

“The assessors have considered how we’ve managed the land as a haven for wildlife, reduced our use of energy, water and other resources as well as how the park has reduced, reused and recycled the waste,” he said.

Mr Reynard said: “What a year it has been. We are all very proud of the results we have achieved. Overall we have also focused on creating a great environment across the whole park for owners and visitors to enjoy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .