Tourism Awards: Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park finalists named

This award aims to shine a light on camping, glamping, holiday parks, sites and villages which offer truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrate excellence across every aspect of the business.  

Find out more about each of this year’s finalists: 

Albion Nights 

A luxury, off-grid cabin set in a wildflower meadow near Bungay on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, Albion Nights provides the opportunity to enjoy some downtime all year round while surrounded by nature.  

The cabin is the brainchild of Helen McGrath-Doherty, who set about converting the cabin with her husband in 2015 using reclaimed, recycled and reused materials. 

The cabin was set to begin trading in April 2020, but delays caused by the pandemic meant it wasn’t able to open its doors until August of that year. However, opening at a time when staycations were becoming incredibly popular propelled Albion Nights into the limelight, and bookings have been running at just short of 100% occupancy ever since. 

Albion Nights has been featured on TV as well as in The Guardian, The Times, Glamour Magazine, The Simple Things, Elle and Grazia Magazine.  

The judges said they received “a very warm and friendly greeting” from Helen, who “could not do enough” for them, including helping them move luggage to their cabin on a route marked by fairy lights. 

They described the cabin as “immaculate, warm and very welcoming”, adding that “it had the wow factor” and “had been planned with meticulous attention to detail to create the ultimate eco-retreat”. 

Family-run campsite Applewood Countryside Park in Banham, Norfolk (Image: Applewood Countryside Park)

Applewood Countryside Park 

Applewood Countryside Park is a family-run campsite located in Banham, Norfolk, that has welcomed guests since 1990. 

Set within 13 acres of grassy parkland, this dog-friendly campsite offers guests plenty of on-site facilities including modern fitted shower rooms and toilets, with additional fully accessible/family bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, children’s play areas, laundry facilities and a library.   

33 years after its opening, the Goymour family still own the business today, with daughter Kiera taking the helm in April 2016.  

The campsite has a diverse customer base, from family groups during the school holidays to couples and senior citizens during the quieter off-peak months. In addition to its touring pitches, the campsite has 21 seasonal pitches, mostly occupied by retired couples.  

Grove Meadow, the park’s 15-acre ‘wild camping’ area and events field, regularly hosts events and is available for private hire, while the adjoining sister business Applewood Hall acts as a wedding and events venue. 

The judges said the “peaceful, family-friendly” campsite exceeded their expectations. They added that “all team members were very friendly and chatty”, and all areas of their accommodation pod were “clean, tidy and well-maintained, making it feel very homely”. 

Deepdale Camping & Rooms, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, offers a variety of high-quality camping pitches for tents, campervans, motorhomes, trailer tents and hammocks (Image: Deepdale Camping)

Deepdale Camping & Rooms 

Located on Deepdale Farm near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Deepdale Camping & Rooms offers a variety of high-quality camping pitches for tents, campervans, motorhomes, trailer tents and hammocks.  

Facilities include over 20 rooms with shower, toilet and sink, toilet blocks, washing-up facilities, laundry, a camp shop and visitor information centre. It also offers bike hire, fire pit hire and free Wi-Fi, and hosts street food caterers, shops, a café and pop up shops. 

The business has been trading for more than 20 years and has been under its current ownership since October 2016 following a complete rebuild and rebrand. It now turns over almost £1 million a year and hosts guests from around the world. 

The committed team of 15 works to put Deepdale at the top tier of local campsites, with a beautiful location, high-quality facilities and genuine care for customers, all of which encourages people to come back again and again. 

Calling Deepdale Camping & Rooms “a wonderful base from which to explore”, the judges said they “felt very welcome” from the moment they arrived. 

The team members were “welcoming, friendly and very engaging”, the accommodation was “cosy, comfortable and well-presented” and the shared kitchen facilities were “spacious, clean and well equipped”. 

The winner of Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year will be announced at the East of England Tourism Awards ceremony at Snape Maltings, Suffolk on Thursday, February 15. For more information, or to purchase tickets for the event, please visit tourismawards.co.uk 

To see the finalists in all categories, click here.