The Holkham Estate has acquired six caravan parks along the Norfolk coast after taking over a family-owned holiday park operator.  

The estate has acquired caravan parks at Snettisham, Heacham, Holme-next-the-Sea, Brancaster and two sites at Thornham, as well as the caravan distribution and sales businesses trading as McDonnell Caravans.

The firm was founded in 1966, selling a range of static holiday homes and touring caravans before opening caravan parks along the Norfolk coast.

The Holkham Estate has also taken over its head office in Gayton, near King's Lynn, with the new business becoming a subsidiary of Holkham Holiday Parks Ltd.

McDonnell Caravans was founded in 1966McDonnell Caravans was founded in 1966 (Image: Supplied) Mike McDonnell, who took over the business from his father in 1983, has become an advisory consultant to Holkham, and staff at McDonell Caravans have kept their jobs.

Mr McDonnell has retained ownership of two holiday parks in Hunstanton, which he will continue to manage independently.

His former team in Gayton will provide operational support for the caravan owners at the two parks during the transitional phase.

Mr McDonnell said: “My father founded the company in 1966, and I took it over in 1983.

“After 41 years at the helm, this is the right time for me to scale back my involvement.

“I am very proud of the business I have built and the quality of all its parks.

"I am pleased to see six of my parks now being taken forward by the Holkham Estate, who I am confident will carry on with the same commitment to running exceptional parks that has worked so well for me.

“I'm not retiring quite yet. I will enjoy running my two parks in Hunstanton to keep my connections within this industry, which I have loved being so widely involved in for most of my working life."

Darren Williams, director of Holkham Holiday Parks Ltd and general manager of the estate’s Pinewoods holiday park in Wells -next-the-Sea, has become the new managing director of McDonnell Caravans.