Holiday park profile: Lovat Parks Azure Seas Holiday Village

Through a natural woodland glade, tree bark paths edged with small logs lead to a small gate. This is the gateway to the beach. In two minutes I am on sand. The sea is dashing up on the shingle and a promenade area stretches out in both directions.

This is a magical place. Quiet. Secluded. Isolated. And with a magical name: Azure Seas. When you find a place like this you know you’ve discovered something really special. Which is why Lovat Parks bought Azure Seas Holiday Village last year.

I am here to explore the park and discover the reasons why plots and holiday homes here are now in high demand. The main reason, of course, is that Azure Seas has its own pathway to the beach.

It’s in Suffolk, close to the border with Norfolk. That’s a clue to more reasons. The lovely city of Norwich, rich in history, culture and everything retail, is just 25 miles away. The edge of the Norfolk Broads is close by. The character town of Southwold, home to the Adnams Brewery and lots of individual shops, is 15 miles away.

Little wonder that the Colman family, synonymous with mustard, established their second residence here on the land that is now Azure Seas, in the 1860s. Jeremiah James Colman’s wife, Caroline, organised the planting of rare trees and shrubs in the grounds of the residence. She favoured the natural approach, avoiding geometric shapes and, instead, going for curving paths and irregular-shaped beds. As Lovat Parks develops Azure Seas Holiday Village, the company is adhering to Caroline Colman’s original design, with the bark path that I followed through the park to the beach, and with mature woodland being retained and new shrubs and trees being planted as plots are created. There are plans to create a stream, a pond and more meandering paths as the park’s development progresses.

Many of the plots have ocean views; that’s the magic of this place; sea views yet with the back-cloth and shelter of woodland. There is nowhere else like Azure Seas, with the sound of the sea ever gently audible and the famously sunny weather of Suffolk to lure you. The weather didn’t live up to its excellent reputation on the day of my visit yet it was easy to be captivated by Azure Seas.

Coastal walks along the dune-fringed beach are the chief enticement and I relish the experience. I reach an area overlooking the beach; a seat will soon be put here – a place to sit awhile and take in the sea vista.

I watch ships coming in and out of Great Yarmouth, which is two miles north of the park. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year.

I walk back along the paths that swerve through tree roots and bushes, to the area of Azure Seas which is the current focus of development. It’s called Ocean Glade and lodges are being placed on large plots with natural wood decking. Plots are at different angles. Some plots are in hollows, so nicely sheltered. This is a gated, separate area of the park.

Buyers can take their choice from a number of lodges including a Willerby Boston, at £109,995, a Cosalt Woodland, at £114,995 and a Willerby Sheraton, at £89,995.

Coming in the next few weeks will be a Prestige Homeseeker Burleigh, at £219,995.

New holiday caravans are also available, in a separate area of Azure Seas. Among them are a Willerby Avonmore, at £44,395, a Carnaby Oakdale, at £49,495 and an Atlas Debonair, at £59,995. Many of the plots in this area overlook the ocean.

This tranquil, relaxing park feels remote from the rest of the world, yet is only a few minutes’ drive from a large retail park called Gapton Hall.

That’s the practical necessities and retail appetite taken care of. The small town of Lowestoft is two miles away. Days-out possibilities are numerous, including the Pleasurewood Hills theme park, between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. And, 20 miles down the coast at Horsey Gap, seals can be seen.

The season is 12 months for the lodge sector of the park and 11 months for holiday caravans; this area is closed in January.

Among the developments taking place is the creation of an owners’ lounge – a place to meet and have coffee – and a new entrance is shortly to be made.

A nice touch being introduced is that when owners take over their holiday home, they will receive a ‘welcome hamper’ of locally produced foods.

To find more park and holiday home inspiration, you can get the latest issue of our magazine dedicated to this sector here.

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