Whitby Holiday Park

Set on the cliffs to the east of the popular Yorkshire town, Whitby Holiday Park has a stunning position with great views over the sea from many pitches and a coastal path taking you into the heart of the town centre.

The campsite's pitches are mainly set on firm well-drained grass, with some having a slight slope (so chocks or levels might be needed) and most benefit from 16A electric hook-ups.

Central to the pitches are the toilet blocks which offer showers, a laundry room and disabled facilities.

A complex of buildings near the reception area houses the clubhouse, which offers entertainment in peak season and has a bar. Nearby is a small games room for children. If you'd prefer to eat back in your 'van (or overlooking the clifftop), then it's worth knowing that there's also a cafe which serves a range of meals and offers takeaway, while the shop stocks groceries, wines and spirits.

Those more interested in spirits of a rather different kind might want to head for Whitby's iconic gothic Abbey, which dates back to the 13th century and is an eerie place to visit. The abbey is just a 20-minute walk from the campsite via a bracing clifftop walk and is well worth visiting.

Head further east along the path and it winds past another famous Whitby landmark, the Norman-built church of St Mary's. Perched on the hillside, this church was made famous by featuring in Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was set in Whitby. The church is also at the top of Whitby's 199 steps, which lead you sharply down into the cobbled streets of the old part of the town.

Filled with everything from fine dining seafood restaurants to first-rate fish and chip shops (such as the Magpie Cafe, which never disappoints - start queuing early if you fancy lunch here) to cafes and gift shops selling Whitby jet jewellery, it's a very pleasant place to visit.

Whitby itself offers a large beach to the west and a smaller beach to the east. However, for somewhere more peaceful it's worth heading down the coastal paths from the campsite which give direct access to a quieter beach. The children will love messing about in the many rock pools here.

If you're looking for a pretty and quiet site with great coastal views and don't want to have to drive again, then there are lots of things to do in the area. Whitby itself is an engagingly pretty and interesting town with lots going on. It also has a station where you can catch a steam train over the Yorkshire moors and explore some of the great walking country made popular by the TV show Heartbeat (which is filmed in the area).