Wood Farm Caravan Park
One of the five-star Best of British parks, Wood Farm has some outstanding facilities set among beautifully maintained grounds. There’s an indoor swimming pool kept at a comfortable 30°C; coarse fishing ponds; an all-weather tennis court; a safe and dog-free children’s play area; and a games room with soft play area plus table tennis, pool tables, table football and TV.
The fully-licensed Offshore Café serves drinks and snacks all day and offers a two-course supper on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Alternatively, if you’re staying in, the on-site shop has milk, bread, groceries, newspapers and alcoholic drinks, as well as Calor Gas and Camping Gaz, toys and accessories. There’s also a laundry if your holiday home doesn’t have its own washing machine, and wi-fi is available.
Wood Farm has touring facilities as well as holiday caravans, but the latter are in the most peaceful, sheltered part of the park, most in an old orchard, with six offering lake views. The open season of April to October means you can use the homes seven months of the year.
Charmouth is less than two miles from the famous resort of Lyme Regis, with its pic-turesque Cobb harbour. Just seven miles away is Bridport and West Bay. On the cliffs between the two towns is Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast of England at 626ft (191m).
The beaches below the cliffs are a great place for fossil hunting, but care has to be taken as erosion means there is always a danger of falling rocks.
WHAT FACILITIES ARE NEAR THE PARK?
• Local amenities: General store/off licence on site; supermarket Axminster (5 miles); banks in Lyme Regis (2 miles); Post Office and shops (including bakery) in Charmouth (half a mile).
• Health: GPs, dentists and pharmacy in Charmouth; opticians in Lyme Regis; nearest hospital with A&E is Yeovil (18.5 miles).
• Transport: Station at Axminster on London Waterloo to Exeter line; buses near park for Lyme Regis, Axinster, Bridport, Dorchester, Weymouth.
• Food & drink: Licensed café on site; pubs, cafés and restaurant in Charmouth, more at Lyme Regis; TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage Canteen is in Axminster
• Entertainment: Cinema and theatre in Lyme Regis; arts centre with theatre in Bridport.
WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?
The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre runs guided fossil walks, rockpool rambles etc and has a permanent exhibition and a café. Forde Abbey near Chard is a former medieval Cistercian monastery, now a family home, part open to the public, with 30 acres of magnificent gardens, and events such as Giant Garden Games, Summer Fair, Christmas shopping and chamber concerts in the great hall. The Broadwindsor Craft and Design Centre has a variety of craft studios and shops. If you are feling fit, you can walk the Undercliff from Lyme Regis to Axmouth, a densely vegetated landscape created by landslips that is now a National Nature Reserve. The path is only accessible from each end.
FOR SALE
2 bed £44,000
Type: Luxury holiday caravan
Size: 38ft x 12ft
Make: Pemberton
Model: St Moritz
PARK INFO
Wood Farm Caravan Park Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BT
Tel: 01297 560697 Email: [email protected] Web: www.woodfarm.co.uk
• Season: April 1-October 30
• Ground rent: £1,646 (up to 30ft long); £1,989 (over 30ft); £2,586 (Ewe Turn area) – all including VAT, winterisation, rates, water, park maintenance, rubbish collection
• Utilities: Electricity individually metered; LPG available on site
• Insurance: Available from £200 to £340pa
• Wi-fi: Available on site for £1.50/hour; £5/5 hours; £20/1 week; £30/1 month
This feature was published in the September 2011 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order a copy of Park & Holiday Homes please click here
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