SET among the Wensleydale Hills in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is Chantry Country Retreat, a holiday park with 140 caravan-style holiday homes and lodges. I knew about it because a near neighbour has been happily ensconced there for the past couple of years with her dogs, for extended walking breaks. So when I heard about the ‘Diamond Club’, a luxury lodge shared ownership scheme, I thought it was time to take a look.

At first sight the Chantry Country Retreat, which is owned by Park Leisure, is very neatly laid out, and has some attractive water features and the like. Further exploration to the edges of the park revealed some small grassy areas, around which a number of holiday homes are arranged, and which I rather liked, too.

Central to Chantry is the attractive reception area. And the park as a whole is immaculately maintained, with landscaped gardens, putting green, children’s play area and on-park launderette. Roads are tarmac and well-maintained. The owner, Park Leisure, has even accommodated the beautiful natural features of the area in keeping with its National Park status, including its own 40ft waterfall and several acres of unspoiled natural parkland.


Lodge location

There are presently four shared ownership lodges, situated very near to the reception hub. The outlook is to other well-maintained holiday units, with the hills beyond. Nearby planting and landscaping is appropriate to the area, making use of local stone.

Park Leisure chose the Willerby New Hampshire Classic as their luxury lodge for fractional owners. It comes with the added spec of leather seating, and is built to the residential BS3632 standard.

The home-from-home New Hampshire has a light and spacious lounge with dining area, a super kitchen with massive double range-style oven, large fridge-freezer and all the amenities you could possibly need. There were two doubles and a twin in the lodge I viewed, each double having an en suite and one with a walk-in-wardrobe. Each lodge sleeps six.

All lodges are guaranteed 5-star luxury properties fitted out to the highest specification. All include flat panel digital HD ready TVs, Sky television, iPod docking station and WiFi access.


Taking a share

The idea behind the shared ownership scheme is that the costs of one lodge can be shared by four owners, rather than carried by one. Given that (apparently) the average use for a UK holiday home owner is 43 nights, it makes eminent sense to share in this way. Of course, you can do this with friends or family. Alternatively, the park can arrange it all for you, and find the other part-owners.

For £34,950 you buy 25% of a lodge with 75 nights a year usage (the rest being held back for maintenance etc). All costs are also shared, so each owner pays an annual service charge that includes all the normal costs associated with owning a holiday home on a park.

As well as saving money on your purchase, as a fractional owner you also gain access to a range of exclusive ‘added value’ extras, including personal concierge service, fresh linen, towels and consumables for each stay and all maintenance and repairs. Park Leisure will even offer you a free weekend break when you arrange a viewing trip.

Fractional Ownership 5-star Lodges are currently available at two of Park Leisure’s UK holiday park locations – as well as Chantry Retreat in the Yorkshire Dales, the same scheme is available at Par Sands in Cornwall. These parks offer different holiday experiences but want to offer the same ethos of luxury accommodation in safe, secure, healthy environments. Potential owners from all walks of life from young families through to couples enjoying their retirement are welcome.

This type of scheme has to make sense! Many holiday homes are standing empty for most of the year and so, by sharing purchase and running costs, there is an obvious advantage. This scheme is genuine shared ownership, not timeshare. And when the 20 year licence is up, you recive your share of the sale price.

It may take some time for such schemes to take off in the UK, as they are relatively new. But don’t be wary; look into it and it may be just right
for you.


WHAT’S THE DEAL...

Features of the fractional ownership offered by Park Leisure include:
• Hugely reduced purchase costs You pay 75% less than you would if you purchased a Lodge outright.
• Hugely reduced running costs The annual service charge and running costs are all shared between co-owners.
• Only pay for the time you stay Why pay 100% of the cost when you only stay there 25% of the time? With Fractional Ownership you only pay for what you actually use but with the benefits of ownership rather than renting your holiday property.
• Generous time allocation You can stay in your Lodge for 75 nights per annual season
• Luxurious accommodation All Lodges are guaranteed 5-star luxury properties fitted to the highest specification. All include flat panel digital HD ready TVs, Sky television, iPod docking station and WiFi access.
• Quality time All Lodges comfortably accommodate up to six guests so you can spend lots of quality time with family and friends.
• Added benefits Lodge owners enjoy a full concierge service, complimentary linen, towels and consumables, grocery pre-order service and ticket reservation service, meaning that every stay is truly hassle free.
• Maintenance free All maintenance is covered by the Annual Service Charge, so you don’t need to worry about anything, and all time spent at the lodge is purely your own to enjoy.
• Complete freedom You are entitled to sell your share whenever you choose.
• Peace of mind You have the confidence of full legal agreements as well as the support of Park Leisure.


FOR SALE

In additional to fractional lodge ownership, caravan holiday homes are also available at Chantry Country Park. Call for details.


LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: Grocer/convenience store in West Witton (0.5 miles); other shops and services, including weekly market, banks, supermarket and post office, in Leyburn (3 miles).
• Health: GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacies in Leyburn; nearest hospital with A&E is Northallerton (20 miles).
• Transport: Nearest station is Northallerton on the East Coast main line. Hourly daytime buses on A684 near park on Bedale-Leyburn-Hawes route.
• Food and drink: Pubs in West Witton, including Wensleydale Heifer, celebrated for its seafood and local meat; selection of restaurants and takeaways in Leyburn.
• Entertainment: The nearest cinema and theatre are in Richmond (11 miles). There is a leisure centre in Bedale (13 miles). For horse racing fans, there is a course at Catterick (15 miles).


WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?

Forbidden Corner - Describing itself as ‘the strangest place in the world’, this family attraction is a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created in a four-acre garden in the heart of Tupgill Park near Middleham. Admission by pre-booked ticket only.

Teapotty - The Teapottery (Swineside Ceramics) is world famous for its eccentric, novelt teapots and the Visitor Centre is open daily (except Christmas and New Year and Sundays December to March). You can find out how to make the perfect cup of tea, too.

Castle of discontent - Middleham Castle was once the home of Richard III and boasts the largest keep in the north of England. It was partly dismantled by order of Parliament during the Civil War but the spectacular ruins still tower over the village. Regular English Heritage events in summer.

Local transport - Take a train on the Wensleydale Railway to Redmire and then a vintage bus to Aysgarth Falls (or visit nearby Bolton Castle). The 16-mile heritage line has regular steam trains in summer and timetabled services from February-New Year Bank Holiday.


CONTACT

Chantry Country Retreat, West Witton, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4NA Diamond Club: 01969 9622372 Email: [email protected] Website: www.parkleisure.co.uk

• Open March-January
• Service charge for fractional lodge owners £1,500pa
• Pitch fees for caravan holiday home owners £2,495 - £2,695pa
• Bottled gas available on site
• WiFi available in part of the park
• Pets permitted on caravan holiday home park and in two of the fractional ownership lodges
• Children’s play area (this is currently being upgraded), plus football pitch and putting green

Some of the concierge services include:
• Pre-order and delivery of groceries to your lodge
• Travel and restaurant reservations, as well as bookings for local attractions made on your behalf
• Fresh linen, towels and consumables for every stay
• Individual requests welcomed


This park review was published in the April 2011 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order a copy of Park & Holiday Homes please click here