Holiday park profile: The Orchards, Isle of Wight

A new holiday home and lodge development is taking place on a beautiful, 15-acre park; an opportunity to buy your own home from home on the glorious Isle of Wight

It’s more than 50 years since an apple orchard on the Isle of Wight was transformed into a holiday venue and called The Orchards Holiday Camping and Caravanning Park. Today, it’s a prestigious park, with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a takeaway food bar and a shop – and a new holiday home and lodge development is taking place.

The Meadow development will be home to 20 lodges and holiday homes from manufacturers including Willerby and Swift. It’s nearing completion now, the park’s owner, Michael Jordan, tells us, “There has been a massive response, many from our regular guests who want their own holiday home to use any time of the year. In fact, two plots have already been reserved by regular guests, so get in early for your first choice of pitch!”

Michael has accrued many years of experience in the leisure industry, having previously owned Michael Jordan Caravans, one of the largest caravan and motorhome retailers in the country. He has also owned residential parks. For his holiday park business venture, Michael spent two years searching for his ideal park before buying The Orchards.

The park, set in 15 beautiful countryside acres, is well established as a touring park, with 120 pitches – and also a park where you can hire holiday homes. That now means potential holiday home and lodge buyers can hire one of the fleet of 65 to get to know the park and the island before they buy.

The park, less than 10 minutes’ drive from the Yarmouth ferry port, is open all year and is dog-friendly. All holiday homes come with decking, and full skirting with an access hatch, so that you can store paddleboards and other equipment underneath your holiday home. Each plot has an individual drive for parking. Plot fees are free for 2021. Touring caravans and motorhomes can be taken in part-exchange. The licence (the length of time that your unit can remain on the pitch) is 20 years for a single holiday unit and 40 years for a twin lodge unit.

The island

We’ve picked out some of the many aspects of the Isle of Wight that make this island a brilliant place on which to have a holiday home.

Walking

For keen walkers, this island is sheer magic. There’s a 68-mile-long coastal path to explore, plus more than 500 miles of footpaths and established walking routes. Walking is a great way to explore the island, more than half of which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Beaches

The island has 18 beaches. So, a snapshot guide… Surfers will make for the beaches on the west side of the island. Ryde beach is huge, and has a gentle slope to the sea, so is ideal for paddling. At Compton Bay, fossilised dinosaur footprints are visible at low tide. Sandown Bay, on the east side of the island, has miles of sand and a pier. There are smaller beaches at Colwell Bay, Ventnor, and Steephill Cove. Dogs are allowed on many of the beaches all year. Boat charters and fishing trips are available – and there’s lot of scope for anglers here, with plenty of opportunities for both beach and rock fishing.

Ventnor Botanic Garden

The island’s mild climate means species of plants thrive here that won’t grow anywhere else in Britain. The 22-acre garden, in a cliff-sheltered, micro-climate location close to Ventnor, is home to more than 30,000 sub-tropical and rare plants. There’s a variety of terrain and trails to explore, from tranquil secluded areas to clifftop meadows. This is a place to visit many times as the seasons change; it’s open all year.

Stargazing

There’s very little light pollution on the island, making it a great place for stargazing. The best place to observe stars is along the south coast, anywhere from Freshwater Bay in the west, to Yaverland, close to the eastern tip. As an alternative to observing in the outdoors, try the Island Planetarium at Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth, which offers interactive displays and exhibitions.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

This heritage track takes you five miles through lovely countryside; a great way to see some of the island! There’s a collection of railway memorabilia on display at the Train Story Discovery Centre. Whether you are a seasoned train enthusiast or a family looking for great days out from your holiday home, this offering will delight you many times.

Contact The Orchards

Newbridge, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight PO41 0TS
01983 531331
Visit The Orchards website
Contact The Orchards by email
 

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