Trevella Park: A Nostalgia-Packed Family Camping Holiday

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I’m not a happy camper. What I mean is, I don’t love sleeping in a tent. Growing up, I can think of two occasions when we went camping as a family and my memories are mainly of being in a tiny tent with my family, trying desperately not to touch the sides of the tent, for fear of the dampness from the rain outside coming into the tent. It was hot, stuffy and damp in there. Our bags were piled into the middle of the tent (“Don’t let anything touch the tent sides!”) and it was impossible to move around without bumping into something or someone.

Those camping trips were big group trips, with our church, and some friends had a caravan. Ah caravans… now you’re talking. They were like mini houses, with tables and chairs, space to move around and yes – you could touch the sides all you like, none of that rain water was coming in. They even had awnings attached to them, giving you a little outdoor space to sit in. Caravans I could get on board with. I have a strong childhood memory of sitting playing cards in a friend’s caravan, listening to the rain come down outside and it just felt so COSY.

So it’s probably no surprise that as a grown up, family camping trips have been strictly off the agenda. And it’s also no surprise that when we arrived at Trevella Park in Cornwall, on a grey drizzly July morning, to stay in a caravan, I had a big smile on my face.

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While Mr P was obsessively checking his weather app to find out if the whole week would be a washout, I didn’t care. It could have rained all week, and I’d have been happy.

As it turned out, we did see some sun. And we had a fantastic few days.

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Trevella Park is split up into a few different sections – holiday homes (static caravans) in one field, lakeside lodges (which looked well posh) by the lake and then a couple of fields with safari tents, geodomes and space for you to pitch up your own tent or park your camper van or caravan.

Our static caravan looked out onto a children’s play area and outdoor swimming pool, so as we sat on our decked balcony, drinking Pimm’s the sound of kids’ laughter and fun filled the air. Even after our little one had long gone to bed, kids would be on the swings and slide, running around – you could just tell they were being allowed to stay up past their bedtime and thrilled to be playing outside so late.

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It reminded me of my own childhood holidays and actually, Trevella Park just feels like it’s filled with those nostalgic moments. Families having BBQs outside their caravan or tent, saying hello to their neighbouring families, children making new friends in the pool, helping each other onto the zip wire in the adventure playground, munching sausage and chips in the café, playing pool in the games room. The four-year-old loved interacting with older kids (she was totally in awe of one 12-year-old who made sure she always got her turn on the zip wire) and was happy just watching them all muck around in the pool, at times. Mr P might have had a go too…

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Our caravan felt like proper luxury – with two bedrooms, an ensuite, a shower room, and a large open plan kitchen and living room, it had patio doors which opened out onto the decked balcony plus a flatscreen TV, iPod docking station, everything a kitchen could need (bar the actual food), linen and towels. It’s all done in that classic caravan shade of beige, and won’t win any interior design awards any time soon, but there’s actually something so safe and predictable about being surrounded by so much beige.

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On-site at Trevella Park, there’s a shop which stocks lots of basics – brilliantly it’s very reasonably priced – and a café which is open for breakfast and dinner, serving things like bacon rolls, burgers and pizza. There’s also a launderette and for any campers in tents, shower blocks and loos.

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Having tea in the caff

As well as the play area outside our caravan and outdoor swimming pool, there’s an adventure playground and crazy golf – which costs a bargainous £1 a game. The pool is heated and fenced in, with guests accessing it by typing a security code into a locked door. I loved this as it meant small children couldn’t wander in, without their parents noticing.

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Playing crazy golf

During our time at Trevella Park, the weirdest thing happened: It actually felt like time slowed down a little. We were there for four nights, but it felt like a week. We did things like visit the Eden Project (highly recommended – a great way for kids to ‘see’ the rainforest without the pricey airfare), spend the day at Dairyland (another top day out, especially on a wet day as they have a large indoor play centre with awesome vertical-drop slides) and hang out on Watergate Bay beach, watching surfers and building sandcastles. We used App For Cornwall to find nearby attractions, and brilliantly, it downloads maps and info to your phone so you can access info even if you can’t pick up a phone signal.

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The Eden Project

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Larking around on Watergate Bay

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Chilling out in Watergate Bay hotel

Our days tended to begin and end with a play in the adventure playground at Trevella Park, or a splash in the outdoor pool, or both. Having them on our campsite meant the fun didn’t have to end when we got back at the end of a day.

As well as the fun stuff, Trevella Park is really pretty to wander around. There are beautiful blooms everywhere – you can tell the gardeners really take pride in them – along with palm trees and lush green grass everywhere. As soon as you arrive at Trevella, in fact, you are greeted by an entrance lined with bright pinks and purples.

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There are two lakes, where you can go fishing (there’s even a little bait shop) or just wander along, taking in the lily pads, swans and thistles. It’s really peaceful down there, and feels like you could be miles from the nearest campsite.

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Every night, once the four-year-old was tucked up in her bed, we would crack open a bottle of wine and either sit on our decking enjoying the last of the sunshine, or on the rainy days, sink into the sofa with the radio on. I love holidays where evenings are easy – no babysitters are needed and we can just relax while the little one sleeps.

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We loved our stay at Trevella Park so much, we discussed staying longer. We were all up for asking whether we could extend our stay when we realised that our cat sitter wouldn’t be able to look after our cat for extra days. But we’re not too worried… I’m sure we’ll be back another time (and next time, I’m tempted to try a Geo Dome tent!)

•Thanks to Trevella Park for inviting us to stay with them for four nights. Four nights in a Superior 2-bed caravan on the same week in July 2016 costs from £488.

SPECIAL OFFER

If my review has tempted you to visit Trevella Park, I have an offer code you can use to save up to 25% on holidays in 2015.

For holidays taken between 29th August and 23rd October, quote FAMCORA to save 25% on static caravans and glamping.

For school holidays in August and October half term, quote FAMCORS to save 10%.

To book, go to www.trevella.co.uk.

 

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14 Comments

  1. July 20, 2015 / 7:38 am

    This looks a lot like holidays of my childhood! How lovely, bet G had such a good time. How brilliant do the gradomes look?!

  2. July 20, 2015 / 1:19 pm

    I’ve never stayed in a caravan but I’m TOTALLY with you on the childhood camping trips! Which is why I can only ever do ‘glamping’ but tbh I think I would get on much better in a caravan. These ones look so spacious, what lovely family memories to be had with a british caravan holiday 🙂 x

  3. July 20, 2015 / 3:23 pm

    Holy fancy caravan, batman! That place looks lovely! Like you, I have such amazing childhood memories of caravanning when I was younger. We had a go at local camping recently and yes – caravans over tents every time 😉 x

  4. July 20, 2015 / 6:34 pm

    Looks like you had such a lovely time! And I weirdly think I went their when I was 18 on a girly holiday!!! But I can’t quite remember (due to too many hooches) x

  5. July 20, 2015 / 6:50 pm

    The holiday park and caravan look fab. Like you, I’d always been a bit shy of camping after childhood experiences, but we stayed in a safari tent the other week. You should give them a try some time – ours even had memory foam mattresses! It’s not like the olden days….

  6. July 21, 2015 / 8:36 am

    Yep I’m definitely more of a caravanner that a tenter! My memories of camping are also just of trying not to touch the sides because of the condensation! Then it’s the going for a wee thing that puts me off, I just don’t want to trek in the dark and cold just to go for a wee, especially as since having two kids I need to wee a lot!! That Pimms looks so good! x

  7. July 21, 2015 / 11:13 pm

    Love the Eden Project. Next time you’re down there you should check out The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Equally amazing but in a totally different style.

  8. Amy
    July 22, 2015 / 9:43 pm

    A fantastic review! Our last stay in a caravan was a shambles – a drippy half term in a frozen shack which all the heaters from the hire store couldn’t warm. We gave in halfway through and came home. But this looks *lovely* – you have inspired me to try again!

  9. July 24, 2015 / 9:57 am

    We’ve been to Trevella twice now and LOVED it both times. The first time we glamped in a safari tent and the second we were in a mobile home. There’s something really special about that place and you’ve nailed it in your review. It’s so peaceful, nostalgic and relaxed. Time really does feel like it slows down there and there’s so many different things to do right on the doorstep that every day is easy. We love it there – it’s our happy place – and will definitely be back. We should do a group holiday there!

  10. clara
    July 24, 2015 / 10:46 am

    Beautiful landscape… The holiday park and caravan look fab…

  11. AppForCornwall
    July 28, 2015 / 3:32 pm

    Thank you for mentioning AppForCornwall. The app also has some fabulous vouchers, just show the app listing on entry. Both the attractions you mentioned have a voucher, The Eden Project is 15% OFF and Dairyland is £1.50 OFF per person.

  12. July 29, 2015 / 9:52 am

    You’ve got to love a camping trip. We’re just back and will be going on another in September, although the September one is at a festival!

    it conjures up hows holidays used to be….. not mine though. I just used to stay with my grandparents on their farm.

  13. August 2, 2015 / 8:46 pm

    Wow that caravan looks amazing, just like a little house and all the mod cons and comforts of home! I like the sound of the safari tent and also I love popping down to Watergate Bay hotel if i’m in the area. They do the best hot chocolates! x

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