Rockley Park Holiday Park – Haven

Families with children make up the majority of vacationers at this holiday trailer park, whose large and well-maintained grounds sprawl across green, windswept beachfront acres. Both the indoor and outdoor common areas are kept in pristine condition, making the park feel more upmarket than most holiday parks. The restaurants and entertainment complex are well-lit and spotlessly clean, decked out in stylish, modern decor; the teak patio furniture on the spa's terrace is especially nice. In the warmer months, the park gets quite full with families and kids taking advantage of all the outdoor activities, and the pools can get busy during school holidays, but having direct access to a beach gives another water option.

Rockley Park is just off a quiet residential road on Poole Harbour, and has direct access to a sand and shingle beach. It’s also next to a nature reserve that's home to rare seabirds, newts, and dragonflies. There's a good choice of restaurants just at the end of the road, a two-minute drive or a 15-minute walk away. The park can be reached by taxi -- Hamworthy train station is a seven-minute drive, and Poole train station is a 12-minute drive away -- but having a car makes exploring the area and local sights much easier. Poole Museum is a 10-minute drive away, and Holton Heath National Nature Reserve is a 15-minute drive.

A wide range of different types of caravans are available at Rockley Park, but all are clean and well-maintained, with surprisingly modern decor in most, and at least a kitchenette in all. The cheapest is the Standard Caravan, which comes equipped with a fridge, TV, gas fireplace, and microwave; these are available with two or three bedrooms and have a tiny shower room. At the other end of the scale is the Platinum Caravan, which can sleep up to eight people and comes with double-glazed windows, central heating, towels, and a DVD player. The decor in these is considerably more stylish and modern, too. Caravans with sea views and verandahs can also be booked. For lower-tier caravans, bed linens are not included and can either be brought from home or rented on-site.

This large holiday park has a huge range of facilities to keep guests entertained. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools with waterslides and waterpark-style areas, as well as a range of land and water sports -- including tennis, fencing, a climbing wall, mini-golf, windsurfing, sea kayaking, and so much more. The park has direct beach access, and there's a nature reserve next door. For younger children, there’s a soft play area, and older kids can make use of the arcade and pool tables. Bikes can also be hired from the on-site shop. There are kids' clubs for a range of ages, and plenty of kid-aimed activities. The excellent spa with treatment rooms, a sauna, a hot tub, and tanning beds is an especially welcome surprise. The park team put on regular evening entertainment including trivia and musical shows. There are four eateries to choose from on-site, all aimed at families and all offering casual dining such as fish and chips or pizza. There are also a small convenience store and a gift shop within the park.