When you first think of a classic UK caravan park, the first image to come to mind might be a caravan retreat perched atop a cliff overlooking somewhere along the British coastline. You might think of caravans in rows, somewhere not far from the sea, as you would expect from a typical Butlins or Haven resort.
However, one independent North Norfolk holiday park is redefining what a British caravan holiday looks like, and it has proven successful in this pursuit, with it being ranked by HolidayParks.com within the top nine caravan parks in the UK.
Kelling Heath Holiday Park, in Weybourne, Holt, and operated by Blue Sky Leisure, takes the typical expectation of a beachside holiday resort, seen at holiday parks across the country time and time again, and turns it on its head, instead introducing holidaymakers to the idea of a unique getaway spent in a woodland retreat, with caravan, lodges and camping pitches surrounded by two hundred and fifty acres of flora, including twenty-five species of tree, and diverse fauna such as squirrels, deer, frogs, bats and herons.
The uniqueness of the park’s woodland setting, as well as its facilities such as a gym and swimming pools, a ‘village square’ hosting live entertainment and food vendors, activities such as pond dipping and archery, a red squirrel breeding programme, and even its own railway stop, has charmed visitors year on year and awarded the park a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2025.
The management at Kelling Heath boast of a host of awards for its unique woodland setting that sets it apart from the majority of other UK caravan parks: among these prestigious accolades are the Gold Award from Green Tourism, which recognises parks that go above and beyond with regards to sustainability and protecting the environment, according to the site team. In 2013, Kelling also won the Caravan Holiday/Holiday Park Village of the Year at the Visit England Awards of Excellence.
Kelling Heath’s unique charm as a woodland holiday park, as opposed to a more traditional seaside park, has attracted loyal holidaymakers back to the park year on year for unforgettable getaways in a wildlife-lover’s paradise. Loyal holidaymaker Georgina loves to reminisce on holidays at Kelling Heath over the years, and now she even brings her children to the park despite no longer owning a caravan at the park.
“When I was growing up in the 1980s my family had a static caravan at Kelling Heath. We spent many years and every holiday making special memories at Kelling. I remember the outdoor pool being built, many years before the indoor was built. There used to be a skiing slope too,” she reminisces.
“Years later, and I now have my own children. Of course, although we don’t own a van anymore, I had to bring them to Kelling. It’s a wonderful caravan park and we try to visit at least once a year. I now relive my childhood watching my children enjoy where I had so many wonderful years and make their own memories of Kelling Heath.”
Caravan owner Sharon shares similar sentiments, fondly reflecting on memories of holidaying at Kelling Heath as a child. She is happy that her children and grandchildren are able to experience the same beautiful woodland park that she experienced in childhood.
“I first went to Kelling Heath aged 10 with my parents, we had a touring caravan…not many static caravans then,” she says. “Wonderful memories of heather and wonderful views. I am now sixty-six and been an owner for many years.”
Kelling Heath attracts almost 50,000 visitors to Norfolk annually. But it’s no surprise that Kelling Heath attracts tens of thousands of holidaymakers there every year. The park offers live music and children’s entertainment, cycle hire, tennis courts, nature trail walks, family activities such as archery, pond dipping and orienteering, and hosts food vendors regularly in its ‘village square’. Uniquely, the park has been part of a Red Squirrel Breeding Programme since 1999, with the park welcoming many litters of red squirrel kittens in recent months, and even has its own railway stop along the Poppy Line, the railway that runs through North Norfolk.
As well as these unique facilities, the park offers traditional facilities that you would expect on any holiday park, such as an indoor and outdoor pool, a gymnasium, a bar, and a restaurant that serves British favourites such as fish and chips, burgers, curries and pasta.
“I can only dream of owning a caravan there! We take our touring van a lot and rent statics. It’s a truly magical place. Both our children learnt to ride a bike there, aged three and four,” holidaymaker Caroline reminisces.
“The wildlife is incredible – I’ve spotted nightjars, Dartford warblers, and adders there in the last year. Stargazing is also amazing! Loads for the whole family to do.”
The ever-popular seaside town of Great Yarmouth (a family favourite of ours) is only an hour’s drive from Kelling, so attractions such as Britannia Pier and the Pleasure Beach, boasting its historical 1932 rollercoaster, are only a short drive away from the park.
Loyal holidaymakers to Kelling Heath also cite the various seasonal activities and offerings of the park as a reason why they return time and time again to bask in the woodland wonders of the park.
“[Every September] we go fishing at the pond, hire bike[s] from the Huff and Puff Cycle Hire. We just love biking around the woods spotting all the wildlife, squirrels, muntjack [deer],” loyal guest Sue says, praising the autumnal offerings of the park.
“To me, it’s like paradise. Birds singing, it’s heaven,” holidaymaker Frankie agrees.
“[In winter] the beaver moon has been and gone and the nights [are] painted silver with dappled shadows of tree branches by moonlight, something unique to this perfect spot with its low light pollution,” Alchi reminisces over the wintry festivities of a Christmas spent in Kelling’s cosy 300 acres of woodland.