Anyone who has visited the North Yorkshire Dales will be able to tell you that the region is packed with beautiful scenery, historic sites, and locals who are passionate about the history and culture. That’s what makes this region one of the UK’s best undiscovered holiday destinations. Here are some of the reasons you should visit the Dales courtesy of Park Leisure.
Escape
The Yorkshire Dales is an area for you to escape with your family and relax in the beautiful surroundings. The Dales certainly have a different feel to the rest of the region, yet they are still easily accessible, with only a short drive from most major cities and towns. Ideal for a weekend retreat, or even a longer vacation; the Dales are closer and more relaxing than any of the beaches on the coast. Perfect for those who prefer life a bit slower-paced.
Scenery
You don’t have to be a hill-walker to enjoy the spectacular scenery of The Yorkshire Dales. The views are simply breathtaking, with beautiful lakes and rivers as well as the numerous pikes and fells. Of course, if you are a walker or cyclist, you will be spoilt for choice; and for the less-active, everything can be seen from the comfort of your vehicle on one of the many driving routes. There’s also the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to explore.
History
The Yorkshire Dales as a region is rich in history and tradition, with plenty of historic monuments, and attractions to visit. Paddle in the River Nidd at Bolton Abbey Priory, or get lost in a labyrinth at Forbidden Corner, near Leyburn. Explore the market towns and sample some of the local produce (including the famous Wensleydale Cheese) or just enjoy a quiet pint in a cosy traditional pub.
People
They say that the people are what makes a region special, and nothing could be truer for Yorkshire, and the Yorkshire Dales. There’s a real community spirit between visitors and locals alike, and always a friendly face to welcome you.
Want to discover the Yorkshire Dales for yourself? Well, you’re not alone. This summer, more and more people will opt to invest in holiday homes rather than spend their money abroad, with the Yorkshire Dales proving to be amongst the most popular retreats.
We spoke to Grant Gidham, Head of Marketing at Park Leisure Holiday Homes, to find out why holidaymakers are opting to remain in the UK, in favour of trips abroad:
“There are numerous factors behind this. The growing trend in “staycation” and an emphasis on discovering the UK has definitely influenced the holiday home market; the idea of being able to escape the pressures of day-to-day life whenever you want, as often as you want, 12-months a year is a big pull for a lot of people.
In addition, I think consumer confidence in holidays abroad has taken a dent over the past few years, with more and more people looking to invest in their own bolt hole right here in the UK.”
York based Park Leisure Holiday Homes own twelve 5-star owners’ only holiday parks across the UK, three of which are located in and around the splendour of the Yorkshire Dales National Park; Chantry, located in the hills above the idyllic Wensleydale village of West Witton; The Yorkshire Dales, a stone’s throw from the historic marketing town of Leyburn; and Littondale, just a short drive away from the beautiful towns of Grassington and Kettlewell.
These aren’t your typical holiday parks. And with prices reaching in excess of £250,000 for a lodge holiday home, the key focus of Park Leisure is to create a luxurious retreat where families can enjoy a highest-class of service possible. Grant says “not only do we excel at providing 5-star holiday parks, but we pride ourselves in delivering a 5-star service to match.”
Uniquely within the holiday park industry, Park leisure offer its owners complimentary access to its “Privilege” service, a provision designed specifically to take care of owners’ requirements, including restaurant bookings, theatre tickets, taking receipt of groceries, and ensuring the refrigerator is well-stocked. “Our aim is to deliver that 5-star hotel style experience, but within a holiday park setting,” says Grant. “In a nutshell, the ideal is for our owners to show up, relax and we’ll help take care of the rest.”
Park Leisure pride themselves on allowing their owners to enjoy their leisure time, and really kick back and relax. “It’s basically a home away from home” explains Grant. “Most of our owners live within a short 60 to 90-minute drive, so they come to the park most weekends, escaping their day-to-day to join other like-minded families; it’s like a community in itself. We really have invested in creating something up-market with wonderful staff, and that’s really where we excel.”
North Yorkshire is also home to Park Leisure’s Concierge holiday home offering; a unique, flexible way to own a holiday home that allows owners to maximise their leisure time but minimise the cost through shared ownership. With Concierge holiday home prices starting from £14,995 for 45 nights per annum it allows owners to experience to “experience a luxury lifestlyle, revel in 5-star exclusivity & enjoy all the benefits of ownership at a fraction of the cost”
With the recent acquisition of 5-star North Wales holiday park, Brynteg, the twelfth park in their portfolio, the future for Park Leisure is looking really bright. They have rapidly expanded in the last few years and are still looking to evolve even further. “If I were to sum up our ethos,” says Grant, “it would be ‘5-star parks, 5-star service, 5-star people,’ and that’s what we do. We invest in our parks, we invest in the brand and we invest in people.”
www.parkleisure.co.uk/our-parks/north-yorkshire/yorkshire-dales/www.parkleisure-concierge.co.uk
