Park Holidays UK announces North Devon debut

One of North Devon’s most scenically set caravan parks is about to become an even more attractive destination for families, according to its new owners Park Holidays UK.

Tarka Holiday Park near Barnstaple, which has now been acquired by the group, has been earmarked for a significant investment in luxury lodge holiday homes and upgraded facilities.

Just a short distance from some of the region’s most celebrated beaches and countryside, it brings to 26 the number of coastal parks operated by Park Holidays UK.

Even more significantly, says company director Tony Clish, it provides the group with its first location in North Devon, complementing its five parks in the south of the county.

Plans are already underway, he says, to introduce around 75 additional holiday homes and lodges available to buy on the park, doubling its present capacity.

The aim is to position Tarka as an exclusive development of up-market leisure homes with planned improvements to the infrastructure which will further enhance its appeal.

Previously under private ownership, said Tony, the park has won a loyal customer following among families seeking an idyllic rural base with plenty of nearby attractions.

The park’s name celebrates one of literature’s most famous children’s characters, Tarka the Otter, and many of the locations mentioned in the 1927 book are found nearby.

It’s also just a few minutes from the Tarka Trail, a figure-of-eight walking and cycling path through rolling hills and wild moors, and alongside picture-postcard sandy bays and rugged cliffs.

According to Tony Clish, Tarka Holiday Park has strategic significance for the company:

“Park Holidays UK is already the largest single provider of holiday park accommodation in Devon through our five locations along the English Riviera on the southern coast.

“However, we’ve long been keen to have a presence in North Devon, and have been waiting until an opportunity arose which would match the customer appeal of our other settings.

“Tarka Holiday Park ticks all the boxes, and has benefited from the caring management of its previous owners who have built up a successful and popular business.

“We are now ready to take Tarka to the next level in terms of what it provides for holiday home owners, and are greatly looking forward to our first season,” added Tony.

There is more information about Park Holidays UK on its website at www.ParkHolidays.com