Gamble pays off for couple’s paradise park
A couple who gambled their fast-moving IT careers in London to run a hideaway North Devon holiday park say they have created a perfect antidote for guests with stressed-out lifestyles.
Adrian and Karen Coppin quit their city life last year to buy Mill Park near Ilfracombe – and this March saw them open their gates to families seeking the perfect escape.
Their 30-acre coastal park, set in a secluded wooded valley, provides pitches for motorhomes, tents and touring caravans, plus a range of luxury glamping options.
The couple, both in their mid-40s, say their aim from the outset was to attract visitors whose often demanding jobs leave precious little time for unwinding and relaxation.
To help them successfully juggle their work-life balance, said Adrian, he and Karen wanted to provide an environment where it’s possible to switch-off within minutes of arrival.
After viewing dozens of different options, he said, they were alerted to the sale of Mill Park, just a short walk from uncrowded beaches and on the edge of Exmoor.
The couple said they knew immediately that it was the park of their dreams, and ticked all the boxes they had seen as essential for achieving a totally chilled break.
Based near the picture-postcard 16th century village of Berrynarbor in lush Devon countryside, Mill Park has a tranquil stream-fed 1.5 acre fishing lake as its centrepiece.
The waters, said Adrian, help attract a raft of wildlife to the grounds from deer to dragonflies, plus a wide range of common and less familiar bird species including kingfishers.
Wild flowers also abound, and help to sustain a thriving butterfly and honey bee population.
“Mill Park is a truly magical place to stay where you are completely enveloped in nature – and where the outside world seems a thousand miles away,” said Adrian.
“When Karen and I worked in London, we would often seek out somewhere for a short break where you could feel the stresses melting away immediately.
“We thought it would be great if we could provide something similar for people wanting an away-from-it-all experience, and decided to take the plunge.
“The feedback we’ve received so far from guests has been fantastic, and we’ve now received bookings right the way through until the end of the season!” added Adrian.
But although Mill Park offers an ideal rural retreat, its facilities are very much in the present with modern toilet and shower facilities, a shop, games room and even a well-stocked bar serving traditional Devon ales on site.
Proving particularly successful, says Adrian, are the park’s timber-built Cocoon and Glamp pods which sleep between four and six people with views of the countryside and lake.
There are also fully-equipped bell tents set in a secluded area of the park, also enjoying lake views.
For more information about Mill Park’s perfect getaways, visit www.millparklimited.co.uk
