Wales holiday park’s guests climb as its street gains world title!

Family and staff at a North West Wales holiday park were celebrating this summer after Guinness World Records put their business truly on the map.

That’s because Woodlands Caravan Park in Harlech, Gwynedd, is at the bottom of a street which has now been declared the steepest in the world

After taking technical measurements this July, Guinness World Records pronounced that the road directly outside the park had a gradient of 37.45%.

It means that Harlech has snatched the steepest road title from Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, which can manage just 35% on its maximum gradient.

Chris Locker, a member of the park-owning family, said it was long suspected locally that the 350-metre street – called Ffordd Pen Llech – was the true world champion.

And now it’s been officially confirmed, said Chris, Woodlands Caravan Park intends to help other tourism businesses in Harlech to benefit by publicising the news far and wide:

“Our park has long attracted touring guests and holiday home buyers thanks to its picture-postcard location at the base of iconic Harlech Castle,” he said.

“Now we will use our website and social media channels to highlight another good reason to visit the area, and to take a stroll up a street like no other in the world.

“Visitors might get a bit breathless as they approach the summit, but the gorgeous views of the Snowdonia National Park make it all worthwhile!” added Chris.

Woodlands has been in his family’s hands for the past seven years, and Chris runs the park with brother Thomas and their father Mike.

Together they have invested much time and energy into creating high quality surroundings with beautifully landscaped grounds which feature a scenic waterfall.

Their emphasis on sustainable management has also won the park the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award, thanks to its raft of wildlife-friendly initiatives.

A new development of ten luxury holiday caravans with castle views was recently given the go-ahead at Woodlands, and there are also holiday cottages to rent.

The owners of touring caravans and motorhomes are also welcome, but Chris says they are always advised to approach the park from the bottom of its now world-famous road:

“We’re here to provide a thoroughly relaxing experience for our guests, and this is much more easily achieved without a white-knuckle start to the holiday!” he says.

Helping Chris to celebrate the street’s new found fame recently was local Gwynedd councillor and Harlech cafe manager Freya Bentham who gave her support to the world record bid.

More information about Woodlands Caravan Park and its range of staying and buying options is available on its website at www.woodlandsparkharlech.com