24 The Beeches Caravan Park

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw “24 The Beeches Caravan Park” on my booking confirmation, I had zero expectations. I mean, caravan park doesn’t exactly scream boutique experience, right? But honestly, this place completely flipped my assumptions upside down. Tucked away in Gilcrux (which, let’s face it, most people drive through without stopping), it’s one of those hidden gems that makes you feel slightly smug for discovering it.

The owners have basically taken what could’ve been just another static caravan site and turned it into something genuinely special. You know what struck me first? The attention to detail – and I’m talking about stuff you actually notice, not generic “luxury touches.” The landscaping feels deliberate but not fussy, there’s proper mood lighting that actually works in the evenings, and the whole setup has this relaxed, almost Scandinavian vibe that somehow works perfectly in rural Cumbria. The accommodation itself is way more spacious and thoughtfully designed than you’d expect, with clever storage solutions and surprisingly good wifi (which, let’s be real, can be hit-or-miss out here).

What really sells this place though is the location – and I don’t mean that in the usual “convenient access” way travel sites always bang on about. Gilcrux sits in this sweet spot where you’re genuinely in the countryside (you can actually see stars at night, proper ones), but you’re not stuck in the middle of nowhere. The market town of Wigton is just down the road when you need supplies or a decent pub meal, and honestly, the drive through the Solway Plain is pretty spectacular on a clear day. The folks running the place clearly know the area well – they’ll point you toward the better walking routes around Loweswater or tell you which days the Cockermouth market is worth hitting up. Parking is never an issue (obviously), it’s surprisingly quiet despite being near the A596, and check-in was refreshingly straightforward – none of that awkward hovering around reception desk business. The whole experience feels more like staying at a friend’s well-appointed guest setup than a commercial operation, which I suspect is exactly what they’re going for. That 9.2 rating makes perfect sense once you’re there.