Bittern 8, Scratby – California Cliffs, Parkdean, sleeps 8, free Wi-Fi, bed linen and towels included, pet friendly – 2 minutes from the beach!

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Bittern 8 at the California Cliffs resort in Scratby, I wasn’t expecting much. Static caravans aren’t exactly glamorous, you know? But this one actually surprised me in the best way. The whole Parkdean setup here is properly done, and being literally two minutes from the beach (I timed it – it’s more like 90 seconds if you walk at a normal pace) makes all the difference. You can hear the waves from the caravan on quiet evenings, which is either lovely or might keep light sleepers awake depending on your perspective.

What really works about this place is how they’ve thought through the details that matter when you’re traveling with a group. The eight-bed setup means you’re not cramming into tiny spaces – there’s actually room to spread out, and honestly, having the bed linen and towels sorted is huge when you’re hauling stuff for that many people. The Wi-Fi is solid too, which… well, you need it when you’ve got kids or teenagers who’ll mutiny without internet access. And here’s something I appreciated – they’re properly pet-friendly, not just “we allow dogs reluctantly.” You’ll see plenty of families with their dogs on the beach path, and there’s none of that awkward feeling you get at some places.

The California Cliffs area itself is one of those spots that locals rave about but doesn’t get the crowds of Great Yarmouth proper. You’re close enough to pop into town when you want the arcades and proper fish and chips, but Scratby has this more relaxed vibe – less commercial, more families just enjoying the coast. The beach here is wide and sandy, and at low tide you can walk for ages. Fair warning though: this stretch can get breezy (it’s the Norfolk coast, after all), so pack layers even in summer. The caravan itself holds up well to the coastal weather – I mean, it’s clearly built for this environment, not some flimsy thing that’ll rattle in every gust. Parking’s right there, which sounds minor until you’re unloading a week’s worth of stuff and realize you don’t have to trek across a massive car park. The whole resort has that established feel – mature trees, proper pathways, facilities that actually work. It’s not trying to be fancy, just functional and comfortable, which is exactly what you want when you’re managing a group of eight people trying to have a good time by the sea.