The Alan Rogers / Caravan and Motorhome Club Awards - Results 2023
Presented at the NEC, Birmingham in February 2024
Following on from the successes of our last awards ceremony, we presented our 2023 Awards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham, coinciding with the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2024.
The awards have a broad scope, and before committing to our winners, we carefully consider campsites which are featured in the Alan Rogers guides and the Caravan and Motorhome Club 'Venture Abroad' program, taking into account comments from our site assessors, our head office team and, of course, our members and readers.
Last year, we introduced three new categories: Most Attractive Site award, Most Accessible Site award, and Exceptional Services & Facilities award. It’s an extremely difficult task to choose our eventual winners, but we believe that we have identified a number of campsites with truly outstanding characteristics.
In each case, we selected an outright winner, along with a highly commended runner-up. Listed below are full details of each of our award categories and our winners for 2023.
Les Castels Camping de La Bien-Assise is a mature and well-developed campsite on the grounds of a country house dating back to the 1500s. There are around 200 grassy pitches here, including 4 with hardstanding; pitches are large, between 90m2 & 190m2 level and divided by well-manicured hedges. All have 10 amp E.H.U., but you have a choice of pitch upgrades: Simple, Drainage, or Premium. They're connected by surfaced and gravel roads and are of a good size (up to 300 sq.m), with well-maintained shrubs and hedging dividing most of the pitches.
Séquoia Parc, is just 7 km from the beach (Marennes-Plage). This is a high-quality family campsite in the heart of the Charente-Maritime region, set on the grounds of La Josephtrie, a castle with beautifully restored outbuildings and a courtyard area with a bar and restaurant. Sequoia Park is more a resort than a camping site; mobile homes outnumber pitches 3 to 1; however, both enjoy all the facilities of this fantastic site. On-site, there are 148 touring pitches available, which are divided by established hedging, and all have a good degree of shade; there are four different pitches available, with level 1 just offering a pitch whilst level 4 offers private sanitary facilities. The pitches are between 120 and 140m² with 6/10A electricity connections. The site itself is in a rural location surrounded by forest with no public transport links.
This award reflects the hard work and commitment undertaken by particular site owners to improve and upgrade their site. Candidates for this award included existing sites which have undergone a far-reaching improvement programme, or campsites which have passed into new ownership and benefited from substantial investment in terms of time and money.
Emphasizing a commitment to outstanding service and top-notch products, Camping Lodge has emerged as a prominent campsite consortium in Switzerland since its establishment in 2020, thanks to a steadfast dedication to sustainability.
A real haven of peace, located at the shores of Lake Pareloup, the 5-star campsite of Les Genêts has lots in store for your stay in the Aveyron and offers for both families and watersports fanatics. The 163 pitches include 80 grassy, mostly individual pitches for touring units. These are in two areas, one on each side of the entrance lane, divided by hedges, shrubs and trees. All have 6A electricity (waste) water drainage.
This award will take account of campsites offering a particularly friendly welcome throughout the season. Those creating the friendliest ambience for all Caravan and Motorhome Club members and Alan Rogers customers.
Camping Grubhof is a beautifully laid out, level and spacious site set in the former riding and hunting park of the 14th-century Schloss Grubhof. The 250 touring pitches have been carefully divided into separate areas for different types of visitors – dog owners, young people, families and groups, and a quiet area. All the generous XXL pitches (at least 180 sq.m) provide electricity (16A), water and drainage (also in winter), many along the bank of the Saalach River.
L’Isle Vert is a beautiful site on the banks of the Loire nestled between the vineyards and the river. There are 114 touring pitches, which are level and spacious, divided by low hedging and shaded by trees. Many overlook the Loire directly. Grass tends to be relatively sparse during dry spells. All have 16A electricity. The site itself is well cared for and has a garden feel about it; facilities were spotless and modern, and check-in was efficient (after2.00 p.m.). Although the site is on the edge of the village of Montsoreau, access is easy straight off the main road. The site offers all you would expect from a site of this quality, but if that is not enough, the village is a very short walk and does not disappoint. The Sunday morning market is well worth a visit.
We are all aware of the importance of doing all we can to protect the planet for future generations. We are aware of many of the outstanding initiatives taken by our partner campsites to protect and enhance their environments and want to recognise these initiatives.
Huttopia, established in 1999, has positioned itself as a premier provider of camping experiences. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the company is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and top-quality products.
This commitment has propelled Huttopia to become a leading name in the camping industry, reflecting its success and influence since its inception.
The Seasonova group has rapidly ascended to prominence in the camping sector. The company's unwavering commitment to sustainability, coupled with an emphasis on delivering excellent service and high-quality products, has distinguished it as a significant player in the industry.
We are delighted to work with campsites, which although they have a relatively small number of pitches, offer superb service and a charming environment for customers.
There is a heart-of-the-country feel about this ‘on the farm’ site, yet the city of Cork is only an 8 km. drive. What makes this friendly, family-run park so appealing is the welcome you receive on arrival and the friendliness throughout your stay from owner Con. Its secluded location and neat, spacious pitches add to its appeal. The terrain on the three-acre park is elevated and gently sloping, commanding views towards the world-famous Blarney Castle and the surrounding mountainous countryside.
A charming site amongst the olive trees, set high on a hill to catch cool summer breezes. Matilde, the daughter of the Martin-Rodriguez family, and her husband run this site with enthusiasm and hard work, and visiting here is a delightful experience. Everything is immaculately kept with excellent amenities and standards.
For many people, it would be unthinkable to take a holiday without their four legged friends. Dogs are generally made welcome on most campsites across Europe but many sites have added special facilities to ensure that they really are ‘dog friendly’, so this award recognises the very best in this respect.
Camping le Domaine du Logis is an attractive rural site with enthusiastic owners, set in the grounds of an old château. The site’s upgraded modern facilities are housed in traditional converted barns and farm buildings, which are well-maintained and equipped. There are 203 pitches, 67 of which are for touring units. The grass pitches are level, of a generous size and divided by mature hedges and trees. All have 10A electricity connections, water and drainage.
Sites et Paysages Le Ventoulou is a small, well-kept, peaceful site on the Périgord Walnut Route at the heart of the Quercy Causses Natural Park. The site is based around an ancient farmhouse between the quaint villages of Padirac and Thégra. On just over half a hectare, the site is compact, yet it does not seem crowded because of the careful spacing of pitches (10A Europlug electricity). You will receive a warm welcome from the French owners.
Many sites claim to be family-friendly, but this award acknowledges the sites we feel to be the best in this respect. This award will be presented to campsites which provide excellent facilities for children, and which can guarantee truly memorable holidays for all the family.
Situated in the lovely wooded hills of central Luxembourg, this is a top-quality site with fees to match, but it has everything! A large, central building housing most of the services and amenities opens onto a terrace around an excellent swimming pool complex with a large fun pool and an imaginative water playground. This peaceful area has many excellent walking and cycle trails, and day trips to Luxembourg, Vianden Castle and the Mosel Valley are accessible from here.
This beautiful site surrounds a large fishing lake with 110 pitches, of which 53 are for touring. They are well-manicured and divided by flower beds and hedging. The site offers something for everyone; if you want to sit by the lake and relax, have a tour of the vineyard, or hire a bicycle, you will undoubtedly find peace and tranquillity. Alternatively, if you want to join in with the activities held in the high season, plenty will keep you and the whole family entertained. For a day out, you are just 75 km from Puy Du Fou, voted the best theme park in the world!
UK customers appreciate campsites that make a special effort to maintain a well-tended and cared-for environment with floral displays and pleasant green areas in which to relax. This often goes unrecognised, which is why we want to present this award.
Camping Caravaning Esterel is a quality caravan site east of Saint Raphaël, set among the hills beyond Agay. The site is 3.5 km. from the sandy beach at Agay, where parking is perhaps a little easier than at most places on this coast, but a shuttle from the site runs to and from the beach several times daily in July and August. It has 164 touring pitches (tents are not accepted) with 10A electricity and a water tap. Several ‘deluxe’ pitches are available with a heated bathroom, jacuzzi, dishwasher and washing machine. Pitches are on shallow terraces, attractively landscaped with good shade and various flowers, giving a feeling of spaciousness.
Located in a peaceful valley with magnificent views of the mountains beside the Saja River and only a short walk from the picturesque and unspoiled village of Sopeña, this gem of a site is on an open, level, grassy meadow with trees. Wonderful stone buildings and artefacts are a feature of this unique site.
We strongly believe that travel should be open to all, so we've been working with campsites to encourage them to become more accessible. This award recognises our desire to encourage a more inclusive holiday environment for everyone, regardless of their physical needs. This could include adapted facilities and activities or more spacious and accessible areas across the whole campsite.
Castel Camping La Garangeoire is a stunning campsite situated some 15 km inland, near the village of Saint Julien-des-Landes. Set in 200 hectares of parkland surrounding the small château of la Garangeoire, of which there is an outstanding view as you approach through the gates. With a spacious, relaxed atmosphere, the main camping areas are on either side of the old road, edged with mature trees.
You will find Castel Camping L'Orangerie de Beauregard set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of a property totalling 53 hectares of privately owned woodland and fields on the edge of the beautiful village 'fleuri' of Villedômer in the Loire valley. There are 128 touring pitches, most with electricity and water and 15 fixed accommodations comprising camping barrels, fully furnished glamping tents and wooden cabins, especially for cyclists. They also offer three gites for rent.
This category recognises campsites that offer exceptional services or facilities, which may include special or unusual events, activities, entertainment or facilities.
Situated across the yacht harbour from the Canet-Plage resort, Yelloh! Village Le Brasilia is an impressive, well-managed family site directly beside the beach. There's much to praise here, from the state-of-the-art reception to the sensational water park, excellent spa and park-like grounds. Although large, it is attractive and well kept with a remarkable range of facilities – with good reason, it's always a popular choice.
Sitting on the terrace in front of the restaurant – a beautifully converted Catalan farmhouse dating from 1908 – it isn't easy to believe that in 1982, this was still a farm with few trees and known as Mas Roque (literally, Rock Farm). Since then, the imaginative planting of thousands of trees and gloriously colourful shrubs have made this large campsite most attractive. It has an impressive range of high-quality amenities and facilities open all year.
