Lytton Lawn Touring Park, Hampshire

IN 1958, with luxury Carlight caravan in tow, Dr Robert Pollock brought his family to Mudeford on the Dorset coast for a summer holiday.

He’d been accustomed to finding a pitch without the need to book ahead. But this time his chosen site was full – and the owner discourteously told him that if he expected to be sure of finding a vacant pitch he’d better buy his own caravan site. Which is exactly what he did.

Dr Pollock purchased a site with six pitches on an old gravel pit. That was Shorefield, in Hampshire. Now, 50 years on, Shorefield is a six-park business.

That was the beginning of the Shorefield group of touring and static sites we know today in Hampshire and Dorset. Now run by Dr Pollack’s son Simon Pollack and daughter Lesley Lawrence, the group offers a choice of parks each with its own distinct character.

An attractive covered walkway

The Shorefield park is statics-only – and three miles away is its delightfully quiet touring sector, Lytton Lawn. Look carefully and you can see the isle of Wight from here. But it’s the aspect of the site itself that catches the eye first. Secluded areas, open areas, mature trees, a stream running along one side of the site… you’re beginning to get the picture.

Lytton lawn has 133 pitches, 50 of which have individual water and drainage points as well as mains power. Another 80 have hook-ups.

Families are catered for in two ways here. Guests are welcome to use the comprehensive holiday facilities at Shorefield just down the road – but there’s quite a lot to offer at Lytton, in an unobtrusive, chill-out sort of way.

You’re just a few miles from the Beaulieu Motor Museum here – and Lytton Lawn gives you a tiny glimpse of what you’d expect to see there in its games room, which carries a motoring theme. Pictures of Beaulieu exhibits, among them, the 1929 Golden Arrow, 1930 Supercharged Bentley and spectacular 1909 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, line the walls. This is the venue for air hockey, pool – and there will be music in here.

Younger guests will make for the outdoor climbing-and-swinging-type play equipment, on a soft spongey surface.

Dogs are catered for here, too, in the form of an exercise area in which they can be let off leads.

One of the two shower buildings is heated, the other is soon to be. Facilities include launderette, washing-up area and motorhome waste water disposal point.

The shop sells camping accessories, maps and walking guides plus a good assortment of food – and freshly-baked croissants and French bread is available to order during high season.

And, park manager Colin Moore explains, there’s an additional service here: he and his staff are happy to make telephone tourist enquiries on guests’ behalf – for example, ascertaining the cost of entry into an attraction.

Shorefield

Air hockey and pool building

Shorefield, with its plethora of holiday facilties, is three miles by road or half that distance by cycle or on foot through the estate.

Here you’ll find a fantastic indoor pool, shaped rather like a figure of eight, with sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room plus whirlpool for the children.

There’s also an outdoor pool, a fully-equipped large gym – and a very enviting Reflections Day Spa salon.

This offers a choice of facials, massages, self-tanning treatment, manicures, foot treatments and exotic spas.

When you’ve treated yourself to some pampering you’ll need an evening in a restaurant. Shorefield has that, too. Make for the Bistro and your menu might typically include mussels in a rich cream, white wine and tomato sauce, or chicken breast in a blue cheese sauce.

A bar with rustic character

A drink afterwards? The Cheers Bar looks inviting. You can eat here, too – and families are welcomed. Seeking entertainment? Find the Champagne Bar, where discos and cabarets take place.

Looking for peace and quiet? On our way to the Country Pumpkin Bar (for adults), a character rustic-appeal area, we find a fascinating display of photographs that trace Shorefield’s development over 50 years since its founder purchased that first, embryonic caravan park.

There’s an internet station, a hair salon, a Spar supermarket – all on the door step of peaceful Lytton Lawn.

In short, a holiday at Lytton Lawn is whatever you want it to be. You can spend all day each day and each evening at Shorefield’s family complex – or you can unwind and escape at Lytton Lawn. Whatever your style of holiday, you’ll be surrounded by quality facilities.

* To contact Lytton Lawn Touring Park view its entry in our Campsite Finder section by clicking here.

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