Fancy waking up to nature, and enjoying easy reach of an on-site swimming pool, spa and luxury restaurant? A holiday lodge may be just right for you...

The idea of a holiday lodge may conjure up ‘hi-de-hi’ and ‘good morning campers’ images, but scratch that thought because this getaway is de rigueur right now, and celebrities, professional footballers and soap stars are all getting in on the act.

For marketing director and busy mum-of-two, Laura Brooker, and her husband Mark, their lodge on the Isle of Anglesey, off the north-west coast of Wales, is for enjoying life. ‘It’s lovely because the children are safe and having a great time, and so are we because we’re so relaxed,’ she says. ‘We’re creating great memories here, both as a family and as a couple.’

Home from home
But what is a holiday lodge? They resemble log cabins, usually made of wood and often built in a factory in two parts and then transported to the lodge park, bolted together and the space between the lodge and the ground is bricked or covered in.

If you buy one, it’s perfect for holiday accommodation because you can use it for as many breaks as you like in the year, depending on when your park is open. And some are truly luxurious with plenty of space to enjoy, remote-controlled windows, wine fridges, double showers and even ‘body driers’ ­– a far cry from what a traditional caravan offers. Even the lodges that aren’t quite so luxurious still offer plenty of home comforts, with central heating as standard, double glazing, fully fitted kitchens and all the modern appliances you could want. Most have decking so you can sit outside sipping a cocktail at dusk. Laura and Mark’s one, which is on the five-star-graded Plas Coch Holiday Homes site, came fully furnished, with internet connection, a home entertainment system and bubbling hot tub to boot.

Amazing scenery
But what they love most is the incredible setting and that’s why lodges throughout the country are experiencing a boom. They are usually less expensive than hotels
for the location and bring in good rental income. And most parks are in areas of outstanding beauty, near an idyllic coastline or waterway.

‘One of the biggest attractions for us was the fact that our lodge is 10 minutes from one of the best beaches in Britain, as well as being situated in Snowdonia National Park, so the scenery is stunning,’ says Laura.

Many parks have a fantastic range of facilities. On Plas Coch, for example, there is a restored 16th century manor house with a gourmet restaurant located in a sumptuous oak-panelled room, plus a swimming pool, luxury spa and hydrotherapy bath set in a glass atrium overlooking a lake. Mark has also enjoyed membership of The Marine Club, a shared ownership scheme for new, luxury watercraft where members book days out on a boat of their choice and the vessel is maintained and fuelled for them.

Booming business

Holiday lodges are doing very well in this climate, while sales of caravans have been suffering in the downturn. More than 70% of the new-build schemes in Britain have been buy-to-let lodge-style developments. There are more than 700 residential parks in Britain– some with permanent owner occupiers and others for holiday use.

The emphasis is on getting away from it all – lodges have plenty of space around them so you don’t feel as if you are too close to your neighbours. But because you are in a park there are plenty of facilities on hand. The lodges are designed to complement their surroundings, so you feel as if you are encompassed by nature and miles away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Because many are located near water, lodges are perfect bases for boat owners as many have slipway access and free fishing facilities. Others boast on-site golf courses, a range of water sports, horse stables and riding opportunities, woodland walks and lakes, and both indoor and outdoor pools. Even better, your evening entertainment is sorted with on-site restaurants and bars.

Splash out or stay safe?
If you fall in love with the location of your holiday lodge and decide to take the plunge and buy, you can visit as often as you like. And when you are not there, you can let friends and family reap the benefits.

The Brookers love Plas Coch so much that they upgraded to a larger lodge earlier this year. ‘It’s a fairly big investment,’ Mark admits, ‘but you’re not just buying a holiday home. You’re making an investment in life. You’ll never look back.’

But there are things to consider if you are going to make such an investment – as well as the initial outlay (expect to pay from around £125,000 for a two-bedroom lodge), you may well have to fork out for regular ground rent, possibly an annual maintenance charge and general rates. You also have to prove it is your second property, not your primary home. When you buy the lodge you will be granted a licensed agreement entitling the lodge to remain on the park for a certain amount of time, which can be anything from 15 to 99 years. You need to find out how long that will be before you sign on the dotted line. Also check if there are any restrictions on when you can visit – you don’t want to have everything arranged for a Christmas break and find out you are not entitled to go.

If you are not ready for such a big commitment, then renting is the other alternative, and with so many parks springing up all around the country, you are spoilt for choice – from the stunning Cornish coast to the Scottish Highlands. You can also select the kind of holiday you crave, whether it’s a quiet rural retreat, family adventure or girlie getaway with spas and beauty treatments. Prices for a seven-day break start from under £200 and are priced, on average, around £400.

Sarah says... ‘Holiday homes often serve a big attraction locally– the sea, a golf course, a mountain. People are unlikely to come just because the propertyis lovely,so keep a level head.’

 Images: Getty, PA Photos