Hi, my name is Ed and I am the content writer for Caravan and Lodge Holidays. I have spent the vast majority life in the tourism industry, more specifically in the holiday park industry. My family owned a fleet of caravans on a holiday park near Woolacombe in North Devon and I spent pretty much all of my spare time on the park working all year around. From lifeguarding on the pool and working in the club house in the summer months, to caravan maintenance in the winters. I stilll work in the industry with major static caravan suppliers and holiday park owners in the south west on a daily basis, so I know this industry very well.

I have some great memories of my years working on the parks, those were the days when the swimming pool would be packed on a sunny summers afternoon. Teaching the kids how to swim and playing games in the pool kept us entertained and we made life long friends with holiday makers that would return year after year. Our park was a community of holiday makers who you recognised and individual caravan owners, it was a great place to live and work. Our great British holiday parks are an instituion, memories are made on our holidays both as kids and adults and they help to shape our peronalities and our lives. In all of my writing, I look back on my experiences now and then, what would people want from a holiday park and what people love to do whilst on holiday.

We live in North Devon, a major tourist hot spot with the amazing beaches of Saunton, Croyde, Woolacombe, Putsborough and Westward Ho! being the major draw. Our home is also home to thousands of tourists and the industry has changed rapidly over the years. The massive growth of second homes and holiday cottages has had a significant impact on the number of tourists here and the house prices. As a kid, the main street in our lovely village of Braunton would be empty in the winter months, now it is busy even on the coldest of winter days.

The holiday parks have changed significantly as well with major chains dominating park ownership in the area and the facilities have improved significantly. I remember our first static caravans here when we were kids, even that stunning summer in 1976, the caravans we stayed in didn't even have an indoor toilet. The summer of 1990 was also amazing, we didn't see a cloud in the sky for nearly four months, the following summer it rained every day. No matter what, they created great memories and holidays on parks in the UK still create great memories, just slightly different. I look at parks and as an example, I would have loved the climbing walls and the aerial adventures that some parks have to offer, that is progress, in a great way!

Do you want to know where these photos are taken from?

Photo 1 is the top photo, many will recognise this as croyde beach on a sunny winters day, the beach is deserted and is stunning!

Photo 2 is the second photo, another windy day on Saunton Sands beach, just around the corner from Croyde with my dog playing in the sea!

Photo 3 is the stunning Valley of the Rocks near Lynton in North Devon, that is Lynton and Lynmouth Cricket Club in the foreground, one of the most spectacular grounds in the country!

Photo 4 is at the top of Countisbury Hill overlooking Lynmouth, the pub there is very good after a long walk!