Wild Duck Holiday Park

We took our first proper break after lockdown on 19 April 2021. It was only a short trip, but that was the point. After months of being at home, we just wanted to get away somewhere simple with a bit of space. With our son only three at the time, we weren’t tied to school holidays, so we could go midweek and keep the cost down without much effort.

We arrived at the park and stopped at the entrance gate, where staff pointed us in the direction of our caravan. It all felt organised but not over the top. There wasn’t much lingering around check-in, which suited us. After being used to distancing and queues everywhere, it was a relief to just be waved through and left to get settled.

The caravan itself was better than expected. It was one of the more modern ones, clean and tidy when we walked in. The living area and kitchen were a decent size, enough space so it didn’t feel cramped with the three of us inside. The kitchen had a full-size gas cooker and a proper fridge freezer, which made it easier to treat it like a short stay rather than constantly eating out. The bathroom and shower were on the smaller side, but everything worked as it should. No issues, just a bit snug.

The park as a whole was well kept. Paths were clean, grass was looked after, and nothing felt run down. Because of the COVID restrictions at the time, a lot of the usual facilities were either closed or limited. The swimming pool was open, but we had to book a time slot in advance. It actually worked quite well—no overcrowding, no rushing for space. It felt calmer than it probably would have been otherwise.
Most of the time, we just stayed outdoors. The weather helped—sunny, but not too hot. Comfortable enough to be outside for most of the day without it feeling like hard work. The grounds were quiet, and there was a noticeable sense of space. After months of restrictions, that quiet felt different. Not empty, just peaceful.

Our son was the one who got the most out of it. He was fixated on the ducks from the start. Every time he spotted one, it was like it was the first time all over again—pointing, shouting, running over to get a closer look. There were plenty of them around, along with other birds and the odd squirrel, so there was always something for him to notice. It didn’t take much to keep him entertained.

Looking back, it wasn’t about activities or doing anything in particular. It was more about the break itself. Just being somewhere else, having a bit of freedom again, and getting back into a routine that wasn’t confined to the house. It felt like a reset, even if only for a few days.

And the ducks were definitely a highlight.