Introducing Cartref Caravan & Camping Site
We’re really pleased to welcome Cartref Caravan & Camping Site to Tranquil Parks. Fully adult only from January 2023, the park recently joined our network and features in our 2023 brochure. We asked owner Chris Towers, who runs the park, to tell us about this very special site in Shropshire.
Chris and his business partner Gordon took over Cartref in 2016. A local farmer had originally started site in the 1970s and it’s now run by Chris.
Both Chris and Gordon are local to the area. Chris is passionate about wildlife and the environment, he also likes to go touring himself, and tends to choose adult only sites (including Tranquil Parks).
Now fully adult only
Ever since taking over the park, Cartref has had an adult only section. Over time, facilities for children have diminished. The football field has gone and the play park has got smaller.
“I have made a big issue of being respectful to other guests on the park” says Chris. That, combined the reduction in facilities for children and his own preference for adult only sites, has resulted in them now being fully adult only and therefore able to join Tranquil Parks.
Pitches for touring and camping
The park is open all year round and most of the 43 pitches are fully serviced and hard standing. At the moment there are 6 pitches for tents.
TV reception is good, and there’s free WiFi throughout the park, although like many places in the countryside, it’s difficult to achieve perfect quality all the time.
How the park supports the environment
The pitches at Cartref are surrounded by hedgerows on 3 sides. These not only provide privacy, but also important habitat and corridors for wildlife, such as dormice and hedgehogs. The hedges around the park are native species such as beech, hawthorn and rose. “They’re full of birds,” Chris informs us.
“There’s a wildlife area at the far end of the site, which we replanted with wild plants and also rare species such as maple” he explains. Surprisingly, oyster catchers have nesting beds here. There are also bee hives and the honey is on sale in the site shop.
In addition to its AA 4-Pennant Gold rating and regularly making it into the Practical Caravan Top 100 Sites Guide, Cartref has a Platinum Bellamy award, including awards for hedgerows and being honey bee friendly.
Site facilities
Dogs have an enclosed exercise area where they can run around off the lead. The shop stocks locally sourced produce.
The park also has a small bar ‘Bartref’, specialising in local gins and beers, where you might meet locals as well as guests. Chris thinks that meeting new people and making friends is an important part of being on holiday.
You’ll also find this is a great place for star gazing on a clear night. The low light pollution of Shropshire means that the nigh skies are darker than elsewhere, so the stars shine bright and are more visible.
Romantic glamping accommodation
If you’re not into touring or camping, there’s a luxury restored vintage 1937 caravan named Sybil, with its own facilities in a converted horsebox called Basil. If those names bring back memories of the Fawltys, we can assure this is a very well run park! Both units have been lovingly restored with everything you need and more for cosy romantic break for two.
Exploring Shropshire and the local area
Located 6 miles from the town of Shrewsbury, Chris points out that the park is centrally located for all this region has to offer, including the Shropshire Hill AONB, lakes and canals. “A long history of fighting the Welsh means there are lots of castles!” he explains. In fact, the word ‘cartref’ means home in Welsh.
“History is very significant for Shropshire” Chris continues, adding that 10 National Trust properties can be reached within half an hour. A well known attraction is the famous Iron Bridge with Bliss Hill Victorian Town nearby. Also within easy reach is Much Wenlock, where the local Olympian Games inspired today’s modern Olympic games!
There are short walks around the site on country lanes and you can find a local bus about a mile from the site with a frequent service.
More information
To find out more about Cartref Caravan & Camping Site, please visit the park’s pages: www.tranquilparks.co.uk/parks/cartref-caravan-and-camping-site