Meet the owners - Monkton Wyld Holiday Park, Dorset

Monkton Wyld Holiday Park is a large site, divided over several paddocks, with spacious pitches and only three miles from the coastal town of Lyme Regis and the seaside village of Charmouth. There are specially surfaced pitches which cater for both tents and caravans together with regular hardstanding and grass pitches, all with electric hook-up. Monkton Wyld is located in the countryside yet within easy reach of the coast, plus pretty inland villages and towns.

We spoke to owners Joanna, and her husband Simon.

How long have you been running your campsite for?
We first opened a small two-acre part of a field to the public at Whitsun week in 1991. Over the years, this has grown to 26 acres, but the original concept of keeping pitches grouped in small paddocks has remained, so that one never feels part of a crowd.

How did you first become owners of the campsite?
In 1986, we sold our business, which allowed us to buy my parents out of their farm in order to pay for their retirement. As was, and still is probably typical of farmers, they never seemed to save enough for their retirement.

Tell us a little about your site and how it first began?
In those early days we really had no idea about caravanning. We were farming sheep, beef and arable. The dairy had been sold in the 1970s and, in those days, when we began, one had to buy a milk quota, which was completely out of our financial reach. So, sheep it was. One day, a couple with a caravan pulled up in the yard and asked if they could pitch up in the field. Somewhat surprised, we said yes. They came down to the yard to fill up with water and, after a few days, gave us some money. Their parting words were, “You ought to get planning permission.” Of course, we didn’t and, the following year, they returned. This time, a lecture ensued! So, somewhat reluctantly, we did apply and I remember the fee was £750 for which we had to borrow the money from my mum. The planning was approved and building commenced. The original shower block cost £25,000. We forgot to build a dishwashing area, and didn’t put in electric hook-ups, as we didn’t realise they existed! After a few years, that first couple who’d rocked up in their caravan retired, and they actually ran the site for us during the summer months.

What are the challenges of running a campsite?
I do miss the early days when, if you had a query over anything, you could just pick up the phone and actually talk to someone at the other end. These days, it’s all call centres with people who say they will pass on your query, or tell you to fill out a form. Quite often, nothing happens, so it can be quite frustrating. But we always remember people are just people, like us. It’s good to communicate and sometimes just listen. It’s amazing what can transpire from spending just a couple of minutes with someone and how rewarding that experience can be.

What do you most like about being a campsite owner?
The people, who are wonderful and fascinating in all their glory. Some are so interesting and have led such diverse lives, and they give you a fresh perspective on life and the world. They are a joy to encounter. We mainly attract families with younger children and those whose children have left home and enjoy the peace and quiet of a holiday away from high season dates. It’s just delightful to see children having fun and enjoying the freedom.

What is a typical day like for you?
The day begins with a 6am walk around the site and a shower block check. Reception staff begin work at 8am ready for 8.30am opening. Visitors should arrive from midday to allow others to leave but, as in life, things go awry and it’s dealing with the unexpected that makes each day different. In summer, the office closes at 7pm with someone always on call during the night.

What makes your site special and appealing to the guests who return every year?
We understood from the beginning that caravans and tents were only going to get larger. Therefore, we built large pitches because, in effect, that was all we could offer. There were no funds for clubhouses or swimming pools. Every single pitch backs up against a hedge or shrub bed. Finally, we are blessed with the perfect location. Close enough to Lyme Regis and Charmouth to even walk to for the energetic, yet just that little bit inland to escape from the hurly burly each evening. A little while ago, we began to realise that there is ever-increasing interest in nature, the environment and wildlife. We aim to build a nature corner for children with information posters and the occasional talk with specific regard to what our visitors can actually see on site.

What do you love about the region where your site is based and what are your favourite local attractions?
Being based on the west Dorset/east Devon coast, we can offer the best of both worlds. Seaside fun with all the associated attractions, mackerel fishing, buckets and spades for the children and lovely inland, still unspoilt, small towns, gardens and National Trust properties. There are simply extraordinary people doing extraordinary things in our local area. Arts and crafts, vineyards, animal rescue centres, newly created wildflower meadows, ancient hill forts – you think of it and we can probably find it for you! But, above all, it is the plethora of footpaths that radiate from our site and local cycle routes that are good for body and spirit.

What do you like to do on a rare day off?
Well, we both walk and cycle and generally go over to the chalk hills of east Dorset. A very special place is Kingcombe Reserve and Powerstock Common, which are both a 20-minute drive away. My husband, over the years, has done some quite serious hiking. His most recent trip in 2018 was to walk solo from Fort William to Cape Wrath just going due north. It is approximately 200 miles in total.