With a last minute decision, we chose to test out our caravan's functionality in the chilly weather, leading us to book a last-minute 5-night getaway at Eye Kettleby Lakes, near Melton Mowbray, directly through their online booking platform.
Whenever possible, we prioritise staying at Tranquil Parks, as these sites cater to adults and welcome our furry companions. Eye Kettleby, fortunately, boasts a listing on Tranquil Parks. So, during the second week of January 2024, we eagerly retrieved our caravan from its storage spot and hitched it up for the adventure ahead!
Getting our caravan ready for a winter adventure was a whole new experience for us! We've only ever taken it out during the summer months, so we quickly realised that preparing for a cold-weather trip comes with its own set of challenges. For instance, raising and lowering the corner steadies felt a bit stiffer, and connecting the car's electrical connection was a little tougher. But, we managed to tackle these obstacles and before we knew it, we were all set to hit the road!
As soon as we arrived at Eye Kettleby Lakes, the ANPR system worked its magic and opened the barrier for us, making our drive up to reception a breeze! And let me tell you, the moment we set foot on this stunning property, we were surrounded by breathtaking lakes, expansive open fields, and picturesque walkways in every direction. Trust me, it is beautiful here, and, it's all immaculately maintained, so you know you're in for a treat.
I have to mention here, even though it might seem like a small thing, driving up to reception at this caravan site is a total breeze! It's about a quarter of a mile from the front gate, but they've got these super spacious caravan and car parking spaces that make arriving and checking in a piece of cake. Trust me, they've thought of everything to make your experience here as smooth as possible.
We were ahead of schedule when we arrived, a good 5-10 minutes earlier than the official check-in time of 1:00pm. So, we thought, why not head to the on-site clubhouse for a nice cup of coffee (and maybe a delicious slice of cake!) to kill some time.
As we strolled past reception, we figured it wouldn't hurt to let them know we had made it. And, their warm and friendly smiles instantly put us at ease (like, seriously, who's crazy enough to be out in this weather?!). The reception staff were super friendly and they even gave us the option to choose any pitch we liked from the North site since it wasn't too busy. All we had to do was give them a quick call to let them know which one we settled on.
As we made our way to the on-site club house, we were promptly guided to the dog-friendly seating area and given some handy advice to order at the bar with our table number.
The cosy ambiance of a crackling log burner greeted us, making it an irresistible spot, so we opted to stay for lunch. Our taste buds had a tough decision to make, but eventually we settled on an amazing BLT and a brie and bacon sandwich. Trust me, the food was great and the service was also excellent.
We subsequently returned every day for breakfast or lunch as the food was so tasty snd freshly prepared.
After enjoying our delicious lunch, we made our way back to our car and caravan, ready to settle into our designated pitch on the North Park. Locating it was an absolute breeze, and after a quick discussion, we decided to opt for plot no.10 instead of the originally booked plot no.9.
It just seemed like a slightly more convenient option for us to manoeuvre our caravan into.
As soon as we arrived at Eye Kettleby, we couldn't help but notice how wonderfully secluded and private each pitch was, thanks to the natural hedge borders. Once we got ourselves all set up, it quickly became clear that we were in for a wonderfully peaceful week ahead.
Knowing that the weather might be a bit chilly, I had the foresight to purchase an insulation jacket for our cold water barrel, the trusty Aquaroll. And boy, am I glad I did! Looking at the forecast for the week, it turned out to be a wise decision. Just a couple of hours after we finished setting up, that jacket was covered in a beautiful layer of frost, keeping our water nice and cosy and preventing it from freezing over for the whole week.
Let me be honest with you, before we even decided to book our stay at Eye Kettleby, a fellow caravanner on another trip raved about this place, specifically mentioning the top-notch quality of their 5-star shower blocks. That recommendation alone made us excited to experience it for ourselves.
But here's the thing, after we made our booking, I couldn't help but notice that the shower blocks on the North Park were around 10 years older compared to the ones on the South Park, and I started wondering if we should have gone for a pitch on the South Park instead.
Let me reassure you, despite the age difference, the shower blocks on the North Park provide a fantastic experience. Each door in the block opens to a private cubicle that contains a seated area, hand basin, walk-in shower, a large mirror, hairdryer and best of all, heated floor. The radio is also playing. They are kept immaculately and each visit feels like your own private shower room.
Throughout our stay, we had the pleasure of exploring the vast 150-acre estate, accompanied by our beloved dog, Ora. The entire site is meticulously maintained, presenting a landscape that takes your breath away.
As we embarked on our leisurely walks, we encountered an abundance of wildlife, birds, geese, ducks and more thriving in their natural habitats. The walkways, flawlessly manicured, guided us through this beautiful estate. And on those crisp frosty mornings, a highlight that stood out for us was the dog fields, where Ora could experience freedom. Watching her run and play, her tail wagging with pure delight, made us all smile..
Another highlight of this fabulous site is the thoughtful inclusion of on-site dog showers. After a long and invigorating walk, it's very welcoming to have a dedicated space where our furry friends can get cleaned up.
Ora was overjoyed to have her paws washed with warm water in the dog-friendly showers. As pet owners, we appreciate the effort put into creating a space that caters to our four-legged family members.
So, after a satisfying stroll exploring the wonders of this site, we could head back to our caravan knowing that Ora was fresh and clean. So, if you're seeking a destination that not only takes care of your own needs but also prioritises the well-being of your pets, the on-site dog showers are just one of the many thoughtful touches that set this site apart.
One of the reasons we’d wanted to come away in the very cold weather of January was to test our on-board Aldo wet heating system in our new to us caravan. In addition to heating the water the system provides warm water to the radiators discreetly mounted throughout the caravan.
This was the first occasion we’d had cause to use the system as all of our previous trips had been in warmer months. We were not to be disappointed, running off gas, the system kept our caravan very cosy and warm even throughout the night. We opted to set it at 18 degrees overnight and up to 23 degrees during the day/evening if we were sitting reading, working or watching television.
Often we had to lower the temperature as it was too warm and another bonus was it used very little gas considering it was running almost 24 hours a day.
We had a fabulous week at Eye Kettleby Lakes and will definitely return to stay here. During our stay we took a trip into Melton Mowbray to purchase a locally made pork-pie (very tasty). We also opted for a Stilton and Beef pie in the clubhouse which was just dreamy on a cold day.
Lots of little touches at this caravan site add up to a very relaxing, luxurious stay - we loved it, thank you.