Scotland’s best and worst holiday parks named as one beats out Center Parcs

The best and worst holiday parks in Scotland have been named by consumer watchdog Which?.

Scots up and down the country will be looking to head off for a few days of fun in the sun with their families. However, it can be difficult to know which holiday parks and resorts are worth a visit.

A new report by Which? has ranked the holiday parks across Scotland and the UK according to their customer satisfaction scores. Looking at the results, one lesser-known brand with parks in Scotland is more popular amongst visitors than heavyweights such as Center Parcs or Butlin’s.

According to the experts, the most popular holiday park provider in Scotland is Forest Holidays. The brand, which has Scottish locations at Ardgartan in Argyll, Glentress Forest in Peebles, and Strathyre in Stirling, received an overall customer score of 80 per cent.

Customers who were surveyed gave Forest Holidays an average rating of four out of five for its overall customer service, cleanliness, quality of accommodation, facilities, and communication. Meanwhile, a stay at one of its parks will set you back an average of £63 per person per night.

Which?’s overall verdict described Forest Holidays as “perfect for a relaxing break in nature”, though noted that the “hot tub lodgings ramp up the cost.” One guest said: “It’s possibly not a holiday for anyone looking for constant entertainment and activities like [at] Center Parcs. However, if you like long walks with your dog through forests and quiet paths, hill walking, cycling or just a bit of peace and quiet, it’s ideal.”

Following behind in second place for Scotland on Which?’s roundup is Hoseasons, which received a customer score of 74 per cent. The holiday provider, which has dozens of parks and lodges around the country, was assigned ratings of four out of five for its value for money, cleanliness, and quality of accommodation.

On the other hand, Largo Leisure Parks and Away Resorts were both named the worst in Scotland with customer scores of just 64 per cent. While the former did not get specific ratings, the latter received scores of three out of five for its cleanliness, quality of accommodation, and communication, and two out of five for its entertainment, facilities, food and drink, value for money, and overall customer service.

Meanwhile, Haven Holiday Parks and Park Holidays placed at numbers three and four with customer scores of 69 per cent and 66 per cent respectively. Haven Holiday Parks, which has two locations Craig Tara in Ayr and Seton Sands near Edinburgh, was was given two-star ratings for its food and drink and free facilities and three stars for everything else.

Park Holidays has four holiday parks in Scotland, at Burghead, Lossiemouth, Silver Sands, and Turnberry. According to the Which? survey, it received ratings of three out of five for its cleanliness, quality of accommodation, entertainment, and communication, and two stars for its free facilities, food and drink, overall customer service and value for money.

The full roundup of the best and worst holiday parks in the UK can be found on the Which? website.

Scotland’s holiday parks ranked by customer score

1. Forest Holidays — 80 per cent
2. Hoseasons — 74 per cent
3. Haven Holiday Parks — 69 per cent
4. Park Holidays — 66 per cent
5. Away Resorts — 64 per cent
6. Largo Leisure Parks — 64 per cent

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