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Nick Williams
dartmoorlinks.co.uk
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dartmoorlinks.co.uk
A family run Touring Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Park received one of thehighest accolades last week at the 2017 Visit Devon Tourism Awards held at agala dinner in Plymouth's prestigious Guild Hall.Of the 76 finalists attending the evening, Rebecca and Tim Webb of AppledoreTouring Park, were awarded Silver in the Camping & Caravanning Park of theYear category in recognition of their enterprising business. This 5 starVisitEngland park is located just outside Okehampton providing an ideallocation from which to explore the best that Dartmoor, Devon and Cornwallhave to offer. Speaking after the ceremony Rebecca Webb, co-owner ofAppledore Touring Park with her husband Tim, was thrilled with the award,'We are absolutely delightful having worked so hard to help get Okehampton onthe tourism map, we would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone whosupported us throughout the year, and the Devon Tourism Awards panel ofjudges. It's so lovely to have such hard work rewarded.' Tim & Rebecca moved to Appledore Farm, Devon in 2002 with 120 milking cowsand followers, and diversified with a touring park in 2013. With previousexperience of touring park management (also with caravan holidays both aschildren and adults) they decided to build a touring park that they wouldlike to stay on. With facilities including under floor heated toilet andshower block with privacy cubicles and a dedicated disabled area, fenced dogwalk within a tree plantation, mown paths, an electric vehicle chargingstation and late arrivals area with hook up and water they were clearlyaiming high and have been rewarded for their ambition and foresight.Clearly over the moon with their success, Tim Webb acknowledges it takes alot of time and planning in the development stages to achieve suchrecognition and was keen to point out a string of other associated awardsthey have received in recent years. 'Having opened in 2014 we were awardedHighly Commended in the Visit Devon awards that year along with the DavidBellamy Silver conservation award of 2014/15 since when we received first aVisit England 4* which was subsequently upgraded in 2015 to 5* award whichVisit England have retained for 2017/18.'This year saw a record of 205 entries and an increase to 25 categories inthe competition which is now in its 8th year following its launch in 2010.Judging was carried out by an independent panel of past winners, industryleaders and experts in their field, selected for their impartiality,experience and suitability for each category. This year, Simon Calder,senior travel editor for The Independent, and Britain's' leading travelwriter and broadcaster, presented the Camping & Caravanning Park of the Yearaward, remarking on Appledore Park's 'Peace, quiet and calm' heralding it as'a credit for Devon.' All finalists were drawn from a short-listing based on information providedwithin the application form along with an assessment of the business websiteand a visit by independent mystery shoppers. Awards organizer Robin Barker of Services for Tourism commented: "Thisyear's Devon Tourism Awards have broken all records with 205 entries and ourjudges carrying out 120 business visits, most of them mystery visits. Thecompetition has been tough and the standard outstanding. With tourismincreasingly recognised as one of the UK's and Devon's most importantindustries, it is great to see so many exemplars of excellence across thecounty."Successful businesses in the Devon Tourism Awards will also be fast trackedinto the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2018, withnominees in matching categories invited to represent Devon in to theNational VisitEngland Awards later in 2018.The Webb family business is clearly not about to rest on its laurels - theyhave several new ideas to implement for the future. Having already added aStore and Stay facility they have planted over 4,500 trees and hedge plantsand plan to plant even more next year. And with attention to detail the keyto success, the Appledore Touring Park was awarded a Platinum award (thehighest award) in the Loo of the Year 2017! 'A well-presented site cleanedand maintained to a very good standard' Clearly a couple who recognise'spending a penny' can result in a 'flush of success'!