Luxury lodgings

Lodge ownership in Cornwall not only provides a lifetime of wonderful holidays but can also be a great investment.

Words by Hannah Tapping

Have you just spent a dream holiday in Cornwall and are now yearning to come back on a more regular basis? If the answer’s yes, then purchasing a lodge on one of Cornwall’s luxury sites could unlock a lifetime of Cornish escapes for you and your family. Lodge ownership has transformed how we holiday and is becoming more and more popular, especially with recent restrictions and uncertainty over foreign travel. The staycation market in the UK (and Cornwall is no exception) is booming, and now has never been a better time to invest in your holiday future. With this in mind, we wanted to investigate some of the benefits of lodge ownership here in the Duchy and reveal some great holiday lifestyle ownership opportunities.

So where to begin? Well there’s no doubt that location, location, location is going to be the main priority for most. Holiday home sites in Cornwall occupy some spectacular positions, from coastal parks with glorious sea views to tranquil countryside areas. Each offer a unique setting, whether you’re looking for a vibrant family park or a quieter couple’s retreat. It’s worth planning a fact-finding trip to look at all of the sites on offer; you could even rent a lodge in the park you think you might want to buy into, to get a real feel for the site and the local area.

Price is also going to be high on the list of things to consider. The demand for coastal real estate in Cornwall has resulted in high prices and prime locations are often snapped up very quickly. Suitable, traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ holiday homes can be above budget for some, so lodge ownership can often be a more cost-effective solution. Purchase of a lodge, or static caravan, does not incur stamp duty and conveyancing fees upfront as well as the ongoing council tax, maintenance bills and security issues of a traditional second home.
Lodge sites are usually gated communities, with on-site, year-round security for your peace of mind. On many sites, you can also sub-let your lodge, renting out any unwanted weeks to give you a return on your investment. Some parks will even handle the letting for you, while others offer a guaranteed rental return. Shared use is also a great benefit. Owning a lodge can be a fantastic way to ensure that multi generations of family are able to enjoy the benefits of a holiday in Cornwall.

Although there can be the option of purchasing pre-owned lodges, buying a brand new lodge will usually give you access to the best offers, while benefiting from the most modern design and specification. This option will also give you the greatest choice of location.

Facilities are another consideration, particularly for families. Play parks, swimming pools, on-site entertainment venues, restaurants and shops are just some of the conveniences that can make your holiday that little bit easier.

On larger sites, and there are even some that have private beaches, you can park your car outside your private lodge and not need to move it again for the duration of your stay. Everything you need to spend a dreamy holiday can be right on your doorstep. However, lodge companies realise that this isn’t for everyone and so many offer quieter sites as part of their portfolios for those looking for the simpler pleasures.

Aria Resorts (ariaresorts.co.uk) currently has five resorts in Cornwall to choose from: Newquay Bay Resort, Newperran, Retallack Resort and Spa, Widemouth Fields and Bude Holiday Resort. The lodges start from just £91,995 but there is also the choice of some super-luxurious options available with roof terraces and sunken hot tubs to give you the very best holiday home lifestyle. Investment properties at Retallack Resort and Spa start from £225,000.

Aria’s lodges are a brilliant holiday home option because of their size and spaciousness and the fact that they also come fully furnished and with a really high level of luxury. It wouldn’t be unusual to find walk-in wardrobes, breakfast bars, en-suite bathrooms, larders and all-important wine coolers in your property. Aria Resorts’ lodges benefit from easy upkeep, great facilities and often those managed letting options we mentioned too, so you can earn a bit of cash to help cover your costs.

Aria Resorts is also breaking the mould of holiday home ownership in Cornwall with its brand new barn-style lodges at its newest holiday home development, The Meadows, which you will find at five-star Retallack Resort and Spa. Available in two, three and four-bedroom options, these boutique holiday homes are sold with a structural warranty, 999 year lease, which means they can be purchased with a mortgage and resold on the open market. 

They enjoy peaceful lakeside and countryside settings with designer interiors and unique architectural designs which are striking. These brand new lodges are also ideal for buy-to-let buyers as Aria offers the choice of a managed letting service or 7% fixed return option which is available to qualifying investors (terms and conditions apply).

You’ll find some stunning lodge resorts in Padstow, Porthtowan and Perranporth courtesy of Valley Resorts (valleyresorts.co.uk) with holiday homes starting from £130,000. If you are considering lodge ownership as an investment then the experts there can give advice on investment yields based on previous holiday rentals. If you need finance to support your purchase they can also help you to find approved major lenders for each site.

Valley Resorts has recognised that the uncertainty around the impact of Brexit, the state of the British economy and the Coronavirus pandemic has seen visitors and investors reviewing their options. An unprecedented level of enquiries in the first half of this year has been driven by people now feeling more secure in making decisions that are based on investing in the UK. Prospective buyers have realised that Cornwall, and in turn Valley Resorts’ locations, provide a guest-accessible, cost-effective investment opportunity, plus the benefit of being easily available for their own use as and when they want.

Not only is there a cost benefit, but Valley Resorts ownership means your second home-from-home is never far away. There’s no waiting around at airports, no jet lag, simply hop in your car and in a couple of hours you can be sipping something cold on your balcony. And if you are planning on visiting numerous times during the year, not only will you start to feel part of the local community, you will be supporting its economy too.

For a holiday home close to the ocean, Atlantic Coast (atlanticcoastpark.co.uk) at Upton Towans near Hayle, is a National Tourist Board four-star graded park as well as being a winner of David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award. Owned by Coastdale Parks, a long established, family owned company, Atlantic Coast offers a ‘try before you buy’ option. With this scheme, you can experience a holiday in one of the stylish lodges to see whether it meets your holiday expectations. Should you subsequently purchase a holiday home, the full cost of the weekend break will be offset against the cost of your holiday home.

The park offers purchase options to suit all budgets, tastes and model preferences. The team endeavour to find the holiday home of your dreams and publish a regular list of all stock available for sale for immediate purchase. Alternatively, should you prefer a make and model not currently in stock, then they can order that for you.

There’s no doubt that lodge ownership is a brilliant way to explore Cornwall on your holidays, which has been identified by Parkdean Resorts (parkdeanresorts.co.uk) in their recent 2020 Staycation Market Report. With eight holiday parks across Cornwall, wherever you choose to take your holiday in Cornwall, you’ll be able to enjoy fantastic facilities on park, from swimming pools to bars and restaurants.

Catherine Lynn, Chief Customer Officer at Parkdean Resorts, said: “The Coronavirus pandemic has really affected many parts of our lives in 2020, including how we holiday, with many would-be holidaymakers being stuck at home. However, our data gives us cause for optimism. We expect to see a big upturn in the staycation market this summer, and beyond into 2021. We are so excited that our parks are reopening all over the country, giving people the opportunity to see all the amazing things that the UK has to offer, in a safe and clean environment. We’ve implemented measures to ensure all of our guests and staff are safe, to be able to enjoy these wide open spaces and much needed fresh air.”

Parkdean’s brand new ‘Lodges Range’ delivers a carefully curated collection of the finest holiday homes from brands, including Willerby, Swift and Prestige. They offer the ultimate luxury, are meticulously designed and come stylishly fitted with top of the range conveniences and furnishings. Parkdean also offers two letting schemes, that can help to offset running costs; a Guaranteed Income Scheme or an Easylet option.

So if you love lazy days on the sands or enjoy coastal walks and sea views you’ll be spoilt for choice. This is just a taste of some of the opportunities for lodge ownership in Cornwall. Why not come and explore what’s available? We look forward to seeing you soon!