Isle of Wight
Large holiday park with direct beach access below the Culver Cliffs
Whitecliff Bay sits on the east coast near Bembridge, on a slope running down to its own sandy bay with the white face of Culver Cliff rising behind. It is one of the biggest parks on the island and one of the few with a private path straight down to the beach, which saves a great deal of negotiation with children carrying bodyboards. Touring and camping pitches occupy terraced fields above the caravan holiday homes, with grass and hardstanding options and electric hook-ups widely available.
This is a full-facility park rather than a quiet field. There is an indoor swimming pool and a separate outdoor pool, an adventure playground, indoor soft play, crazy golf, a restaurant and bar, a shop and evening entertainment through the main season from April to October. Washblocks are heated with family rooms and disabled facilities, and there is a laundry and dishwashing area. WiFi is available across much of the site. Dogs are accepted on the touring pitches, with rules on breeds and on which areas they can use.
The park suits families who want everything on site and a beach at the bottom of the hill, and it is a poor fit for anyone after silence. Bembridge village, with its harbour, lifeboat station and windmill, is a couple of miles away, and Sandown and Shanklin are a short drive south. The Culver Down cliff walk starts almost at the gate and gives one of the best views on the island. Touring pitches start from roughly £18 a night in the shoulder season, rising well above that in July and August, when booking several months ahead is sensible.