Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park in Essex Review: A busy Clacton caravan site

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​Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm

What did we think of Valley Farm Holiday Park?

There's hot competition for holiday parks around Clacton-on-Sea. We went for Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park, which is about one mile inland.

The reception area at Valley Farm

Before visiting, I didn't know a huge amount about this part of the English coastline. My first impression is that the beach here is really lovely. Apologies to everyone who already knew that, but Clacton-on-Sea has got some really lovely sands and the part of coastline closest to this holiday park is very quiet and has a lovely esplanade. 

We visited this beach, which is about one mile from Valley Farm Holiday Park

The beach at Clacton-on-Sea exceeded our expectations

The park itself is about one mile in land. My preference is to be right by the beach but this holiday park makes up for it in other ways.

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Facilities at Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park

Parkdean Resorts has more than 60 holiday parks in the UK (see our top 10). This one is mid-sized and matches that with a similarly impressive range of facilities. 

It is certainly not up there on scale with Parkdean's Action Packed Parks, but there is plenty to keep you occupied. 

As we explored, we first discovered the indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The outdoor pool is a good size and much larger than the one at nearby Weeley Bridge Holiday Park (that we have also been to).  

This is the indoor swimming pool building at Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park

And here's what it looks like inside (this photo is an official one, the rest are ours)

Apologies, my photo of the outdoor pool isn't my finest work!

The playground is nearby and is large and modern. We commented how clean and well looked after it was during our visit. 

Here's the main playground at Valley Farm Holiday Park

The sports court is also smart and is a good space for chasing a ball around.

I'd love to say that I did some slam dunks at the sports court

As with other Parkdean Resorts, you also get an arcade, a Showbar and somewhere to eat. 

There was also evidence of seasonal activities, which weren't running as we visited off peak. 

This park doesn't have things like high ropes and some of the bigger activities offered at some parks.

Our main option for eating onsite was The Boathouse

The Showbar is where you'll find the evening entertainment (this photo also shows the fish and chips takeaway)

Probably should have taken a photo of the ice cream when it was open!

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Accommodation at Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park

Valley Farm is quite large and there are rows upon rows of caravans. The site is on a bit of a slope, but you don't spectacular views.

We felt that the site was relatively leafy and has some trees but certainly not as many as some Parkdean Resorts that we have visited, such as Weeley Bridge in Essex. There is a small stream towards one corner of the site that we discovered during our exploration. 

Valley Farm also some nice patches with plants and water features that add a bit of a natural vibe.

This little stream provides a bit of scenery on one edge of the park

I have a strange obsession with noticing the quality of paths and roads when we are at a holiday park. I would say that some parts of the park had quite worn out roads compared to some we have visited. This is obviously a very small complaint but I always feel that smooth tarmac can make somewhere feel a little bit smarter.

As you can see, the park is on a gradual downhill slope

These are typical caravans that you'll find at Valley Farm Holiday Park

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Vibe and atmosphere at Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park

Although we visited off peak, I did get the impression that during school holidays there is a lot of activity and a good buzz to the park. It has been well laid out so that all of the communal areas are close together. Some holiday parks spread these out but I think it works better when they are all together. This is particularly true if you have older and younger children and want to entertain them all at once.

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Final thoughts on Parkdean Resorts Valley Farm Holiday Park

You're welcome

Overall, I was impressed with Valley Farm caravan site. If you want a friendly and mid-sized holiday park with two pools then it is a solid choice. 

The walk to the beach is about 20 minutes, which is just a little too far away for my family once we are carrying beach stuff! We've been lucky enough to have the beach on the doorstep at some of the other Parkdean Resorts we've been to, such as Nodes Point on the Isle of Wight and Barmston Beach in Yorkshire. 

However, that won't be a big issue for most people, who will be quite happy to jump into the car for a beach trip.

Fun at the seaside, about one mile from Valley Farm Holiday Park

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Other guides from Holiday Park Guru

• Best holiday parks in Kent
• Best holiday parks in Suffolk
• Best holiday parks in Norfolk
• ​Best holiday parks near London
• 10 Best Parkdean Resorts Holiday Parks