Dorset camping park voted Britain's best for child-free holidays

Britain's top camping park for adults-only holidays has been named as Back of Beyond near Ringwood in Dorset.

The park took the title after a poll was taken among readers of two top-selling touring magazines, Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome.

Asked for their favourite destination to escape the patter of tiny feet, couples put Back of Beyond in the top spot for blissful 18-plus breaks.

The award was described as a "fantastic fanfare to open the new holiday season" by Martin and Victoria Bowrey, the husbandand-wife team behind the park.

It was just ten years ago that the couple sold their London photography business and took a gamble on their future by buying a 30-acre campsite on the fringes of the New Forest.

The aim, said Martin, was to run a sustainable holiday park for nature-loving guests in a part of the country where he and Victoria often went camping.

Since then, they have invested much time and energy into creating five-star surroundings which include not just camping and touring pitches, but also a host of glamping options.

Among the line-up of luxury accommodation are yurts, pods, shepherds huts and timber lodges.

Martin says they decided to make Back of Beyond an exclusively grown-up experience after being told by friends that top quality adult-only parks were thin on the ground:

"There are lots of couples whose idea of holiday heaven is to be in a tranquil environment where the only sound likely to wake them up in the morning is birdsong," he said.

"A lot of our customers come from professions such as teaching and child care, and who would prefer not to be reminded of their jobs when they go away.

"Then there are younger couples who haven't yet started a family, and more mature guests who tend to prefer peace to playgrounds when making their holiday choice.

"It also means we can provide facilities more in-tune with adult thinking, such as a wild camping area, a continental-style outdoor bar, a boules court, and private firepits," said Martin.

In the same poll of magazine readers, Back of Beyond was also voted the Best Park in Dorset across all categories, beating hundreds of other eligible parks to the top spot.

Not that Back of Beyond is any stranger to awards, and is among a small elite of British holiday parks flying the coveted AA five-star Gold Pennant.

Martin and Victoria have also received accolades for their care of the natural world, including the park's wild flower meadows which provide nectar for the bees in its 12 hives.

The bees' honey is sold in the park's shop, together with many other locally sourced products – from charcuterie to gin – to minimise the number of food miles travelled.

Martin said he hopes Back of Beyond's latest awards will also benefit other local tourism businesses by shing the spotlight on Dorset as the perfect holiday destination.

There is more information about Back of Beyond at www.backofbeyondtouringpark. co.uk