Hi - I'm Dawn...
My husband, Martin and I run Newberry Valley Caravan & Camping Park in Combe Martin, North Devon, Atlantic Caravans with Pine Valley Touring Park near Liskeard in Cornwall, and also Live Life Naturally, an online shop specialising in organic and natural living.
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Here's the family...
Martin
My very hard-working husband - my rock, and he makes me laugh lots too! We have been married for over 21 years now - a fairly good innings by today's standards. He is my action man - very practical and logical with a great business mind. He offers business consultancy as well as and often being out and about on the parks.
Despite working together, most of the time we get on famously - just as long as he does what he is told!!! (Only joking). He loves motorbikes and has competed in many different disciplines of motorcycle racing over the years.
Our Kids
Camilla is now 20 and is highly gifted with languages. She has worked with us on the parks for 18 months and then recently started an exciting new job working in France as admin manager for an educational adventure centre.
Ashley is 18 years old, and is working for us here at Newberry Valley out on the grounds. He also enjoys motorbike racing too. He is like his dad - extremely practical and loves to be outside in the fresh air.
It's very rewarding to see the children develop into young adults, learning to work as part of the team.
Our Dogs
We sadly lost our old charming Labrador/German Shepherd cross rescue dog called Taz in May 2010, but are still kept busy with a pretty but very noisy German Shepherd called Amber, a very beautiful Utonagan called Tehya, and our recent addition to the pack, Diesel, who is a seven month old Sarloos/ Inuit cross.
I adore them all!
About Us
It all started back in January 2000 - on a cold, blustery winter morning when we drove into Hidden Valley and I fell deeply in love with North Devon... In April 2000 I moved lock, stock and barrel - husband, two young children, and Hannah the dog - from a little village in Worcestershire, to start a new life in North Devon.
For more than six years we invested every ounce of energy and all our pennies into Hidden Valley Park. Then we purchased Newberry Valley in May 2006, and we all moved about 10 miles, over to the edge of Combe Martin Village to live in the 250 year old farmhouse on the site.
Pine Valley & Atlantic Caravans were set up in 2009, a venture into Touring Caravan Sales & Service with a small and picturescue park adjacent, both managed by Darren and Sarah Bull. They are based near Liskeard in Cornwall - another lovely part of the West Country.
In May 2010, having given 10 years to developing and upgrading Hidden Valley, culminating in winning the National Caravan Park of the Year Award, we sold the Park to be able to concentrate our efforts on Newberry Valley and our other business ventures.
Living in this area took a little getting used to - the pace of life is certainly slower. The farmhouse is in need of some renovation, but I love living here as I can look out of my bedroom window and see the sea. For someone who was born and lived in the Midlands until her mid-thirties this is a real pleasure.
The good points outweigh the bad though - like travelling the coastal road on a bright and sunny morning with the amazing golden colours of the trees all around, and the sheer blue calm sea reflecting the tones of the sky. Yeh - it's really pretty good down here in the depths of North Devon.
I am hugely passionate about all the businesses - I love the wildlife, the intrinsic beauty, and the entralling magic that can be found on the parks. Being surrounded by the wonders of nature does give you a different perspective on life, and one of the most rewarding aspects of running these businesses is being able to share this with all our visitors.
"I feel I must write to thank you: the standard of the campsite was fantastic and I could tell that you all worked tirelessly to ensure this high standard was maintained."
Marcia Griffith & family
