Then and Now: Much can change in 20 years

Over the past few weeks, as we’ve been planning how to mark 20 years here at Newberry Valley, we’ve found ourselves looking back at old photos, remembering how things once were, and realising just how much has changed over time.

When we first arrived, the park had a very different feel. The bones of it were here, of course. The same beautiful valley, the same sense of space, the same quiet that settles in as evening draws across the fields. But it was a much more basic place than the campsite we know today.

Back then, just over a third of the pitches had electric hook-up. In the first few years, it became evident that we would need to grow with the needs of our guests, and so now, every pitch has its own 16-amp electric hook-up, making things just that little bit easier and more comfortable for everyone who stays.

The pitches themselves have evolved, too. Originally, they were all grass - and while that connection to nature has always been important to us, we recognised the need to offer something a little more practical to allow for the ups and downs of the great British weather, especially for the many touring caravans and motorhomes that love to visit the region.

Now, alongside our grass pitches, we have 28 beautifully block-paved, hard-standing pitches. Each one has been designed to offer the best of both worlds — a solid, reliable surface for your caravan, car or motorhome, with a stretch of grass alongside for sitting out, stretching your legs, and enjoying that fresh North Devon air.

And then there are the facilities… which, if we’re being honest, have seen one of the biggest transformations of all. In the early days, the toilets and showers were… functional. Partitioned cubicles, simple and practical, with a rather memorable system where the water from all the showers drained along the back of each cubicle. It did the job, but it’s fair to say it wasn’t quite the experience we wanted for our guests.

Over time, that too has been thoughtfully reimagined. Today, those same spaces have become something entirely different. Spacious, private rooms that many guests have kindly compared to a rather posh hotel bathroom. Clean, warm, with all that you need in one pleasant environment.

It’s one of the many changes we’re very proud of, because it reflects something deeper than just improvement - it reflects our desire to care, and the attention to detail that we aim to offer at every juncture.

And perhaps that’s what ties all these “then and now” moments together. Yes, the park has evolved. Yes, things are more comfortable, more refined, and more in tune with what people need today. They are all small details, perhaps, but they make a real difference to how people experience their stay.

These changes have never been about becoming something different - only about becoming the best version of who and what we are.

If you’re discovering us for the first time, you’ll find a place that has been gently shaped over many years, with care, thought, and a deep respect for its surroundings. And as always, we’ll look forward to welcoming you, whether it’s your first visit or one of many.