The site is situated about 1 mile, (almost completely flat walk), outside the historical Cotswold village of Broadway, Worcestershire and is known as one of the Gateways to the Cotswold. It is currently the northern terminus of the famous Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Steam Railway. The site itself is situated on the old railway Goods Yard and the Club’s oldest caravan, the 130 year old Wanderer is stored in the Goods Shed and can be viewed there, there is also a little indoor play area in the building. The site is easily accessible however care should be taken if approaching down off the Cotswold plateau not to tow through the village itself. Please see the Site Arrival Video.
The site is part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club portfolio, it is open all year and is for members only. You can join the club at the site. It has 117 pitches, ranging from grass, through hardstanding to fully serviced super pitches and is spread across two levels.
Facilities
There are the usual service points including motorhome service point. There are two facility blocks which encompasses, laundry, dishwashing, toilet, and shower facilities. The one situated in the old goods shed, (upper level), is not accessible to people with disabilities. The Reception and information room is at the entrance to the site and there is a security barrier and key fob system in operation.
Current COVID-19 precautions are comprehensive and clearly explained upon arrival. We noted that most people were using their own facilities.
WiFi is available, at a charge, throughout the site from an external provider. Signal strength is good throughout the site.
There are two dog walks, one at the top of the site, next to the old Good Shed is alongside the heritage railway and is often used as a close-up trainspotter viewpoint. The second one is in the lower part of the site. Both are secure enough to let your dogs off lead if you so choose. There is also a small nature reserve next to the site where you can walk your dogs if you wish.
A small playground, on the lower tier, completes the facilities available and It is nice to see a couple of picnic benches to allow accompanying adults relax whilst children play.
A bonus is that an authentic pizza van visits the site, at least once a week and offers a range of freshly made pizzas and at a reasonable price. On previous visits we have had fish and chip vans visit as well, although due to COVID-19, it was not there this time. Their offering has always been to a very high standard and the van usually visits other Club sites in the vicinity.
Review of site pitch
The pitches are, in the main, very level, and spacious. They are well spaced out and are up to Club site standards, many have benefitted from a recent upgrade. The super pitches have electric hook-ups, water, and grey waste drainage. TV strength can be patchy, so aerial booster points are provided on pitches, long co-ax cable required which are usually sold in Reception if required.
A note to Heritage Railway fans, if you want a ring side view of the railway, then you should try and choose a pitch in the top field of the site, if they are available.
Around and About
There is so much to do in both the immediate and further afield vicinities, that you are almost spoilt for choice, depending upon your interests and level of activity. I have picked a small number of places to visit/see and do. I would strongly advise you spend some time with either a guidebook or online, web addresses below and see what is on offer. At the time of writing, many of the venues require online booking in advance.
This first webpage is a general one for the whole of the Cotswold area and will give you information on places further afield, such as Moreton in Marsh, Stow in the Wold etc.
The second webpage is particular to Broadway itself. The village has a lovely wide high street, with a range of independent and more familiar shops providing almost everything you would want. Diners will be spoilt for choice with a comprehensive range of pubs, hotel dining, restaurants, and cafes. You should note that if you select somewhere off the main high street, prices can be considerably cheaper. The village is very dog friendly, and many establishments will welcome your dogs without problem. Children are also welcomed in most places.
The recently extended, to Broadway, Heritage Railway now runs from Cheltenham Racecourse up to Broadway and return. The newly built, but faithful to the original design, station buildings are now open. There is also a café on site which is open to non-train users as well. It is a mere 5-minute walk out of the site and across the road. Main car park is under the bridge on the opposite side of the road and there are disabled parking facilities on site. Please visit the website for all the range of events which are usually run throughout the year.
This is a famous local landmark which overlooks the village at the top of the high street. It is possible to walk either uphill, (steep in places) or downhill from the village. There is plenty of parking available at the landmark, café, shops, and toilets. A bus does drop you off at the end of the lane to the attraction and is about a ¼ mile walk from the bus stop.
I have included this webpage as it is an area which can often be overlooked as people focus on the Cotswolds. The Vale of Evesham is a huge fruit growing area and, in the summer,, there are Plum Festivals held in the villages and you can buy as much fruit and veg as you could wish to eat. The town of Evesham is the nearest to the site and has the usual out of centre retail park, featuring the usual mix of offerings. Fuel can also be obtained here at supermarket prices.
Summary
Broadway is a very well kept and extremely popular site, ever more so since the re-opening of the railway. It is now possible to stay and travel to Cheltenham Racecourse and in between without using the car. Horse racing season is particularly busy.
It is in a good location, close to all the amenities which the Cotswold offers and beyond. A site which I will return to again.