STAFF at Ambleside’s Skelwith Fold holiday park are celebrating after a “secret shopper” visit from the AA saw them gain one of tourism’s most prestigious accolades.
The family-run park heard this month that the incognito visit had helped it earn the AA’s five-star Platinum rating, the highest grade awarded by the organisation.
Skelwith Fold’s undercover inspection was just part of the AA’s assessment process which saw its facilities, services, hospitality and guest reviews all put under the microscope.
Award judges said that in every respect Skelwith Fold was “a holiday park right at the top of its game” and was truly deserving of its top honour for 2026/2027.
Henry Wild, whose family has owned the park for almost 30 years, said the achievement was a team effort in every sense – and that all its staff should take a bow:
“The AA’s Platinum award is much more than just a reflection of the quality standards of the facilities and accommodation which we provide for guests,” he said.
“Its inspectors also look closely at what customers are saying about their overall experience here, including the welcoming atmosphere and level of hospitality they receive.
“Providing this is very much in the hands of our staff team, and underlines their passion for providing the best experiences possible for guests from the moment they arrive.
“This award is the icing on the cake for us after a very busy summer, and we give a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has left glowing reviews of their stay,” said Henry.
Not that Skelwith Fold, which provides 450 touring, glamping and holiday caravan pitches across 130 acres of countryside near the shores of Windermere, is any stranger to awards.
It was named as the overall winner of Holiday Park of the Year award in 2025 by Cumbria Tourism, and holds a top five-star quality grading from the region’s tourist board.
Skelwith Fold has also been honoured by the David Bellamy Conservation Award scheme for its initiatives to protect the park’s many wildlife inhabitants, including red squirrels.
Henry is a former national chairman of the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA) to which around 3,000 UK parks belong.