Our history as a family business
Oakdown began in the 1970s with a single caravan on open Devonshire meadowland. Everything since has been shaped by the same family, across two generations, in the same corner of East Devon.
What that means in practice is visible the moment you drive in. There are no straight lines here — gentle curves, spacious groves, seclusion plus quiet. A park laid out over decades by people who intended to still be here looks different from one drawn up all at once.
Some of the milestones
1995 — the Victorian reed bed
Built to filter the park’s greywater naturally through pea gravel plus wetland plants, with no chemicals involved. The wildlife arrived afterwards. The bird hide came later still, once it was clear there was something worth watching.
1996 — the first David Bellamy Gold
Awarded every year since. Professor Bellamy singled out the habitat work, plus the pond with its bird hide.
2003 — Oak Mead
Our nine hole par three course opened over the road on Gatedown Lane, planned from the start as somewhere a family could play together.
2004 — Professor Bellamy opens the course
He came in person on 23 June to open Oak Mead officially, after years of working with the family through his conservation scheme.
Since then
Shepherd’s huts, a new reception, the Clean Paws dog spa, a hundred thousand pound play park for the 2025 season, then solar arrays across the site. Around 7,000 trees plus shrubs have gone into the ground along the way.
Where that has got us
Oakdown holds the AA Five Star Platinum Pennant for 2026/27, awarded on a 97% inspection score — one of the few in East Devon. The David Bellamy Conservation Gold has come every year since 1996. Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice puts the park in the top ten per cent of accommodation worldwide.
“To win gold in these awards is an incredible result for us, and we’re thrilled to be a winner against some seriously tough competition.”
Alastair Franks
Come and see
A five star park three miles from Sidmouth, shaped by the same family since the 1970s.