Holidays: Park and ride

BRITAIN'S holiday parks have a range of fantastic spring breaks and lots of special offers. There's something to do for all the family and chances to see some of our favourite entertainers. Here is DAVID KERR's round-up of value-for-money breaks.

BUTLINS

BUTLINS (0870 242 0870, www.butlins.co.uk) present a fun-filled holiday extravaganza at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.

All the family, from the youngest toddler to grandparents and great-grandparents, can enjoy a four-night fun break at Minehead from April 7 to 11, with Splash Waterworld, a puppet castle and parent and toddler sessions. There is also a Noddy show, disco party, street theatre, US-style wrestling and lots of live entertainment.

At Minehead the price is from pounds 7 for self-catering and pounds 16 half-board (per person per night). At Bognor Regis the price is from pounds 8 for self- catering and pounds 17 half-board. If you want to re-live the Sixties then go to Butlins in Minehead from April 4 to 7 and see Herman's Hermits, Love Affair and the Ivy League.

Or how about an Easter break at Butlins? From April 17 to 22 at Bognor Regis sees an Easter Egg Hunt for kids with TV presenter Peter Simon and the Pop Party Tour featuring the latest rising bands. Parents can relax in the bars, shops and restaurants or just sit back and enjoy the live entertainment. The price is from pounds 18.

HAVEN

HAVEN and British Holidays (phone 0870 242 4500, or www.havenholidays.com and www.british-holidays.co.uk) offer a range of great family holidays.

For starters, there's heaven in Devon from under pounds 15 per person. You are in for a real treat at Haven Holidays' Devon Cliffs this summer after the company made it their flagship park and invested pounds 6.5million in new facilities.

Devon Cliffs, near Exmouth, has direct access to the stunning beach at Sandy Bay. The new family entertainment complex buzzes with fun and activities. There are shops and cafes, the latest electronic games, interactive TV, huge video screens and live shows.

Haven and sister company British Holidays have teamed up with the cast and crew of SM:TV to offer their own version of the Saturday morning hit TV show.

Kids at Devon Cliffs and other parks around the UK can join in the fun including specially-adapted games from the TV show such as Eat My Goal and Postbag hosted by the FunStars.

And there is loads going on in the evenings. This summer Devon Cliffs will rock to The American Four Tops, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, The Dreamers and the Big Laugh Show.

All Haven and British Holidays parks hold David Bellamy Conservation Awards. Devon Cliffs is a great place to get closer to nature - the whole park benefits from new trees, shrubs, flowers and holiday homes positioned to maximise the wonderful views.

A four-night break on May 12 in selected accommodation costs from pounds 89 for a family of up to six - that's under pounds 15 each.

There's no need to fly to Key West in Florida if dolphin-spotting is on your holiday wish-list. Quay West, a British Holidays park in West Wales, overlooks beautiful Cardigan Bay, which is home to a rare school of bottle-nosed dolphins.

Take a boat trip and you're likely to spot them at close quarters. If you don't see the dolphins you're almost guaranteed to see grey seals basking on the rocks. Book a four-night self-catering break on June 9 from pounds 28 per person, based on six sharing.

PARK RESORTS

PARK Resorts (call 08701 299 299, or www.park-resorts.com) have 14 medium- size holiday parks and kick off their Big Time Star Time entertainment programme at Easter with 60s favourites the Ivy League and Union Gap headlining at Bideford Bay, Devon, and Ashcroft Coast, Kent.

Each park offers plenty to keep the family busy on a great night out including dancing to resident bands, discoing the night away or taking in one of the spectacular new shows. Youngsters aged five to 11 have got some new treats in a new adventure show for park mascot Sparky and his Krew. While The Mix for teenagers include a chance to make your own movies or learn how to be a DJ.

Great bargains on short breaks start at pounds 69 for three nights arriving at Bideford Bay on April 4. A four-night break arriving on April 7 at Cayton Bay, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, costs pounds 74. Over Easter, arriving April on 17, four-night holidays at Valley Farm, Clacton-on-Sea, cost pounds 156. An eight-night holiday at Valley Farm from April 17 costs pounds 243.

Park Resorts Holiday Parks are also located at: Barmston Beach, Yorkshire; Heacham Beach, California Cliffs and Kessingland Beach in East Anglia; Ashcroft Coast, Kent; Nodes Point, Lower Hyde and Thorness Bay on the Isle of Wight; Bideford Bay, Devon; and Carmarthen Bay, Brynowen and Ty Mawr in Wales.

PONTINS

PONTINS Holidays (08705 331 199, www.pontins.com) have a new range of special offers with prices starting at pounds 99 for a total of a family of four for a three- or four-night self-catering break from April 11 to 28.

New ideas for families for 2003 include the introduction during peak season of twice-weekly Marvel Superheroes shows featuring Spider- Man, X-Men and DareDevil. Pontins also offer tailor-made breaks for the over- 50s at three centres - Blackpool, Pakefield in Suffolk and Wall Park in Devon.

WARNER

WARNER Holidays (0870 601 6011, www.warner holidays.co.uk) offer short breaks at 13 locations on a half-board basis, including all entertainment and most leisure facilities.

Warner are the only UK operator offering short breaks just for adults. In April they unveil a new fitness centre and Mediterranean restaurant at Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire. Guests will be able to spoil themselves with a range of treatments and dine Mediterranean style in Le Bistro. There is also a choice of two restaurants for an evening meal - included in the price of your stay. A four-night break is pounds 209 per person if booked on the net.

For those who like to walk on the wild side, Warner Holidays offer activities near each resort. Guests can try clay pigeon shooting, quad biking, hot air ballooning and sailing. Warner also boast a spectacular line-up of celebrities including Des O'Connor, Bob Monkhouse, Jimmy Tarbuck, Claire Sweeney, Bobby Davro and Paul Daniels.

HOSEASONS

THE UK's leading self-catering specialists have a brochure with more than 10,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings, ranging from secluded forest lodges to holiday parks with family attractions such as indoor pool complexes, kids clubs, sports facilities and entertainment. Two people can stay for one week between May 31 and June 21 at Corriefodly in Perthshire for pounds 185 self-catering in a one-bedroom lodge. Call 0870 900 9011 or go to www.hoseasons.co.uk

PARKDEAN

PARKDEAN Holidays have 12 locations in the UK, including Scotland, South Wales, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

Each park offers its own mix of family facilities, lots of accommodation choices, plus great entertainment. You could learn to surf at Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde Bay, Devon, or enjoy the wildlife and scenery of the Highlands at Tummel Valley.

Prices at Parkdean (0191 275 9098, www.parkdean.com) are from pounds 17.50 per person for a short break in April and May and only pounds 22.50 in June.

WOOLACOMBE BAY

WOOLACOMBE Bay (01271 870343, www. woolacombe.com) offer eight nights for the price of seven in the village of Woolacombe, North Devon. This deal applies to a range of self- catering luxury lodges, apartments and mobile homes for holidays beginning from April 19.

On-site attractions include an indoor swimming pool, tennis, snooker, 10-pin bowling and a health suite.

There's also a programme of evening entertainment (including cabaret and discos) along with children's club and creche.

The site is close to a Blue Flag beach at Woolacombe - perfect for youngsters.

BLAKES

BLAKES are offering seven-night breaks at Warmwell Holiday Park in Dorset from only pounds 252 before April 17. All prices are for a total of eight people.

Accommodation is in self- catering lodges. Activities include scuba diving, a dry ski slope, bike hire, crazy golf and 10-pin bowling.

There are also seven-night holidays at Primrose Valley, near Filey, North Yorkshire, from pounds 230 before April 17. The park offers activities including scuba diving, archery, abseiling, boating and a football academy.

Seven nights at Creiff Hydro Park in Perthshire costs from pounds 385 between April 18 and May 29.

Accommodation ranges from timber chalets to cottages.

All the Blakes parks (08700 70 80 90, www.blakes.co.uk) offer entertainment and on-site bars and restaurants.

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