Frequently Asked Questions

• Oakdene Forest Park FAQ

  Can I get a bus to Bournemouth/New Forest from the park?

  Yes, there is a bus stop at the entrance to the park and this is serviced by Wilts and Dorset buses who cover Bournemouth, Poole and the New Forest.  You can pick up a bus timetable from reception.

  Can I take inflatables into the pool?

  Guests can take flotation aids such as armbands, baby seats and ‘woggles’ into the indoor pool. Other inflatables are permitted in the outdoor pool only.

  Can I get a second key for my caravan/lodge?

  The majority of our holiday caravans/lodges have a second key, you will just need to give a £5 deposit at reception which will be given back to you on return of the key.

  Can I park my car near my caravan/lodge?

  There is room next to each caravan for one car.  If you have more than one car then there is plenty of available parking around the main clubhouse.

  How do I connect to the internet?

  To connect to the on park wireless network, which is available within the centre core only, you can pay for a code in the Colour Café or in the Blues Bar. It costs £5.00 for 3 days or £7.50 for a week. We also have a customer computer in our main building and this costs £1.00 per 15 minutes.

  What is the depth and length of the indoor swimming pool?

  The indoor swimming pool is 1.2 metres deep and 21 metres in length.

  Is there anywhere we can we hire bikes?

  We have leaflets in reception for a bike hire company that will deliver a bike to you on park.

  What days does the daytime and evening entertainment programme run?

  During high-season children’s day time activities and evening entertainment run every day. During mid-season (from early September) the activities and entertainment run on the following days and times:

  Monday: Evening only 6.45pm - 11.00pm

  Tuesday: Day and Evening 11.45am -3.15pm & 6.45pm-11.00pm

  Friday: Day and Evening 11.45am - 03.15pm & 06.45pm - 11.00pm

  Saturday: Day and Evening 11.45am - 03.15pm & 06.45pm-11.00pm

• General Reservations FAQ

  How can I get a brochure?

  Either click here or phone 01590 648331

  How do I book ?

  Please use our online bookings feature, or alternatively call our Reservations team on 01590 648331 or book a call back from our team.  There is also a "Live Chat" facility if you would like to ask a member of our team a question which is available during office hours.

  Can I buy Holiday vouchers?

  Yes vouchers towards a Shorefield holiday can be bought for any denomination and they make a perfect gift for family or friends.  Please call 01590 648331

  What is included in the price of my Shorefield holiday?

  The vast majority of leisure and entertainment facilities are included for all members of your party. There are small additional charges for some activities such as crazy golf. Treatments at Reflections Elemis Day Spa are chargeable as are the Go Active activities at Oakdene Forest Park. 

  There are no additional charges for gas, electricity or bed linen (except most units at Swanage Coastal Park) in self catering accommodation.

  What can I expect “out of season”?

  The locations of our parks make them the ideal choice for a holiday outside of the main summer holiday months. The area is beautiful at all times of year with many local tourist attractions staying open for a large part of the year and at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park, leisure facilities remain open whilst the parks are open.

  Entertainment at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park will be less frequent outside of peak holiday times.

  Is there WiFi? What is the phone reception like?

  Mobile phone reception in the New Forest area can sometimes be patchy on some networks, but is generally improving over time.  There is usually no problem at Swanage Coastal Park or Merley Court Holiday Park.

  WiFi is available in the club area at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park. For those of you that wish to leave your kit at home we have a number of internet kiosks at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park which carry a small charge.

  If you would like to stay connected while you are with us there are a few lodges at Shorefield with WiFi. Please ensure you mention this as a requirement at time of booking.

  We have limited, but complimentary WiFi at Lytton Lawn Touring Park  & Merley Court Holiday Park - don't forget to ask at reception when you check in.

  Which of the parks have a cash point?

  Shorefield Country Park  and Oakdene Forest Park have cash points in the Reception area.

  Can guests use the facilities at any of the parks?

  Holiday makers may have day guests visit them at the parks.  

  With the exception of the Reflections Elemis Day Spa and the football and tennis courts at Shorefield Country Park, we regret that the leisure and entertainment facilities at the parks are not open to members of the general public.

  What do I do if I have a complaint?

  If you are unhappy about any aspect of your stay, please go to Reception and we will do our best to help you.  It is always easier to deal with concerns at the time rather than when you return home.

  I would like to work for Shorefield Holidays. How do I find out more?

  Please take a look at our Careers page.

• Guest Accommodation FAQ

  Do I need to bring an iron/hairdryer?

  Irons are now provided in all lodges. You can also hire irons from reception, a £10 deposit is required and then it is a £3.10 per day charge.

  There are no hairdryers in any of the units.

  Do you accept large parties of guests?

  These are welcome at our parks and recently we have had groups from sports, church and business organisations among others. Please speak initially to a member of our Reservations team if you are interested in this. There may be a small discount depending on the time of year.

  Large single sex and young mixed groups will need to seek prior approval from Shorefield Holidays and we will usually ask for a returnable security deposit. 

  Can I change a promotional holiday?

  Shorefield Holidays participate in the Sun and Daily Mail holidays promotion several times a year.  If you are coming to us on one of these there will be extras to pay for and bed linen, services and leisure passes are not included.  We regret that we are unable to change dates but you are able to upgrade accommodation or if you are unable to take the holiday yourself, you can pass it on to someone else as long as you let us know.

  Are prices per person or per unit?

  Prices are per unit, but there is a limit to how many people can stay in each type of accommodation.  Please take into account all people over the age of two when calculating accommodation berth.

  Is linen provided in my accommodation?

  Yes, we provide the bed linen in all units except the caravans at Swanage Coastal Park.  You will need to bring towels and tea towels, however some towels are provided in the New England lodges at Shorefield Country Park.  Linen is not included on newspaper promotion holidays but can be booked as an extra.

  Is the accommodation pet friendly?

  A selection of units across all accommodation types welcome pets at a charge so we ask that you indicate that you want to bring a pet at the time of booking.  Similarly if you have allergies or would prefer to stay in a pet free unit, please let us know and we will do our best to meet this request.

  Can I hire a cot?

  Yes we can provide cots, high chairs and bed guards for £12 per holiday.  Please note that it is unlikely that a cot will fit into any of the bedrooms in a caravan holiday home.

  Is any of the accommodation adapted for disabled guests?

  Yes, we have a caravan and a lodge at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park that are specially adapted for wheelchair users. To find out more please see the accommodation page and access statement.

  Some of our other units are suitable for those with limited mobility, if you require accommodation with level access or near to the facilities please state at the time of booking and we will do our best to help you. Wheelchairs are available to hire at Shorefield Country Park and Oakdene Forest Park, please let us know as soon as possible before your holiday and we will arrange this for you.

  Do you sell holiday vouchers?

  Yes we can provide a holiday voucher of any denomination for you to buy as a gift.  The recipient can then put this towards any Shorefield holiday of their choice.  Please call 01590 648331 for more information or to purchase.

• Guest Camping & Touring FAQ

  What is the largest unit I can bring onto your parks?

  As a general rule the maximum is 7m; however many of our pitches at Lytton Lawn Touring Park and Merley Court Holiday Park will take up to an 8m unit and at both parks there is one pitch suitable for an American RV type motorhome.  At Forest Edge Holiday Park the pitches tend to be smaller although in 2012 we introduced some serviced "Supersize" pitches for tents.

  You will be asked to provide an accurate unit size at the time of booking; please be aware that caravan size is shipping length and tent size should include guy ropes. If you arrive at the park and the unit does not fit and you cannot be moved, unfortunately you will have to leave.

  What is “electric hook-up”?

  An EHU allows access to electricity on a serviced pitch.  It is a specialist unit available from most reputable camping and caravan outlets for around £50 – £70 and is not a standard domestic extension lead.  Please do not attempt to make your own as this can have serious safety implications. The voltage at our parks is generally 16 amp on hardstanding and 10 amp on grass but please check the individual park pages.

  What is the difference between touring pitch types?

  Standard pitches do not have any electric hook up (Forest Edge Holiday Park/Swanage Coastal Park); Serviced pitches are on grass with hook up (Forest Edge Holiday Park/ Lytton Lawn Touring Park/ Merley Court Holiday Park/Oakdene Forest Park); hardstanding pitches can be just with hook-up (Merley Court Holiday Park) or Premier with hook-up, water and drainage (Lytton Lawn Touring Park) or Executive which is as Premier with satellite connection (Merley Court Holiday Park).

  Please note you will iron/rock pegs for some pitches to secure the awning.

  Can I park on my pitch?

  Yes, the pitch price allows for one vehicle so please allow for this when calculating the pitch size required.  Additional vehicles are chargeable at £4 per night and will usually have to be kept in the car park.  We would prefer that commercial vehicles with sign writing are not brought onto the parks and if they are, we will ask that they are parked in the main car park which will be away from your pitch/accommodation.

  What is included in the pitch price?

  At Shorefield Holidays we have a simplified pricing structure for touring and camping.  Pitch price includes up to 6 people; car; tent, caravan or motorhome with awning and all the leisure and entertainment facilities at any of our parks.  Additional charges are for pets, extra cars, pup tents and gazebos. We do not charge extra for the unlimited hot water in the showers.

  Are BBQs allowed?

  Yes as long as they are raised off the ground on a stand or brick and all safety rules are observed.  Open or camp fires are not allowed at any of our parks.