A lakeside holiday park in England’s Lake District is expanding its accommodation offering with the addition of six luxury lodges as part of a redevelopment project tied to the site’s long-standing environmental and tourism strategy.
Hill of Oaks, located along a mile-long stretch of private shoreline on Lake Windermere, is introducing two small lodge developments known as Wavell Way and Wakefield Height. The projects are being developed on areas previously used for touring caravans and a former grounds manager’s bungalow, according to the park’s ownership group, Lake District Estates.
The park said the redevelopment includes biodiversity-focused landscaping carried out in partnership with Bergen Trees. The new lodge areas are named after Sir Wavell Wakefield, founder of Hill of Oaks and a former Member of Parliament who later became Lord Wakefield.
Wakefield was also known as an England rugby player and advocate for tourism development that preserved the natural landscape of the Lake District.
Wavell Way will include four holiday lodges on land formerly used for touring accommodations, while Wakefield Height will add two holiday homes through the conversion and redevelopment of the former bungalow site.
The projects are part of a broader effort by the family-run business to modernize accommodations while maintaining lower-density development across the 70-acre property.
Peter Hensman, president of Lake District Estates and a fourth-generation descendant of Wakefield, told Times & Star: “I am delighted that the new lodge area at Hill of Oaks will be called Wavell Way after my grandfather, Wavell Wakefield. He was keen that Hill of Oaks, while giving access to Lake Windermere to many, should also preserve the natural beauty and privacy of the site.
“I am sure he would have been thrilled with this latest development.”
Park manager Steve Lewis said the company continues to prioritize landscape preservation and lower-impact tourism models as the park evolves.
“Anything we introduce has to sit comfortably within the landscape and respect the heritage of this place. Naming the new areas after Wavell Wakefield feels fitting, not just as a nod to the past, but as a reminder of the values we continue to hold.
“Retaining the natural vegetation and the slightly rugged, natural feel of the park is central to that – just as he intended, with nature and tourism existing together in harmony.
“Unlike more densely developed holiday parks, the 70-acre Hill of Oaks has never followed a ‘rows of caravans’ model. Its mile-long private shoreline – with tens of thousands of trees including ancient oaks alongside birch, rowan, hawthorn, and more – remains a defining feature. It offers a rare sense of space and seclusion and access to parts of the lake simply unavailable to non-owners.”
Hill of Oaks also offers lake access with slipways and piers, as well as EV charging stations, a small retail shop, café services, a playground, and dog exercise facilities.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the redevelopment reflects a broader trend toward replacing or reducing higher-density touring inventory with premium lodge accommodations that can support longer guest stays and potentially increase revenue per pitch.
The project also highlights how operators in environmentally sensitive destinations are balancing modernization with conservation-focused planning, particularly as guest demand continues to shift toward privacy, space, and nature-based experiences.
The development comes as many holiday parks and glamping operators across the UK continue to invest in premium accommodations and sustainability measures ahead of the 2026 tourism season.