THERE is nothing like the home-from-home comfort of a caravan break. I’ve been staying in caravans since I was a nipper and still love making myself at home in one.

One of the first Holgates sites, Silverdale Holiday Park opened in 1956 with 35 caravans - including a single-decker bus, a tram, a horse-drawn carriage and an ex-military radar vehicle.

Today the 100 acre-site has more than 350 holiday homes, camping pods and pitches, and a leisure complex comprising indoor pool, sauna, steam room, gym, bowling alley, restaurant, bar, ice-cream parlour, games area, playground and shop.

Silverdale is tucked away near the pretty village of the same name, within walking distance of secluded beaches and rocky coves. Located on the Cumbria/Lancashire border, it has views of Morecambe Bay on one side and the mighty Arnside Knott limestone hill on the other.

Arriving on Friday teatime, via winding country lanes, we felt instantly relaxed, with the chaos of city life far behind. The holiday park site is home to wildlife including red deer, owls, and rabbits - the first thing we saw after collecting our keys was a cute bunny hopping across the grass.

Our spacious six-berth caravan (a double room, two twins and two bathrooms) blended contemporary style with homely comforts. The kitchen, dining area and lounge opened onto wooden decking, with sunlight pouring through patio doors. We had our own little garden area, with a table and chairs for al fresco drinks and dining. When late afternoon sunshine turned to showers, we reclined in the lounge on a sink-into corner sofa, spending the evening in our home-from-home, with pizza and TV, before exploring the site and its facilities the next day.

The kitchen was well stocked, with a loaf of bread, croissants, biscuits and a bottle of wine awaiting us and, in the fridge, milk, juice, eggs and bacon. Next morning the sun was out and we cooked a hearty breakfast before heading off on a walk around the grounds. There are footpaths to Silverdale, Arnside and the Pepperpot, a monument built in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, overlooking Lakeland fells.

I vaguely remember a weekend in a youth hostel near Arnside when I was a teenager, but in recent years my visits to Cumbria and the Lancashire coastline haven’t extended to that north-eastern corner of Morecambe Bay.

A former fishing port, Arnside is a pretty village lying within low limestone hills, marshy plains and woodland. Nestled at the southern tip of the South Lakelands, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it has stunning views over the bay. The promenade, lined with shops and pubs, looks over the estuary towards Grange-over-Sands. I’d recommend a lovely train journey there I took a couple of years ago, which heads, via Arnside, right across the sands.

Arnside is a couple of miles from the holiday park and about an hour’s drive away are the Lakes, the Dales and the Forest of Bowland.

Back at Silverdale, we headed for the leisure complex. The pool has a relaxed family-friendly vibe, and after a swim we chilled out in the sauna and steam room. There’s plenty for children to do on the park, from an outdoor play area with pirate ship climbing frame to a multi-use games area, and soft play for little ones. Over summer a pitch and putt green is popular with families, and for those who take their golf a little more seriously, the 18-hole, par 70 Silverdale Golf Club is open daily.

After having fun in the pool we later headed to the restaurant. The menu offers light bites and hearty dinners, including veggie and gluten-free options. With a range of choices - falafel and halloumi salad, chicken and smoked bacon carbonara, pulled pork burger, beer battered fish and chips, and minced beef and onion pie among them - there was something to suit everyone in our family party. I went for a delicious fish kebab, served on huge skewers with salad and rice.

We tucked into tasty homecooked food, in generous helpings, at a table overlooking the pool.

After dinner it was time for bowling. We booked a half-hour slot then had fun on the coin pushers and other arcade games before enjoying a drink in the bar, where kids’ discos and evening entertainment are on over summer.

All too soon it was time to pack up and head back inland. Taking a last glimpse of the sun-kissed bay as we drove away, we were already planning our next visit.

* Silverdale Holiday Park, Middlebarrow Plain, Cove Road, Silverdale, Cumbria. Three-bed caravan holiday homes sleeping up to six people available from £305 to £910 a week and short breaks from £200 to £545. Timber camping pods from £45 to £59 per night (based on two people).

Call (01524) 701508, email info@holgates.co.uk or visitvisit holgates.co.uk