11th May, 2026 by Alpine Park Cottages
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As we approach the 19th of May, there’s a very special milestone just around the corner for us at Alpine Park Cottages—our 20th anniversary. It feels like the right moment to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come, and to share a little of the story behind the place so many of you now know and love.
From Caravan Site to Countryside Retreat
Many guests ask us a simple question when they arrive: who makes the cottages, lodges, cabins, or chalets? Over the years, they’ve been called many things, but the answer often surprises people. They are, in fact, fully block-built cottages.
Each one has proper foundations, just like a small bungalow. They’re constructed with double brick walls, full insulation, and high-pitched roofs—built for comfort, warmth, and longevity throughout the seasons. What gives them their distinctive “Alpine” feel is the timber cladding on the exterior and the forna around the site. This wasn’t just an aesthetic choice, but a thoughtful one, designed to help the buildings blend naturally into their surroundings on the edge of what was once an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, now often referred to as National Landscapes.
The story of Alpine Park Cottages actually goes back much further than 20 years. In the 1800's the area was known as Hockland Wood, which later became Hawkerland Woods.
In the early 1970s, the site was originally a caravan park. But as holiday trends have changed over the decades so as Alpine Park Cottages. As development continued, the foundations of what you see today slowly began to take shape. The site has had a number of owners, with each one adding more to the site and their own style.
In fact, cottages number 1 and 2 have a rather surprising origin story—they were originally men’s and ladies’ toilet and shower block for the caravan park. It’s hard to imagine now when you walk through the doors and find cosy interiors and peaceful views, but those buildings have quite literally been transformed over the decades.
When we bought Alpine Park Cottages in 2006, it was already a special place. At that time, there were just six cottages on the site. We remember wondering, slightly nervously, whether we might get a bit bored… As it turns out, that was never going to be the case.
Over the next five years, we went on to build five additional cottages, carefully expanding the site while keeping its peaceful character intact. It’s always been important to us that growth never came at the expense of what people love about the place: the space, the calm, and the connection to nature.
Since then, the evolution has continued in many other ways too. We’ve moved through versions of ideas, improvements, and updates in the cottages—now proudly on version 3 of our children’s play area, version 4 of our website and even version 2 of the lawn mower! Each change has been driven by the same goal: to make every stay just a little better than the last.
While buildings and improvements tell part of the story, the most important part of Alpine Park Cottages has always been the people who come here.
We are incredibly fortunate to have guests who return year after year. Some families have visited dozens of times—one or two even approaching 40 stays with us over the years. That level of loyalty is something we never take for granted.
As a small business, that kind of support means everything. Every recommendation to friends and family, every social media share, every kind message, and every return visit has helped shape who we are today.
We’ve grown because of you, and we remain here because of you.
Looking Ahead
Reaching 20 years is something we’re incredibly proud of, but it doesn’t feel like the end of a journey—in many ways, it feels like just another chapter.
We’ll continue to care for and improve Alpine Park Cottages with the same attention and passion that has brought us this far. And if the past two decades are anything to go by, there will always be something new evolving, improving, and being lovingly built along the way.
Most importantly, we look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new guests for many years to come.
Here’s to the next 20 years at Alpine Park Cottages.
With heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been part of the journey
The Mynard Family xxx
A trip down memory lane with some of our past photos at the site.
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