Check into a plush caravan by Lake Windermere with all mod cons for a bargain fun-filled holiday with the kids says NIGEL ROE

WHEN did caravans get so posh?

They're more limo than van these days - bigger and better equipped than ever.

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I loved our caravan holidays in the Lake District when I was a kid.

But I certainly don't miss the torchlit treks to the loos or the chilly concrete shower blocks.

Thirty years on, I draw the line at having to transform the dining table into a bed before turning in.

So it was a pleasant surprise for my family and I as we rolled up at South Lakeland Holidays' flagship park, White Cross Bay, for a midweek break.

Situated on the banks of Lake Windermere, the park has fantastic views of the surrounding hills and fells.

Our van, tucked among the trees, had a master bedroom that wouldn't look out of place in a modern house, plus a smart, decent-sized kitchen and a proper shower.

The site also has free Wi-Fi, a big indoor pool, fitness centre, shop with all the essentials and a welcoming pub. You can sit outside enjoying a bite to eat and a glass of something nice while the kids run riot in the playground next door.

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The pub is called The Flying Boat - a clue to the park's history. In World War Two it housed a factory making Sunderland flying boats.
A village was built nearby to house the workers. But all that remains today is the slipway where the aircraft took to the water, which now makes White Cross Bay perfect for launching and mooring boats.

It's also a great spot for feeding ducks, geese and swans - and a trip to the water's edge was a regular post-breakfast jaunt for our kids.
White Cross Bay lies midway between Bowness and Ambleside, close to the natural beauty and charming villages that draw millions of visitors every year.

It is also next door to the Brockhole Lake District visitor centre, where you can enjoy lunch in the gardens, soaking up those views.
There's even a free adventure playground for the kids.

Bustling Bowness is a honey pot for Lakes visitors with its gift shops, caf�s and restaurants. And its attractions include the World Of Beatrix Potter, where the characters from the children's tales are brought to life.

For a lazy afternoon, hire a rowing boat and pretend you're in Swallows And Amazons.

Ambleside, cagoule capital of Britain, has a more rugged feel and an outdoors shop on every corner.

If your legs aren't up to a hike up Helvellyn, at least you can look the part when you head home.

If it rains, buy a ticket to the famous Zeffirelli's cinema, named after the Italian director, and catch up on the latest Hollywood hits.

On sunny days a cruise down the lake is a must. Boats leave the jetty just outside the town every few minutes and you can either head for Bowness or sail to Lakeside at the southern end of Windermere.

At a sedate 10mph, the boats are the perfect way to see parts of the lake you'd miss from the land.

Nearby a 20-stone American told anyone who would listen how her head scarf and sunnies made her look like Audrey Hepburn. . .

The real leading lady around these parts is the landscape.

With a base like White Cross Bay to enjoy it from, I can't imagine why you would want to holiday anywhere else.

FACT FILE
SHORT breaks in a caravan at White Cross Bay this autumn start at �235 for three nights over a weekend or four nights midweek.

The price is based on a four-berth (two-bedroom) superior caravan and includes all bed linen, fuel supplements and entertainment passes.

Entertainment includes an indoor pool, sauna, games arcade, bar, restaurant, picnic area and multi-use games area.

Upgrades to a luxury lodge for a short break start from �319. Weekly lets for a caravan cost from �335 and for a lodge cost from �455.