Appletree Holiday Park, formerly known as Boston West, is a rural Lincolnshire country park that has been freshly unveiled after a major renovation. Set among 150 acres of pristine countryside, just a few miles outside the historic town of Boston, the park is a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle to unwind in tranquil surroundings. We were invited by Away Resorts, who run the park, to stay for a night and check out the facilities. In this Appletree Holiday Park review we take a look at our experience of the accommodation, and why we think this is a great place for a relaxing Lincolnshire retreat.
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In rural Lincolnshire you can always count on getting some peace on quiet. For us, that’s the big appeal of Appletree Holiday Park, which is set among the natural surroundings of the calm countryside. It’s also a convenient base for exploring the nearby Lincolnshire coast, the town of Boston or the scenery of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
The park has made great use of the 150-acre space, integrating caravans and mobile accommodation units sparsely and tastefully among the natural environment. Walking around the grounds in the evening I was struck by the tranquility of the setting. All the residents and holiday-goers are respectful of the peaceful environment, and you get the sense there is rarely any disturbance.
Appletree Holiday Park opened its doors in 2022 after a £3.5million refurbishment, transforming it from the previous Boston West into a spotless modern holiday resort. If you speak to people who have visited the complex before and after the change, the consensus is that the quality of lodgings and cleanliness standards have seen a complete turnaround.
I can say the same about my experience. I found the whole place to be immaculate and maintained to the highest of standards – from the accommodation to the communal facilities, and everywhere in between.
The park has a nine-hole golf course, which is also extremely well kept. The fairways and greens look finely preened glistening in the July sunshine!
Friendly and welcoming service
An attentive staff team is very often what makes a holiday park memorable. It makes such a difference. After arriving at Appletree, I had a right old chat with Julia, who welcomed me at reception and gave me a run-through of the facilities.
The only slight hitch I experienced at any point during my stay was when there was an issue with the key fob for my caravan lodge. But when these things happen, it’s all about how the staff react. Julia had given me a mobile number I could call out of hours if there were any issues, so I gave her a bell, and she was straight out to help. It was sorted within minutes! It’s great to know you’ll be well looked after when you need it.
As I was waiting briefly for the key fob to be replaced, a couple who were staying in the lodge opposite asked me if I’d like to join them for a drink in the meantime. The whole place has a friendly, welcoming vibe, and not in an intrusive way.
A dog-friendly park
Appletree Holiday Park ticks all the boxes that Lisa and I look for in a place to take our dog Regan away for a few days. Dogs are welcome in most areas of the park and treated as part of the family.
Lisa couldn’t make this trip as she had to stay at home to finish preparations for her sister’s hen do the next day. But the first thing I said to her after arriving home afterwards was that we should book a stay at Appletree Holiday Park with the dog for later in the year. It’s so perfect for a little couple-and-dog family!
The grounds are fantastic for dog-walking, with pathways weaving among the trees and fields between each of the accommodation areas. When I went out for a sunrise wander to take some photos, there were already dog-walkers out bright and early.
Dogs need to be kept on lead at all times, but if you want to give them more exercise then there is ample more countryside nearby to explore.
Accommodation at Appletree Holiday Park
A range of mobile homes, lodges and caravans are dotted throughout the park in neat clusters. There are various types and sizes, offering something different whether you’re looking for a cosy couple’s getaway or a holiday for all the family.
Some of the more lavish options come with hot tubs, and there are also some waterside lodge settings by the park’s ponds. A select few accommodations are pet-free, which are a good option if you have allergies.
My stay was in an Oakland seven-berth mobile home. At full capacity this could hold a family of seven if utilising the sofa bed. It’s a lovely sized space for a couple or small family.
On entering the home, my first impression was how neat and clean the space looked. It had a gleaming, fully equipped kitchen, with everything we could possibly need for self-catering. The lounge space was ample with a large, plush sofa, the kind you can just sink into. A wide-screen TV faced opposite, and just next to it was a table with chairs, where I could imagine staying up late at night playing some cards.
Throughout the mobile home, everything was immaculately kept. The double bedroom in the Oakwood has an en suite with a bath and shower, with plenty of space to move around. And the beds are super comfy! That, combined with the quiet environment, pretty much guarantees a good night’s sleep.
A thoughtful welcome pack
Sometimes it’s the little touches that make a stay memorable. When I arrived at the Oakwood there was a lovely welcome pack waiting for me, with coffee, tea, sugar, chocolates, biscuits and two bottles of sparkling apple juice.
When I opened the fridge, it got even better! There stood a chilled bottle of prosecco. Just what you need to get a relaxing holiday started.
Dinner at Six West Restaurant and Bar
Appletree Holiday Park has a restaurant and bar on site, called Six West, which was previously Ken’s Bar before the refurbishment. It has been decked out with bright carpets, colourful comfy chairs, and hanging plants and lights, giving it a vibrant, upbeat feel.
The menu keeps it simple with a range of hearty pub-style classics. I was tempted by the hunter’s chicken, but eventually leant back to scampi and chips, which has always been a favourite of mine. But first, I treated myself to a starter of baked camembert.
While sipping a beer before my starter arrived, I got chatting to a guy on a nearby table who was stopping over at the park while on a long-range work trip. He was travelling far and wide, from Berlin to the Shetlands. It’s definitely a relaxing place to unwind when you’re breaking up a long journey!
My food came in generous portions, and was very tasty and filling – I didn’t even have room left for dessert. When Lisa and I come back for a few days, we’ll most likely treat ourselves to a meal here one night and make use of the mobile home kitchen to self-cater for the rest.
There is also a separate cocktail bar, called the Tipsy Eagle Lounge Bar (previously Westwoods Bar and Grill), which overlooks the golf course.
Activities during your stay
Appletree Holiday Park is geared towards relaxing among nature, and is the kind of place we’d be very happy doing nothing but chilling in the surroundings, perhaps with a good book or some games. But there are various things you can do around the site to keep you entertained.
Golf at Appletree Holiday Park
Boston West Golf Club is part of the complex at Appletree Holiday Park, with a nine-hole golf course integrated into the grounds. Walking between the accommodations and the facilities you will wander past immaculate fairways and greens punctuated with sandy bunkers and grassy knolls.
Anyone is welcome to play golf at Appletree Holiday Park regardless of experience, and it is not prohibitively expensive. You can pay and play nine holes for £15, and you can hire clubs if you don’t have your own.
For something a bit more family-friendly or beginner-friendly than getting straight out onto the course, you can try out your swing at the driving range, beginning at £4 for 25 balls.
Or, for a different twist, there’s the option for a round of ‘footgolf’. For those not in the know (I had to Google it myself!), footgolf is a hybrid of football and golf, in which you’re only allowed to use your feet to sink the ball in the hole. A fun game of this costs £8 for adults and £5 for children.
Activities for kids at Appletree Holiday Park
If we had kids, Appletree Holiday Park is definitely a place we would want to bring them. A lot of the new developments have been geared towards families with children, from the spacious accommodation to the various activities you can try.
One of the new features is an adventure playground, located just outside the reception building and restaurant. There’s hours of fun to be had here for sure, with quirky features for your little ones to climb over, such as a wooden windmill. You will also find more play areas dotted around the park.
An outdoor splash pad has also been introduced next to the adventure playground, which looks like a really fun way for all the family to cool down on hot days.
And then there’s something that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find at a holiday park in Lincolnshire – an outdoor cinema! It’s a good idea to bring some camping chairs for this, or a picnic blanket, so you can set up in comfort to watch family-friendly films in the open air.
Exploring the grounds and further afield
The wooded greeneries and ponds around Appletree Holiday Park are navigated by well kept pathways. I found it mindful and relaxing to just take a wander around the grounds in the morning as the sun rose.
If you want to explore further afield, you can hire bikes from the park centre. This is another activity you can do with children, with bikes available for all ages. Prices vary from the hour up to a full 24 hours, but as an example, it’s £12 for an adult and £9 for a child for four hours, which is a nice amount of time to discover the nearby countryside.
Things to do near Appletree Holiday Park
Appletree Holiday Park is ideally placed for enjoying the many different dimensions of Lincolnshire. Within a few miles you have access to the scenic countryside, beach-ridden coastline and historic towns. Here are a few things you can do if you want to explore beyond the park during your stay.
Boston
Right on the doorstep of Appletree Holiday Park is the historic town of Boston, which was once the largest port in Europe. Today the town is reinventing itself, and it’s a great place to spend a fun day out exploring.
The centrepoint of the town is St Botolph’s Church, also known as the ‘Boston Stump’, which towers 83 metres high and can be seen for miles around. You can climb 209 steps up inside the tower, which is more than 500 years old.
Another unique building in the Boston skyline is Maud Foster Mill, a 76-metre-high, seven-floor windmill that is one of the oldest operational mills in the UK. It has been running continuously for over 200 years!
If you can, visit Boston on a Wednesday or Saturday for market day. This is when you will see the town at its liveliest, and you can intersperse some sightseeing with perusing the market stalls. Also see if you can find all six of the Boston Buoys – old shipping buoys that have been brought back to life as art installations, scattered around the town.
Our rundown of our favourite things to do in Boston will give you some more ideas, along with tips on places to eat and drink while you’re there.
Lincoln
If you’re planning a stay at Appletree Holiday Park and you haven’t visited Lincoln before, then we definitely recommend incorporating a trip to our historic city into your itinerary! It’s just 45 minutes drive away, and perfect for a day out.
As our home city, Lincoln is the main focus of our blog, so just take a browse around this site to find some inspiration. Start with our compilation of things to do in Lincoln.
The city’s two iconic buildings, Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, are an absolute must to see while you visit. If it’s your first time here, we highly recommend taking the Lincoln free walking tour for an all-round introduction.
Beaches in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is without a doubt one of the most under-appreciated places in the country for its beaches. Its coastline is marked by miles upon miles of golden sand. There’s somewhere here to please any kind of beachgoer, whether you’re looking for a lively beach resort town or a secluded spot to walk or relax.
Our guide to the best beaches in Lincolnshire runs through all our favourite spots on the coast from north to south. The beaches on the south side are the closest to Appletree Holiday Park, and you have a nice drive through countryside to reach them.
Lincolnshire countryside and walks
You’re quite spoilt for choice when it comes to exploring nature within the vicinity of Appletree Holiday Park. The most obvious option is the Lincolnshire Wolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that spans across more than 500 kilometres of countryside.
About half an hour’s drive from the park will bring you to the threshold of the Wolds, for example via the pretty towns of Horncastle or Spilsby. There are many different combinations of walks you can take in the area. One we recommend is a 12-kilometre circular walk from Belchford, which can culminate with lunch at the Blue Bell, one of our favourite Lincolnshire village pubs.
But there are yet more places you can explore the natural surroundings closer to Appletree Holiday Park. A short bike ride or five-minute drive will take you to the banks of the River Witham at Langrick Bridge. A pathway for walking and cycling runs alongside the river all the way between Boston and Lincoln, on a trail known as the Water Rail Way. Look out for art installations and viewing platforms along the way.
Just the other side of Boston is Frampton Marsh, a nature reserve operated by RSPB. This is a lovely spot to come for a peaceful walk and to look out for the diverse birdlife on the waterways by the coast.
Bubblecar Museum
If you cross over the River Witham at Langrick Bridge and keep driving, you will soon reach one of the quirkiest attractions hidden among the Lincolnshire countryside – the Bubblecar Museum!
Less than a ten-minutes journey from Appletree Holiday Park, this museum gives a fascinating insight into the British microcar industry of the 1950s and 60s. You can see unique specimens of these characterful old little cars, and on ride weekends you can even take a spin in one.
Booking your stay at Appletree Holiday Park
You can check availability at Appletree Holiday Park for your preferred dates, view prices and book your stay on booking.com. We use this site to book most of our travel and holiday experience as it’s quick, easy, secure, and has free cancellation on most accommodation options.
How to get to Appletree Holiday Park
Appletree Holiday Park is roughly four miles west of Boston just off the A1121, and is easy to reach by road. The easiest way is to stick the postcode PE20 3QX into your sat nav or Google Maps to find the best route.
Coming from Lincoln on the north side, we take the A15, A17 and then continue onto the A1121. From the south side it’s best to take the A16 and then A52 to avoid Boston traffic.
Have you visited Appletree Holiday Park? We’d love to know about your experiences. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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