Craig Tara Holiday Park

5 readers found this review helpful

Just back from Craig Tara and after reading the reviews before going was worried about what to expect
If you are planning on going please note that the site didnt look run down there was loads to do for young children without having to spend money . It is near the sea with good access, rock pool exploring . There is a bus that runs to Ayr every 15mins on the hour where there is great shopping and beaches with clean sand to make sand castles
If you explore further there are castles to see and small fishing villages
Our caravan was clean and well maintained , within walking distance of all amenties and quiet at night
Weather was fantastic and sunsets marvellous - Would recommend

6 readers found this review helpful

A family friendly park with lots of kids entertaiment.Staff were very friendly and helpful at all times.The accomodation was spec clean and kitchens well equipped.Looking forward to our next holiday with HAVEN!

4 readers found this review helpful

I have heard so many negative reviews about this place but we thought we would give it a go anyway. I went with my wife and four kids, on arrival we were told our chalet accomodation was unavailable and we had been upgraded to a gold star caravan. It was in Alloway Village and it was lovely, the characters and funstars were great and the activities such as Archery, Bowling, Fencing, Target Shooting, Human Hamster Balls & Laser Quest were memorable. It had a great park and swimming pool, shops for all your needs and everything was close by. The meals were tasty with plenty of choice each night, the only disappointments were the beach, it was tiny and didn't look very nice and the entertainment was below par. However, it was always great to see the wild and wonderful characters and the funstars always put on a good show and they were great with the kids. The highlight of the week for me was the Jack & The Beanstalk panto, one of the best and funniest things I have seen. Everyone had a great time there, the weather was lovely but would I come back I dunno because I returned home penniless.

4 readers found this review helpful

I have just come back from Craig Tara today (7 adults and 4 kids) and had very fond memories of going to Butlins there when I was little, to be honest I was a bit disapointed but enjoyed my holiday over all.
The accomodation
We stayed as a big group in Chalets which were delapidated BUT CLEAN!! which after reading the reviews I was really worried about and to be honest do you go on holiday to stay in your accomodation?
We ate in the Turnbury Gardens and the food was very basic but plenty, however there was a complete absence of any fruit the whole time we were there and all the veg etc is frozen, while there is a salad bar it is very small. However for what we paid to go I think the food was quite good value.
The Entertainment
The entertainment was rubbish however it is run by the same 9 people who work really hard from morning in the kids clubs till after midnight so you do have to give them some credit for it.
The Site
The site itself is not bad, everywhere I looked was clean and tidy and I didnt have any hygine issues with the pool itself apart from the changing rooms. Yes the activities are expensive but you dont have to put your hand in your pocket, there is a park, a beach, free kids clubs, the pool is free, soft play is free and they even have free smiming lessions for the kids.
Overall we had a really good holiday, if you go with the mindset that this is a CAMPING holiday and not expect Centre Parcs on a lemonade budget then your family will really enjoy it.

3 readers found this review helpful

I've just returned from 3 days at Craig Tara with my girlfriend and 2 kids. On arrival at the site i noticed how run down the place was. I mean this place hasn't had any work done on it since Havan bought the site from Butlins who friends told me where the previous owners during the fifties. The main bar where we got our keys for the caravan and recieved info about the camp smelled like **** and the carpets havent been changed in a long time. When we entered our caravan it was reasonable clean only because we had complained befored we arrived after reading some reviews, after asking another guest who had brought a young baby with us we found out we were lucky. After unpacking and taking a walk around it was soon made clear that there were no free activaties for the kids everything costs £5 upwards for 10mins of really disapointing fun for the kids. Craig Tara is all about money and how fast the staff can relieve it from the parents. The evenings entertainment in the 2 bars was pathetic and revolved around the children getting photos with the characters at £15 a go and selling them very high sugar content drinks and sweets to make them as hyper
as possible so they'd hassle the parents for money for the arcades i mean we gave the kids £20 each only for them to come back 5 mins later broke an bored. kids can stay in the bars until 12.30am to relieve their drunk parents of as much cash as possible i can only think that Havan planned this strategy. The next day we took the children to the pool which i have to say i was worried we might get a infection from, when we got changed to enter one half had been closed because somebody had just gone to the toilet in it and we could see staff out with nets trying to fish up whatever it was, the next day that area was again open with said stain still present on the bottom of the pool!
Nothing at Craig tara is free we brought £500 spending money for 3 days thats for 2 adults and 2 kids and it lasted a day and a half and we weren't spending like some parents. everything about this place is a disapointment i can only think that the positive reviews here are placed by staff told to write something good.
I don't know why Havan even pretend this is a Family destination they should stop the pretence Just take your money off you at the gate and send you home again i definitely would not recommend this to anyone.

1 reader found this review helpful

Myself and my family have recently come back from a week at Craig Tara holiday park. What a great week we had. I was a bit worried about going, because I had read a few negative reviews, in amongst great ones, but we had a fabulous time.
Our caravan was up in Arran view, so the view was just stunning. It was also very quiet and private, which was nice.
My kids enjoyed the activities and I enjoyed walking along the beach, whenever I wanted. Beach access is very good and a plus for this park.
The caravan was spotlessly clean and most of the staff were very pleasant and helpful. There are good choices of cuisine on the park, if you do not fancy cooking, and a good sized shop open until 10pm.
The child's play area was a good size and there are several basketball courts and wee pitches.
The park is very clean and most dog owners are responsible and keep their dog on a leash and pick up their dirt.
This was our first time at Craig Tara and it measures very well against ones we have been to in England in the past.
I would recommend it to people. We had a very nice time there, so much so,a close relative, has just bought a luxury caravan on the park, so we will be holidaying at Craig Tara, for many years!! Happy Holidays....

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from craig tara was there mon to fri in a prestige caravan which was excellent very clean u get what u pay for i say so if ur only paying 9, 50 out the sun what u expect to get ur not going to get luxury are u ,we are booking back for next year , i have a 2 year old and she loved and so did we entertainment was brilliant for kids and adults ,
Spar was awful expensive that was the only bad thing about it ,

5 readers found this review helpful

Just back from a 7 night's stay and all i can say is that it was fab. Was there with parents, my son (14) and the dog. The caravan was fab, the staff frendly and helpfull and the entertament 1st class. loved the funstars, and all there little shows and the zoo troop were good too, even tho Ned tryed to steal my fried egg, lol. my son and i cant wait to go back, going to book for October hols asap. Thanks craig tara for a great hol.

5 readers found this review helpful

where do i start?
i never complain
i read thses reports before i went and thought thst evrybody was taking this over top and were telling lies but nothing was wat i expected.
firstly after a 6 hour journey we got their amd collected our chalet key to find that we had to walk about 20 mins to get to to the chalet and then we got their they had given us a chalet which was upstairs in which i had to complain as i had a baby in a push chair and the people on the site were no help at all and sent us back to reception.
we then got a new chalet downstairs and the tiolets were broken and 1 shower between the two of our rooms which we compalined about everyday and we never got any help my dad end up having to fix the toilet. we then also asked for clean sheets everyday and towels and a hoover and none of these were ever given to me.there was also spiders stuck to the wall.
The entertainment was shocking! it was the same shows every night! the same rock show in the atlantic on the sunday and on the wednesday night i could not believe what i was seeing. Bonga wonga was rubbish that shut early and all that was open was the atlantic but as i said that was pretty much the same most nights, even the reps were no help either one of them couldnt wait to finish when she was working the music in the bonga wonga.We ended up by the end of the holiday just staying in and having a drink as we were sooo cheesed off with the place! IT STATED THAT THERE WAS LOADS ON AND THERE WAS NOT .
tHE POLICE ACTUALLY HAD TO COME ONE NIGHT AND STOP THE FIGHTS FROM ALL THE YOUNG HOODS.
the staff at the shop were incredibly cheeky and also were the staff at the bar and they were very upfront and didnt care what they saud they were not vey children orientated.
then we also went for dinner bed and breakfast and the food was the worst food ever we had tasted we ended up having to go into ayr town and get some food to cook ourselves as the spars prices were disgraceful example spars own bread was £2.59 and a packt of cigerettes were £7.59.
there is alot more i could write but i wont say anymore #
IT WAS JUST STINKING AND THE WORST HOLIDAY I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY WHOLE LIFE
NEVER GO

1 reader found this review helpful

where should i begin.first impression o my god fine if you like to share avan wee hoards o ants. not the cleanest we have ever stayed in. mattress in double berth absolutly knackered thought iwas sleeping on the edge of a cliff.pilot light on boiler kept goig out constsantly.telly kaput. toilet had to flush several times to clear.seat at front of van collapsed when sat on.onfuther investigation just acushion nothing below to support it.food in the restraunt can only be described as 1970s school dinners.soup obviosly from a packet mince and douballs well icould make much better myself this was advertised as really tasty, how wrong. swimming poolitself very good very warmloads to do great flumes.but this waas let down by the solitary shower working.