Light At The End of The Tunnel Part 3

The bit where we actually open the gates… and pinch ourselves.

So. We did it. The 1st of July 2022. Opening day.

If you’ve read Parts 1 and 2, you’ll know just how long that road was. The 5-hour drives from North Wales. The creepy crawlies and the decades of fallen leaves. The tiling, the plumbing, the daily prayers to the grass. The late nights that blurred into early mornings. And then, bleary-eyed and still finishing last-minute jobs, we opened the gates.

Dawn and Dave from next door at the Horse & Hound appeared with glasses and a bottle of fizz, bless them, which was exactly what was needed! And then our first guests arrived.

We won’t lie — there was a moment of pure terror. All those months of work, and suddenly real people were pulling up with their caravans and tents, looking to us to deliver the experience we’d promised. Aaron and I looked at each other. This was it.

The First Season

That first summer was a whirlwind. Every day brought something new — a problem to solve, a guest to chat to, something to fix, something to celebrate. We were exhausted beyond words. We were also absolutely loving it.

What struck us most was the people. We had genuinely worried that people might not find us — tucked away down here in the Borders, off the beaten track. But find us they did, and they were wonderful. Families with children splashing in the Rule Water. Couples sitting by the river with a glass of wine and that look on their face that says I needed this. Dog walkers who’d spotted us on a website and made a special trip. Solo travellers who told us they’d found exactly the peace and quiet they were looking for.

Libby, our small Lurcher cross, took the whole thing in her stride and appointed herself as unofficial greeter and morale officer.

We also had a few teething issues — as any new business does. There were moments when things didn’t go quite to plan, and we held our breath. But every time, it was the guests who were understanding, encouraging, and kind. “You’re doing brilliantly,” more than one person told us. We needed to hear that more than they’ll ever know.

Growing Into It

As the seasons turned, so did Bonnie Park. We kept tweaking, improving, adding. The site that had been derelict for over 20 years slowly became something we were genuinely proud of.

Mark Hulme’s beautiful salmon carving at the entrance became an instant landmark — guests would stop and have their photo taken with it before they’d even unpacked. We love that. It feels like it belongs here.

We welcomed wardens who’ve become an essential part of what Bonnie Park is — Mark, Jaz, Penny, and Paul have brought so much warmth, hard work and good humour to the site. Running a campsite is not a 9-to-5 job, and having people who care about it as much as we do has made all the difference.

The community of Bonchester Bridge itself wrapped its arms around us too. The village, the pub next door, the locals who stopped to chat on their walks — it all added to that feeling that we’d found something really special here.

The Moment We Really Knew

There’s something about seeing a child run barefoot to the riverbank for the first time, or watching a couple sit in peaceful silence watching the herons, that makes all those long drives and late nights feel completely, utterly worth it.

But if there was a single moment that made us stop and take stock, it was hearing from guests who’d been back — for the second time, the third time, some already planning their next visit before they’d even driven home. Return visitors are the greatest compliment a campsite can receive. It means we got something right.

2025 — We Pinched Ourselves Again

We are still not entirely sure how to say this without sounding like we’re showing off, so we’ll just say it plainly: in 2025, Bonchester Bridge Caravan and Camping won three awards.

🏆 Best Campsite — Runner Up 2025 🏆 Best Caravan Park — Runner Up 2025 🏆 Outstanding Site 2025

When we first walked through the overgrown bushes of that derelict site in 2021 with Libby and a dream, this was not something we dared imagine. These awards belong to every single person who’s stayed with us, recommended us, left a kind review, or simply told a friend. And they belong to our brilliant wardens who show up every day and make guests feel genuinely at home.

If you had told us back then — elbow-deep in renovation, existing on very little sleep and an awful lot of determination — that this is where we’d be… we’d have laughed and gone back to tiling.

What’s Next?

Bonnie Park is still a work in progress — it always will be. There are always ideas, always improvements, always something new we want to try. That’s the fun of it. We’re still learning. Still dreaming. Still absolutely loving what we’ve built.

If you’re reading this wondering whether to book — come. Come and walk along the Rule Water with your dog. Come and light a fire and watch the stars. Come and let the birdsong wake you up instead of an alarm. Come and make memories.

We’ll be here. Probably still fixing something. But here.

With love from Trina, Aaron, and Libby 🐾