Message Forums

thanks all

we are staying at one of the woolacombe sites and so can use the facilities at all of them. we dont usually go to big sites like this with entertainment etc but thought would be nice for our boys aged 16 and 10

dont plan to spend all time onsite,as like to explore and go to beaches etc ,but if the weather is bad at least they will be entertained !

I've been going to this area of North Devon for 25 years since I was a kid and now take mine at every possible opportunity!  My kids are 4 & 6.

We usually don't have time to do everything that we want to.  If the weather is nice, we tend to spend a lot of time on the beach.  Great family beaches are Woolacombe, Saunton Sands and my favourite and where we always stay, Croyde Bay.  I would say that Croyde is worth a visit.  It is a picture postcard village with thatched cottages, lots of surf shops and some great places to grab a bite.  There is also a swimming pool with slides and lazy river and stuff at Ruda which is in Croyde.  For food, we usually eat at Billy Bud's in Croyde which does great pizza, nachos, pasta, burgers, etc.  And has a play area outside with a big fort that entertains my kids for hours.

Moving away from Croyde.  Squires for fish and chips in Braunton is a must.  Best in the area in our opinion.  You can also hire bikes in Braunton and do the Tarka trail if you want to.

In Ilfracombe you have the tunnel beaches, the Hut restuarant and softplay / outside play at the entrance to the tunnels.  They do nice coffees, cakes and a variety of food - it's a really nice place.  Also in ilfracombe, you can walk down to the harbour and get boat trips up and down the coast for an hour or do full day trips.  My kids loved the 1 hour up and down the coast.  There is also crazy golf which is good fun.  We sometimes do Ilfracombe, grab a bag of chips and sit on the small beach down by the harbour - it's never busy and a bit over looked I think.

Theme parks - we have done Watermouth castle which was actually our favourite.  You pay once and can return as often as you like for a small fee - saved our bacon a few times when it's been raining.  It is mainly aimed at little ones but we had 2 teenagers with us and they were quite happy there too. 

We've done the big sheep which was also OK for a day out.  And we've done the Milky Way.  You can also get to Crealy much further down South in about 1.5 hours - this was the best for thrill rides and a bit more to do but a bit of a drive.

There is softplay in Barnstaple.  Tesco now open at Braunton and the outskirst of Barnstaple.  Barnstaple is nice for a day if you fancy pottering around shops.  There is an outlet called Atlantic City or something like that with lots of shops and some sort of play thing for kids - you have to pay.

Going south down the coast you have Instow and Appledore which are cute coastal villages.  Also Colvelly which is quite famous and a village on a very steep cliff.  Nice for a day trip.

Up the coast you have Lynton and Lynmouth - joined by a tram thing built into the cliffe - nice day out and some nice gastro pubs here.

There are some good National Trust places close by.  Arlington Court is nice, Watersmeet is good.  There are others but I forget the names. 

You can walk from Croyde to Puttsborough along the headland called Baggy Point.  We did this with a 3, 5 and less than 1 year old last year with 2 buggys!  Puttsborough is just the other end of the 3 mile beach that include Woolacombe.

Minehead isn't too far for a full day out and you have Exmoor also.

I could go on and on as you can see!!  We were there last Easter and had Fabulous weather.  We are also booked for 2 weeks in August this year and I already can't wait!

wow thank you  added lots to my "list"

we go on Thursday,can't wait

x