North Devon

Hi, we are going on vacation in a few weeks to Woolacoomobe Bay in North Devon. We are taking 4 kids with us. Has anyone ever been there and can offer some advice on where to go to eat and fun stuff for the kids? We are staying at a holiday resort which is supposed to have things for the kids but I have no idea what Im in store for since this is my first holiday in England.
Have a nice Summer
Pebbles

Hiya Pebbles,Its been years since I was in north Devon,so I can't help much.But if things haven't changed too much then Lynton & Lynmouth are very pretty places to visit,and very close to where you're staying.

Dave

Thanks Dave. Ill make a note and check the map!
Pebs

Well I hope you have  great time and the weather is kind,we're going down south in October (Dawlish).Apart from the Isle of Wight where my cousin lives,I don't usually spend my UK holidays in that direction.We tend to go east,Lowestoft being the favourite at the moment as my brother in law lives there.We used to use Haven sites,but now find Hoseasons to be better,mainly because I think Haven fiddle the prize money on the bingo LOL.

Dave

LOL. I wont play BINGO then! Actually my friends just returned from a Haven holiday and said they wouldnt do it again. They said it was really expensive and there were additional costs everywhere. We are just staying at Woolecoombe Bay resort. We're doing a caravan which doesnt make me happy because all I can think about is the term "trailer trash". But all the apartments were already booked so unless we want to tent camp then we will have to caravan it! Wonder if they have room service? lol
Pebs 

We've done Caravan holidays and they can be ok.  What company is it?  The good thing about those holidays is that everything is on site-playground, pool, little shop.  The bad thing is that the people can be a bit rough.  We tend to just use it as a base-have a swim, go out for the day, come back.   But if you've got older little kids (5,6, 7) sometimes the children's entertainment can be great-let  someone else listen to them shriek for two hours.     I'd advise locating the local supermarket and getting your staples-bread, milk and toilet paper.  etc.  before you book in because the shops on site tend to be crowded and expensive(but are good for emergencies).  Remember to take washing up liquid and dish clothes too. 
We've stayed in apartments but tend to perfer caravans as the appts on some of those sites can be a bit tatty and are always noisy. 
Have fun.   

Hiya Pebbles,Haven to me are not the best,little things like not letting you take a photo of the kids with the tiger mascot (Rory?) so they could sell you a photo they took themselves.When I complained,they said they don't have a problem with you taking pics,but it always seems one of their staff gets in the way.

Dave

Well we arent going with a specific company. We just booked the holiday from the Woolecoombe Bay resort site.
This really wont be my FIRST experience with caravaning. My father in law had one at Great Yarmouth. We stayed for just the one night as I just didnt feel I belonged there. Sorry to sound snooty but people just like dump their kids off and sit and get drunk all day/night. There were little kids (under 10s) vandalizing the empty caravan next to ours. The security guards came and scared them off and within an hour they were back again tearing out pipes, breaking windows, etc. The parents did absolutely nothing. I was afraid to let my kids out the door. I am sure this is just an isolated incident but it was enough to put me off. I heard however that Blackpool and Great Yarmouth are not the best places to go with little kids. Im sure Devon will be better.

About, Haven...how dare they stop you from taking pictures!!! Have you ever gone back to a Haven resort? What about Butlins? I heard they are the lowest grade holiday place going. I think its all in the name, BUTlins. lol

I heard however that Blackpool and Great Yarmouth are not the best places to go with little kids. Im sure Devon will be better.

LOL,Strange, We stayed near Great Yarmouth last year on a great site,I think the place was near Scatby?.We were visiting the brother in law,and couldn't get a spot in Lowestoft itself.One point though,we tend not to go in the main weeks so maybe we miss most of the kids.

About, Haven...how dare they stop you from taking pictures!!! Have you ever gone back to a Haven resort? What about Butlins? I heard they are the lowest grade holiday place going. I think its all in the name, BUTlins. lol

As I said, they denied that was their policy,maybe it was a coincidence there was always someone in the way but I think not.
Only went to Butlins once,maybe 40 years ago,but I hear they have improved somewhat lately.Don't think I'll risk it though.

Dave

Hi, Pebbles ... sounds like you have some idea already on what caravanning's about ... you can have a fabulous time with the kids and enjoying things with them, or you can let them run riot.   Your neighbours in the next caravan will have the same choice with their kids too 

You asked ... way back ... "has anyone ever been there".  Not to stay, but I do remember visiting a holliday park on that coastline for a day while staying a few miles away and it might well have been Woolacombe.  Nice sandy beach, not entirely pretty with the caravans and the rest there.   I also recall a leisure pool, wave machine and all the things that went with it ... indoors and good fun if the kids are into that.  Do ensure you take warm clothes (oh - wasn't that another thread?) and perhaps a couple of old-fashioned games to play if you get rained in for a while and perhaps look to visiting some other local places rather than staying in camp all the time.  Visits I would make if in the area?
     Lynmouth and Lynton
     Ilfracombe and perhaps a day trip out to Lundy
     Combe Martin (I think there's a themed park there as I recall)
     Exmoor, Doon valley and the land of Lorna Doone
     Minehead and the steam railway
I've not got hours to research all of these, but Google should turn up more for you!

For more of a town, you're not too far from Barnstaple which (I think, but don't quote me) is a cut above a standard "just another" town for specialist and interesting shops.

This will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about your holiday to Devon.

It is the offical tourist board website for the enitre south west.

www.westcountrynow.com [nofollow]