Campsite recommendation for Woolacombe area anyone ?

[ringo]

Next summer we are planning to go to Woolacombe/Ilfracoombe for a week. We will be with three other families and will have kids ranging from 12 months to 12 years old.

We will have a mix of a camper, tents and a caravan. A childrens play area is essential. We would rather not go to a large site that has a club house.

Has anyone got any suggestions?

Im on campsites uk and have found loads:

Easewell Farm Holiday Park (expensive apparently)
Europa Park (does stag/hen do's so may not be best for a family)
Golden Coast Holiday Village

The thing is, we dont really need a holiday village - we just need a nicely located site for the coast that has something for the kids to do around meal times. Parents will be very happy chilling by the barby - we dont need evening entertainment (and also the associated cost that goes with it).

A lot of asks - but if anyone went to the bashtie they will know what we want (just like Bluehills but with a kiddies playground).

Thanks guys

Ringo

[shaz and dan's van]

http://www.northmortefarm.co.uk/

Close to Easewell, short walk to Morthoe

We have used this site loads in the past, good play area, good shop & facilities - no entertainment!!

Fantastic view of Lundy

Good price, but - in the past we have found they do not take bookings, which is a bit of a pain.

[ringo]

Thanks Shaz - i saw that and thought it looked just the job.

However, we really need to book as there is potentailly 4 families going!

So, thats this one out unfortunately.

Ringo

[Cruz]

Northmorte is an excellent campsite with great facilities. We went in July and turned up on spec with no problems. Its quite a big site with plenty of room. There were quite a few empty hookup pitches too.

Plus the little village is only a 5 minute hop away with 3 pubs a lovely tearoom and a chippy as well as great coastal walks.

Too not go because of no bookings would mean you'd miss out on a lovely site on a lovely cliff

http://www.funplace2b.co.uk/camp/site/d ... spx?id=153

[jed the spread]

is well expensive round their Riccchhharrrrrrrrdd. rob and i have a right basic if not a tad shabby but cheap place we stay at. i cant remember the name its something with farm in it i think. pm rob he will know.

jed

[Bilbo Blue]

Lobb Field at Braunton is ok. They are all expensive in the summer around there.

[lhd]

is well expensive round their Riccchhharrrrrrrrdd. rob and i have a right basic if not a tad shabby but cheap place we stay at. i cant remember the name its something with farm in it i think. pm rob he will know.

I can't remember the name but its about 500 yards from a caravan club site which should be easy to find, it's very basic though.
As Jed said, tis a tad pricey round there.

[TonyS99]

Easwell, Twitchen, Woolacombe Bay and Golden Coast are all owned by the same mega company who run the Woolacombe Bay Hotel. Very dear - about £45 per night in high season for a tent, 2 adults and a kid. Rip-off, I know, but there are plenty of folks around willing to pay it. (Would they send me their bank account details, please?)

Europa Park used to be cheap and basic, catering for groups of youngsters whose main concerns were surf, cider and sex. Now it's just basic, as they've raised their prices more in line with other Woolly sites. Avoid if you're a family.

Woolacombe Sands is independent, and nearest to Woolly village. But it's even dearer than the others, and the facilities are a bit worn.

I can't remember the name but its about 500 yards from a caravan club site which should be easy to find, it's very basic though.

That would be Warcombe Farm. Gets good reviews, and not too dear, compared to others. Worth checking out.

North Morte Farm is far and away the best, but: 1. you can't book for tents; 2. in the summer hols, it's impossible to get a pitch at a weekend, unless the weather's utterly foul; 3. there are no EHUs for tents or campervans; 4. caravans are in a separate field from tents and campervans. Apart from that, it's absolutely stunning, and I've been there maybe 50 times.

Damage Barton, about a mile outside Mortehoe, is a Caravan Club and a Camping & Caravan Club Site. It gets very good reviews indeed, but I've never been. Bit too far from the pub! But for what you want, it looks pretty good, if you're willing to join the C&C club, that is (about £35/year).

Woolacombe in recent years has suffered the same problems as much of Cornwall: too many wannabee surfer dudes, too many features in the Sunday papers, and too many grasping, greedy site owners. It's still beautiful, though, and I'm still planning to have my ashes scattered on Morte Point!

For loads of unbiased reviews of all these sites, look at:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/

[kathyshack]

don't forget you can add any good site recomendations here for everyone to benefit from in the future? see this thread
cheers,
kathy

[bigbluebullybus]

Surfers Paradise at Croyde in't bad - basic and cheap Within very easy reach of the beach (which has lifeguards). I would have thought sites around Mortehoe wouldn't necessarily be the best choice if you've got kids as you've got a bit of a trek on yer 'ands if you want to get to the water's edge and the car parks at Woolacombe ain't cheap!!! I seem to remember Europa is also way up at the top of the hill on the other side of Woolacombe. If it's with kids in mind Twitchen etc are all just the ticket - lots to do if the weather's naff and they put on a free bus to get you down to the beach The prices have gone up in recent years though Happily, once yer've been they do offer discounts on subsequent visits.

We've been to Lobb Fields a few times and it's ok. Go into Braunton (free car park) and you can hire bikes and disappear off for the day. The Braunton Burrows is a great place to explore and Saunton sands is an excellent beach for surfing, swimming, flying a kite etc. Ilfracombe is pretty but you'll have to pay to access anything like a decent beach. Lynton and Lynmouth are nice to visit but again it depends on the age of the kids you're taking and how best to keep them entertained. Combe Martin's a good place to check out too and there may be campsites out that way...North Devon generally is ace and a good place to take the kids but be prepared to travel as there's very few campsites that are near to the beaches...

[ringo]

Thanks for the input guys - this is great.

When i get time im going to have a bit more of a look...

Ringo

[jamesc76]

We have a caravan.

Ringo

I knew you had changed splitter!!!!!!!! Thats why you have kept the landy then!!

[shallyscarlet]

EXPENSIVE !!!!!!!!!!!! well we only paid £112 for a week in our van ..electric hookup at easewell farm part of the woolecoombe bay group.. cheap as chips i thought... free pool free yellow double decker bus to other sites and the beach too. plenty for the kids to do plus night entertainment...and we booked direct !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we went in JUNE 2008

[TonyS99]

I was talking about high season when I said it was dear. In August, the big 4 in Woolly want £262.50 a week for a tent or £310.00 for a campervan (2 adults + 1 child). The nightly rate works out even higher for breaks of fewer than 7 nights.

[bunnynogood]

My vote would be Lobb Fields. Walking distance from Braunton village and only 2 miles to Saunton Sands, which is absolutely stunning and by far the best beachbreak for kids (and old guys with longboards like me ), but also close enough to Croyde and Putsboro. It's also only about 15 mins drive to Wollacombe via the back roads (narrow as heck for a road, but still camper width). We paid 340 ish this year for two weeks in high season. It is also pretty good at providing level spaces, unlike North Morte, which has the topography of a rumpled duvet; such fun in a 2 ton camper when it gets muddy