Best sites for a family in the South West
Hi this is our first full year owning a tourer caravan & we are looking to go away for 2 weeks in the summer(last week of July,first week of August) & was looking for advice on the best sites in the South West area for a family with 2 kids aged 8 & 1
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Hi neilwilliams37
Thanks for getting in touch and its so exciting that this is your first year touring with a young family. I've jumped in early on this thread as I have 2 children about the same age as yours & as well as offering some information I'd be keen to hear from others who have advice!
The South West has many fantastic sites for you to choose from. The sites with swimming pools might be of interest to you: Hillhead in Brixham, Devon and Looe in Cornwall (be careful as availability is low at Hillhead)
Longleat is a firm favourite with families being right next to the safari park - there are not many sites in the UK that you can hear a lion roaring at night!
The sites along the north Cornwall coast are also very popular with families: Trewethett Farm & Treamble Valley (again low availability) are close to the beaches and have play areas/ playgrounds on site.
To book (and for late July/ early August I'd suggest booking ASAP) please call 01342 327490 or you can book easily on line.
Hopefully that gives you some food for thought but I'm sure you will get more posts to come....... Good luck and Happy Touring!
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Great Helen,this reply gives me a starting point to look at ASAP..thanks
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If you choose somewhere past Bodmin on the A30, be aware that there are major roadworks and horrendous delays in that area. Ongoing dualling of major stretch of this road, and those are peak travel weeks you have mentioned. It might be worth looking at alternative
routes to avoid very long traffic delays. Some of the sites mentioned can be reached by alternative routes, depending on your outfit.0 -
Unfortunately, Neil, that is the busiest time of the season to visit the SW but I understand that with children of school age you have little choice. I would suggest avoiding the Newquay area at all costs during that time. There are hundreds of commercial
sites yo choose from as well as CC and C&CC sites plus CLs and CSs. If you can be a bit more specific on area and the sort of site/location you're looking for, I'm sure you will get lots more suggestions.0 -
Forgive my cynicism but how come a new poster who does not seem to be a CC member gets a lengthy personal response from a staff member just 4 minutes after making his very first post? Do I detect an attempt by staff to start a discussion on a subject that's been covered many, many times before? Is this an opportune way of advertising CC sites - all that low availability stuff? Does Neil really exist?
What a shame other topics don't attract the same degree of interest from staff.
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Pentewan always looks nice for families, nice beach, plenty to do close by in the area. Could use A38 as well to avoid mayhem at Bodmin.
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Wow, I've been Liked by the Mystery Liker!
I've also Liked Neil's post by mistake.
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Forgive my cynicism but how come a new poster who does not seem to be a CC member gets a lengthy personal response from a staff member just 4 minutes after making his very first post? Do I detect an attempt by staff to start a discussion on a subject that's been covered many, many times before? Is this an opportune way of advertising CC sites - all that low availability stuff? Does Neil really exist?
What a shame other topics don't attract the same degree of interest from staff.
I admit I did think the same thing,
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Forgive my cynicism but how come a new poster who does not seem to be a CC member gets a lengthy personal response from a staff member just 4 minutes after making his very first post? Do I detect an attempt by staff to start a discussion on a subject that's
been covered many, many times before? Is this an opportune way of advertising CC sites - all that low availability stuff? Does Neil really exist?What a shame other topics don't attract the same degree of interest from staff.
I admit I did think the same thing,
It's so out of character for CC that it stands out a mile.
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And will also ensure this thread doesn't get dragged abroad.
I've got it! This is a follow on to TF's efforts to liven up the forum.
I've no problem with CC doing a bit of advertising of pitches but why the subterfuge? I object to being patronised and taken for an idiot.
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Hell and damnation! And there was I trying to be helpful!
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Hopefully Helen, as a mother of two young children, will be equally quick to ensure that the term 'brats' is not used to describe children.
I believe the usual appellation is "rugrats"
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So, if the questioner actually does exist, and wants a five star site, far above Club facilities, standards and activities for children , then there is Padstow Touring Park, but I have to admit I prefer simpler, more natural places, and they exist too. What
do you think TW?0 -
No problem with being helpful, TDA. there are so many really good and reasonably priced commercial sites in Cornwall that people in general may be interested. For instance, there's a good one on the outskirts of Truro which is handy for the park and ride
into the City, close to retail parks yet not far by road to both north and south coasts. It's name will come back to me shortly.0 -
So, if the questioner actually does exist, and wants a five star site, far above Club facilities, standards and activities for children , then there is Padstow Touring Park, but I have to admit I prefer simpler, more natural places, and they exist too. What
do you think TW?I think I knew that site by another name, ET. Personally I'd stay away from all the hot spots at that time. A CL on Dartmoor, perhaps?
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No problem with being helpful, TDA. there are so many really good and reasonably priced commercial sites in Cornwall that people in general may be interested. For instance, there's a good one on the outskirts of Truro which is handy for the park and ride
into the City, close to retail parks yet not far by road to both north and south coasts. It's name will come back to me shortly.Not Summer Valley by any chance?
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Just a noté about travelling west of Bodmin thaïs summer - thé signs at the roadworks promise two lanes in each direction through the 2016 school holidays, so in theory, should be better than previous years.
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No problem with being helpful, TDA. there are so many really good and reasonably priced commercial sites in Cornwall that people in general may be interested. For instance, there's a good one on the outskirts of Truro which is handy for the park and ride
into the City, close to retail parks yet not far by road to both north and south coasts. It's name will come back to me shortly.Not Summer Valley by any chance?
No, Truro Caravan & Camping Park. It attracts many people.
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Just a noté about travelling west of Bodmin thaïs summer - thé signs at the roadworks promise two lanes in each direction through the 2016 school holidays, so in theory, should be better than previous years.
Presumably that means reinstating two lanes where they used to exist before being reduced to single lane due to the roadworks on the original single lane stretch. I very much doubt it will be better than previous years, Rob2cath, as the work isn't due to
finish until next year. I suspect it will be a temporary lifting of the partial closure of the existing two lane road. We'll see.0 -
hi just to confirm I do really exist and am not part of a plot by the cc who,as has rightly pointed out,I am not a member of...yet! Thanks for all the sites & suggestions
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hi just to confirm I do really exist and am not part of a plot by the cc who,as has rightly pointed out,I am not a member of...yet! Thanks for all the sites & suggestions
Thankyou, Neil, but you still haven't specified a type of site or location so I don't see how much help we can have been.
Over to you, Helen. I'd like to hear your side of the story which, you must admit, is a very odd scenario for CC and unheard of in my quite lengthy time on CT. Please dont go quiet on us now.
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Glad to help neilwilliams37 & great to read the other informative replies – thank you.
Just to fill you in, I am brand new to Club Together (but not The Club) having been chosen recently to act as a staff member to read and take part in UK sites and Membership discussions, on an ad hoc basis, as these are the products in which I am trained
to give advice. Its seems my enthusiasm to get started has raised suspicion!! But I can assure you there was no ulterior motive other than knowing some good sites to recommend, with both high and low availabilities, and being in a similar personal situation
to neilwilliams37. Now we know he really exists and that there is no cynical ploy, by me, to start discussions – just join them – I hope neilwilliams37 will heed all advice and join the Club in time for a great summer of Touring.0 -
Welcome, Helen, and thanks for your informed input, especially since you are in a similar personal situation to neilwilliams37.
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Re SW road closures I've found that since the intro of GPS and their 'Avoid road works/delays' function there's little chance of alternative routes being free flowing.
Nighttime travel is better but in school hols I've found many holidaymakers have the same idea.
Indeed, I well remember queuing at 3 a.m to get onto the A30 about 40 years ago when my wife and I used to drive the 280 miles (which took 9 hours in those days!) to Cornwall in my ageing Mini with our two little 'uns sleeping on a 'bed' of luggage in the back plus a dog, and with camping gear on the roof rack.
Worse was that we'd arrive, knackered, at say 8 a.m. and the kids would wake up rarin' to go. Happy days though.
We'd stay at the recently opened Sun Valley site on the St Austell to Mevagissey road which had all mod cons and loads of space for the kids. It has since become a bit too 'posh' and commercial now for us.
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Welcome, Helen, and thanks for your informed input, especially since you are in a similar personal situation to neilwilliams37.
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Re SW road closures I've found that since the intro of GPS and their 'Avoid road works/delays' function there's little chance of alternative routes being free flowing.
Nighttime travel is better but in school hols I've found many holidaymakers have the same idea.
Indeed, I well remember queuing at 3 a.m to get onto the A30 about 40 years ago when my wife and I used to drive the 280 miles (which took 9 hours in those days!) to Cornwall in my ageing Mini with two infants sleeping on a 'bed' made of luggage in the back plus a
dog, and with camping gear on the roof rack.Worse was that we'd arrive, knackered, at say 8 a.m. and the kids would wake up rarin' to go. Happy days though.
Things are rather different now, Spriddler. Try it sometime.
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Things are rather different now, Spriddler. Try it sometime.
Yes, I've been driving down annually from near Brighton in my motorhome for the past 15 years in May and September to visit my sister in Portreath, but we now take the more Southerly route via the A27 & M27, Southampton then Dorchester and up to Exeter to pick up the A30 via Launceston to Redruth/Portreath. No rush now that I'm retired but back in the day it had to be done within only a 2 weeks annual holiday entitlement (until I had 5 years' service when I was 'allowed' three more days). YES, Tinwheeler, times HAVE changed!!!
P.S. Sun Valley site was set up and started by my Aunt and Uncle, Elsie and Bob Staker, and their son Brian approx around the late 50's or early 60's. My how it's grown under several new owners.
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I know Portreath well, Spriddler but I don't know the Sun Valley site other than to drive past it, I'm afraid.
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