Staycation in Devon or Cornwall
Hi All,
After going abroad for a few years we want to spend our 2 week summer hols in Devon and/or Cornwall. Can you recommend your favourite site in either of these counties. We will be in our Motorhome so public transport near the site and a Village or Town close by is a must. A walkable Pub would be great. It could be a Club site, Commercial or a CL with EHU. We have no kids to consider but do have a Dog.
At the moment we're thinking a week in Devon then a week in Cornwall.
Thanks.
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A favourite Devon site for us is the C&CC Start Bay site, ideal for motorhomers with dogs. It's a few minutes from the lovely Slapton village which has two good pubs (dogs welcome) a shop and a church which sells secondhand books. Over the road from the site is Slapton Ley nature reserve, also allows dogs and is free. A stroll down the road is the shingle beach with more walks and a good bus service to Dartmouth in one direction and Kingsbridge/Plymouth in the other.
There are also some attractive CLs along the coast and inland between Slapton and Salcombe.
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Tavistock in Devon - Harford Bridge site.
St Ives in Cornwall - Polmanter site.
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Hi, so far as 'sites' are concerned you are spoilt for choice............till you add in the requirements for public transport!
We live in a village with a lovely little site which has fabulous views, is a short, but steep, walk into the village, which sits on the river Fowey, and has a small general store and two pubs.
So far as transport from the village there is a private bus service to East Looe four times a day and there is a ferry across the river, to Fowey, from where you can catch a bus and then a train from Par if you wish to travel further afield but if its for a week it may be suitable.
They take dogs and their website is;
http://www.polruanholidays.co.uk/
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That's more buses per day than we have per week, Allan !
If I had a Motorhome and a dog I would drop the search for "favourite sites with public transport" down here, and instead of stopping somewhere for a week (as caravanners do) would drive the vehicle from favourite place to favourite place, stopping a day or two here and a day or two there. Probably in car parks at country pubs - there are lots of them listed. It solves the transport problem as well as the drink and drive problem.
Hey ho, just off to Plymouth for lunch - by car.
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I think EuroT has it right. Pick your route and do a tour stopping at different sites/stops en route. Alternatively, hire a car.
There is much to see in the two counties.
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we are looking at Cornwall next year ,but have factored in the cost of a hire car ,that way there won't be any problems with access to places etc , I think with owning a M/H you have to be prepared to make some compromises and you can't take it everywhere
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For Devon have a look at Putts Corner (Club Site) Great dog friendly pub a stones throw from the site. Very good food and reasonably priced. Bus stop at the top of the road with a very good service from what i saw when we were there in September.
The dog walk on site is not much but within half a mile there is a NT woods with some fantastic views and miles of walking. we also loved Budleigh Salterton which I'm sure can be reached by bus easily and has large beach area and estuary running in to the sea from the marsh land behind the beach that is also dog friendly all year round. and a very short walk in to the town.
We loved it and will return.....
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For Cornwall, if you want to be in the "thick of it" you could try the Ayr Camping site in St Ives. Easy spot for walks into the town and the coastal path plus the Garrack Hotel for food. The bus services along the coast in West Penwith aren't too bad, also look at the Trevalgan site which is along the coastal path between St Ives and St Just.
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There is a CL called Reen Cross near Perranporth. (We haven't used it ourselves but it looks very good when we walk past it.) Bus stop within 10 minutes walk which will allow you to get directly as far as St Agnes in one direction and Newquay in the other (from both you can then get further afield along the North Coast). A pub and very good café at the garden centre in Goonhavern and plenty of opportunity to exercise the dog either on Penhale Dunes or any of the north coast beaches most of which are dog friendly all year round.
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Hi eurortraveller, Yes things have progressed here! It is the same people that do the school bus so it maximizes its use.
I didn't recommend my 'favourite' site as not having a MH or dog, neither of which is a likely purchase, I think the OP is looking for something different.
If I was considering a MH you have introduced a positive selling point with the country pub car parks!
Enjoy your lunch.,
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Our favourite in Devon is Hillhead CC site we go there every couple of summers. The site has an on site bar/restraunt and shop selling all the essentials there is also a good sized swimming pool. There is a bus stop right outside the gate taking you to all the surrounding towns Brixham. Paington etc. hope this helps
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We know Cornwall very well, an have to agree with the advice from local people. I can't think of a Club Site to leave your MH on and rely upon public transport. It's a very big county, and very contrasting in places, with so much to see and do. The North coast is rugged and wild with huge sandy beaches, the South coast is more mellow, with coves, then the interior is moorlands and wonderful twisting lanes and tiny beautiful villages. Another factor for you will be dog friendly beaches, and there will be some restrictions at popular places such as St Ives, Fowey, Looe etc....
The Club's Marazion Site is nice, and gives you the option of visiting some of the most iconic spots in Cornwall, such as Lands End peninsula, the Lizard, lots of lovely beaches close by, including dog friendly ones. From there, you could use local transport into a Marazion, Penzance, Helston, St Ives. You will also be able to use the rail network to get around as well, up to Truro, across to Falmouth. Give Newquay a wide berth, coastline is very nice but the town is ghastly. Staying in this location you will quickly realise that you can often beat the weather. One coast can be cloudy and dull, while the other is glorious. (The day Boscastle flooded we were on the beach, enjoying blazing sunshine and swimming in the sea!)
I would also suggest a decent OS map, as this will show you the main routes, and give you some ideas of the tiny lanes to avoid! Go for it, Cornwall is simply stunning, but best outside of late July and August!
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Another vote for Hillhead. As said good transport links in either direction from directly outside the site. Onsite shop and restaurant. Although we have not been a former colleague has a seasonal pitch at Ross Park and speaks very highly of it.
David
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If you are prepared to go without EHU, Steamer Quay is in a great spot by the Dart in Totnes, Devon, lots of local walks, boat trips, good bus service to Dartmouth etc or Torbay. Steam train along the Dart too, good shops and eateries.
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Just back from Sunday lunch and have read through all the good advice on offer for the questioner - but I hope I didn't give the impression that this part of the world is much too difficult for motorhomes.
All our own family and friends who come to stay with us want to go to the Eden Project, the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, National Trust houses like Cotehele, Lanhydrock and Antony, the younger ones go to the Fairgound Museum at Lifton, highbrows go to the Tate at St Ives, and some rich ones go for a meal at Rick Stein's posh place in Padstow.
I'm afraid it's dogs which pose the real problem and put all those places off limits, but with a bit of care and forethought about where to park Motorhomers can get to them all.
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Actually ET, we found Cornwall and dogs easier with the MH. We wouldn't ever leave our dogs in the car if we went anywhere, preferring to do one in, one out at NT properties etc... But having the MH did mean we could leave them for a short while if it wasn't baking hot weather, as we left the heki wide open, the windows locked open, all other skylights open, and a good draught blowing through under some shade. Heligan and Trebah, probably the two best gardens in Cornwall are both very dog friendly as well. Dogs are welcome right up to the house at Lanhydrock, not sure about Cotehele. We have even taken three pooches across to St Michael's Mount on a couple of occasions. There are a lot of very dog friendly beaches around if you can walk a little bit, but quite rightly, it doesn't include many town front beaches, such as Looe or Fowey. I appreciate not everyone will consider leaving their dogs for any reason, but we have had no problems, either doggy wise or security wise.
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Hillhead is very nice, Trewetthet Farm but have an economy pitch so you overlook the sea. Also in Tintagel you can stay in your MH in the king arthur pub so right in the village. Did not like Putts Corner ourselves. North Morte Farm was excellent easy walk into village and round ot Wollacoombe. We liked Ramslade, bit remote if you want a pub though.
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There are hundreds and hundreds of sites in Devon and Cornwall. Just pick your route, choose a few sites and then we'll give you the low down on your selection, FB.
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We are hoping to do the same fatbelly and looking at this area. Quite hard to find many sites ( or CL's ) with hardstandings though. Would like Marazion, St Ives, St Agnes etc but no hardstandings! We have been to Merrose Farm which was nice but wanted to view another area this year. Will keep looking!
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Many sites in the far west have sandy soil so are fast draining, heddlo. We have used Marazion and Godrevy Park, which are both all grass, for years with both cvan and MH and have had no problems. I wouldn’t let the lack of HS be a factor in that area personally.
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I'd recommend Carnon Downs (CAMC affiliate site).
Very well laid out site with 7 acre field to exercise the dog. Very good quality facilities as well.
Buses pick up every 30 minutes just outside the site for Falmouth and the opposite side of the roundabout for Truro. Good connectivity from either of those places to other parts of Cornwall.
Easy walk into Carnon Downs village with Spar shop, and Premier Inn with pub. Site lists other pubs in 'walking' distance.
Been there several times
In Devon Dornafield is a good site, easily walkable pub but further to village; reasonable bus service into Newton Abbot though. Putts corner is also good, also Hillhead.
If you want to be further inland then Exmoor House at Dulverton, about 200 yards and you are in the centre of a quaint Exmoor town.
Ken
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For St Agnes area there is PorthTowan Tourist Park which has the hard standings you are looking for. A mile from the sea + modern facilities + good reviews.
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.....and not so far away is Globe Vale, with great views over towards St Agnes. Closer to the A30, which will enable easy access to a variety of places throughout Cornwall. Also closer to the supermarkets and local caravan spares outlet. Globe Vale have a large number of spacious hardstandings, which are full serviced pitches. Competitively priced and great owners. About 3 miles from Porthtowan. Small pub with basic food on site. Great butchers down the road - competative prices. No swimming pool on site, but this is our first choice site for Cornwall.
David
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Another smaller, more intimate recommended site for those who want to be near the south coast of Cornwall (Marazion, St Michaels Mount, Praa Sands) is Poldown Camping near Helston, and that has hard standings too.
It's only a 20 minute drive to St Ives too, but the park and ride at Lelant Saltings train station is a good way to approach St Ives at busy times.
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Hi All, thank you all your recommendations they've been very helpful. We've booked a week at Fowey CL & then a week at Dennis Cove in Padstow. These are our main 2 week's but because we're semi retired we have extra time to book so on frenzy day we're going to book 3 night's at Baltic Wharf site in Bristol to break up the journey down & then we intend to book a CL in Somerset or Gloucestershire for a few night's at the end of our hols. Once again thanks for the help.
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