Best sites for a family in the South West

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!

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. 

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.

Wow, I've been Liked by the Mystery Liker!

I've also Liked Neil's post by mistake.

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. 

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. 

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" 

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.

Minehead while you still can?

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 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.

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.

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.

 

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.