Tour of the south coast- recommendations please

[wanderlust99]

Hoping to do a tour of the south coast starting in Cornwall, moving round and stopping 2 or 3 times before getting to Kent area. I haven't been to this area at all, so not sure where to even start? Was thinking Lizard in Cornwall? We have teens and tweens, aren't into night time/'onsite entertainment' but WiFi is an absolute must. We are budget travellers too, was thinking of trying one of the Hoseasons/Haven type accommodation.
What places would you recommend to start and stop off along the way? Kids are into animals and theme parks, also a bit of history. Holiday will be approx 21 days. One DC with ASD so we tend to avoid resorts or places li!Ely to be very crowded. We will be going 1st July so hoping to miss the school holiday crowds.

Any ideas/recommendations warmly welcomed

[Ricekrispie22]

I really recommend Yurt Camp in Devon. www.yurtcamp.co.uk The larger yurts sleep six and are equipped with log burner, stove, lighting, proper beds, tables, chairs etc.. They're fully weather proof, spacious and have partitions to give a bit of privacy!
When I stayed with my sister's family, the two eldest kids had their own smaller yurt.
The on-site Woodland cafe has wifi and serves meals all day. They do a mean English breakfast but we enjoyed using the fire pit.
If your kids are too old for the play area, they might enjoy the assault course, zip wire and table tennis.
The beach is just a short drive away, but we didn't spend a lot of time there. Instead we went pony trekking, walking, hired mountain bikes and the older kids went rock scrabbling. A couple of good zoos nearby too.

[wanderlust99]

Brilliant Rice thanks a lot, that seems up our street. I suppose that site has shared bathroom facilities? If so are they clean? The toilets in yurt sites on Four in s Bed are always really run down

[IhaveChillyToes]

Battle Abbey - which looks more like castle - 1066 etc

If you look on their website it will say what extras are going on, try to make it for weekend visit

They might be too old for Drusilla's but look on their website and see what you think

Other castles nearby are

Bodiam castle, Pevensey castle, Hastings Castle (but not much there iirc)

Portsmouth - HMS Victory etc

We love IOW but you will probably not have enough time but could go over for the day, if you do go then Robin Hill and for those with younger children get combined ticket with Blackgang Chine,

Deffo go to Osbourne House and Carrisbrooke Castle which are brilliant

Anyway there are some ideas off top of my head to get you started with your research

Have funfunfun

[MadeinBelfast]

The New Forest is lovely for a couple of days if you like walking / ponies! It would be a good base to visit Paulton's Theme park from and even Winchester if you're into history. It's quite an expensive area to stay in although there are a few Premier Inn-type places about.
I'd also spend a bit of time in Portsmouth, the Naval Dockyard is really interesting and you could do a day trip to the Isle of Wight from there and visit eg Osbourne House.

[DamsonGin]

Birling Gap near Eastbourne. Big chalk cliffs and great rock pools when the tide is out. Newhaven Fort is good too. Can't suggest accommodation though.

[Crumbs1]

Coming along the coast from Cornwall is probably do-
Dartmouth or Salcombe with lovely beaches, boat trips, history, good restaurants. Plenty of caravan places nearby.
Next stop Bournemouth or Mudeford, depending whether crabbing was on the agenda (Mudeford is brilliant for crabbing)..
Portsmouth with Historick Dockyard and waterfront. Southsea area also nice with lots to do.
I’d pop over to IOW from there too. Osborne house is good and if you’re there during Cowes, it’s fabulous.
Brighton for London by the sea and a really good buzz.
Then finish up probably in Canterbury.

[Ricekrispie22]

The toilet facilities could do with an update but are always extremely clean.

[FairyPenguin]

Agree with suggestions above. Plus Charmouth for fossil-hunting (staying in Lyme Regis)

[DamsonGin]

Yes to Charmouth / Lyme Regis. Great for the fossils and just really nice too.

[wanderlust99]

I really appreciate the suggestions, looking into them all. I have been reading that this area gets extremely busy in the summer holidays and traffic extremely slow? Would it be so busy in the first half of July? Also if anyone is familiar with Cornwall is Mullion a nice area?

[RockinRobinTweets]

West wittering
Isle of purbeck

[C8H10N4O2]

Also if anyone is familiar with Cornwall is Mullion a nice area?

TBH pretty much all of Cornwall is a nice area to visit. Wherever you are you will find places to visit, beautiful sites and coastal walks. Mullion has a working harbour still, its not that far from a seal sanctuary and has the usual coves and beaches.
Car parking can be expensive in the SW - its effectively entry price to a beach if you are not within walking distance so plan your time to make the most of it.

[c3pu]

If you end up doing the historic dockyard at Portsmouth, make sure you get the waterbus to the Submarine museum at Gosport!

[youarenotkiddingme]

Stopping Hants or Dorset (new forest is nice) would be my suggestion.

Lots of walking and free roaming animals in NF. Also they have a wildlife park (do special disabled guest/carer rate).

History with dockyards at Portsmouth and Winchester etc.

Paultons is good if they like animals and rides (can get ride pass for guests with asd for queues etc).

Also lots of gardens around and trains around (exbury/ watercress line).

I'd recommend looking at Wellington country park too. You can call there also so worth a few days

[wanderlust99]

Forgive my ignorance but does Dorset have the same coastline as Cornwall in terms of beauty? If so it is maybe worth dropping Cornwall as logistically it is harder to get to?

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Dorset coastline is lovely, maybe not as rugged as Cornwall and not so many hidden coves, but Lyme Regis and charmouth worth going to, Isle of purbeck is great, Dorset water park in Corfe castle, Corfe castle Tynham village, Studland

[VivaLeBeaver]

The monkey place in Dorset, monkey world?

[VivaLeBeaver]

St michaels mount is lovely if you do go to Cornwall.

Durdle door in Dorset is very spectacular.

Swimming in the outdoor pool at dancing ledge?

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

Jurassic coast more beautiful than Cornwall in my opinion. Lyme and Charmouth for fossils. West Bay (set of Broadchurch) for some grockling- it's what Padstow must have been like before the luvvies got to it. Hive Beach café for a sausage sandwich with the most amazing view.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Don't do Durdle Door or Lulworth Cove in a weekend of you can go out of school holidays do it in a weekday

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Chapmans Pool

[wanderlust99]

Thanks a lot everyone, looking into all of the suggestions. Does anyone have experience with any of the holiday parks in these areas? Cottage sites are quoting more than £1k per week for the beginning of July....

[youarenotkiddingme]

I've spent many a week or 3 yearly at Freshwater holiday park in Burton bradstock, near Bridport. My family have been going for about 6 decades!

Easy to access charmouth, Lyme Regis etc from their.