Help me decide where to holiday in Devon

[Rainydaysandmondays2]

Please help me decide where to go. I’m looking to spend 5-7 days later on in the year (hopefully during summer) in Devon. Would really love an old school type Enid Blyton-esque holiday. Will be and a friend and my dog. Looking for somewhere with lots of old world charm, good food and lovely beaches.

Am completely confusing myself between Torquay, Salcombe, Woolacombe, Paignton.

Any hints or tips or advice???

Woolacombe is lovely, i've only ever travelled there for an afternoon or evening so not sure if you could spend a full week there but there are some lovely places surrounding such as croyde bay

What are you looking for...a cottage or camping/caravan?

Torquay is like a mini city in mid summer we found so staying outside in smaller places is better. Also getting anywhere quickly in Devon mid summer just doesn't happen.....we were taking an hour to do 8 miles

I should say I love swimming so bonus points for any lovely little beaches, swimming coves. Thank you!!!

Ah Im hoping to go either in June or possibly in September to avoid the school crowds and crowding.

Looking to stay in A Bnb or possibly self catering

Id go to woolacombe as you have the beach and sea in one direction and then inland to the moor, up the coast to Ilfracombe or Lynton etc

Not Paignton or the surrounding holiday parks unless you enjoy a good fight. I worked at several of them for years and it was fucking horrific.

What kind of place are you looking to stay in? Hotel, cottage, caravan? Have you discounted Brixham, Totnes or Dartmouth? All three much, much nicer than Torquay or Paignton but you can easily get to Torquay or Paignton by boat, steam train or bus from them.

sunflowergirl it’s better now that we have the new road from Newton Abbot. Still hellish to get around Torbay any time between Easter and October though. Piss easy on the ferry once you’re here and I don’t know why more people don’t use it.

Seconding Brixham and Dartmouth. Torquay and Paignton are... not that nice. There are things there worth visiting, for sure, but they aren't the jolly Blytonesque seaside settings you're seeking.

Have a look on Toad Hall cottages, anywhere in the South Hams nearish the coast would work for you, I think. You can filter by dog friendly etc:
www.toadhallcottages.co.uk/holiday-cottages/devon/south-devon/

Ah ok! So no to Torquay and Paignton.

What about salcombe or woolacombe?

I did go to brixham a couple of years ago for work and I think I’m slightly put off unfairly by my work association.

Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton or Beer worth considering too.

Thank you. My uncle is from Sid mouth and I was thinking I need to go there too.

I’ve been reading this and so many seem to be around Torquay ...

www.englishriviera.co.uk/be-inspired/top-10-ideas/top-10-beaches

Loved village of Mortehoe, can walk to Woolacombe for vast Sandy beach. Can walk along cliff top to village of Lee, one of best ever walks. Near pebbly coves to explore. Has village shop, pub, takeaway. Feels peaceful and charming as base.

The 'English Riviera' is the bits around Torquay, basically, so that list is inevitably going to be in that area. There are lots of nice beaches in other bits of Devon, don't worry!

Go for the South Hams area! Thurlestone, Bentham, Dartmouth, Sidmouth, Salcombe etc. Stunning countryside and lovely beaches. Consider also Totnes - you can take the ferry down the Dart to Dartmouth which is a lovely trip.

Torquay and Paignton are hideous - full of slot machine arcades, graffiti and grotty shops.

I live in Devon. Avoid Torquay and Paignton!

When I saw the thread title I thought I'd come on and suggest Woolacombe, but pp's have beaten me to it!

We went there a couple of years ago and it was lovely. You're not too far from Lynton / Lynmouth and other such places, and there are some fantastic walks at Mortehoe just up the road.

Westward Ho is another option. it is your typical fish and chips, amusement arcade, rock pooling, kite flying location. I would definitely day North Coast over South Coast though.

@chunkymenrock don't be telling people about Beer 🤫

I'm amazed people are recommending Brixham. I live in Devon and I find Brixham really depressing.

Also surprised at Totnes, where's the beach in Totnes which the OP specified she wanted.

It depends what sort of things you like, our favourite places when the children were young was Torcross, between the sea and Slapton Ley there are some nice pubs/restaurants. Also the pick your own strawberry place right on the Ley was popular. My kids played for hours on the rocks. You can easily get to Blackpool sands which is a great beach with things like canoe/paddleboard hire, Dartmouth isn't far and Dartmouth is a lovely town but I wouldn't actually want to stay in the town for a holiday with children. In the other direction you could go to Plymouth for the Marine Aquarium.

Paignton and Teignmouth both have great parks on the front for kids, swings, slides, climbing frames but much busier and with the tat shops and arcades but hey some people love that sort of holiday. I find a visit to the Paignton or Teignmouth can be a very reasonable day out as the GC aren't needing money spent on attractions as the free parks are good. Paignton also has a fantastic zoo but that can be a nice day out from Torcross.

Budget also comes into it, Salcombe is lovely but very expensive.

The sun sets on the north coast and that makes quite a big difference for me. I don’t know if that’s an odd thing! 🤣.

Gosh, thank you so much for all the info.

I have no kids but I am a big kid at heart and desperate to recreate some of my childhood stories and enjoy that part of the country which I never go to!

I’ve just spotted a lovely little place in abbotsham when I was looking for places to stay near woolacombe. Would that not be a bad shout, do you reckon?

I’m really looking for lovely places I can swim and eat good food and go on walks with my dog.

I’ve also looked at fowey. Fowey or Devon? The drive to fowey puts me off a bit but I’m happy to be told that’s unreasonable!

@LeSquigh

The sun sets on the north coast and that makes quite a big difference for me. I don’t know if that’s an odd thing! 🤣.

It may be odd but I absolutely agree. There's nothing better than watching the sun set over the sea on a west facing beach!

North Devon gets my vote and it's usually quite too.

Sorry. 'Quite' should have been 'quieter'.