To ask whether North Devon or South Devon is the better family holiday option?

[flipflap75]

With two children, aged 7 and 9, neither of whom are particularly 'rugged' yet (in terms of outdoor pursuits)!

I love the South Hams, but that's more from the point of view of adult holidays (mostly walking and pubs).

Any insider info gratefully received.

[malcomTucker]

I'd say N. Devon. That's despite living in the South (Topsham - a village S of Exeter).

It has the beaches.

Most of Devon is pretty well connected. Bideford to Exeter is only 90 minutes. You can easily get to the rest of the county.

Crealy as someone mentioned is fantastic. I haven't been to Morwellham Key since I was at prep school but it was fantastic then. Paignton Zoo, Plymouth Aquarium, Devon Railway Centre, Bicton, day in Exeter including the museum, Bygones in Torquay.

[Floods123]

South Devon. Slapton Hope Cove South Milton. Biased cause I live here!

[FreshStartToday]

Can I resurrect this thread. Winter's drawing in so I am looking at holidays now. Used to holiday in Woolacombe in the 1970s (I'm old) and have so many happy memories. Am I going to hate it now in summer? The "town" isn't that big. Does everywhere really get very very very busy? I've seen some lovely holiday cottages/flats online and can splash out a bit, but is my husband going to refuse to leave the flat because the town is heaving???

[Rufus27]

Ecclesiastes Bang on! (I suspect we're neighbours).

[Ecclesiastes]

East Devon is Dorset?? Wash your mouth out!

Told you on page one, OP. South Devon is heaving with grockles and North Devon is remote and backward.

East Devon is the place to be, as long as you avoid Exmouth, which is a shithole. though not as bad as Paignton

[Welshmaenad]

North. Have a look at Watermouth holiday cottages. There's more to do for small children in the North IMO - Milky Way, Big Sheep, Combe Martin Wildlife Park. Lyndon and Lynmouth is a lovely day out, and go to Watersmeet for a picnic.

[GreenGinger2]

South Devon in a heart beat.

Dartmoor is a pretty massive pull for me. South Devon also has a wide range of beaches( Bigbury for surfing,Blackpool Sands,Salcombe,South Milton..... the list is endless) and of course Exeter with Ramm for rainy days.

[flipflap75]

So difficult to decide!

I went on a couple of family holidays to Hope Cove but was a teenager and happy enough with walking and pubs. Beautiful area. Got stuck in very thick fog coming back from a pub in East Prawle!

Thanks again for all the recommendations - all very inspiring.

[Woody67]

North Devon for me. Woolacombe and Croyde are lovely.

[Rufus27]

Lyme Regis is Dorset.

[Rufus27]

East Devon is not Dorset! E Devon includes Exmouth, Sidmouth, Honiton, Axminster, Beer, Topsham, Lympstone, Budleigh, Rockbeare, Seaton, Ottery St Mary.

[GemmaB78]

East Devon. Lived there for 3 years and loved every second of it. Loads of stuff to do with the kids that is outdoorsy without being rugged. Plenty to do within easy reach. Dartmoor is less than an hour away. A hop, skip and a jump into West Dorset.

Exeter. Fossil hunting in Lyme Regis. Jurassic coast from Exmouth to Sidmouth is stunning. Crealy adventure park is fun. Escot Park is a good day out. Ditto the Donkey Sanctuary.

And it's not overrun by tourists.

I miss East Devon!

[Rufus27]

Why not stay in the Exeter/East Devon area which makes both south Devon and North accessible? East Devon's beaches are lovely and Exeter has lots to offer children. Dawlish Warren just off Exe estuary will appeal to families too. South Hams are more expensive and less child friendly, Torbay area more child friendly. North Devon good for outdoor water sports and Exmoor. Check out Crealy for a day out if you're near Exeter.

[Ojoj1974]

South Devon. Torbay.
Lots of great things to do and simple! Walks along the coast or Churston Ferrers to brixham then bus to kingswear over on the ferry to Dartmouth for some sight seeing and lunch then back to Paignton on the steam train.
Paignton zoo and living coast
Trips around the bay
Cinema in Paignton
Theatre in Torquay
ELC for swimming
Skiing
Go kart and paint balling
Woodlands day out theme park perfect for their ages
Beaches at Preston next to Paignton, broadsands (you can hire a beach hut) and Elbery are al great
I love the area but about biased as my folks live there!
X

[Eolian]

I much prefer North Devon, because it's got more rugged scenery and is a bit less 'traditional British seaside resort-ish'.

[Hyperhypermum]

Absolutely love Devon. Been many, many times and back again at Easter. On balance, I think I prefer the South, although am more familiar with it. Dartmoor is awesome. Dartmouth, Brixham area lovely. The kids may enjoy crabbing at Stoke Gabriel (copious amounts of crabs off a causeway rather than a wall). Good point re East Devon. Beer, Pecorama, Donkey Sanctury - fab. You can't go wrong in Devon!

[Scholes34]

East Devon . . . wouldn't that be Dorset?

[Madeyemoodysmum]

What area would be east Devon?

[Scholes34]

Dorset!

[FallenPetalsSummerDew]

We have been to Devon for our last 2 holidays. Beautiful. I can't remember ever feeling so at peace as we did walking along the coastal path. Stayed in the the Otterton/Sidmouth/Budleigh Salterton area.

[altiara]

We keep going back every year to north Devon (woolacombe), lovely beaches, I'd like to try another part of Devon one day!

[ivykaty44]

Happy memories of Bideford, used to stay just up from the first Inn last out

[Devilishpyjamas]

Bigbury/bantham good for surfing on the south coast...

[swampytiggaa]

we loved north devon so much we moved from the midlands to bideford 7 years ago. Its lovely.

[ivykaty44]

Clovelly, Instow & crabbing on Appledore sea wall, rocking pooling & jumping in the waves at Westwood go along with climbing over the pebble ridge and flying kites on Northampton burrows. Exmoor and Rare steps for a lovely picnic lunch flooded by a cream tea at Silverton or Withypool.