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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

South West Holiday Gems

22 replies

user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 19:26

AIBU to ask you to share your south west holiday gems for summer 2023?

We have a few places we go to regularly but I’d love some more inspiration for new places next year….

Hotels or cottages/apartments. Ideally anything self catering would have parking and be very close to good beaches…

I have two primary age children.

I don’t need kids clubs, but hotels that offer art classes/forest school/riding/surfing lessons etc would all be a bonus!

Thank you - hopefully this thread will inspire/help other people in a booking quandary too!

OP posts:
Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 19:38

Bump, come on, someone must be bursting to tell me about their amazing holiday rental?

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GrumpyMummy123 · 21/07/2022 20:15

Elmers Court Lymington? Not really South West, but all I can think of. Apartments or hotel. Pool indoor and out, but not a 'holiday park'. Walking distance to town. Or any holiday cottages in New Forest.

Beaches close. Loads of activity places around such as Calshot, Foxlease, Avon Tyrell etc that do alsorts from bushcraft, 'Marine Explorers' (learning about flora and fauna on the sea shore), watersports etc. Almost certainly pony riding about too.

ShanghaiDiva · 21/07/2022 20:20

North Wales has surf snowdonia which has surfing lessons, zip lines, biking and climbing. Lots of castles to visit too and am sure some have summer activities.

BirmaBrite · 21/07/2022 20:20

If we tell you, you might book the one we love for the week we want ! Grin

Where have you been and liked ?

jimmyhill · 21/07/2022 20:33

ShanghaiDiva · 21/07/2022 20:20

North Wales has surf snowdonia which has surfing lessons, zip lines, biking and climbing. Lots of castles to visit too and am sure some have summer activities.

South West North Wales?

ShanghaiDiva · 21/07/2022 20:33

north Wales is not south west, but I was there last week and dd had fun at surf snowdonia.
sidmouth has good paddle boarding activities and not far from creely adventure park (outskirts of Exeter) and exmouth has a very nice beach, also worth considering day passes to river dart country park.

Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 20:40

We have stayed at the Fowey Hall Hotel when my children were younger and that was great. Very much not keen on holiday parks - we sometimes rent a cottage in north Cornwall with a pool that’s pretty amazing but more than £3500 per week in the summer and I’m looking for something that’s more like £2000 per week (or less)

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Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 20:41

@ShanghaiDiva we love Sidmouth and the Jurassic coast

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Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 20:44

@GrumpyMummy123 love the idea of that area - I don’t know the new forest well. Not so keen on the hotel. I’m more 5* or camping. Not great at anything in between ;-)

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Riverlee · 21/07/2022 20:46

Forest Holidays was my first thoughts.

Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 20:48

@Riverlee interesting. Why haven’t I heard of this? It’s is similar to Centre Parcs? Have never been to CP because it’s always £38,000 per weekend (or something) when I look!

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GrumpyMummy123 · 21/07/2022 20:56

The New Forest has some lovely looking hotels. Rheinfield Manor or Chewton Glen also spring to mind as child friendly but nice. Or there's glamping many places - Lightfoot farm, Embers Pylewell Park plus lots more I'm sure!

SummerNightsDriftingAway · 21/07/2022 20:59

We had a fantastic break to Forest Holidays in the Forest of Dean

GettingStuffed · 21/07/2022 21:02

Braddicks in Westward Ho! They have a couple of holiday parks, very good quality caravans, no tack on-site entertainment or pool but there's a pool at low tide just a very short walk from either site

GettingStuffed · 21/07/2022 21:03

Surfing lessons can be had in the beach

BirmaBrite · 21/07/2022 21:04

www.rivervalley.co.uk/

If you like log cabins with hot tubs, this is a great spot for exploring the far SW.

BirmaBrite · 21/07/2022 21:10

If you stayed at River Valley, you could also book a day trip over to the the Scilly Isles from Penzance, either on the Scillonian or if you are feeling flush on the helicopter.

Actually the Scilly Isles aren't a bad bet either, if you are looking for beautiful scenery and totally laid back atmosphere.

Lilyhatesjaz · 21/07/2022 21:17

Marsdens holiday cottages specialise in North Devon

Lilyhatesjaz · 21/07/2022 21:21

John fowler do caravans in Devon and Cornwall the one near Hayle was particularly good

bellabasset · 21/07/2022 21:24

Have you looked at South Torfrey farm which has 5* holiday cottages on an organic farm. It's just outside Golant, 2 miles from Fowey. Hosts live on site, dogs allowed and there's usually an event on Friday nights. In Par there's a little Manor house, Boscundle Manor, with a spa that's just been refurbished - good food. There's also the Carlyon Bay Hotel and the local beach has plenty of eateries there. There's Charlestown nearby with lovely restaurants. Of course Eden Project and Heligan are nearby.

Just a word of warning if you're eating out do book as many places can't get staff so are not open every day.

Lisad1231981 · 21/07/2022 21:49

We are currently in Cornwall. So much to do! We are staying in a cottage in Porth Towen. It's got a lovely beach and there is surf lessons bookable on the beach. There's a Cyder farm not far, a lovely zoo 20 mins away, a place called Cornwall gold that has build a bear and pot painting.
We have done crabbing, a boat trip, strawberry picking, a load of beach walks and lots of ice cream. Be sad to go home

Original poster
user58486267489 · 21/07/2022 23:40

@bellabasset I think you understood the brief. Thank you!

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