To want to go on my holiday to devon next week on a tight budget??

[lucyellensmumisgreat]

Well obviously not - we are there for a week, caravan, self catering, haven holiday park. We have £300-£400 (at a push) so not desperately tight but tight enough to budget, this will be for food for two adults and one three year old, entertainment and petrol.

We will be in south devon - trying to avoid soft play centers as much as possible. So, apart from the beach - which is high on the list, what potentially could we do to entertain the wean?

We are going to take staple foodstuffs with us, as last year we spent out loads on having to buy things like tea bags and stock cubes, breakfast cereals etc. So, cheap places to eat out and quick, decent and healthy food ideas?

Thanks ladies

We just came back from Devon Cliffs (if that is where you are going). All the kids were told that the arcade room was forbidden. They were told that it was a rip off and no one asked for money. The kids just swam all day, played on the beach a lot. Each were allowed to pick 2 activties extra to do at the park. We bought those little bbq pack things and cooked on the beach, flew kites etc. We shopped at sommerfield and the local fruit and veg shops in Exmouth. I think I spent not more then 100 quid for the week for 4 kids and 1 adult.

Free things near Devon Cliffs:

Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary - visit by donation only (very politely done - no gates to pass, but lots of collecting boxes around). Gardens, shop, cafe etc. You can walk amongst the rescue donkeys in the fields.

Nearby are Ladram Bay, very pretty little bay near a campsite. Also Otterton Mill, a restored working water mill & craft shop. Bit snoozeworthy for very little kids and cafe is expensive, but take a packed lunch (or buy cake & bread from the shop) and then take a little walk along the river to see the sculptures.

You can walk from Exmouth to Lympstone along the newly built coastal path - very pretty, take the train back to Exmouth if little legs are tired.

A short drive past Exeter takes you to Haldon Forest Walks. Free walks, arts centre and play area. The "Butterfly walk" takes about an hour, with sculptures and massive musical instruments to discover along the way.

Also past Exeter is the "House of Marbles", based around a glassware shop but pretty child-friendly, with amazing marble machines and treasure hunts, takes up an hour nicely. Nearby is Trago Mills, a total tack-fest mish-mash of a place best known for its shop and garden centre. However round the back is a nice little amusement park. Individual rides/steam train are paid for in tokens, but they also have a small wildlife centre which is free of charge.

Free stuff in Exeter - Quay worth a visit to feed the ducks. Walk along the canal path to Double Locks & Turf Locks, both very child-friendly with nice food. If you don't fancy walking, hire bicycles from Saddles & Paddles on the Quay.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM) is closed for refurbs, but they have a temporary home near Central Library (behind the High Street) and are very child-friendly with some great activity boxes (dressing up, mosaics etc).

Heavitree Park has 2 large outdoor paddling pools if you want a free splash.

Eating:

El cheapo in Exmouth:
The Powder Monkey (just off the Strand) - local Weatherspoon's with outdoor seating.
The Bath House on the seafront (if you want to get in with the locals, call it by it's old name of The Deer Leap or better still The Queer Sheep!)
Capels chip shop on Imperial Road just off the Strand - gets busy at peak times though.

Nicer pub food but still kid friendly:
The Grove - towards the docks end of Exmouth seafront. Lovely beer garden, often with a bouncy castle at this time of year.
The Swan in Lympstone
The White Hart in Woodbury (ask if you can sit in the skittle alley, then the kids can mess around with the skittles while you sit and eat! nice garden too.)
Best takeaways on The Strand are The Bamboo (chinese) and Tandoori Nights (Indian, although not very child-friendly if eating in)
The Lighter Inn in Topsham
The chip shop at Dart's Farm (between Exton & Topsham) does OUTSTANDING fish and chips, pricey but SO worth it. Padlock your purse before going into the shop, though!

And finally my favourite things that do cost a small amount of money...

Bicton Park & Gardens round the corner from Otterton Mill. Absolutely beautiful park & gardens, with indoor & outdoor play areas suitable for all ages. Little steam train ride. Take a packed lunch though, and just use the cafe for a cuppa.

Shaldon Zoo - smallest zoo in the country, nearly all small primates & run by volunteers. Afterwards walk through the tunnels down to Ness Beach.

Becky Falls - lovely and shady on a hot day, very nice nature trail.

National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth is great. Park in the Barbican carpark. Have a little pootle around the shops & cafes on the Barbican afterwards and stand on the spot that The Pilgrim Fathers set off from.

As for Crealy, it is good fun for kids, but very much a "grown-ups stand back" (you'll be lucky to find anywhere to sit) kind of day.

Paignton Zoo is good - needs a whole day to get round.

Okay I could go on forever but since you're only going for a week I'll shut up now!

Blimey you're on a roll
I completely agree about Darts Farm, the best fish and chips in the world. I can never get over the size of the fish on their counter. But yes, padlock the wallet. Very easy to spend a fortune in there

I'm going to print off this thread and take it with me - heavens, i rather wish i was going for two weeks now! Thank you so much xxx

Happy to help Enjoy yourselves!

You can take a boat across to Shaldon zoo my dc just did it on a school trip and loved it.

Would 2nd Bicton and Haldon too. Haldon has got a play trail things to climb on on the way round. We've had a pass at Bicton in the past.

Trago can be useful- the train ride is really good(my ds5 says so and he's an expert)and they do like the rides if you just got £2 of tokens and got her to choose. The model train is good there too.

Forgot Babbacome model village(my lot love that pricey but cute).

Oh and you must lock up your purse at Darts Farm-seriously. I've done the punnet of raspberries thing too except I think my fiver was spent on a bunch of asparagus and strawberries or maybe a jar of something essential like marinated quails eggs . You can buy nice local cheese there and the butcher is good but be warned you will NOT just walk out with cheese and meat. The place has a funny way of making you walk out with things you never ever meant to buy. I went to buy the kids some paints(they sell those lovely Djaco ones) and came out with a tea shirt for me too that I sooooo hadn't budgeted for. I'm normally hard as nails. Be warned.

Aw - thanks for your advice LucyEllens mummy and sorry to semi hijack your thread.

I haven't been to Devon in ages but it is gorgeous and I hope you have a lovely time

Just to add for anyone going Kingsbridge/Salcombe way; another poster mentioned there is a big Somerfield there. It's closed at the moment while they refurb it to a Morrisons so it's closed at the moment. Looks like it will be opening fairly soon though.

We have just had a lovely time in Devon Cliffs. I really cant wait to go back.

Had a lovely time at the world of countrylife next door. Little bit dear £9.85 per adult Child age 3 and over £7.85...but you get a 15% discount with the ent pass.

If your budget can stretch to it there is a promo on at the Spa. Book a treatment over £20 and get a spa session for £5. I had half a day san enfant in the Jacuzzi, hot tub, sunbathing on the terrace, steam room etc. Then I had a massage. Total £30. It was a real selfish indulugate treat...poor bliss

oops meant pure bliss not poor!

There is a mahoosive Tesco in Lee Mill, just up the A38 towards Plymouth

Also a Morrisons in Totnes wot, no Waitrose?

2nd ing Donkey sanctury- but only for a few hours unless you REALLY REALLY like donkeys. Exeter Museum only has a small gallery open at the mo, BUT the free red coat guided walks round city centre are good, one of them is even a boat trip from the quay, get aleaflet from TIC.
Dinkies play cafe is over priced and tiny. Bumper back yard soft play at riverside Leisure centre in exeter is same price and bigger.
3 yr olds have to play to swim at most pools round here- except Exeter University out door pool and Parklands in Okehampton both free for under 4s.
Parts of Escot are free- leaflet from TIC again. No charge for wetlands area and walks on estate IIRC.
If your kid has a bike/ trike you can bring you, get them plenty of exercise what ever the weather up and down teh front in exmouth. Harbour view cafe is good and cheap.

oh, i absolutely love donkeys me

Right, have just looked at the weather - WTF, its going to rain every day - i want my money back!!! Might have to buy DD some wellies!

We're in Cornwall next week