Devon with a toddler

[Bananazebra]

We are thinking of going on our first family holiday with our toddler (she will be nearly 3) in August. We are tied to summer hols as I'm a TA.
We are looking at Devon as it's not too far away and I know there's lots of family friendly attractions. But we can't decide if an Airbnb cottage type place or if more of a holiday park type place would be best.
Any suggestions or advice welcome!

Would definitely recommend. Have done south Devon (totnes area) and there’s lovely beaches and also family attractions like woodlands and crealey ‘theme parks’. Have also done north Devon (westward ho area) and again great beaches and there’s the Milky Way and the big sheep as days out, clovelley is interesting to visit too. Great place with young kids, but not the cheapest for accommodation. We did cottages, have never looked at holiday parks.

Lots of the holiday parks have great facilities such as indoor and outdoor pools which is great for tiring out a toddler and handy if you come and the weather is wet. The downside is potentially the cost or being in a caravan. Some parks have lodges and are really nice. Some even have a spa.

Airbnb you can get some beautiful cottages / barns with proper get away from it all views but you would potentially be driving to do things all the time.

Where were you thinking of going?

Exmouth and Dawlish Warren have some great holiday parks and lovely beaches and are both close to lots of attractions, towns and beaches and Exeter so lots to do. Ideal with a toddler. Would recommend Lady's mile or Cofton near Dawlish. Dawlish Town is quite old fashioned but has fish and chip shops, arcades etc. Just down the road Teignmouth has a great play park /splashpark. Trains run between Exeter, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth. Dawlish Warren is a good beach for kids, shallow calm water lots of soft sand.

Places like Dartmouth and Salcombe are much more upmarket air bnb type places if you want that sort of thing. Again lots of pretty beaches.

North Devon has the best beaches for surfing and a huge range of accommodation options but a but limited on toddler entertainment without long drives.

Another recommendation for North Devon from me. We usually stay at Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde. Loads of facilites and family friendly pool, plus only a short walk to the village or beach. Lot's of nearby attractions and only a short drive to Braunton or Barnstaple and you have Woolacombe and Ilfracombe nearby. I guarantee you'll go back!

Thanks everyone for the replies. We haven't decided where in Devon hence the post really. We are more used to Airbnb type holidays but I like the idea of having facilities onsite. Will definitely check out Ruda.
I found Bideford Bay holiday park online and it looked good but then digging deeper there were a lot of mixed/bad reviews.

I'd recommend Ladram Bay near Budleigh Salterton. It's a fairly big holiday park with lots do onsite as well as in the local area. It has its own pebble beach, which my kids ended up preferring to sand. Exmouth is a short drive away if you do prefer a sandy beach though.

Ruda is great. Would also recommend the Woolacombe Bay parks, I've stayed at Twitchen House but you can use all the facilities at both. Also Verdant Leisure at Woolacombe is great too. The beach is a drive from them....but they are nice parks.

Devon cliffs in Exmouth is another good one. As is Finlake, not by the sea but convenient for Dartmoor and only 15 mins from Teignmouth by car.

Devon cliffs or ladram bay would be my recommendations.
crealy is good for a day out, leisure centre and Ocean in Exmouth are good if weather is poor, national trust at Killerton, Knightshayes, Coleton Fishacre, castle drogo they have activities for children in holidays.

Your little one might enjoy a holiday park ?

as there is usually a pool / playground and ' entertainment ' - now it might be your idea of hell going to a children's disco at 6.30pm or whenever but she may love it :)

I’d definitely recommend Devon Cliffs haven park: we started going when my little one was 2 and there’s so much to do! Swimming and beach onsite, plenty of free activities, some great paid-for activities, plus the seaside squad night entertainment! exmouth round the corner with a large soft play and Queenswood park which is a large outdoor play park. Plenty to do with lots of activities in the summer (boat, open top bus etc)

I'd go for the south coast of Devon because the sea is generally calmer there. Have a look at the Salcombe estuary. There's several sandy beaches which will suit a toddler who wants to paddle.

Ilfracombe (north coast) is horrid, don't recommend there at all apart from as somewhere slightly cheaper to stay. Woolacombe is gorgeous and a huge, fantastic beach. On the south coast I'd recommend Bigbury/Bantham as being lovely beaches. Paignton I'd give a big miss.

If you do end up in the Exmouth area, there is an ' attraction ' - World of Country Life which your little one may like ? if you fancy a full-ish day activity ? Goat walking / small animal holding etc.

Or in a different direction, there is Pennywell Farm in Buckfastleigh, South Ham / South Devon-ish

I live in Exeter (and have a nearly 4 year old) and would second Ladram (not stayed there but location is good). The beach can get very busy in good weather, but Exmouth and Sidmouth are lovey, Exmouth best for sand, dinosaur play park and other attractions. Sidmouth is stone, but is best for swimming and has a lovely little town.
Darts and Greendale farms (play parks, animals, various eateries and shopping) are close too if the weather isn’t great but dry. There is a lovely walk to a RSPB bird hide from Darts, ours scoots happily too, as she knows there are ice creams there. Check out their Facebook pages for events if that is your thing as well.

We’ve stayed at Ruda recently and its location was fab, you can walk to the beach and into a little town. Reasonable pool, soft play in the restaurant, entertainment (some free, some paid for) on site. DD loved the Paw Patrol entertainment 🤦‍♀️

We have done Salcombe/Dartmouth, but the towns are the main attractions and are quite adult. Only so much our DD can take of them.

If you go South coast, the orange elephant is also worth a visit. Play barns and field, animals, maize maze and ice cream (fab in nice weather, but the barns means it’s a good half day activity in the wet).

DM me if you want anymore recommendations.

We’ve just got back from the manor hotel in Okehampton. My 3yo adored it

North Devon. Water is freezing in the south coast. Woolacombe great for kids and the water is a lot warmer (south coast I need a wetsuit, north coast I don't in the summer)

I recommend either Ladram Bay or Sandy Bay in east Devon. With a toddler, Sandy Bay is probably your best option as, on top of on site activities and a gorgeous beach, you have World of Country Life right next door. We are local and virtually live at WOCL through the holidays as there is so much for little ones to do.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Just in case anyone is invested (doubtful but anyway...) we have booked a vrbo apartment in Exmouth.
I still like the idea of a holiday park but when we looked in more detail they just ended up being a lot more expensive.
Looking forward to checking out World of Country Life.