Holiday recommendations: Devon

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I’m hoping someone more knowledgeable will be able to advise me!

We’re looking at a little holiday for June and we’ve decided on Devon. I used to holiday there when I was little and have really great memories. Where we used to stay is quite rural, but I don’t think this would suit our own family’s needs.

We’ve been to Bournemouth the past couple of years, which obviously has a lot of shops/restaurants as well as lovely beaches.

Can anyone recommend anywhere in Devon that may be similar? Lots to do with a lovely beach in walking distance?

i love Appledore and Instow lots to do and its really nice there. you are not far from Barnstaple and Bideford so plenty to do

Torquay

Look at Darwin forest

No sorry that’s Derbyshire! I ment finlakes

North Devon prettier , Croyde, Woolacombe area is nice

thats just by Appledore where i suggested earlier so much to see and do there

North Devon is beautiful!

Exmouth or Sidmouth would get my vote.

Salcombe? Dartmouth is lovely and has lots going on, but no beach

When I went to Bournemouth years ago it was a bit more like a traditional seaside town and full of old people so you might prefer south Devon to North Devon which is more for an active beach type holiday. Although i suppose Ilfracombe has a theatre and amusements etc

The two places i recommend are the Woolacombe/Croyde/Ilfracombe area. Woolacombe beach is blue flag award winning and lovely. Also good for body boarding as is Croyde. Also lovely coastal walks.

Salcombe is very nice- popular with the middle class. Sea is an estuary so no surfing but you can hire boats etc. When we go we stay in East Portlemouth across the water so we're walking distance from the beautiful Mill Bay beach. Again lovely coastal walks .

Dartmouth has pretty little coves beyond the castle; Castle Cove and Sugary Cove. Also if you are travelling by car the vast beaches of Blackpool Sands and Strete are nearby.

Parking in Dartmouth can be a problem though.

Depends what your interests are but in South Devon I like…
Sidmouth
Bigbury on sea area
Dawlish
Salcombe

I wouldn’t bother with Torquay tbh, I think it’s gone downhill. Paignton is ok if you like a very busy prom with funfair etc.
North Devon is lovely - Woolacombe, Appledore/Instow. Avoid Ilfracombe.

You could go on the stram train from Paignton to Kingswear and take the ferry over the river to Dartmouth.
Parking is quite easy in Paignton.

Not Torquay, it's very run down these days.

Sidmouth is nice but perhaps a bit sedate for a family.

even on a bank holiday?

OP wants to go in June… but to be honest, yes, even on a BH I suppose.

Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton have pebbly beaches. No sandcastles there. Both probably more suitable for the older generation.

Exmouth is very popular with families as is Dawlish Warren. They both have nice sandy beaches. Check the “water quality” web sites because some beaches in Devon have sewage overflow issues. (South West Water are infamous for it.)

Someone above has suggested Finlake, a nice holiday camp set in the countryside, which is just off the M5 - A38 Express Way. It’s at Chudleigh, so it’s very near Dartmoor and the Teign Valley. No beach there, so youd have to travel to the beach.

Torquay is run down. Nice to visit for the day though.

Dawlish Warren is nice. Check out Cofton Holidays. Walking distance to nice beach with a couple of pubs. Near to Dawlish (could walk there in 30-40 mins) for slightly more shops. Dawlish Warren has a railway station with regular trains to Paignton / Exeter/ Exmouth for more beaches / city shops / attractions. Dartmoor and Haldon Forest are nice day trips within easy driving distance.