Holiday destinations in Devon or Cornwall for family with kids aged between 4-18 years?

[peachcake]

Can anyone suggest a good area/region in the West Country for us to visit in the Summer Holidays. Needs to be a bit lively but not cheap and trashy!
Many thanks x

St Ives is a lovely place. Very lively and lots to see and do. Lots of lovely shops, nice places to eat, art galleries, plenty of water sports for all. Choice of quality beaches, all family friendly, all with something different to offer. Parking can be a problem, so if you plan to self cater make sure the property has a parking space. Lots of places to visit locally to suit all tastes and interests. Lots of lovely beaches and coves, water sports, rock pools, farm parks, tin mines, gardens, museums, and so much more ......

Thanks will look into both areas, LitleVern I can't get that web address to work, could you give me anymore contact details from them?
Much appreciated! x

I would put Teignmouth in the cheap and trashy category - sorry

I've been going to Teignmouth for the last ten years and it has improved greatly in this time. The town has definitely had an injection of money, there are some smart restaurants and the sea front is a big attraction for all ages. Shaldon is just across the water and has an award winning restaurant and cafe certainly not cheap and trashy! Plus it's a really good base for exploring the rest of Devon.

Salcombe
Dartmouth
Totnes

I live in devon and we go to Cornwall for our holidays.

Avoid Newquay (like the plague) and choose places with limited numbers (are you camping or B and B?)

The south cornish coast is good.

Shaldon is a different story - lovely, I agree.
Tinmuff is a smelly docking town with a scruffy pier. The main beach is ok, but narrow and shingle. The fair will almost certainly live on the Den for most of the summer and ruin the grass.
I have relatives there and have visited regularly all my life.

I'd suggest Totnes or Dartmouth with your list as well. South Devon beaches lovely and you can surf, paddleboard, sail, kayak easily enough around there.

Salcombe is lovely.

For finding places to stay in Cornwall and Devon I tend to use BlueChip as they specialise here but also HolidayLettings seem to have some interesting homes available in Devon

Another vote for St Ives or you could try Penzance. You can easily get to St Ives, Hayle, Sennen, Porthcurno, LandsEnd, Scilly etc from there.

Try Niche Retreats, best holiday cottages ever!