Where in South Devon with toddler?

[natrat80]

Planning our first proper UK holiday this year in June with our son who will 20 months at the time. We're planning to travel down to South West coast from Manchester, so a bit apprehensive about the journey ahead!

I've started a bit of research, and have honed in on South Devon as it seems to offer plenty of towns, beaches and attractions. We'll be planning to hire some kind of cottage (or lodge?) and take day trips out and about. We'll mostly be eating in during the evenings (so eating out on a night isn't too important for us), but being in or near a lovely town would be a bonus.

So far I've come across the following areas, if you can cast your opinions good and bad....

Dartmouth (option for Salcombe day trip, but also the other way to Dawlish?)
Teignmouth?
Further along coast near Budleigh, Sidmouth, Branscombe, Beer

Any suggestions of a good place to base ourselves to get to the best sights would be most appreciated.

Thanks so much!

South Pool is like Hobbiton!

We've been to the South Hams area four times since DD1 was 18mo and are returning again this summer, when she'll be eight (and DD2 will be 2.5). We always stay in the same place, three miles from Dartmouth, called Hillfield Village. Sorry, I don't know how to do links. We absolutely love that whole area and Hillfield is just wonderful. Really high quality accommodation in a beautiful setting.
It is very expensive in the school holidays, but much cheaper outside of them.
There is so much to do there, we never get bored. Lovely towns, villages and beaches (Salcombe is my favourite place, Kingsbridge is DH's) and also lots of family attractions. We keep thinking about trying somewhere else, but there doesn't seem any point. Every time we arrive I think "I'm so glad we're back!"
By the way, we travel from further away than Manchester and the journey is usually ok apart from last year.
Try Coast and Country Cottages for some really lovely properties in the area (including Hillfield.