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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

cheapish holiday in cornwall/devon

27 replies

motherbeyond · 08/02/2010 12:40

probably asking too much..but here goes!
am due to have my 3rd dc in may (eldest nearly 4) we'd really love to get away in the summer,but think abroad is out of the question this year.

we'd still like a break in the sun and have heard cornwall is lovely.we're oop north!

we wouldn't want a caravan or camping hol,but rent a cottage or something,but can only find reeeally expensive one's.

also,i rememer a thread where MNHQ asked for peoples hols (for the telegraph) and someone mentioned somewhere that was like "an up-market centre parks " does anyone know somewhere like that?
thanks in advance

OP posts:
MaryBS · 08/02/2010 13:34

We've stayed here before. The accommodation is very basic, but its clean, inexpensive, and the village is lovely. Not too far to drive to beaches like Polzeath, which is a stunning beach, and Padstow is quite pretty too.

Original poster
motherbeyond · 08/02/2010 13:50

thanks for that,it's along those lines we're thinking of.
any other recommendations would also be welcome

OP posts:
Iklboo · 08/02/2010 13:54

this is a good site

Ivykaty44 · 08/02/2010 13:56

I would go somewhere near north devon, for example Bude, then if it is wet there are a lot of place to go for days out indoors with things for your two under 4's to do and see.

England is lovely in the sun but when it is wet it is good to have a back up

just my thoughts

Original poster
motherbeyond · 08/02/2010 14:09

yup,definitely be good to have some back up.we went to norfolk last year and when it was sunny (most of the time) it was great,but when it rained,dear god..the tedium!

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LazyJourno · 08/02/2010 14:18

I've stayed here which is a great location but may bit a bit small. This place is a bit further down the lane and although not quite as nice as The Rocket House it is bigger and still very comfortable.

You can walk to Polzeath and Daymer Bay for the beach and there is a shop at the top of the lane and buses to Wadebridge. Rock is good for a potter about and you can get the ferry to Padstow. We've done this at Christmas in the rain and it was just bearable so raining in the summer should be ok

Original poster
motherbeyond · 08/02/2010 16:19

cheers for that..are you really a lazy journo?i only ask because i am and so is dh!..we're hoping to get one of these as a freebie press trip!
do you know how much the four geese was per week?

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 08/02/2010 16:45

so when I was a waitress and we happened to notice thatthe snoiest people were usually the ones with the worst table manners - that was us being inverted snobs especially when they used the worng cutlery and then complained the knife would cut the meat...well if you will try to use the starter knife what exactly do you expect?

we probably were !

Ivykaty44 · 08/02/2010 16:46

oh dear- wrong thread

MrsKitty · 08/02/2010 17:16

Not sure what you're classing as 'really expensive' but This farm is a fab place to stay with toddlers - we're going back for our second stay next month. From what I've seen, the rates are cheaper than many others.

North Devon often better than Cornwall IMHO as plenty of attractions/wet weather stuff to keep little ones occupied if the weather's not great.

MrsKitty · 08/02/2010 17:20

Meant to add - Bampfield is only about 15-30 mins from some gorgeous beaches, if the weather is up to it...We were in T-shirts on the beach in March down there last year, and am crossing my fingers for a similar week this year, but it's not looking good at the moment, is it

LazyJourno · 08/02/2010 17:41

motherbeyond no I'm not really. It's just me being naughty

I usually post under a different name and just wheel this out for mischief but I've needed to vent some personal stuff so have slipped into this for a couple of days.

Not sure how much Four Geese is but apparently the owners are very nice so drop them an email.

If you do a press piece have a look at The Rocket House. It has a good story and the owner will be happy to show you around.

If you do go, have a look at St Enodoc's church which is where John Betjamin is buried. It was reclaimed from the sand dunes in the last century.

Avoid Polzeath if you go in August because it's full of boys from Kensington pretending they're in Skins and go to Daymer Bay or Greenaway (down the cliff but I did it with baby in a sling without any probs) which has fab rock pools instead.

There's a Cafe near Four Geese at the top of the road which does nice food and has an art gallery and shop.

Tesco's will also deliver if you do a shop to arrive at the beginning of your stay

Original poster
motherbeyond · 09/02/2010 08:08

mrskitty...nope,it isn't..but fingers crossed for you too.you never know!

lazyjourno...ahh,i see..you minx you! thanks so much for all the info,really helpful.MN is just brilliant for things like this,great inside information.
we'll defo try and wangle a press freebie(coz are totally skint at mo!) so helps if a good story

OP posts:
Original poster
motherbeyond · 09/02/2010 08:09

ps..sorry about abandoning the op yesterday,was unwell and had to slink off to bed

OP posts:
piratecat · 09/02/2010 08:20

op, try south devon, tis lovely, and not quite such a trek. Lots of things to do with the kids.

yes i do live here!!

jb707 · 09/02/2010 09:32

Have a look at www.devonholidayhouses.co.uk. We normally rent the garden flat with the main house but have a couple of weeks when the flat is free.They are w/c 16.7 and 30.7.
There is plenty of room for a family of 5.

piratecat · 09/02/2010 09:49

holy smoke jb, that's some property!!! I live in a nearby town. cooo eeeee!!

Original poster
motherbeyond · 09/02/2010 17:33

thanks jb,looks really great,but out of our price range for now.have to buy a new double pram,new single pram...and a new car,in the next 6 months!!so holidays are last on the list..but i MUST have a break SOMEWHERE!!!!!

OP posts:
piratecat · 09/02/2010 18:15

What about a static caravan on a nice park in devon or Cornwall? At the end of the day they are well equipped, fun and cosy? As it does tend to rain down here whenever it likes!!!

piratecat · 09/02/2010 18:19

i looked at the brochure for this last yr

piratecat · 09/02/2010 18:26

this place is near a lovely town called Dartmouth, and not far from local beaches. it's a great and really lovely place to take the kids.

Woodlands

nearby beaches include

Blackpool sands which is stunning

and

Slapton sands

other towns you could stay in are Kingsbridge or any of the surrounding villages. Honestly, it's gorgeous here and very relaxing.

BlauerEngel · 09/02/2010 18:53

Hi motherbeyond,

I did a fair bit of research into holiday cottages in Cornwall last month and concluded that the minimum price for somewhere still free (a lot of the cheaper offers are booked out already) for 5 people is about 550-600 pounds. That's for during the school holidays of course. We wanted a farm holiday with lots of animals to feed, though, which restricted our options a bit and possibly pushed the price up.

I was surprised at the cost of the static caravans - not significantly cheaper than a nice cottage but so much smaller (at least the ones I looked at).

A few years ago when we were broke one summer we went camping. Bought a cheap but large tent from Lidl (!) and even with the cost of all the equipment it was a great deal. But I can imagine why you don't want to try that option with a 2 mo baby.

Original poster
motherbeyond · 10/02/2010 09:01

thanks piratecat,we tried a static caravan last year and decided it wasn't for us,but thanks very much for the links.
mrs.kitty,it looks lovely,but again nearly £1000 for a week is too much this time.we could rent an apartment in marbella for that,which is our usual hol..but don't fancy leaving the counrty with a 2 month old.

OP posts:
MrsKitty · 10/02/2010 20:04

If your eldest is only 4 do you have to go away in the summer holidays - could you not go either early July or early/mid september instead? Would be several hundred cheaper, and the weather's a gamble whenever you go between June-September isn't it? Having just had a quick look at the Bampfield website there's options between around 570-730 for the weeks either side of the school hols. (I don't work for them BTW - just loved it there last year!)

PureAsTheColdDrivenSnow · 10/02/2010 20:07

we're staying here in May (OK to tell you as we've booked ours now

I too was looking for something not too expensive, but this looks lovely, and under that magic £500 mark (as long as you go out of the summer holidays)

the site is actually very good -- lots of possibilities on there.

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