A weekend in North Devon

*We were the guests of Woolacombe Holiday Parks.


A few weeks ago, Matthew and I hopped in the car and headed out of London for a weekend break.  We headed straight to North Devon, a beautiful county in the southwest of England.  It was a quiet weekend of leisurely drives and stunning scenery.

The northern coast of Devon is known for it's natural beauty, rugged cliffs and coves, expansive beaches, and Exmoor National Park.  We visited the seaside resort of Woolacombe with it's sandy, three mile beach that has been named "Best British Beach."  In the summer, this area is packed with families, surfers, holidaymakers.  I was surprised to still see so many people even in October.

 

We spent a lot of time just driving along coastal roads, stopping along the way to take in the dramatic scenery.  I just can't get enough of it.  We stopped in the twin villages of Lynmouth and Lynton for lunch and a stroll.  

I was in a little shop and picked up a book.  It's called Pigs in Clover about a couple that gave up their London life and moved to Devon to live off the land.  The sign said that it was written by a local gentleman named Simon Dawson.  The shopkeeper asked me if I was going to buy the book and I responded with a yes.  "Oh, well, Simon is in the shop just across the way.  You should go say hello to him and he will be happy to sign it for you."   And that is exactly what we did.  He signed my book and we had a very pleasant chat.  I read the book all the way home and loved it.  Very funny and interesting.  

I love getting getting out of London and driving around England.  I cranked up the seat warmer (best invention ever) and put on some music.  We drove through Combe Martin and stopped just long enough for a few photos with the iPhone.  Then spent an hour or so exploring Ilfracombe. 

We were invited to stay at a popular family holiday park on the North Devon Coast in a caravan for the weekend.  Actually, I would call it a trailer or mobile home.  When Jess was young we had a little camper trailer and we had so much fun in that thing.   This one was much bigger than the little camper we used to have.  It was nice to settle into one for the weekend.  It was very clean and cozy.

I've never stayed in a holiday park before but they are pretty popular in the UK.  Woolacombe Bay had everything you need right on site, a pub, restaurant, spa, store, indoor pool, and much more.  I kept thinking that it would be the perfect place to bring your extended families during the summer.  It must be a blast for kids. 

It was the perfect little getaway for us.  These little breaks from London are invaluable.  I love the city but it can get a bit heavy at times.  It's good to get out into the beautiful country and take a breath.  

Have you ever experienced a UK Holiday Park?  What did you think?

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  *We were the guests of the Woolacombe Holiday Parks for the purposes of review. 
Accommodation for our stay was complimentary.  All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.