We are thinking of going to one of the Woolacombe Bay sites. We have a touring Van with two girls age 4 and 9 years. Which one would you all recommend.
Thanks NEWBS
------------- NEWBS
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
We have been to Golden Coast & Twitchem Park, both owned by the same people. We liked both sites and both have their own merits but personally we felt Golden Coast (their main site), had a slight edge on Twitcham, although Twitcham has a superb new toilet/shower block.
We have stayed twice at Golden Coast (and returning next year) and once to Easwell.
Golden Coast
The touring area is mainly in two parks, you can find the site map here pitch numbers 2 - 34 are large size pitches, mainly hardstanding which is like gravel. These pitches were renewed for the 2009 season, however, we prefer pitch numbers 38-81, these pitches are slightly smaller, but a little quieter imo, and also nearer to the loos/showers. (I must say as my review on this site says, the pitches we were on last Easter were looking very tired, however, I believe that these will be done for 2010)
Golden Coast has everything for the kids to do, a kids club each day suitable to upto 12 years old (they each get a free t-shirt & goodie bag) followed by a club for older kids. So yours are a great age for the club.
The indoor swimming pool is only a small pool, the outdoor pool is also small but does have a slide, pitch & putt, indoor & 2 outdoor play areas are free to use, they charge small amounts for extra activities, normally around £1.
The evening entertainment is normal holiday park type, often a chidrens entertainer followed by bingo, evening cabaret and disco. Pete the entertainment manager works very hard.
On-site food is ok, but best to drive over to Twitchem as the take-away is so much better.
Easewell
we pitched in area D, pitch number 8 on the map here these pitches were SMALL only just big enough for van, car and awning, although these pitches were more sheltered than those on area B, lovely walks from the site, small on-site take-away, very small indoor pool, small outdoor play area, small pub style club (no entertainment whilst we were there, and no childrens club)
We stay at Golden Coast each year, our kids really enjoy the week there, you can use any of the 4 sites facilities, and they have an open top bus that will take you to the other sites or the beach, £2 per person per week I think.
We went to Twitchen at half term. We wont be going back. We booked a hardstanding pitch and were allocated a pitch in J section.....which basically resembles a gravel carpark on a side of a hill! Our first pitch was at such a gradient that it was impossiable to pitch, even using the concrete blocks and wood which were available. Luckily we were able to change pitch and found one where at least we were able to level the van, even though it ment the nose was resting on the floor whilst the back legs needed to be raised. The main fields are also on a steep slope but arranged in terraces, access to them seemed tight. On the plus side the facilities are good, small pool but clean, didnt use the club house so cant comment on entertainment level but it looked ok when we had a nose around. The toilet block superb.
We had a nose around the other sites, convinced we had booked the worst one.....but came to the conclusion that maybe we had in fact booked the best one! Thought Golden Coast was noisy and cramped the touring pitches we saw were right next to the entertainment and opposite the large supermarket and looked like they would be very noisy with non existant privacy.
My advise is to do your research, wish we had!
Sue
------------- Dec- Bath Marina
Dec- Chertsy ccc
Dec- Oxford ccc
May- Apple Orchard Forest of Dean
July- France TBC
Aug- La Grenouille Hautefort
Golden Coast is ideal for kids. There is all the on site entertainment for them which means that you enjoy your holiday as well. Golden Coast also have an open top double decker bus which runs you up and down to Woolacombe Beach at very regular intervals so that you do not need to take the car yourself and get charged a fortune to park!
Can't think of a site that is in walking distance of woolacombe (not many pavements in this area we found).
Kids love Big Sheep and Milky Way at Bideford.
It's a lovely area and refreshingly not too commercialised!
Thanks guys and girls for such a comprehensive review! always good to hear from the horses mouth so to speak. I will give Golden Coast a look and ask for one of the better pitches.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Woolacombe Bay
. We booked a hardstanding pitch and were allocated a pitch in J section.....which basically resembles a gravel carpark on a side of a hill! Our first pitch was at such a gradient that it was impossiable to pitch, even using the concrete blocks and wood which were available. Luckily we were able to change pitch and found one where at least we were able to level the van, even though it ment the nose was resting on the floor whilst the back legs needed to be raised. The main fields are also on a steep slope but arranged in terraces, access to them seemed tight. On the plus side the facilities are good, small pool but clean, didnt use the club house so cant comment on entertainment level but it looked ok when we had a nose around. The toilet block superb. 
