Looking to stay at Damage Barton in April - first time for us so was just wondering which pitches were the best to book (for views and facilities)?
We are CAMC members.
TIA
Kernow Camper
------------- More adventures in 2026 -
Feb - Steamer Quay CAMC, Totnes
May - Cheddar & Dulverton
June - Lake District
July - Devizes, New Forest & Dorset
September - TBA
Christmas - Ayr, St Ives
New Year - Hillhead CAMC, Brixham
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Quote: Originally posted by Dave and Cyn on 06/2/2025
Take your pick.
It's a sloping cliff top site with views right across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
Be aware, it can get very windy.
Can vouch for that; stayed many years ago and had to get up at 2am to take awning down as it got very windy overnight!
Damage Barton is a very exposed site. We were in the area a couple of years ago and stayed at the neighbouring Warcombe Farm campsite which was much more sheltered and just about half a mile along the same road. It was a really windy week but we were able to put our awning up. We walked through the Damage Barton site and very few people had an awning up. One lady told us a few had blown down and done a lot of damage a few days previously. If we were returning to the area we would definitely go back to Warcombe Farm.
------------- Pixie
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Can't speak for Damage Barton, as never been there, BUT have stayed on a cliff top site on Golden Cap in Dorset many years (decades!) ago, and most of the tents were wiped out overnight by a squall! Went to bed with a pretty packed site, woke up to a near empty site, and many of those remaining were packing to go! We survived OK because we were in an old 1960's ITC Igloo airbeam tent which was far more aerodynamic, with no gaps to catch wind due to integrated groundsheet, and more robust than the mostly 'square' open floor frame tents around us! We stayed for a few more days without incident.
Taught me to be cautious of cliff top sites! Never been to one since! Seem to recall one south coast site (whose name/location I can't immediately recall!) on/near a cliff that SPECIFICALLY advises against using caravan/MH awnings on some of it's more exposed pitches!
Certainly been on other flat land/exposed coastal sites (Essex) where the wind has wreaked havoc, totally wrecking tents, battering caravan air awnings, and snapping every wind break pole off at ground level!
Now very careful about the sites I pick, even though current caravan is far more tolerant than a tent, but still opt not to use the awning if looking to be at risk of wind damage. Trouble is you can't rely on weather forecasts, you have to judge on exposure risk from location. The Essex site, and another one in Derbyshire were hit by un-forecast squalls! When you are sat in your caravan and a cup of tea sat on a table is 'slopping' because the caravan is rocking so much, you know it's rough outside! That was the Derbyshire site, and whilst well inland, it was on the top of a deep gorge funnelled the wind from some directions!
No guaranty but the prevailing wind in most of UK is from the SW, so orientating your unit (picking your pitch) in the most advantages direction, and seeking some shelter from trees/shrubs/buildings can make the difference between discomfort/damage and surviving!
As to Damage Barton, worth reading as many reviews as possible and get a clue as to how often wind has impacted peoples stay!
I think that "Damage" says it all. Not stayed there, but there used to be a site called Sun Park if I remember rightly, not far from Salcombe. Our tent and many others were wrecked in a gale there.
Quote: Originally posted by Kernow Camper on 06/2/2025
Looking to stay at Damage Barton in April - first time for us so was just wondering which pitches were the best to book (for views and facilities)?
We are CAMC members.
TIA
Kernow Camper
You don’t book pitches there. It’s an open undivided hilltop. Look at the on line photos.
There is a separate fenced off enclosure for CAMC members who prefer not to mix with ordinary folk although you are actually better placed to be with them further down the slope.
Post last edited on 08/02/2025 09:15:16
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Went there once and a well kept site with every hard standing pitch raked over and levelled as each caravan left before the next on, Was asked when arriving if we intended using and awning as prone to high winds, We decided on that not to use ours, and next morning all those that were previously up had been taken out over night, That day we dare not leave the caravan as the wind hitting it sideways was causing it to lift. We were in the C&CC part of the site and soon after the club left the site, and only the CAMC stayed in the top part of the site,and the rest turned over to non club members.
We won't be taking an awning so nothing to worry about there.
We live in Cornwall so are 'used to' the winds.
Cheers!
Kernow Camper
------------- More adventures in 2026 -
Feb - Steamer Quay CAMC, Totnes
May - Cheddar & Dulverton
June - Lake District
July - Devizes, New Forest & Dorset
September - TBA
Christmas - Ayr, St Ives
New Year - Hillhead CAMC, Brixham
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Damage Barton, Woolacombe, Devon
via mobile 06/2/2025 at 6:21pm
