We had a great family holiday in South East Devon this Easter and were so lucky that the spring weather had finally come. Post lockdown, we couldn’t wait to be by the sea and it was Coco’s first trip to the beach. She loved racing around and helping the children dig in the sand. It was our first time to this part of Devon and we absolutely loved it. On the Jurassic coast, it is full of red cliffs, pebble beaches and crystal-clear waters and the towns have that lovely Victorian seaside charm.
East Budleigh
We based ourselves in the pretty village of East Budleigh in a beautifully furnished barn conversion. Details can be found here. It was perfect for the four of us plus the doggy. The owners thought of everything from games, colouring and DVDs for the kids to a dog bed, dog towel and dog bowls for Coco. Only 5 minutes’ drive from the beach at Budleigh Salterton, it was ideally located. Just a few minutes’ walk from the barn was a village shop and park which the kids loved wandering down to. On Tuesday evenings The Wandering Pig wood fired pizza van also pays a visit. With restaurants closed for indoor eating and temperatures still quite chilly, it was a good option and the pizzas were so tasty.
Budleigh Salterton
We couldn’t wait to see the sea so first stop was Budleigh Salterton. The scenery here is beautiful – Jurassic red cliffs on one side and the iconic line of pine trees sitting on the hill at the mouth of the River Otter on the other.
Don’t miss a walk along the Otter Estuary which can be joined from a path just behind the beach (there is also a little play area here too). The Otter Valley Wildlife Walk is an easy 2.7 mile walk which takes you along the river and back with plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife including birds, ducks, dragonflies, kingfishers, butterflies and frogs. We did part of the walk as it was a bit too long for Coco and the blossom was in full bloom. The area is managed as a nature reserve so there are lots of look outs along the way and information which kept the children interested.
Along the seafront promenade you’ll find Fifty Degrees North Café which offers yummy salads and sandwiches for an easy lunch on the beach. Back in the town centre we stopped at The Creamery which serves homemade ice creams in lots of delicious flavours – the ginger ice cream was amazing!
With limited evening dining options, one evening we picked up some ice creams from Pynes Farm Shop and went back to the beach at sunset. It was so relaxing watching the water lapping on the colourful pastel pebbles and the pink evening sky – Beautiful!
With such clear waters, friends have been in the summer and said it’s a great spot for swimming if you get yourself some jelly shoes. There are also water sports on offer during peak months so we would love to go back and paddle board along the coast here.
Sidmouth
Another glorious, sunny morning so we headed off to Sidmouth with a cliff top walk to start the day. The views across Sidmouth with its terracotta-coloured cliffs and sparkling blue waters were spectacular. There are various trails starting from Salcombe Hill National Trust car park. We followed the Salcombe Views and Valleys trail which is just one mile long but then joined part of the trail down to Salcombe Mouth for a play on the beach. The numerous steps down to the beach and back up again are a serious leg workout but worth it for the rest on the deserted beach with gentle waves and huge pebbles. For a longer hike, the Salcombe Hill Circular Walk looks great too.
Later we drove into Sidmouth for lunch. It has a traditional, unspoilt seaside atmosphere with attractive regency buildings lining the promenade and surrounded by rolling countryside. We stopped at Forts Café and had delicious prawn sandwiches followed by a cream tea with views across the beach. Then double scoop ice creams for the kids and a wander along the lovely, long stretch of shingle beach for Coco to have a run around.
Haldon Forest
With limited activities due to covid, we booked a session for the kids at Go Ape in Haldon Forest. It was just a 30-minute drive and great to have some fresh forest air. Arriving early, we did the 1.5 mile discovery trail and only saw a few other families – so quiet and peaceful. Plenty of space for Coco to explore safely and stunning views throughout the route. Then on to a bit more action with an hour of Go Ape. The Go Ape Tree Top Adventure is perfect for all ages. My 12-year-old was keen to try out the adult version – Tree Top Challenge, but still found it fun.
Dawlish Warren
In search of a sandy beach to chuck the rugby ball around on and let the dog roam free, we spent the afternoon at Dawlish Warren which wasn’t far from Haldon Forest. Dogs are allowed on certain sections of the beach and it was very clean. It isn’t the most picturesque beach we’ve visited but the fairground, crazy golf and go karting are great for kids and ours loved spending an hour on the pirate ship and other stomach-churning rides. Just as you come into Dawlish Warren, you’ll find Ryders Bakery which is perfect for stocking up on lunch to take to the beach. The made to order baguettes and salads, pasties and cakes were delicious and very reasonable.
Exmouth
The beach at Budleigh is gorgeous but the huge pebbles are not the easiest with a puppy so we spent the morning at Exmouth beach which is less than 30 minutes drive away. With no dog restrictions in place in April, Coco had her first experience of sand and sea here and loved it. A beautiful, sunny day with lots of people wandering along the seafront and playing on the beach, it is a lovely two mile stretch of sand to relax on. We stopped close to the RNLI station where there is a café and also lots of rockpools for the kids to explore. With people out on their paddleboards and boats on the glistening waters and views across to Dawlish and Torbay, it was a much needed glimpse of summer to come. The main square in the centre of the high street had lots of lunch options with cafes setting up outdoor seating and a few pop up street food places.
Otterton
For a riverside walk and cream tea, Otterton Mill is a nice place to stop. You can join the riverside trails in both directions from the car park and even incorporate it into a walk to or from the beach at Budleigh Salterton. With puppy in tow, we just did a small section of it and headed back for cake but the circular walks that take in the estuary nature reserve look stunning. If you’re lucky you might get to see beavers, otters and kingfishers along here. Early evening is the best time for spotting the beavers though. Wander through Otterton village and you’ll find the main street lined with thatched cottages dating back as far as the 16th century.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 