Ladram Bay Holiday Park

What became the Ladram Bay Holiday Park was originally farmland in the 1940s, where the odd camper would stay during the summer, pitching a tent overlooking the bay while Mr. Carter -- who was tending the land -- would provide milk and eggs. Over the next 50 years, Carter slowly developed the land into the Ladram Bay Holiday Park, which is now run by his son and daughter, and is one of the largest privately owned holiday parks in Great Britain. While the reception building, with a moss-covered roof and dated appearance, is weather-worn, the camp itself is generally well-maintained with a particularly cheerful and helpful staff. As well as accommodating touring vans and campers, the site also provides trailers, lodges, and apartments, catering to a wide spectrum of tastes and pockets -- though some of the accommodations are up steep hills. The family-friendly park is self-contained, with plenty of leisure and shopping facilities on-site, overlooking its own pretty and private pebble beach. 

The site, overlooking its own pebble beach, is surrounded by beautiful South Devon countryside in England's southweast. Located on the Jurassic Coast -- a World Heritage Site known for its picturesque cliff tops and ancient geological history -- its setting is particularly pleasant with some lovely local walks. The seaside town of Sidmouth is a 15-minute drive away -- or an hour's walk along the coast -- while Exmouth is 20 minutes away by car in the opposite direction. The historic city of Exeter is also about a 35-minute drive, though there's little in the way of local public transport. Those in touring vans should also beware of using satellite navigation systems to find the site and instead contact the park for directions.

As well as fully serviced accommodations with electric and water supply for tents and touring vans, the site offers a range of Lodges, Homes, and Apartments. Most accommodations are essentially upscale trailers with bedrooms and open-plan kitchen-lounges fully equipped for self-catering. Higher-end lodgings feature such luxury touches as hot tubs and wide-screen TVs with DVD players. Basic-level accommodations can lack towels or even linens during peak season. Most but not all Homes have central heating and double glazing, and some feature superb views over the sea. Wi-Fi is available in accommodations for a fee, but access is limited to one device and speeds are not fast enough for downloading or streaming. 

The site offers a wide range of facilities and on-site entertainment -- though the main feature is the lovely private pebble beach where boats and canoes are available for hire. For those unwilling to brave the sea, there's an indoor swimming pool -- though fees apply -- as well as a sauna, steam room, and hot tub. An on-site restaurant, Pebbles, is open daily and offers outdoor seating while a chip shop offers freshly fried fish to take away. Freshly caught lobster or crab is also available from daily fishing just offshore, and there's an on-site shop for groceries. Entertainment is available to suit all ages, while there's plenty of activities and playground facilities to keep the kids occupied. The free Wi-Fi patchy, however, and mobile 3G coverage is also poor.