Break Away at Ladram Bay

I had always been a little dubious about holiday parks, imagining them to be over-crowded, noisy, with the accommodation being basic and disappointing but, I have to say that after a stay at Ladram Bay Holiday Park, I am converted!

They are a great place to stay with children and ensure there is something to do whatever the weather. The other great thing is that you feel safe not to have your eyes on your children every second. Living just outside Exeter too, it seemed a little strange to be staying away so close to home. However, this was the beauty of the location - no queues on the A30 heading down to Cornwall and you arrived after work with plenty of time to enjoy the evening!

On arrival it was great to see that the reception area had been completely renovated since our previous visit and was welcoming, modern and bright with the usual cheery, warm welcome from the Ladram Bay staff.

We were directed to our accommodation on the front row overlooking the sea. Our mobile home was immaculately clean, spacious and had great views down the coast from our own decking area equipped with table and chairs. It never ceases to amaze me how much accommodation can be squeezed into one of these bright and modern mobile homes. We had three bedrooms - one double and two twins - one shower and toilet along with a separate toilet. The kitchen was very well equipped with everything you could need for a longer stay and a comfortable lounge area.

We didn't hang around inside for long as we wanted to enjoy the coastal walks and the Devon sunshine, and headed up the steep path to the top of Peak Hill, to enjoy the stunning views of the pretty town of Sidmouth below. It's a steep climb and not particularly push-chair friendly, although there is a flatter, alternative route. (Ladram Bay has a walking guide you can pick up in reception). The walk to Budleigh Salterton in the opposite direction is more level and you can walk back along the River Otter, through Otterton and back to the Holiday Park  a great circular walk for all the family.

After our walk, we headed back down for a much deserved pint and an evening meal. We found a table on the decking area overlooking the beach and perused the extensive menu. There is something for everyone with food very reasonably priced with good sized portions. Although there was a bit of a queue for ordering food and drink, plenty of professional, friendly staff were on hand to ensure the wait was minimal. The chefs source as much of their ingredients as they can locally (including lobster caught on their own beach!) and the great thing is you can even visit the restaurant if you aren't staying on the Park.

After dinner, we headed downstairs to the entertainment area. There was a family show on with some great live singing, children enjoying the dancing and our son alternated between the soft play, the pirate ship play area and sitting with us to enjoy the show.

The indoor swimming pool is a must-do during your stay with an interactive toddler play area, multi lane slide, main swimming pool, and a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi for the grown ups! The Jurassic Adventure Golf next to the swimming pool complex is great fun, although our youngest was more interested in the dinosaurs than scoring a hole-in-one!

The beach is directly below the Holiday Park and there is the Seaview Shack available where you can enjoy drinks and snacks and if you are feeling energetic there are boats and kayaks for hire on the beach. You are also able to hire wind-breaks and deck-chairs. Rock-pooling and fishing are also popular on the beach at Ladram Bay and due to the sheltered nature of the bay, it's a perfect place for a dip on a warm day!

As on our previous visit, we enjoyed a fantastic night's sleep waking to the sound of the sea. We were only sorry that this was such a short stay but we hope to go back again soon. I cannot recommend Ladram Bay enough as a family-friendly holiday location where you feel safe letting your children explore the park. The staff are helpful and clearly enjoy their jobs, and the location could not be better – although only 45 minutes from our home we really felt that we had got away from it all! Thank you Ladram Bay.

For more information visit www.ladrambay.co.uk