A North Devon caravan weekend
Last weekend we ventured out in our caravan for its first trip of the year. The occasion was a family wedding in North Devon – two hours from our home in Dartmouth – so we decided to make a weekend of it.
Having a caravan can be a massive bonus when you are travelling around the country to see relatives. Two nights on a campsite costs a fraction of the price of a hotel and is much more comfortable than sofa-surfing with a toddler and baby.
Where we stayed
We stayed at the Hartland Caravan and Camping site on the edge of the village of Hartland near Bideford and were joined by Tin Box Nana and Grandad. The site has pitches for touring caravans like ours as well as a camping field and five static caravans. There’s also a toilet block with showers, a washing machine and tumble dryer.
From our pitch we had views down across the village to the sea. It made for a couple of great sunsets.
Our North Devon caravan weekend
On the morning of the wedding I walked into Hartland with Tin Box Nana and the girls to visit the playground. There’s a post office/convenience store and several pubs and cafes within easy reach.
A short car journey away is Hartland Quay, where we decided to go for a beach walk and lunch. It’s infamous for hundreds of ship wreaks over the centuries and one particular episode of Top Gear where they rolled a Citroen ‘camper van’ over the cliff.
Mr Tin Box has been visiting since he was a child. Then about 15 years ago he bought me to Hartland Quay for the first time. I’ve always been struck by the rugged beauty of the place.
It’s lovely to now be able to bring our own children here – even if Tin Box Baby was fast asleep in her pushchair on this occasion.
It’s become a bit of a tradition for Mr TB to climb one of the huge fallen rocks jutting out in the sea each time were at the Quay, obviously if the tide allows. I think it’s something to do with maintaining his youth.
This visit was no different. I did get a few questions from Tin Box Tot about what Daddy was doing though.
After lunch at the Hartland Quay Hotel we headed back to the caravan to prepare for the wedding. It was a great afternoon and evening.
Tin Box Tot loved chasing around with her cousins and went through quite a few balloons before crashing out on some seats.
Unfortunately Tin Box Baby was ill at the end of the night having picked up the horrible stomach bug that seems to be doing the rounds.
Luckily she slept well back at the caravan and we didn’t think much more about it until the rest of us got it from Sunday night onwards.
Sunday morning was spent catching up with family from the night before and having an alfresco lunch before we set off home.
We shall be visiting for another North Devon caravan weekend later this spring and I hope we’ll be able to visit some more of the local places we love.
Things to do in North Devon
If you find yourself in the Hartland area of North Devon there’s a few places we can recommend for families to visit:
- Clovelly – a picturesque fishing village dating back to the 9th Century where there are no cars because of the steep, cobbled main street. This is such a pretty place to visit with so much history. Make sure you say hello to the donkeys
- The Milky Way Adventure Park – this family-run attraction has plenty for kids to do indoors and out. We loved the falconry show and the giant bouncy cushions when we visited a couple of years ago.
- Bude – just across the Cornish boarder is Bude with lots of independent shops and a great beach for exploring rock pools and trying out water sports. It also has an epic pasty shop!
Here’s a bit more from our weekend
Have you visited North Devon recently? Where would you recommend going?
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What a fabulous little adventure! Its so amazing that you have the opportunity to travel around as and when you please so easily, a caravan sounds like a fantastic investment for you and the little ones. I cant wait to see and hear more about the places you go and the things that you get up to 🙂 Emily #KCACOLS
The caravan will definitely be hitting the road a few more times this year. Apologies in advance if you meet us on any of the small windy ones 🙂
Lovely photos, it’s an area of Devon I don’t know that well but the coast looks stunning #WTWW
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One recently posted…Expected – such a massive word
How amazing having a caravan, I’d love the freedom it brings (one day I’d love one of our own). Devon is beautiful, but I’ve never been to north Devon, my in-laws live in Cornwall, so we try and visit every summer and I love all the gorgeous beaches there. Sarah #WhateverTheWeather
Sarah Stockley recently posted…Beautiful Box Hill
It sounds like you had a really great weekend. Although I am sorry to hear that you were all poorly too. Those stomach bugs always seem to hit at the worst times! I really like North Devon and we actually went there for a wedding too, a couple of years ago. It is such a lovely part of the world. #KCACOLS
Emma recently posted…I am so sorry. I’m British you see.
What a fab post. We love Devon and can be often found camping there in our motorhome when we are back in the UK. It looks like you all had a great time.
I’ve lived in South Devon most of my life and not once ventured to North Devon- how ridiculous is that?!? After reading this and seeing your beautiful photos and video I think a trip to North Devon is definitely on the list of places to visit this year 🙂 #whatevertheweather x
Hannah G, The ‘Ordinary’ Mum recently posted…Awards Season- Lets Celebrate!
It looks so dramatic from your photos. I miss our caravan. It does give you freedom. How lovely to be able to combine catching up with family and revisiting old haunts. #CountryKids
What a lovely adventure and Tin Box Daddy and the girls do look adorable all dressed up for the Wedding. The site looks perfectly places and you were lucky with the weather, though I imagine it was pretty chilly. It did make for some gorgeous photos though. Sorry to hear about the sick bug, always something with children isn’t there. On balance a great first outing and a fun looking beach to explore. My kids laugh time and time again about that episode of Top Gear. Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Coombe Mill – Fiona recently posted…Padstow Tide Times for 26th March 2016
What a brilliant weekend in such a beautiful location. I love their outfits for the wedding, so adorable!!! The sunsets looks really pretty by your caravan. I’d love to go away in a caravan. I used to go so much when I was smaller but it’s definitely something we need to start up again. It looks like the weather was really on your side! Thank you so much for sharing with #whatevertheweather xx
Chloe recently posted…CURIOUS LITTLE EXPLORERS #10
The photographs from the beach are amazing, looks a great place to explore and have an adventure. I think we are very lucky in this country to have wonderful places to go on holiday, and it shows by looking at our photos
WildFamilyFun recently posted…Exploring Risk in Play
Oh what a shame about the illness to finish the weekend – sounds a lovely little break, especially with a wedding. That beach is gorgeous too, such dramatic rocks (I would definitely have wanted to climb all over them) #countrykids
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Easter Egg trail at Cliveden National Trust
What a lovely travel! The rock formation is stunning! And looks like a lovely trip! #countrykids
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A fabulous adventure for you all! The girls look very at home in the caravan, you’re making me think that we should be getting one too! Maybe we’ll upgrade from our tent eventually! Love the video and the beach is gorgeous. Fantastic rock formation, perfect for a photo. A shame about little one being ill and then the rest of you catching it later, but sounds like a lovely weekend aside that. Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 xx
Ah it is so nice to see it all in a post after you told me about this weekend. I felt like I knew it all, lol. What a beautiful place and those sunsets were stunning. It looks like you had a wonderful weekend apart of the horrible bug. Thanks god that she managed to sleep all night and then you all had a good sleep. Lovely photos and video too!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I would love to see you again on Sunday! 🙂 x
These photos are just heart-warming, and it really does look so stunningly beautiful there.