Salcombe Regis Caravan and Camping Park
Sidmouth – Devon.
By Matt (2006)
Sidmouth is on the South East coast line of Devon, and is situated just off the
A3052 about half an hour’s drive from junction 30 of the M5. A very pretty
little old English town, it is steeped in history and has many Royal
connections. The sea front is a beautiful parade of different coloured Hotels,
banked by scenery, which takes the shape of dark red hills with grassy summits.
The town is unchanged since the 1940’s, and black and white structured shops
line the narrow pretty little streets. There are a number of excellent pubs and
Restaurants, alongside most shops you will find in some larger towns, Boots,
Woolworths etc.
The campsite is situated about a mile or so outside of Sidmouth town, in a tiny
hamlet called Salcombe Regis, which again is just off the A3052. It’s situated
at the top of a hill, right next door to Sidmouths famous Donkey Sanctuary,
which is lovely to walk around for a few hours and has free entrance. Nearby,
there are beautiful walks along cliff tops, or down to the beach. There is also
an excellent ‘Pitch &Putt’ Golf course within walking distance, which is great
fun for a couple of hours. Nearby, there are places of interest, such as ‘Beer’,
(yes, that’s the name of the village), ‘Seaton’, and ‘Lime Regis’ which is a
very pretty little village, and famous for its Dinosaur fossils.
The campsite itself has all the expected amenities, shower / toilet block, a
shop selling gas and papers, that sort of thing. No entertainment though, so
it’s more suitable for a quiet retreat holiday. Although, having said that,
there are plenty of pubs in the town. What my wife and myself really liked, was
how beautifully laid out the site was. The grass was perfectly mown, so that it
looked like a football pitch, the pitches were all numbered and very well marked
out. The toilet and shower blocks were immaculately clean and tidy (and heated
for the cooler months). There is a small play area for children, electric
hook-up if needed, water hook-up if needed, and it has to be said, one of the
nicest camp sites we have ever stayed on. To top it all, the staff are all
really friendly and helpful too, which always makes a difference. You can
actually walk to the beach from the site, although it’s quite a long steep walk.
One ‘down side’, was that the weekend we arrived was Whitsun Bank Holiday, and
so the site was extremely packed. Because of this, we were pitched a good long
way from the toilet block, which when it was raining, or in the middle of the
night, was really annoying.
However, we had a really nice stay, and would camp there again. I would
wholeheartedly recommend Sidmouth for a visit, as it’s still unspoilt, and one
of the lesser-known jewels in Devons crown.
Details: -
Salcombe Regis Caravan and Camping Park
Salcombe Regis,
Sidmouth,
Devon,
EX10 0JH
The price per pitch varies depending on which Month you choose, but starts at
around £9.50 up to £14.50. Electric hook up is extra (as are many other things)
and costs £2.85 per night. This is admittedly, a bit more than I usually like to
pay, but this really is a pleasant site. See their website for more details.