Cofton Holidays

Set in a valley near Dawlish Warren – not very far from junction 30 of the M5 – Cofton Holidays is easily accessible for even the larger of RVs, thanks to a wide sweeping entrance. The site offers some 450 pitches spread across a wide area and is dissected by a road.

To the right of this road is a large modern brick-built complex that houses reception, a large shop, a restaurant, bar and swimming pool. The shop offers a wide range of groceries and alcohol, it also sells camping accessories (awning pegs, toilet chemicals, electrical gizmos etc) and general holiday gifts. Whether you’re after a bottle of wine, or barbecue supplies, there’s no need to leave the campsite to hunt for supplies.

Linked to the shop area is an L-shaped cream-painted building that features the Swan Pub restaurant and bar, as well as an upstairs family bar area. Outside is a patio area that overlooks an impressive outdoor swimming pool area.

This kidney-shaped pool is heated from spring bank holiday to mid-September and also has a shallow circular children’s pool alongside it. Gently sloping, well-trimmed grass surrounds the pools and has plenty of room for parents to sunbathe while their offspring splash about.

Children’s facilities are extensive and include play areas at opposite ends of the campsite, as well as a sports wall and woodland adventure area, which features lots of caber-sized constructions. This area is actually at the edge of the woods area itself, so the trees shield it from the elements and there’s also plenty more woodland to explore, too.

Sandwiched between the woodland area and the swimming pool complex is a sloping meadow with a couple of donkeys and a pony for children to pet.

Elsewhere on the site is another L-shaped construction that comprises a fish & chip takeaway, a launderette and a games room – offering a couple of pool tables, air hockey and various shoot-’em-up and driving simulator arcade games. Adjacent to this building is one of the camping field toilet blocks. There are about six in total dotted around the site, with the most recently-built versions (such as the one in the barnfield) being impressively well-appointed.

Family bathrooms, mother and baby rooms, plus disabled rooms are also offered on site, while dogs are welcomed (and have their own fenced-off exercise field). Also on-site are several fishing lakes, which should keep anglers amused.

The actual pitches themselves are mainly grass and offered in various sizes. The larger pitches can even accommodate RVs and owners of twin-axle caravans should have no problems getting sited. There are limited hardstanding and super pitches which makes it advisable to book this pitch type early to avoid disappointment. Although the site is in a valley, plenty of terracing means that the actual pitches are all pretty much level. The higher-up terraced pitches additionally give excellent views across the site.