Back in January, we shared with you our big changes for 2020. What we didn’t know at the time was that there would be significant changes coming across the entire industry. With international travel largely on hold due to the COVID-19 outbreak, research by Parkdean Resorts – a holiday operator offering seasonal pitches for campervans – suggests that more than half of British holidaymakers will now be looking to stay closer to home, at least this year, and one proposed hotspot is none other than Devon itself.
Parkdean Resort’s Staycation Market Report shows that Devon bookings are up to 86%, compared to 40% for the Isle of Wight, 38% for Kent, 33% for Cornwall, and 30% for Scotland. So, other than Parkdean’s Ruda campsite at Croyde Bay, where are the best places to camp in Devon with your camper conversion?
1. Leadstone Camping
Last year, GQ Magazine named Babbacombe’s Cary Arms as one of the best places to stay in the UK. And while the log-burning stoves, wet bars, stylish bathrooms, and spacious sitting rooms are certainly welcomed, the main draw is undoubtedly the unrivalled views across the Channel. It’s a place of true luxury… with a price tag to match. That’s why we think Leadstone Camping is a great, cost-effective alternative. Located just moments from the Dawlish coast, Leadstone’s family-friendly campsite is set within 7 acres of rolling grassland. Channel views can be enjoyed from the nearby Blue Flag beach.
2. Summerhill Farm Campsite
Earlier this year, Devon Live named Dartmoor the most isolated place not just in Devon, but in all of England. Dartmoor isn’t a place for those travelling by public transport, or for those planning to carry all their gear… and this is what makes it the ideal spot to travel with your campervan conversion. We love the campsite at Dartmoor’s Summerhill Farm; a working farm surrounded by the rolling hills of the River Dart Valley. A campervan gives you complete access to these stunning, isolated spots, where you can enjoy the total peace and serenity of the deepest, darkest Devon.
3. Marshford Camping & Caravan Site
The child and dog-friendly Marshford Camping & Caravan Site, part of an organic foods farm, is located in a highly sheltered spot in Northam. While the site isn't planning to open until next season, it's worth considering a 2021 break. It also happens to be in the middle of several Hockings’ locations. Founded in 1936, Hockings Ice Cream is a Devon Institution, and its distinctive red and yellow vans can be found almost daily in Appledore, Bideford, Burrows, and Westward Ho!, all just minutes from the Marshford campsite. If you love their ice cream so much that you want to follow their iconic Whitby Mondial around the county, a campervan conversion in Devon gives you the freedom to do just that!
4. Brightlycott Barton
Part of an organic sheep farm, Brightlycott Barton is a 4-acre site with 23 pitches. It’s family-friendly, with a well-equipped games room for kids, and one reason it makes our list of the 4 best places to stay in Devon with your campervan is that it’s right on our doorstep. Located just 4 miles from Taylored Campervans HQ on the banks of the River Taw in Barnstaple, the site provides easy access to both Barnstaple centre and Exmoor National Park. You can visit the park to take part in the Wild Watch project – see how many species you can spot from your camper.