South Devon vs North Devon

[Christhecaravanner84]

I've just got back from a trip to the South Hams area of Devon, staying near Bigbury on Sea. I've spent a lot more of my life in North Devon, both on holidays as a child and on my previous trips as an adult. I have been to the South Hams area a couple of times before but I've generally gravitated towards the North.

This trip, although it has been cold, I have really been charmed by the area. I love the cute little coves and lovely houses all dotted around on the surrounding hills. There are some really lovely beaches such as Bantham and lots of nice pubs around. I think South Devon is more quaint and pretty, whilst North Devon is more dramatic... Both have their pros and cons. I get the impression that South Devon is slightly more commercialised and busy in the summer. Stiil, I really enjoyed it down there and I'm already plotting another visit at a warmer time of the year so that I can explore the area better. I tend to go away on my birthday week, early September. Kids back at school so less busy and some decent weather still about.

Which part of Devon do you prefer and why?

I've created a poll here

 

[otherclive]

I've just got back from a trip to the South Hams area of Devon, staying near Bigbury on Sea. I've spent a lot more of my life in North Devon, both on holidays as a child and on my previous trips as an adult. I have been to the South Hams area a couple of times before but I've generally gravitated towards the North.

This trip, although it has been cold, I have really been charmed by the area. I love the cute little coves and lovely houses all dotted around on the surrounding hills. There are some really lovely beaches such as Bantham and lots of nice pubs around. I think South Devon is more quaint and pretty, whilst North Devon is more dramatic... Both have their pros and cons. I get the impression that South Devon is slightly more commercialised and busy in the summer. Stiil, I really enjoyed it down there and I'm already plotting another visit at a warmer time of the year so that I can explore the area better. I tend to go away on my birthday week, early September. Kids back at school so less busy and some decent weather still about.

Which part of Devon do you prefer and why?

I've created a poll here

Prefer south Devon as the coastline and little villages are more picturesque. We used to visit Bantham quite a lot but not at busy times. I spent quite a time in the area and some evenings after work me and a friend would take his boat out and sail across the sound and along to Newton Ferrers for a beer. We lived on Dartmoor and that’s still my favourite. We would take the kids and go swimming in pools and rivers on the Moor and even in summer very un crowded. Devon is a lovely county overall.

 

[RogerL]

You've experienced South Devon at a very quiet time of year, in terms of tourist numbers - in peak season the narrow roads, quaint villages and small coves become a nightmare - plenty of tourists without children extend the season well outside school holidays.

 

[GaryB]

Personally I like both equally. As soon as I get off the M5 and see any familiar Devon place names I feel the blood pressure start to drop!

 

[Beachball]

We haven"t spend much time down in Devon but we would like to go back to Barnstaple and hire a cottage in the near future

 

[Dustydog]

My parents lived near Bideford for 40 years . North Devon is an amazing County. True Devon without the commercialism of the South. So North gets my vote👍👍

 

[Buckman]

Been to north Devon once to a caravan site called Stowford Meadows with PC magazine rally and have not bothered with going back. That is when we met some of you on this forum.

We should try it again, but it is easier to find hen's teeth in a desert than trying to find fully serviced pitches near the seaside in N. Devon. 😂

 

[Christhecaravanner84]

My parents lived near Bideford for 40 years . North Devon is an amazing County. True Devon without the commercialism of the South. So North gets my vote👍👍

I quite like the Bideford area, you can do a bit of Cornwall and a bit of Devon if based there.

 

[otherclive]

My father retired to Lynton but after a few years felt it too isolated in winter so moved back to Leicester. But he bought a nice mobile on a site in Lynmouth overlooking the sea. He used to take up residence from April to October and just live down there, sometimes going back to Lynmouth for Christmas and New Year. Lovely area.

 

[Raywood]

Because of the distance from Scotland we have not been that often. We have normally only been to the South around Torquay and Plymouth. There does seem to be more there from our point of view but the North might get a look in one day.

 

[Dustydog]

Been to north Devon once to a caravan site called Stowford Meadows with PC magazine rally and have not bothered with going back. That is when we met some of you on this forum.

We should try it again, but it is easier to find hen's teeth in a desert than trying to find fully serviced pitches near the seaside in N. Devon. 😂

There are 33 FSP sites in North Devon. Not a bad choice😵‍💫

 

[Buckman]

There are 33 FSP sites in North Devon. Not a bad choice😵‍💫

Can I assume that all 33 of these sites have pitches with water and waste water connections to the pitches in addition to EHU.

 

[Dustydog]

Can I assume that all 33 of these sites have pitches with water and waste water connections to the pitches in addition to EHU.

Yes. All 33 are FSPs

 

[Gagakev]

Easy answer.........South Devon, I live here!!
Dont go North unless we have to, bought our caravan there but warranty is out now so wont go back any time soon, perhaps I'm being a little bit harsh the area is nice but I cannot stand travelling that boring, monotonous A361 from junction 27 on the M5 to Barnstable,
Sorry cant write anymore ...........I'm falling asleep......ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Jaydug]

Which part of Devon do you prefer and why?

After my wife and I took up caravanning, we did several short, weekend runs, but then in August, we set out on our first long holiday. And that was to Westward Ho in North Devon. The year was 1966 - nearly 57 years ago. We booked into Surf Bay; a site which now deals only with mobile homes. Since then, we have been back many times. But then we have also visited South Devon several times, which we have thoroughly enjoyed. So very difficult to choose between North and South. I faced the decision just last November when I wanted to book a four-bedroomed house for my family to enjoy Christmas week together. After much indecision, I choose a place at Seaton on the South coast.

 

[littlebasher]

Only trouble with north Devon, is it always seems to be windy whenever we've gone there - even in the middle of summer!

Change a lot too over the years, i remember when Croyde bay used to be a quiet place to visit !

 

[Devonboy]

I've just got back from a trip to the South Hams area of Devon, staying near Bigbury on Sea. I've spent a lot more of my life in North Devon, both on holidays as a child and on my previous trips as an adult. I have been to the South Hams area a couple of times before but I've generally gravitated towards the North.

This trip, although it has been cold, I have really been charmed by the area. I love the cute little coves and lovely houses all dotted around on the surrounding hills. There are some really lovely beaches such as Bantham and lots of nice pubs around. I think South Devon is more quaint and pretty, whilst North Devon is more dramatic... Both have their pros and cons. I get the impression that South Devon is slightly more commercialised and busy in the summer. Stiil, I really enjoyed it down there and I'm already plotting another visit at a warmer time of the year so that I can explore the area better. I tend to go away on my birthday week, early September. Kids back at school so less busy and some decent weather still about.

Which part of Devon do you prefer and why?

I've created a poll here

Just to confuse matter's, I live in West Devon so that's the best part for me lol. On a serious note S Devon get's my vote only because knowing where to avoid the crowd's during silly season. During the school hols all of Devon and Cornwall can be a nightmare.

 

[Grumpy]

South Devon for me. The North is more dramatic and whilst having breakfast watching a Peregrine catch Rock Doves in flight for it's breakfast is something I will never forget.
The north always seems very tatty and run down and in need of some huge investment.
Having a boat in Exmouth might be a deciding factor though!
I've heard today traffic on the M5 from Exeter to Bristol is crawling along, that's the reason we never go out on Bank holidays.
Living in Somerset we get a lot less visitors because most people drive through Somerset to get to Devon and Cornwall (thank goodness)

 

[Beachball]

South Devon for me. The North is more dramatic and whilst having breakfast watching a Peregrine catch Rock Doves in flight for it's breakfast is something I will never forget.
The north always seems very tatty and run down and in need of some huge investment.
Having a boat in Exmouth might be a deciding factor though!
I've heard today traffic on the M5 from Exeter to Bristol is crawling along, that's the reason we never go out on Bank holidays.
Living in Somerset we get a lot less visitors because most people drive through Somerset to get to Devon and Cornwall (thank goodness)

We like Somerset would like to go again in the near future

 

[Buckman]

I've heard today traffic on the M5 from Exeter to Bristol is crawling along, that's the reason we never go out on Bank holidays.
Living in Somerset we get a lot less visitors because most people drive through Somerset to get to Devon and Cornwall (thank goodness)

For some strange reason they had one lane blocked on the M5 south
bound near Strensham services this morning and the tail back was horrendous. heading north traffci not too bad. We always stay local for Easter or a Bank holiday weekend.

 

[Grumpy]

For some strange reason they had one lane blocked on the M5 south
bound near Strensham services this morning and the tail back was horrendous. heading north traffci not too bad. We always stay local for Easter or a Bank holiday weekend.

Very wise indeed.
We tend to go away only locally and not holiday times in fact we never go away at weekends either.

 

[Dustydog]

For some strange reason they had one lane blocked on the M5 south
bound near Strensham services this morning and the tail back was horrendous. heading north traffci not too bad. We always stay local for Easter or a Bank holiday weekend.

I can’t remember the last time we travelled on a Bank Holiday or weekend😁

 

[Grumpy]

I can’t remember the last time we travelled on a Bank Holiday or weekend😁

Judging by the M5, 10 million people did both this weekend

 

[Dustydog]

Judging by the M5, 10 million people did both this weekend

One born every minute🤪