South Breazle Holidays Site Review


I knew straight from the moment that I used their website to book our half-term break at South Breazle that I***8217;d found a hidden gem of a site, (www.southbreazleholidays.co.uk). Indeed, upon arrival day, leaving the ever so busy A30 behind and heading down the final three miles of pheasant filled country lanes; we were not let down by our first impressions of the site.

The site has a small shop selling a few basics, which doubles as the reception opening twice a day, 09:00***8211;10:00, and 17:00-18:00. We arrived mid-afternoon so the shop was closed and we followed instructions to make a phone call to the farm using an internal phone located to announce our arrival. We were soon setting about pitching our Bear Lake on our pre-booked super size pitch. There are 25 pitches, a pleasant mixture of hard-standing, part hard-standing, standard grass, serviced and non-serviced. We booked late, and took the last pitch available, a serviced part hard-standing pitch ideally suited for caravans with awnings. However, the pitches are so large that it easily accommodated our car, trailer and tent with side extension.

During our stay the shop started to sell fresh sausages produced from the farm. Unfortunately for us, the bacon was still in its curing stage and wasn***8217;t available during our stay. Louise, who cheerfully manned the shop each day, also informed me that from July beef will be available to those stopping at the site during the coming summer months.

The site is only three years old, and as such, the facilities are modern, bright and airy. The showers were an absolute pleasure to use, a double shower cubicle with an even bigger changing/drying area with a suitable amount of hooks and a large wooden chair within each. The showers were all you could ask for, hot and powerful and were operated using the push button technique without the ability to change the temperature. My darling four year old daughter found the showers perhaps too hot and powerful, but again South Breazle came up with the goods. The family bathroom contained a shower that was programmed to be cooler and less powerful than within the main shower blocks. The toilet blocks and washing up facilities were regularly cleaned during our stay. The site seemed fairly full over the first weekend, but quietened off a little during the week of our stay, but not once did any of us have to queue for either a shower or to use the washing up facilities.

As far as entertainment goes on the site, it***8217;s peace and quiet all the way. The pitches are all based around a huge field. A small set of goal posts and a play house are the only items to adorn this space, but it was well used as a play area by all the children on the site who for once are forced to pretty much make their own entertainment. I enjoyed the space to make use of the South West winds and give my kite a rare outing. In a field adjacent to the site the owners have created a wonderful fun fountain for the kids to cool themselves down during the blistering heat we were lucky enough to have endured during our stay. Perhaps one improvement for this camping heaven would be for the addition of a small play area containing perhaps a couple of swings and a slide in the middle of the central field.

The site is based in central Devon and provides a good base for visiting many attractions but you have to be prepared to travel. During our break we visited the beaches at Widemouth Bay and Bude. We travelled to Eden ***8211; although the queues were so long we turned away and instead spent the day at the National Trust owned Lanhydrock Country House (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-lanhydrock). We also spent several hours soaking up the ambience of the beautiful Cornish villages of Tintagel and Boscastle. Roadford Lake was just around the corner from the site and is well worth a visit for a walk or cycle ride.

The award winning Lifton Farm Shop (www.liftonstrawberryfields.co.uk) is just five miles from the site. We enjoyed a most delicious lunch surrounded by several superbly decorated scarecrows. We purchased some quality produce and meats which we devoured later that evening. We enjoyed a couple of meals out at local pubs. The pub closest to the site, The Clovelly Inn, in nearby Bratton Clovelly gets busy and booking a table is recommended. The home-made duck, pheasant and port pate was delicious. Whilst out and about we fell upon the Eliot Arms, near to Launceston. Again, this was another busy pub and we were lucky to get the last remaining table. The staff and locals at both pubs made us feel most welcome. Due to the remoteness of the site, there is a distinct lack of local shops, but Launceston is well served with several supermarkets.

The site also offers secure storage for caravans and trailer tents at only £20 a month. Once your stay is over, you simply secure your caravan and leave it on your pitch. The owners then lift the legs and move it to the secure area, returning it to your pitch of choice for your next visit leaving the van exactly how you left it. I asked the owners if they***8217;d consider this excellent customer service to tent owners, but alas this was not part of their plans.

South Breazle was a superb find. All the campers we talked to were either returners to the site, or like us, will definitely be visiting again.

I***8217;ve already booked for 2010. Can***8217;t say fairer than that.