Sandaway Beach Holiday Park

Samantha on reception was so helpful. We fancied a carvery on Mother’s Day but didn’t think we’d get a table, so she rang the Pack of Cards and booked one for us. Freddie, the entertainment manager, even turned the music down because my husband’s hearing aids made the noise hard for him to bear. We had such a fantastic time at our first Murder Mystery weekend. The entertainment was brilliant, and breakfast was lovely, cooked just how I like it. Everyone was incredibly obliging. We’ll definitely be back!

The views are stunning, with beaches nearby, and the site is well maintained. The staff were friendly and welcoming throughout. Tyler the lifeguard deserves a special mention for being approachable and professional, and for making us feel very welcome. We had a great stay and look forward to coming back.

We only stayed four nights because five wasn’t an option, and we couldn’t check in on a Sunday. It was off season, with lots of empty vans, though I’m guessing housekeeping doesn’t work seven days a week. It was quiet at that time of year and there weren’t many kids, which was a bonus. The location is really good, close to Combe Martin, and the staff were friendly and helpful. It made a good base for exploring the area. We’d had trouble with a holiday rental and needed a last-minute alternative or we’d have had to go home at the start of our holiday. We first got Apartment 11. It was dark and oddly laid out, both sofas were broken with bits of plywood under the cushions, and they buckled when you sat down. We could also hear the person above stomping around like a herd of elephants. I wasn’t prepared to stay there, so I went back to reception to ask if anything else was available. They offered Caravan 101, but said it needed cleaning and would be ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a large, three-bedroom Bronze pet-friendly van. Housekeeping were great and even made up two beds for us. The beds weren’t especially comfortable, and some cushions on the sofas and dining seats were very squashed. Still, our other option was going home. The dishwasher works, though the compartment for the tablet doesn’t open. No big deal, we just put the tablet in the cutlery rack. The Wi-Fi had no signal for several days. The heated pool had limited opening hours and was shut on Wednesday, and calling it heated is a stretch. The grounds were tidy, with staff out picking up litter and cutting the grass. One suggestion: a leaf blower when trimming around the vans and paths might stop grass cuttings getting walked indoors.

Mermaid Cove is beautiful, with turquoise water and a gorgeous view. The walk back up the hill to the caravan is tough, but worth it, though your legs may feel like jelly at the top. Our silver caravan was spotless and had everything we needed for the week. The beds were comfy, and the large fridge freezer and dishwasher made life easy. I hate washing dishes, so that was a real treat. There was plenty for the kids to do, and lots of the extra activities were free. They loved the soft play and spent much of their time there with the other children. The arcade was good too, though a couple of games were out of order and it didn’t affect our stay. We never once heard the dreaded “I’m bored!” The pool was clean and had a belting view. It opened 10-1 and 2-5. The lifeguard, the chap with the sunglasses, was really polite and helpful. My partner enjoyed chatting with him about the park and local area. Lovely lad. The kids’ one complaint was that the pool should stay open longer. The two male entertainers we saw were hilarious and really put their all into it. There was a nice mix for children and adults. The lady in the kitchen makes a banging lasagna. I had it twice, the portions were massive, and she can cook! Her partner was a lovely chap who couldn’t do enough for customers. He brought my son a takeaway box when he couldn’t finish his huge portion. Prices were surprisingly cheap for homemade food at a holiday park. All the staff we met were polite and extremely helpful. We’re very happy with our stay at this small park, which has everything you need on site for adults and kids. We’ve already booked to come back for two weeks in July.