Spotlight on: Cofton Holidays

Cofton Holidays sits in a corner of Devon that is a magnet for visitors in the summer and tranquil out of season, despite having most facilities I could think of!

There are swimming pools – both indoor and outdoor (although the outdoor is open from April only) – a gym, pub, fish and chip shop, café overlooking the pool, lounge bar with live shows nightly (depending on time of year) and fishing lakes. Endless entertainment opportunities!

If all the razzmatazz isn’t your thing, don’t worry, the ‘busy’ area is central and away from the camping pitches.

On a practical note, the launderette, shop and wash blocks were immaculate. The site is very spacious and well laid out with statics, wooden lodges and tourers in separate areas, all with landscaping sympathetic to the beautiful, hillside setting. The winter touring pitches are all hedged, hardstanding bays with electric and for the less wet months, there are grass areas on terraces.

The reception staff are very helpful and knowledgeable, pointing out the walking route through privately owned woods to Dawlish Warren, with its fabulous sandy beach backed by dunes hiding a nature reserve. We were plied with many cycle route leaflets and thoroughly enjoyed the Exe Estuary Cycle Trail, accessed just a few hundred metres from Cofton.

From April, ferries operate from nearby Starcross taking you over to Exmouth – there really is no need for a car to explore this area. It’s also just a 10-minute walk down a quiet lane to Cockwood with its picturesque quay on the Exe estuary. It’s definitely worth an evening stroll to sit and watch the twinkling lights of Exmouth the other side of the river and possibly be tempted by the two pubs: the Anchor specialises in fish and is on the quayside; the Ship is just a few metres away and serves good food.

Cofton Holidays
Starcross, Dawlish, Devon, EX6 8RP
01626 890111

This site review first appeared in MMM magazine, August 2020 issue, submitted by Janet Banks.