Family holiday at Dawlish Sands Holiday Park

Wow I kept the secret (well from 2 of the 3!) and what a great time.

DAY ONE: MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2015.

We loaded the car and actually made it to Dawlish about 2:30pm and went to the. sainsbury first brought food for the first 2 days and a hot pizza before Piling back in the car to the sea front.

We ate the pizza watching the wind in the long grass then while daddy went to find somewhere free to park the car (pick the keys and sign in to the park)  we walked the beach found a jellyfish

They then collected some pretty stones and shells before meeting daddy at the amusement arcades.

We then walked up to the car which was only about 1/4 mile away but the kids were not amused by now it was 5pm and they were getting rumbly bellies again and tired as we took daddies short cut through the holiday Park and Emily spotted our car by a caravan she chirped up with I see our car from daddies shoulders and I think for her it clicked but for Thomas bless him he didn’t twig until we had gone through the door sat down and he had read the welcome pack saying Duncan Brown  3 adults and 3 children for 4 nights at which point he got all excited.

After unpacking making tea and cleaning up we took the older 2 to the clubhouse for the entertainment.

After a few games we left to get them to bed.

DAY 2: TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2015.
well went to the shops in Dawlish today had a lovely morning there enjoyed the scenery and ice-cream ???? .

We walked through from the carpark into Dawlish and then followed the river down to the sea where we walked along the seafront.

We spotted not only the black swans but also some of my personal favorites Muscovy Ducks.

 

 

 

 

 

We never did find out what was with the bunting as far as we could work out it must have been put up purely for the summer Holiday period (happy to hear if you know why they were really put up especially the “washing ones” lol)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked down the seafront and looked out as the sea came rushing in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We really enjoyed our time on the seafront and the views were truly beautiful.

 

The sea front was lovely but we loved walking browsing the shops just as much and the children particularly enjoyed the ice-cream.

We then headed to the shop to buy some food shopping and went back to the caravan and after lunch on to the Parks indoor swimming pool for a couple of hours playing in the warm waters.

We then had dinner and headed to the clubhouse for the games one of which Jessica won herself a certificate and Thomas won himself a Minion from the amusement arcade machine before heading back and putting them to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Three: Wednesday 16th September 2015

Well we actually had quite a lazy day today we woke up and headed in the car to Dawlish warren we were expecting a storm (which never we were lucky enough to miss in the end) so we hadn’t planned much the skys were clear and the weather warm so we had planned the perfect day to enjoy the good weather and be back before the expected bad.

We headed to the car park a short walk from the beach and walked under the tracks to get to the amusement park buckets and spades in hand to hea to the beach unfortunately we had missed the low tide and the sea was not only right up but also a little on the wild side. So we went for a walk along the seafront instead.

 

 

 

 

The water was truly amazing to watch as it threw itself at the rocks and steps we sat and watched it for a quite a while with the children loving seeing the waves swallowing up the rocks.

 

so after spending a little while taking pictures of the sea breaking against the rocks we headed toward the naturally made Arch to get a few pictures.

I have to admit that these have to be my favorite Photos of this day the top two are off my mum who has always loved the sea just staring out into the distance enjoying the sounds, smells and views the promenade had to offer and my little Emily feeling a little fed up as she slowly came to realise o matter how far along the coast we walked there didn’t seem to be any and for her to play with as she did she slumped down on the curb and stared down at the pavement this sullom contemplation didn’t last long before she spotted a train bridge which obviously had to be explored!

 

 

 

 

So in true geek like fashion we all went off to investigate the beautiful bridge and of course if your going to climb a train bridge you have to wait for a train or 2 to pass under you. I personally wanted a few pictures as I intend to do our bedroom in a train travel theme and wanted a few snaps tucked away for when I finally find everything I want to be able to complete it. (Apparently most people doing train or travel themes are done for children rather than adults lol)

 

At this time it became apparent that Thomas maybe having a few Bridge issues not wanting to climb the bridge so he sat on the sidelines with granny although clever granny managed to still get him in for a couple of shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By now the weather had turned a little chilly so as Thomas had pretty much covered every pair of trousers we had packed for him in mud (from the flooded area at the bottom of the caravan steps honestly the whole lot was under at least 3-4 inches of water which for a child like Thomas who was now to big to carry was just asking for trouble lol) We left him and Duncan to explore the Go karts and went window shopping for either some wellies or new trousers (or preferably both). We stood and watched while they got in a few laps then met back up with them at the shops where although still unable to buy Thomas new wellies we did get a pair of trousers for him and they allowed him to change in the changing room.

 

From here we returned to the car while Duncan and Thomas went to grab some Chips to warm everyone up and keep them going a little longer it was nearly midday and we still had a quick shop to do and after walking 4 miles around the coast the children (and Adults alike) were getting peckish.

We didn’t do much in the afternoon and in actual fact spent the afternoon after getting back to the van in the pool with the kids while granny caught up with a few ZZZs and cooked tea for herself and the kids.

Duncan and I then left them snuggled on the sofa with granny and we went to explore the nightlife of Dawlish. Come 5pm there isn’t really much to do outside of the Warren where all the pubs stay open promising Football and darts and drunkards making fools of themselves which really isn’t us.

Don’t get me wrong in the comfort of our own home we don’t mind getting a little drunk and making a fool of ourselves on the Xbox or Wii or playing board games arguing over who may be cheating with friends or family or even a drunken walk home from the pub giggling and joking but we really aren’t social drinkers or any drinkers really. This in mind Dawlish was perfect there were a number of bars offering oversized TV screens for some sporting event or other but we walked to find something more our style walking back along the River as Dusk settled in the air.

 

 

Honestly the Photo’s I managed to get before my phones battery died do no judice to the amazing views the reflections of the stringed lights on the rippling water was as breathtaking at dusk as they were on our return walk some hours later in the darkness of night.

 

 

 

 

Probably the strangest thing was finding this big duck enclosure of young ducks which we missed the day before including a small little building with some 2-3 week old ducklings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We soon came to this wonderful little pub tucked on the corner facing the seafront which the stormy winds out at sea was rising high above the walls and tracks in bouts of dancing water reflecting the street lamps against the darkening sky creating wonderful dancing light bursts.

We both went in and enjoyed a Burger and Chips meal and a couple of Cokes talking and enjoying a little rare chance of just enjoying each others company without the distractions of home or children. after eating and talking we went for a nighttime walk up to the sea entrance and wrath the fierce waves from a safe stop just past the rail bridge.

Day Four: Thursday 17th September 2015

Babbacombe Model Village was our heading today and the kids couldn’t wait we planned to go in twice in one day so once we got there we paid £3 for 2 hours parking and headed in with our tickets bought online.

 

It took us about 2 hours to walk around the whole place the first time we were there we didn’t rush through but on the same hand we made sure we had things to see again when we returned later that day.

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if you can spot the Cat? I don’t mean a small model one I mean a a normal cat enjoying the sun on the warm felted roof of the Stadium?

 

The attention to detail in the models are really amazing.

I actually enjoyed trying to find different ways to capture the work that has gone into the making of the models.

 

The kids especially enjoyed the free mini golf going back 2-3 times for a game.

We really did have a wonderful time walking around and had a quick look in their reasonably priced gift shop and they had a little something for an child’s pocket money allowance (Jessica brought a find your own pearl necklace which was £9.99 and had the necklace with a cage like pendant on it in which went a pearl you removed from the clam yourself, Thomas a Pirate Bracelet for £2.99 and Emily a Tinkerbell necklace of the same price as Thomas’ at £2.99 but they also had pencils from 60p little note books etc)

After leaving the model village for the first time we then headed back to the car to find somewhere to park for our prepacked picnic and found just a short drive away a little car park by the coast in which to sit and dine.

the views were as idyllic as the rest of this coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our lunchtime picnic spot views. They really were something quite special.

So after lunch we then headed into Torquay to have a wander around the fisherman’s port and have a little look in the shops.

 

The little coastal town was nice but the shops weren’t unique and we preferred the shops in Dawlish itself offering something a little less commonplace than what was on offer here. But the docks itself is was lovely and we enjoyed sitting on a bench watching the water flow out of the keep.

As you will probably know already I love taking photos of my kids and although I have in the past had chance to take the odd shot for the sake of capturing something beautiful it has been years since a place or trip has inspired so many.

 

I loved it here and got some lovely Photos some that document our life and then some just because to me they hold something magical, I know some reading this wont see that magic but that’s the thing with people like me we see the world in a different light and see things in a different way. Thomas also got in some fantastic shots too.

 

So we had now made it to about 2:30pm in the afternoon and went for a drink in Debbinghams before walking the long route back to the car the 2 hours of parking cost us £3.30 here and we all bundled in headed for Paignton. the parking here cost us £1.20 for an hour but as by now it was 4pm it took us over to the non chargeable time and we could use this ticket again when we returned to Babbacombe so was the last of the parking charges we had to pay.

 

 

The Park  here was the reason we drove to Paignton and was well worth it as the children played for the best park of 2 and a half hours.

The park had a wide range of things in it from a very unique childs Hamster wheel thing.

 

To a wooden adventure playground with zip wire slides and assault course.

 

 

 

To the large spiders web with slide and bridges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the large sand and water area.

then finally the more normal play equipment area it was incredibly thought out and a great free place to take the kids.

Eventually the children became hungry and we took them into the child friendly pub next to the park called the Flagship. it cost about £40 for all 6 of us to eat which I felt was quite reasonable. The adults had paid for drinks but the children had a jug of tap water with their meals  and the food was lovely and the staff were friendly and happy too help which is always an added bonus.

We soon found ourselves piled back in the car just in time for the rain to start and we started the 30 minute drive back to Babbacombe. We spent the first part of the journey chasing the rainbow until the rain stopped. (we were actually very lucky as during the whole holiday while we were out and about it didn’t rain on us and when it did rain we were either in the clubhouse, swimming pool, Arcade, eating or crashed out with no intention of venturing outwards)

 

 

 

We made it back to the model village and this time spent another 2-3 hours walking around noticing things missed first time around the children spent the last of their money on the £1 per play remote control boats and cars they also played mini golf at least twice more and loved peering through all the lite up windows of the model houses.

 

This was basically the end of our Holiday once back to the van we went to bed then we rounded up all our stuff  before leaving and taking a leisurely drive back home it really was just what the doctor ordered and once back we unloaded the car and helped my mum load hers again waved her off for her drive home and then crashed for the rest of the day in the peace and quiet of our own lovely little home. There really is no place like home especially when the caravans Double was more a wide single and more uncomfortable than sleeping on a bumpy concrete floor! but apart from the poor standard of bed and the flooded surroundings of the caravan it was well worth every penny we spent on it and was needed by all. Made even more special by being able to enjoy it with my mum.