Published
Best Family Campsites in Devon: 10 Places to Camp With Kids
Devon gives families a particularly wide choice of camping trips. You can stay close to North Devon’s beaches, choose a full-facility holiday park in South Devon, or head inland towards Dartmoor and West Devon for walking, cycling and countryside-focused breaks.
Some families want pools, soft play and food on site. Others would rather have a quieter pitch and use the campsite as a base for beaches, coastal walks or Dartmoor.
We’ve shortlisted 10 family-friendly campsites in Devon that stood out during our research for different reasons.
This isn’t a ranking, and we haven’t necessarily stayed at every campsite included. We’ve compared current campsite information with established camping and tourism sources, focusing on the things that matter when camping as a family.
Where we describe a campsite as “best for” something, that’s our editorial assessment based on the facilities, setting and location we researched.
The Shortlist
| No. | Campsite | Area | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Cofton Holidays | Dawlish | Lots to do on site |
| 02 | Whitehill Country Park | Paignton | Younger children & family facilities |
| 03 | Lobb Fields Caravan & Camping Park | Braunton | North Devon beach days |
| 04 | Woodovis Park | Tavistock | Smaller park with strong facilities |
| 05 | Lee Meadow Campsite | Woolacombe | Traditional outdoor camping |
| 06 | Castle Brake Holiday Park | Woodbury | Exploring East Devon |
| 07 | Harford Bridge Park | Tavistock | Dartmoor & active families |
| 08 | Watermouth Valley Camping Park | Ilfracombe | Coastal camping |
| 09 | Langstone Manor Holiday Park | Tavistock | Dartmoor countryside |
| 10 | Stowford Farm Meadows | Combe Martin | Big-site facilities & activities |
01 — Cofton Holidays
Dawlish, South Devon
Cofton is the most facility-heavy option in this shortlist. Tent campers have access to swimming, indoor and outdoor play, family entertainment and several places to eat, so the park itself can form a substantial part of the holiday.
It is inland from the immediate seafront, making it better viewed as a South Devon base with a strong on-site offer rather than a beachfront campsite.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Lots to do on site |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Cofton offers grass pitches for tents, including the Orchard area reserved specifically for tent campers. |
| Family facilities | Outdoor swimming pools and splash pad, indoor swimming pool, play parks, soft play, pump track, woodland adventure areas and family activities. Some facilities and activities, including indoor swimming for camping guests, carry additional charges. |
| Beach access | Not beachfront. Dawlish Warren and other South Devon beaches are reached from the park rather than directly from a beachside pitch. |
| Food on site | Restaurants, pub-style dining, café and takeaway options are available, with opening arrangements varying through the season. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Dogs are accepted on camping pitches and must remain on leads except in designated exercise areas. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Cofton gives the shortlist a genuine high-facility option. It makes most sense for families who want plenty available around the campsite rather than planning to leave the park every day.
02 — Whitehill Country Park
Paignton, South Devon
Whitehill combines conventional tent camping with a broad set of family facilities, including swimming, soft play and several outdoor play areas.
The park sits in the South Devon countryside rather than directly on the coast, so families can combine time on site with drives to the beaches around Paignton and Torbay.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Younger children & family facilities |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Grass pitches are available with and without electric hook-up. |
| Family facilities | Outdoor heated pool, splash pad, indoor swimming, soft play, playgrounds, family bathrooms and family amusements. Some facilities, including the indoor pool, may carry an additional charge for camping guests. |
| Beach access | Not beachfront. The park is positioned inland from the beaches around Paignton and Goodrington. |
| Food on site | Bar, café, takeaway and shop facilities are available, with seasonal opening applying to some services. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Touring and camping pitches are dog friendly, with a maximum of two dogs per pitch and designated off-lead exercise areas. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Whitehill stood out for the combination of family bathrooms, soft play, outdoor play and swimming. That mix gives families with younger children useful options both indoors and outside.
03 — Lobb Fields Caravan & Camping Park
Braunton, North Devon
Lobb Fields is a more straightforward camping-and-touring park than Cofton or Whitehill, with tents welcomed across several grass pitch types.
Its main strength is location. The campsite is close to Braunton and around a five-minute drive from Saunton Sands, making it particularly relevant to families planning beach-heavy North Devon holidays.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | North Devon beach days |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Grass pitches are available, including electric options. |
| Family facilities | Children’s playground, baby-changing facilities and modern amenity blocks. |
| Beach access | Saunton Sands is approximately a five-minute drive from the campsite. |
| Food on site | A small shop and visiting food vans operate through the season. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. There is a dedicated dog walk, and Saunton Sands permits dogs year-round. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Lobb Fields earns its place because it combines proper tent camping with unusually easy access to the Braunton and Saunton area. It suits families who expect the beach and wider North Devon coast to provide most of the entertainment.
04 — Woodovis Park
Near Tavistock, West Devon
Woodovis is a relatively small family-run park near Tavistock, with Dartmoor to the east and the Tamar Valley close by.
It combines a quieter countryside setting with a heated indoor pool, children’s play area and useful camping facilities, giving it more on-site provision than its size might suggest.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Smaller park with strong facilities |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Grass and all-weather tent pitches are available, with electric hook-up included on current grass pitches. |
| Family facilities | Heated indoor pool, children’s play area, games facilities and seasonal activities. |
| Beach access | Inland. This is primarily a countryside and Dartmoor-area base rather than a beach campsite. |
| Food on site | Shop plus the seasonal Snack Shack, with opening days varying through the season. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. A wooded dog walk leads to an exercise meadow where dogs can run off lead. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Woodovis gives families a useful middle ground: a smaller park with proper camping pitches and meaningful family facilities, without the scale of Devon’s largest holiday parks.
05 — Lee Meadow Campsite
Lee, near Woolacombe, North Devon
Lee Meadow is deliberately less resort-like than several other campsites in this guide. It is a family-run site set across 27 acres, with woodland, countryside and access to the Woolacombe area.
There is no conventional children’s playground. Instead, the family offer is built around outdoor space, a pump track, a zip wire and the wider North Devon coast.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Traditional outdoor camping |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Tent pitches are available, with electric hook-up on selected pitches. |
| Family facilities | Pump track and chargeable zip wire. There is no conventional children’s play area. |
| Beach access | Woolacombe Beach is around a 5–10 minute drive away, while Lee Bay is approximately a 25-minute walk. |
| Food on site | Licensed farm shop, with hot food served during high season. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Dogs must remain on leads and cannot be left unattended on site. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Lee Meadow gives the shortlist a genuinely different style of family camping. It should appeal most to families who value space, bikes, campfires and access to Woolacombe more than pools or organised entertainment.
06 — Castle Brake Holiday Park
Woodbury, East Devon
Castle Brake offers a dedicated Classic Camping field alongside its touring areas. The Classic Camping field has no electric or water to the pitch, making it one of the clearer back-to-basics tent options in this shortlist.
Families still have access to proper amenity blocks, family bathrooms, a play park and an on-site restaurant.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Exploring East Devon |
| Tent pitches | Yes. The Classic Camping field is specifically intended for non-electric tent camping. |
| Family facilities | Play park, recreation space and two family bathrooms with bath, shower, toilet and baby-changing facilities. |
| Beach access | Inland. Castle Brake is positioned for driving to the East Devon coast rather than for direct beach access. |
| Food on site | Woods Bar and Restaurant provides meals and takeaway, with opening patterns varying through the season. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Dogs are welcome on the park, with current site rules applying. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Castle Brake stood out because it combines a genuinely simple tent-camping field with family bathrooms, play facilities and food on site. That makes it a practical East Devon choice for families who want camping without giving up every convenience.
07 — Harford Bridge Park
Near Tavistock, West Devon
Harford Bridge sits within Dartmoor National Park and directly on National Cycle Route 27. It is more focused on walking, cycling and the surrounding landscape than on resort-style entertainment.
Families still have access to a play park and indoor games, making it suitable for children without changing the campsite’s outdoor character.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Dartmoor & active families |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Electric and non-electric grass pitches are available, including riverside, wooded and parkside options. |
| Family facilities | Children’s play park, table tennis and indoor games including pool, air hockey and table football. |
| Beach access | Inland. This is a Dartmoor campsite rather than a beach-focused base. |
| Food on site | Camp shop with coffee and baked goods, plus seasonal takeaway provision. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Camping pitches are dog friendly. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Harford Bridge is here for families whose Devon plans revolve around Dartmoor, cycling and walking. Its facilities support that kind of trip without turning the campsite into an entertainment park.
08 — Watermouth Valley Camping Park
Watermouth, near Ilfracombe, North Devon
Watermouth Valley is a family-run camping park on the coastal road between Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. Its strongest feature is access to the surrounding North Devon coast rather than a large programme of on-site entertainment.
Watermouth Harbour is approximately a five-minute walk away, while Hele Bay and Combe Martin are around a mile from the campsite.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Coastal camping |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Tent camping is available across the park’s camping areas. |
| Family facilities | Three toilet and shower blocks, a baby room and practical campsite facilities. |
| Beach access | Watermouth Harbour is around a five-minute walk away. Hele Bay and Combe Martin are approximately one mile from the campsite. |
| Food on site | Camp shop open daily, plus seasonal evening food service on most days; operating dates should still be checked for your stay. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. A designated exercise area is the only place on site where dogs may be off lead. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Watermouth Valley gives families a coastal North Devon option where the campsite remains relatively simple and the surrounding coastline provides the main reason to stay.
09 — Langstone Manor Holiday Park
Near Tavistock, West Devon
Langstone Manor sits on the edge of Dartmoor and offers grass camping alongside touring and other accommodation.
The park has a children’s playground and several indoor games, but Dartmoor itself remains the main attraction for families choosing this location.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Dartmoor countryside |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Grass pitches are available for tents, with electric hook-up available on selected pitches. |
| Family facilities | Children’s playground, table tennis, table football, air hockey and retro video games. |
| Beach access | Inland. This is primarily a Dartmoor base rather than a coastal campsite. |
| Food on site | Seasonal on-site restaurant serving food and drinks; current opening times should be checked before travelling. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. A maximum of two dogs is allowed per pitch, and dogs must remain on leads while on the park. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Langstone Manor adds another countryside-led option for families who want Dartmoor to be central to the holiday but still value a playground, games and on-site facilities.
10 — Stowford Farm Meadows
Combe Martin area, North Devon
Stowford Farm Meadows is the largest and most activity-heavy North Devon option in this shortlist. Park Holidays currently lists tent pitches alongside an indoor pool, horse riding, crazy golf, arcade facilities and other family activities.
The park sits within extensive countryside rather than directly on the coast, with Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and other North Devon destinations reached by road.
TENT & TRIBE FIELD GUIDE
| Best for | Big-site facilities & activities |
| Tent pitches | Yes. Traditional tent pitches are part of Stowford’s current touring and camping offer. |
| Family facilities | Heated indoor swimming pool, children’s play areas, horse riding, crazy golf, arcade and other activities. Some activities are chargeable or operate only at selected times. |
| Beach access | Inland. The park is a driving base for North Devon’s coast rather than a beachfront campsite. |
| Food on site | Stable Bar & Restaurant, fish-and-chip takeaway and farm shop provision are currently listed, with some facilities operating seasonally. |
| Dog friendly | Yes. Park Holidays accepts pets on touring and camping breaks where applicable, including grass pitches; check Stowford’s current pitch-specific rules when booking. |
WHY WE SHORTLISTED IT
Stowford gives the North Devon side of the guide a true large-park alternative. It suits families who want a substantial amount to do on site while still being within driving distance of the coast.
Which Devon Campsite Might Suit Your Family?
For younger children
Whitehill Country Park
For lots to do on site
Cofton Holidays
For North Devon beach days
Lobb Fields Caravan & Camping Park
For outdoor camping
Lee Meadow Campsite
For exploring East Devon
Castle Brake Holiday Park
For Dartmoor adventures
Harford Bridge Park
For coastal camping without a large-resort feel
Watermouth Valley Camping Park
How We Choose Campsites
Our Where to Camp guides are independently researched. We haven’t necessarily stayed at every campsite we include, and we don’t pretend that we have.
Instead, we compare current information from campsite operators with recognised camping organisations, tourism bodies and established camping resources.
We focus on practical details that matter when camping with children: tent pitches, family facilities, play areas, beach access, food options, dog policies and the type of camping experience each site appears to offer.
1
First-hand experience is clearly labelled
If we’ve personally camped somewhere, we’ll tell you when we stayed. Otherwise, the campsite has been selected through our research.
2
Significant claims should be verifiable
If we tell you a campsite has a swimming pool, family bathroom or walking route to a beach, we expect to be able to substantiate it with current information.
3
Our opinions remain our opinions
A heated swimming pool is a fact.
Calling a campsite “best for activities” is our editorial assessment based on the facilities we’ve researched.
Our aim isn’t to tell you that one campsite is objectively better than every other. It’s to make it easier to work out which campsite looks right for your family.
Before You Book
Campsites change, and some facilities only operate during particular parts of the season.
Swimming pool opening dates
Cafés, shops and takeaway opening times
Children’s activities and entertainment
Dog rules and restrictions
Beach access and walking routes
Pitch dimensions for your tent
Family bathroom availability
Minimum-stay requirements
Before booking, check the campsite’s current information for:
One detail that’s particularly easy to overlook is the position of your pitch within the campsite. On Devon’s larger parks, being close to the toilets, play areas or main facilities can make a noticeable difference when camping with younger children.
Final Thoughts
Devon’s strength for family camping is the range of different trips it supports. Cofton and Stowford offer plenty to do around the park, while Lee Meadow, Lobb Fields and Watermouth Valley make more sense for families who expect the surrounding coast and countryside to provide most of the holiday.
The right choice depends on whether you want the campsite itself to be a major part of the trip or mainly need a practical base for exploring Devon. That distinction is more useful than trying to identify one campsite as the overall winner.
Information checked: August 2026.
