Family Favourites - May/June 2013
As I write the sun is out and I am feeling positive about a long, hot spring and summer. I hope it happens! If it does here are some sunny day activities, with the odd wet weather one thrown in, because we know for sure we will get some downpours in the next few weeks.
Recently my family and I discovered Broadsands Beach on the way to Paignton, which looks like a quintessential British beach holiday spot. I must admit I have never been there in the summer, but I am really looking forward to it. Only a short drive from Dartmouth, it has a different feel to other beaches, not long and vast like the beach at Goodrington/Paignton – more cosy feeling in a little bay, and not all shingly like Blackpool Sands. It has beach huts and an old fashioned looking kiosk. It is big at low tide and it is a real bucket and spade destination. One of the most lovely things about the beach is that the steam railway goes right across the back and the kiddies (who never tire of the train) get a really good view of the smoke and all the carriages as they go round the back of the bay. I also loved the green area to the western side of the beach, with loads of space and benches, gorgeous views and a little wander down to the next beach along, Elberry Cove, with its old lookout house at the far end and pretty walks into the woods. The parking at Broadsands is pay and display and there is a dog walking area but no dogs on the beach in summer.
In absolute contrast to Broadsands Beach and in totally the opposite direction, is Great Mattiscombe Sand (Start Point). If you are feeling energetic and your children can walk well, or you can carry them in a backpack, by far the best beach we have found in the area is Great Mattiscombe Sand, close to Start Point. To get there you have to park at Start Point car park and walk down the hill from the corner of the car park leaving Start Point on your left. This is a reasonably strenuous walk, which does not take long, but it is uneven. It might also be worth checking the tides before you set off because you don’t want to be too disappointed if the beach is tiny when you get there. Once you get down there, I must say the views of the coastline and out to sea are some of the best I have ever seen. It feels off the beaten track, except at the height of summer. My kids loved the big rock formations at the back of the beach, where you can hide and explore, and when the tide is out it is a lovely spot to splash in the sea. I can’t recommend this enough and it is well worth the effort. Dog friendly all year but there are no cafes or loos nearby so take everything you need.
Aside from walks and beaches there is plenty to do around this area in the spring and summer.
Last May my children very much enjoyed a themed day out at Dartmouth Castle, called Pirates Invade. The castle was literally full of little dressed up pirates and some bigger pirates who were putting on a really fantastic show, with cannon fire, songs, stories, face painting, activities and more. It is worth getting there early because it was so popular last year, but we enjoyed every minute of it. The event is being held from Sunday 26th to Thursday 30 May 2013 (half term) so go along wearing your pirate gear and with pockets full of treasure. Loads more details on the English Heritage website.
Another obvious old favourite with the kids is the Steam Railway. I am sure very little needs to be said about this, except my family and I go on this so often, it might be worth me telling you how we do it with our small people and dog and how we make it into a cheaper day out. There is a 50% off discount card for local residents, and for children 3 and over and for adults this card costs £2 to buy at Paignton Station. To get the card you need a passport sized photo and a utility bill showing your address. This makes an adult return £5.50 and a child £3.25, which seems like good value to me. If you are taking a dog on the train they do need a ticket, which costs an extra £1. We have been on the train on a rainy day and simply gone to Paignton for the ride, hopped off the train and round the corner to a sweet shop (the biggest pick and mix shop you’ve ever seen in your life is just out of the station and turn right), bought a few sweets and jumped straight back on the train and eaten our sweets on the journey home. This has kept us all happy and given us a relatively dry outing!
But on a sunny day we go to the recently refurbished Jurassic Playground in Paignton, which is a ten-minute walk towards the sea front from the station. This playground is amazing, with different areas for different age groups (huge climbing frames, tunnels, big and small slides, play huts, information boards), all along the theme of the Jurassic Coast - coral, strata, fossils etc and the water play area is great. When you’ve had enough of the play area go for a run around on the beach (no dogs in summer) and a walk along the pier.
On the way back from the train one of our favourite walks in Dartmouth is starting from Kingswear Station and going along the train tracks to the higher ferry. We have done this many times as a child friendly walk with a buggy and a dog, and it is a lovely length of walk (only about half an hour from Kingswear to the higher ferry) but there is plenty to see and to dawdle over if you feel like it. We often go from Dartmouth on the foot passenger ferry and then walk along the edge of the train tracks and return on the higher ferry, but you could do this little walk after your train journey from Paignton. To get to the footpath you need to walk from the station up the road into Kingswear and when you see the big black steps to the left you need to go down them over the railway lines. If you can’t carry the pushchair down the steps continue round the road, down a bit and left a bit, until you get to the level crossing in Darthaven car park and then turn right onto the footpath. It is obvious. For your refreshments, stop at the café on the platform at Kingswear Station – the cakes are good there
Have a lovely start to the summer!