South Devon - February 2020

South Devon

February 2020

My Birthday Treat

Tuesday 18th February

We left home at around 10.00am, after opening my cards and presents, we traveled down the M5, the weather was dull and grey with intermittent rain but the traffic was fairly quiet  we stopped for a spot of lunch at Exeter. After a short rest we continued on to Torquay, unfortunately the weather had not improved, we drove across the front at Torquay then out to Painton and further to Broadsand beach where we were able to get on the beach car park.

We took Izzy out on the beach during a period of dry weather but were soon beaten back by the rain, over a cup of tea and the obligatory piece of cake we decided to track back to Painton to find a park up for the night.

We were able to park right on the sea front along marine parade for £3.50 per night, it had started to dry up a little now so took Izzy out again up past the pier to the top end on the beach, returning for tea. After tea we watched TV for a while before taking an early night.

Wednesday 19th February

Woke at 7.00am after a very good nights sleep, the rain did wake us but the soothing sound of the waves just a few feet away soon got us back off to sleep, it looked much brighter this morning, we had breakfast, full english of course, over looking the beach, we topped up with water and left the park up just after 10.00am.

We went to Greenway, Agatha Christies house now owned by the NT, the parking is limited so had to call in advance, this we did and they found us a great spot to park the benni.

Greenways was lovely, the house had a real homely feel with lots of Agatha Christies' own possessions around.  We walked the grounds down to the boathouse, made famous by her book 'Dead Mans Folly' in the boathouse you can also see photographs of the cast and crew during the making of Poirot television series.

After a good few hours we left Greenway and made the short trip to Brixham for a spot of lunch and what could be better than freshly made fish & chips. After lunch we walked around the harbour and into the town.

Whilst we were out this way we took a quick ride up to Berry Head to give Izzy another walk but just as we were out of sight of the van it started to rain, and did it rain, we got soaked in the matter of five minutes it took to get beck to the benni.

Getting changed and drying off we had a cup of tea then a snoozle before deciding to go back to Painton for the night as it was quite and access good for the van.

Thursday 20th February

Woke at 8.00am this morning, we do sleep well when having the sea sounds to go listen to.

We had breakfast and managed to dump our grey water down a drain and top up with water from a tap by the pier.

We drove up to Totnes, parked on a large car park on the side of the river before walking into town and what a lovely town it is, found an artisan bakery and bought pork pie for lunch and cake for afters, we returned to the van as it had started raining again.

On wards to Dartmouth, here parking was a problem, had to drive around a few times before finding a spot, we just squeezed in.

We had a lovely walk down the river to the old quay, where, many years ago Adele met some actor fellow whilst they were filming 'The onedin Line' she may tell you about it if you ask.  We had a good walk and managed to get back to the van before it started raining again.  It was getting late now and needed to find somewhere to park, park4nights wasnt showing anything and wild camping seems difficult around here so resulted to a CAMC site at Kingsbridge who could get us in.

Friday 21st February

Woke at 8.30am after a quite but windy night, had our usual full english for breakfast,  before leaving we emptied all the tanks including the black and topped up with water.

We drove the short distance in to Kingsbridge and found another good carpark on the estuary ideal for the van as the spaces were large.  We walked into the town but not much there so moved on to Salcombe, here was impossible, they really don't like campervans and motorhomes, okay we thought, we will spend our money elsewhere.

We found a small cove at South Sands with plenty of parking, had lunch and noticed a NT property Overbeck just up the road, so off we went.

Now - Adele said we should look in the NT book to see whats there, i said, doesn't matter we will go anyway.

Nigel should have listened to Adele, not to see whats there but the warning about the narrow drive up and how bloody narrow was it! just enough room for the van with the side mirrors folded in, if we meet someone coming the other way we are buggered, fortunately we didn't but the car park only took about eight cars and small cars at that, our van was a very tight squeeze but i parked it.

Overbeck was great, the property tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe, it was owned by scientist and inventor Otto Overbeck, the subtropical gardens are full of exotic and rare plants and the views over the estuary and coast are wonderful.

Time again was beating us and before we knew it dusk was falling and we needed to find somewhere to stop, this time Ilton Castle Farm CAMC site, hard standings in the fields and toilets and shower in the cow sheds, literally.

We had tea, watch a little television then bed

Saturday 22nd February

We woke late this morning, the wind was howling but at least it was dry, we had breakfast and had planned to go onto Bibury on sea but as we were about to do the black waste I noticed that the hot water pipe on the van had started to leak again, so we decided to cut our trip short and return home.

The abrupt end to the trip was disappointing to say the least but we did have a great time, heres to the next.

Trip Details:

Miles: 469

Ave MPG: 28.5

Nights: 4

Camp Fees: £47.00

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We put our holiday photos in to small slideshows and are uploaded on to our YouTube Channel, benivanadventures, they are not professionally produced but give a feeling of the area and places we visit - Click on the YouTube logo below