CRAGGY coves, cream teas, surfing and fossil hunting – there is plenty to do in Devon if you're looking for a staycation in 2017.
Most heading to the South West will go to the magnificent but overcrowded beaches on the south and north coasts — but far fewer visit the dramatic Jurassic Coast in the East.
And after a five-day break at Ladram Bay, the reason for this remains a mystery to me.
The views of the coastline are breathtaking, the beach walks are second to none and there is plenty to do to keep the whole family entertained.
The Jurassic Coast is one of the UK's World Heritage Sites, ranking its natural beauty alongside the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon — the bonus being that you don't have to spend hours on a plane to see it.
It spans an incredible 95 miles from Exmouth in the East of Devon, all the way to Studland Bay in Dorset. It's imposing and dramatic — and can teach us a little about our natural history too.
A dinosaur called scelidosaurus was found near Charmouth in Dorset and the coast is littered with fossils. Kids will love hunting for them, as well as unusual rocks and stones along the coastline as parents pause to take in the view.
We stayed at Ladram Bay Holiday Park — and the distinctive red sandstone stacks rising from the sea at this beautiful resort are an attraction in themselves. They are all that is left of natural rock arches that were once joined to the cliff face. The arches have since collapsed, leaving the stack behind, and these too will one day fall, overcome by the force of the sea — so see them now.
The beach here is pebbly and can be steep at high tide so it's not ideal for toddlers to wander free, but my two-year-old would have sat for hours throwing stones into the water and watching bigger kids catching jellyfish in their nets.
The lodge where we stayed was luxurious, with a hot tub and views of the sea.
The living area was much more spacious than you might expect and there was some lovely decking for eating breakfast or lunch, or just sitting with a glass of wine and watching the world go by.
It boasted all the mod cons, a dishwasher, docking station and games to keep kids entertained.
There's a swimming pool, toddler pool, gym, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
And there are lots of instructor-led activities for older children, including sea scooters, inflatable canoes and raft building.
Adventure playgrounds, a soft play area, arcade and mini golf mean there is plenty to do to keep the kids entertained.
Pebbles Restaurant offers a wide choice of meals but we liked the Seaview Shack for bacon sarnies in the morning and ice creams on the beach. There was also a takeaway where you could grab traditional fish and chips to enjoy back in the comfort of your lodge.
The bay itself is definitely worth a visit, but the whole Jurassic Coast area is geared up for action-packed family holidays.
There are beaches galore as well as the Crealy Great Adventure theme park near Exeter and World of Country Life tourist attraction near Exmouth — this fun park boasts a deer train safari, trampolines, a petting farm and two acres of indoor soft play if the weather is unkind.
The quaint towns of Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton are also nice for a wander, ice cream and shopping.
A word of warning though — I had next to no phone signal for five days and access to wifi was scarce, so if you are hoping to keep a check on work emails and Twitter, this is not the holiday for you.
But the prehistoric finds more than make up for the prehistoric phone signal!
GO: LADRAM BAY, DEVON
STAYING THERE: A four-night self-catering midweek break is from £99 for a glamping pod sleeping four, £125 for a holiday home and £339 for a luxury Diamond holiday home with hot tub. To book, visit ladrambay.co.uk or call 01395 568 398 . VISIT: World of Country Life, West Down Lane, Exmouth EX8 5BY. Adults £12.90 and kids aged three to 17, £10.20. Under-threes go free. Visit worldofcountrylife.co.uk for details.
DO: Try fossil-hunting at Sidmouth or Budleigh Salterton. It's illegal to remove them but you can split them open to see the fossils. Visit jurassiccoast.org for tips on safe, responsible fossil-hunting.
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