It’s not actually that difficult to get a picture-postcard view when staying on the Devon coastline, but some are just so pristine we reckon you’ll have the Facebook photo uploaded before you’ve even unpacked. And so it is at Paignton’s Waterside Holiday Park, set on a hillside overlooking the cracking Torbay coastline on the English Riviera.
Waterside – unsurprisingly, given the name – is also one of the most sea-faring sites in the region, with clifftop access to the sands of Saltern Cove between the popular beaches of Goodrington and Broadsands and with seaside and clifftop walking, watersports and fishing all nearby. Or you and the kids might prefer to dip your toes on site at the heated outdoor pool and paddling pool; there’s a big sun terrace to dry off or lounge about at on sunny days.
If the weather’s less than kind, take the youngsters to burn off all that tiresome energy at the Loopy Kids’ Club or challenge them to a game of pool or a test of skill in the amusement arcade. The Yacht Club family entertainment complex will keep you all out of mischief in the evenings, while for food there’s the Smugglers Inn and Restaurant for meals and takeaways (the waffles are recommended for a decadent dessert).
Waterside has free wifi in the club with the option of buying a wifi package for your caravan at a reasonable cost; other convenient amenities include a mini mart shop and a launderette at a small charge. Caravans come in a range of tariffs, with pets allowed in the Bronze accommodation.
Nearby attractions and activities
Take your fishing rod or surfboard to Broadsands beach or explore the coves and coastline around; there are also beaches at Goodrington and a coastal dog walking route linking the two areas. Goodrington is on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway which puffs along past Torquay, Brixham and Totnes to Teignmouth; vintage trainspotters can also steam along to the South Devon Railway starting at nearby Buckfastleigh.
Paignton is the closest of the three English Riviera towns to Waterside Holiday Park and has railway links to Torquay and London, watersports at Paignton Sands and Elberry Cove, and Paignton Zoo with six different habitats to ooh and aah at; there’s a Jungle Express miniature train, regular events and indoor and outdoor play areas at the zoo as well.
Brixham is the site for swashbucklers with a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Elizabethan ship The Golden Hind and weekly pirate re-enactments in summer; you can also hire boats here from the shacks by the quayside in summer and via the Tourist Information Centre out of season.
Torquay, legendary home of hapless hotel owner Basil Fawlty, is much classier these days than his crumbling establishment, with smart restaurants, shops, cafés and two theatres. A must for murder mystery fans is the Agatha Christie Mile from the Grand to the Imperial Hotels and passing all sorts of Christie-related local landmarks: Torre Abbey Garden with the Christie’s Potent Plants collection, her old roller-skating spot Princess Pier and the Torquay Museum, with the only dedicated Agatha Christie Gallery in the country. Beacon Cove, where a young Agatha almost drowned, can be seen from the terrace at Torquay’s coastal zoo Living Coasts.
Minis should like Torquay’s teeny Babbacombe Model Village and there are endless choices for family fun around this part of Devon: birds and (quad) bikes at the popular Pennywell Farm, gulping on the water coasters at Crealy Great Adventure Park and floundering along the assault courses at Ashcombe Adventure Centre.
Further along the coast there are the history and sights (and shopping) of Exeter to explore with Exeter National Park around thirty miles from the city; Dartmoor National Park is closer to home and has activities and events for all ages all year round.
Attractions near Waterside Holiday Park
Must see
- Paignton Zoo Environmental Park (1.4 miles)
- Living Coasts (3.5 miles)
- Buckfast Abbey (11.0 miles)
National Trust
- Greenway (2.3 miles)
- Compton Castle (4.4 miles)
Cycle routes
Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.
Activities near Waterside Holiday Park
Broadsands (0.5 miles) Beach - Excellent Water Quality Beaches
Broadsands Coves and Sacred Grove (0.6 miles) Walking
Broadsands - Galmpton - Coast and Country (0.6 miles) Walking
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Leisure on site
Bar or club house
Cycle hire
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Fitness centre
Games room
Indoor swimming pool
Kids' club
On-site restaurant/cafe
Outdoor swimming pool
Play area
TV room
Take away
Tennis
Watersports
Amenities on site
Bath available
Car parking by pitch
Disabled facilities
Drying room
Food shop
Free wifi
Ice pack freezing
Internet access
Launderette
Parent & baby washroom
Pick-up from public transport
Public telephone
Shower available
Toilet block
Washing-up area
Wifi
Utilities
Charging facilities
Chemical disposal
Gas cylinders available
Recycling available
Renewable energy
Rules
Campfires allowed
Commercial vehicles allowed
Dogs allowed
Nearby leisure
Canoeing/kayaking nearby
Cycle hire nearby
Fishing nearby
Golf nearby
Indoor pool nearby
Leisure/theme park nearby
Restaurant nearby
Sailing nearby
Tennis nearby
Watersports nearby
Groups welcome
Family friendly
Motorcycle friendly
Single-sex groups welcome
Student groups welcome
Nearby amenities
Bar nearby
Nearby farmers' market
Public transport nearby
Shop nearby
Type
Large (51-200 pitches)
Ordnance Survey maps (GB and Northern Ireland only) are available at lower levels via the drop-down menu.
Nearest transport
- Coach stations
-
Paignton Bus Station — 1.5mi
Brixham: Bank Lane Coach Stop — 2.3mi
Torquay: Coach Station Lymington Road — 4.4mi
- Train stations
-
Paignton Rail Station — 1.5mi
Torquay Rail Station — 3.4mi
Torre Rail Station — 4.2mi
- Ferry ports
-
Brixham Ferry Landing — 2.3mi
Brixham Harbour Boarding Stage — 2.4mi
Greenway House Ferry Landing — 2.6mi
- Airports
-
Exeter International Airport — 22.9mi
Plymouth City Airport — 24.3mi
Directions
From Exeter you have a choice of routes...
Route 1 – take the A380 from Exeter to Torquay, turning right on to the Ring Road (A380) at the roundabout outside Torquay, following the caravan and camping signs, and stay on the A380 heading for Brixham. Turn left onto the A379 at Churston traffic lights. Head for Paignton and Torquay. After half a mile the road becomes a dual carriageway. Take the first exit right then the first left which brings you onto the park. (This route avoids the town centre, often congested on Saturdays).
Route 2 – take the A380 from Exeter to Torquay and Paignton. From Paignton take the A379 Dartmouth Road to Brixham. The park is approximately two miles on the left hand side at Goodrington past the shops. Proceed on the dual carriageway up the hill, take the first turning left, then left again into the park.
Permitted arrival time
From 4pm
Cancellation policy
Cancellation by you
Should you need to cancel your booking, you must advise us using the telephone number in your confirmation email and then confirm this cancellation in writing to us, by post, fax, or email quoting your booking reference number. Your cancellation will only be effective as at the date we receive your written confirmation. Our cancellation charges are those detailed below unless you have taken out our ‘Cancellation Protection Plan’ (available when paying your balance):
Cancellation charges as a % total cost:
Period before arrival date (excluding credit card charges)
More than 56 days loss of deposit
56 - 43 days 50%
42 - 29 days 60%
28 - 8 days 80%
7 days or under 100%
If you need to cut short your holiday after it has commenced, we regret that we are unable to refund any monies paid.
Cancellation by us
In exceptional circumstances, we may have to cancel your booking. If we do so we will tell you as soon as possible prior to your holiday date and you may choose either to receive a full refund or accept an alternative holiday, with us, at the brochure price. If we have to cancel because of circumstances beyond our control (e.g. damage, maintenance, fire, theft or flood) we will pay a full refund. If we cancel for reasons beyond our reasonable control we will have no further liability to you other than the offer of a full refund or a similar holiday at a similar price. The company reserves the right to move customers to upgraded accommodation without prior notice and at the company’s expense.
Please note that your deposit paid to Pitchup.com is non-refundable.
Payment of balance
Our booking staff will contact you for the balance 8 weeks before your holiday start date (or after submission of your Pitchup.com booking if the booking is for within 8 weeks). If payment is not made by this date then we will assume that your holiday has been cancelled and we may re-sell the holiday to another customer. We reserve the right to pass on any costs or bank charges we incur if we have to re-submit a cheque for payment or a cheque is declined for non payment.
An administration fee of 2% will be applied to all balance payments made by credit card (minimum charge £1.00). This charge will not exceed £5.00 per transaction. There is no charge for debit card payments.
Cards accepted on the park
MaestroMasterCard
Visa
Terms and conditions
Site booking terms and conditionsPlease note
We will not accept bookings where the lead customer is under the age of 18 and will not accept bookings where half or more of your party is aged between 17 and 25.
We do not accept bookings from large all-male or all-female parties and have the right to cancel any online booking that breaches our terms before the holiday arrival date and/or reserve the right to refuse entry or not to hand over accommodation to any person or groups of persons, at our discretion.
Check availability at Waterside Holiday Park…
Quality caravan with one double and one twin room, pull out sofa bed in lounge. Full kitchen facillities, TV, linen provided. No pets.
Max. persons: 6x
Superior 12ft-wide caravan with one double, and two twin, plus pull out sofa bed in lounge.Full kitchen facillities, TV and DVD, linen provided. No pets.
Max. persons: 8x