The South West & Wales: A Holiday Guide
Family holidays South West & Wales
The South West and Wales are amazing for family holidays. No other word for it.
With so many places to visit, it can be hard to choose where to go. Here we’ve shared some of our favourite places to camp, eat, and visit plus some awesome things to do across the Devon, Somerset, Cornwall, Dorset and Wales.
Holidays in Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Dorset & Somerset
The South West can get insanely busy, so many of these recommendations are more off the ‘beaten-tourist-track’. We’ve also aimed to support a few small businesses that we love.
See details below for holiday tips for:
Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire, Dorset, Somerset, North Devon and South Devon/Dartmoor.
Summer Outdoor Adventure Guides
As you head out on your summer holiday, make sure you have our Outdoor Adventure Guides to give you inspiration and ideas for awesome summer family activities.
VISIT SNOWDONIA
Snowdonia has the perfect blend of beautiful beaches and mountains to climb. You can’t always guarantee good weather but there’s so much to explore that sunshine isn’t all that important.
- Stay in Snowdonia
Rhaedr Nantcol Waterfalls Camping
This is a larger site than we would normally choose but still only 80 pitches. It’s great for family camping. The kids could play in the shallow river, complete with rope swings, that runs through the campsite. There are good facilities and even a shop and pizza oven for those evenings you can’t be bothered to cook.
The real benefit is that you have the beautiful Nantcol Waterfalls literally on your doorstep – a lovely walk with plenty of opportunities to swim.
- Where to visit
The Rhinogs
This range of mountains is often overlooked in comparison to the higher, better known peaks of Northern Snowdonia. It’s a shame because they are absolutely beautiful and great for walking with kids! The day we ventured up there was baking hot but the views (and the breeze) made it worthwhile. See if you can find the fantastic Bryn Cader Faner burial cairn.
- Fun stuff
Cartwheels on Harlech Beach
Harlech is one of my all-time favourite beaches. It’s HUGE! Walk just 5 minutes away from the entrance to the beach which is often crowded, and you will likely have the place to yourselves. Beautiful dunes to explore, shells to find, and plenty of space for cartwheel practice.
- Eat in Snowdonia
Ty Coch Inn
Start with some rock pooling at Borth Wen beach and then head to the Ty Coch Inn for a pint and a prawn sandwich on the beach.
* Find more awesome things do and places to visit in our guide to Snowdonia
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VISIT PEMBROKESHIRE
Sunshine, beach life, and great food are all part of the Pembrokeshire parcel.
- Stay in Pembrokeshire
Point Farm, Dale
Point farm is one of those rare places that ticks all the camping boxes. It’s small and friendly with only 7 pitches. The kids found some other children to play with and there’s plenty of space for football, frisbee, rounders etc albeit on a slope. The location on Dale Point is fantastic and you can wonder down to the Griffin Inn for a samphire G&T sitting on the harbour wall.
* Find more information on Point Farm in our Top 6 Campsites of the South West & Wales
- Where to visit
The Preseli Hills
Pembrokeshire’s best kept secret, the Preseli Hills (or Preseli Mountains) are wild, beautiful and great for exploring. Escape the coast for a day and take to the hills! - Fun Stuff
West Wales Watersports
Paddle board, kayak, sail, or windsurf from Dale beach with the brilliant West Wales Watersports company…. Then finish up with one of those samphire G&T’s from the Griffin Inn whilst the kids go crabbing on the pontoon. - Eat in Pembrokeshire
The Druidstone Hotel
One of my all time favourite places to visit. You can spend the day on the beach below the hotel and then head up to the gardens or the funky cellar bar for a cocktail and some delicious food.
VISIT SOMERSET
Quiet, beautiful and full of cider… Somerset is too often neglected as holiday makers favour Devon and Cornwall, but there’s a HUGE amount to see and do here… plus you avoid the crowds of the coast.
- Stay in Somerset
Wookey Farm Campsite
Set on a working goat farm, the kids can head up to the barn and feed the goats, watch them being milked, and stroke the donkey and pigs. The campsite is surrounded by the most beautiful meadows and in the next door field is a shallow stream which is perfect for paddling. The campsite prides itself on being eco-friendly. Don’t expect large shower blocks and flushing loos. Two compost loos and a tap for washing up served us perfectly. - Where to visit
Combes and Gorges
The birth place of geology, Somerset’s rock formations are incredible. Visit the cliffs and caves of Cheddar and Ebbor Gorge and explore the combes of Compton Martin, East Harptree and Burrington. Find more places to visit here. - Fun Stuff
Farleigh Hungerford Swim club
Visit one of the countries oldest river swimming clubs and dive into the cool waters on the River Avon at Farleigh Hungerford. Watch out for kingfishers. Find more wild swimming in Somerset ideas here. - Eat in Somerset
Wilkins Cider, Mudgley
You can’t visit Somerset without enjoying some local cider and there’s no better places than Wilkins cider – a true legend in the cider world.
Don’t expect anything fancy. A tankard of cider from the giant barrels and some cheese and crisps are all that’s on offer but it’s an experience like no other
VISIT DORSET
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK plus a great stretch of coastal path to walk.
- Stay in Dorset
Steeple Leaze Farm
This is my ideal campsite – masses and masses of space (take aerobie, cricket, football, rounders, there’s space for it all!), beautiful views and freedom to have a campfire. Don’t expect luxury – we stayed in the top field where there were a total of 3 compost loos and 2 taps. I believe there are flushing loos, showers and sinks in the bottom field plus bacon sandwiches for breakfast.
*Find more information on Steeple Leaze Farm in our Guide to the Best campsites in the South West - Where to Visit
Kimmeridge Bay
This shallow bay is great for kids with a huge expanse of shallow reefs and rock pools. The snorkelling was absolutely amazing… I felt like a mermaid…. - Fun Stuff
Mackerel fishing from Lyme Regis
We loved heading out on the boat for a few hours to try our hand at mackerel fishing. Secretly, we were all quite relieved when we failed to catch anything (and therefore kill anything!) - Where to Eat
The Square & Compass, Worth Matravers
This is a fantastic, quirky pub perfect for a summer day. Sit at the large stone slab tables and enjoy a pint and a pasty.
VISIT NORTH DEVON
With it’s high cliffs and beautiful hidden coves, North Devon is increasingly one of the most popular places to visit on holiday.
- Stay in North Devon
Longlands Glamping
Luxury glamping! Longlands has it all, giant safari tents with kitchens, woodburners and en-suite bathrooms plus a private lake and beautiful woodland on site. - Where to visit
Lundy Island
100% worth a visit – one of my favourite places in the world. We’ve stayed on Lundy a few times and can’t wait to go back. If you can’t stay on the island then head over for a day trip from Ilfracombe or Bideford.
*Find out more in our Lundy blog here - Fun Stuff
Surf on Saunton Sands
This massive beach is great for learning to surf. Hire a board from the surf shack and hit the waves. You can book lessons there too. - Where to eat
Barricane Beach café
After a day surfing, pick up a curry from the beach shack and enjoy a delicious curry and a beer on the beach whilst watching the sun go down.
*Find more beaches, walks and amazing places to eat in our Guide to North Devon.
VISIT SOUTH DEVON/DARTMOOR
- Staying in South Devon
Beryl’s Campsite
This is a great campsite in South Devon. Plenty of space, beautiful views and located on the SW coast path so within easy walking distance to the beach and beautiful walks.
Alternatively, why not set off on your own wild camping adventure on Dartmoor? - Where to visit
Holne Woods
The beech trees in these woods are so enormously spectacular, they are truly breathtaking. The woodland is fantastic to explore and with the River Dart running at the bottom of the valley, there are plenty of spots for a wild swim. - Fun stuff
Climbing on Hound Tor with Crag2Mountain
Book a half day session climbing and weaseling up on the moor with Crag2Mountain. A great challenge for the whole family! - Where to eat
The Shack, Beesands
Fantastic seafood right on the beach – great crab sandwich!
*Find the best places to explore Dartmoor using our insider guide to Dartmoor here
How do we plot our adventures? Using a map and the awesome series of Wild Guides which share the best, secret spots to explore across the South West & Wales. We take it with us whenever we visit somewhere new! Grab a copy here.
*I have used and enjoyed the Wild Guide book series for years and I hope you will too. Though I take an affiliate commission for each book sale from my website, this helps cover the running costs of Go Wild Go West.