Start Bay Club Campsite

Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Great Location

Lovely site, very well run. Location is excellent, a 15 minute walk to the beach, 15 minutes walk to Stokenham Village and 10 minutes walk to the exceptionally good farm shop cafe and brewery. The road from Kingsbridge is a bit narrow in places but nothing to worry about if you take it steady and anticipate the narrow bits.If you want to be on the safe side don't leave Kingsbridge between 10 and 25 minutes past the hour and then there is no chance of meeting the hourly bus in the narrows!

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Jamsdad

Caravanner

Reviewed on 05/10/2020 15:47

2 reviews

3 Helpful notes

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 4 of 5

Location

Rated 1 of 5

Good for families

Well kept site

We came here from another C & MC site where we had had a warm welcome from the warden and told that - having a continental van - we could drive onto the pitch or reverse, it was our choice. However, on this site the warden who greeted me was very officious and said there was no choice, we had to drive onto the pitch. I tried discussing this but he was immovable. Not a warm welcome from him at all. He was everything that I dislike about some of the wardens. However, we made the most of our few days at this site which is very well kept. Yes, the road to the site is very narrow and you need to be prepared to do a lot of reversing if you meet a bus! But we cycled down into Torcross and caught the bus to Salcombe one day and Dartmouth the next day.

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esperelda

Reviewed on 05/10/2020 07:53

3 reviews

1 Helpful note

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

So good we came back

We have been to start bay 6 times and love the site and the area. Booked for 10 days then kept adding days to extend our stay and after having to leave after 21 nights max we went to Merrose for 5 nights then came back ! Yes agree with previous comments re the approach roads are rather challenging but so worth it when you arrive and walk to the beach. The site is very clean and very well maintained. The wardens are great very helpful and always busy keeping the site tidy but always time for a chat . Struggled a bit to get reservations at restaurants etc but ste at the Bear and blacksmith and was really impressed with the food and service . Great fish and chip shop on the beach front and great coffee and cakes form the beach hut at Strete. Walked the beach several times so didn’t feel guilty having the cakes ! We walked the coastal path from Blackpool sands out past start bay light house - not all on the same day ! Stunning scenery spoilt by inconsiderate dog owners who don’t clean up after their dogs . Found that to be a problem on the path between the site and stockleys . So be careful. Stockleys farm shop well stocked and not to expensive good quality produce from the butchers . On site cafe is good aswel. . Some lovely shops there Relish has an excellent stock of unusual items worth a visit . Salcombe pretty and worth a visit as is Dartmouth although found the restaurants to be charging over 17.00 for fish and chips ! All in all this is a lovely site with fab friendly wardens . Can’t wait to get back next year

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PandL

Caravanner

Reviewed on 30/09/2020 14:14

5 reviews

1 Helpful note

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 3 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 2 of 5

Good for families

So Good to be Away

Agree that the approach roads do have a number of pinch points, with characteristic Devon winding roads but a pretty route which we navigated OK until we reached the 'land slide' where a 15min delay occurred! (putting it mildly hahaa). Arriving at the site and approaching the reception was civilized and booking in was safe with social distancing. The Warden had reserved a pitch for us to accommodate our 8m MH, very considerate gesture. The pitch was suitable as far as we were concerned, albeit sharing 'our' grass with occupants of a van with hab door facing us. Our only humph was that we were not aware a TV lead was required, and we decided not to pay £16 at reception for another one. Hey Ho, we were on holiday and no TV was fine by us. We chose not to use any of the toilet block facilities although I understand there was a wrist band system in operation. The Site is in a Great location to walk and/or peddle into Torcross and along the causeway, we also took advantage of the Bird Hide overlooking Slapton Ley nature reserve. At Torcross The Start Bay Inn, Torcross Boat House and Sea Breeze Cottage worked out ingenious methods of serving externally whilst being compliant with the social distancing regulations. The farm shop, cafe and Brewery Tap Room next to the site appeared popular but we only popped in to look once so no idea of prices. The Church House Inn at Stokenham can be walked to, via the site, a lane, a field and church graveyard. The site is on a bus route and we found out too late that the bus would stop outside the site on request! I particularly was very pleased to finally visit Slapton Sands and take in the WW2 history connected with the area. We were just happy having a long awaited holiday in our MH. No problem at all with staying at this site should we wish a return visit to the area.

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Mr MBA

Motorhomer

Reviewed on 29/09/2020 16:20

3 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 3 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Location Location Location

What a relief to finally arrive at this site! The Sites Directory says ' Rd narrows between Kingsbridge and site' - it should be clearer how bad it is! In places it's only wide enough for 1 vehicle and is a complete nightmare to drive along. It twists and turns through several villages where you can't tell if something is approaching round the corners and there are no passing places. We will not be going back here again and left the site at 6.30am to try to avoid as many vehicles as possible. The site itself was good but being just off the road there is some road noise throughout the day. Our pitch was a reasonable size although those with caravans had to park across the front of the vans in some pitches. Facilities are clean and we found the wardens friendly. It's a short walk to the beach at Torcross, partly along a footpath but mostly by the road. The village itself is small and seemed run down. Slapton Ley has a bird hide but you can't walk all round the lake itself. The farm shop next to the site is well stocked but expensive, but there was nowhere else to buy fresh produce in the village. We only stayed 2 nights and that was enough for us.

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Vannie42

Motorhomer

Reviewed on 24/09/2020 16:13

7 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 4 of 5

Good for families

Superb site on the stunning south Devon coast

First visit to Start Bay and would love to return. The location is simply fantastic. Torcross beach and the south west coastal path are short walk away, and a little further afield you have Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Salcombe. A mix of grass and hardstanding, the site is so busy you may not have a lot of choice. We were on a slightly sloping grass pitch but were extremely lucky with the weather, so grass ended up being nicer than hardstanding anyway! Access to the site via Kingsbridge is very tight in places. You would definitely need a stiff drink upon arrival if you were an inexperienced tow-er. Most of the locals are used to meeting vans on the road and help to make sure things keep moving. Roads are very tight in general, and busy even in September. I can imagine that the area would feel very crowded in the height of the summer. Super dog walks all around the site, and a fantastic farm shop/micro brewery/cafe-bar just behind the site. Farm shop also sells all the essentials, and there are 3 pubs within walking distance. Wardens were friendly and pretty diligent. Could have been a little more on the ball in terms of pitching set up (lots of motorhomes with hab doors pointing the wrong way etc).

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KN Taylor

Caravanner

Reviewed on 23/09/2020 18:09

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Wonderful Site

What a wonderful site,the wardens are very good everything is just as it should be.You can buy a few basics in reception,there is a very good farm shop just down the road with a butcher who us excellent,some grass pitches are very unlevel motohomes beware bring blocks.New style motorhome waste dump great improvement no kneeling down to to remove cover.Two pubs in walking distance 10 mins away..Some road noise from top of site but not too bad.Road from Kingsbridge tight in places caution is required.

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R.Ashmore

Reviewed on 17/09/2020 09:56

4 reviews

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Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 4 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Great site and excellent location

So before you arrive check the recommended route to avoid the very narrow lanes. Take you time from Kingsbridge especially if towing. The site is well managed by the wardens and the facilities are clean and well maintained. Nearby, walking distance is Slapton Ley with its shingle beach and eateries and pub. But much closer is Stokeley Farm Shop and cafe with great breakfast and a micro brewery. It would be perfect if those who unhitch their caravans drove somewhat more slower around the site when coming and going!

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AnnanM

Caravanner

Reviewed on 16/09/2020 16:00

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 5 of 5

Good for families

Excellent place

We stayed here for 3 nights and enjoyed it very much. Site was clean and well managed. Walk to the Torcross beach and beach itself was lovely. We also walked to Start Point which was another lovely walk. Visit to the pub in the local village was another highlight as was visit to the local farm shop.

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ZakB

Reviewed on 05/09/2020 20:57

1 review

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Rated 4 of 5

Rated 3 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 3 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 4 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Lovely location, site ok.

The location is great, lovely coastline and villages easily walkable mostly off the roads. The drive to the site on the A379 was challenging. It’s single width through several villages and no matter how comfortable you are towing, if another articulated rig is coming in the other direction at one of these blind single width sections, it will be a problem. The area is worth the drive, but the best features about the site were the friendly and helpful staff and the locality. The site itself had quite a bit of road noise (pitch 90) and the grass pitch we were on was above heavy clay soil and once soaked became a bit of a quagmire. The toilet blocks were kept clean but were basic, without even a lid on the toilets to trap germs on flushing. No seat in the showers and as the whole cubicle gets wet, getting changed without getting fresh clothes wet was a hassle. The lighting on the site is poor, this is great for seeing the Milky Way on a clear night, but a negative when your kids need the toilet. As the path to the toilets from our pitch (next to the playground) takes you past the entrance which is next to the busy road, it’s not ideal and I wouldn’t have let my younger kids go to the toilet unaccompanied day or night. We had a good week at the site but it could be substantially improved.

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Shropsaeropig

Caravanner

Reviewed on 26/08/2020 12:07

2 reviews

1 Helpful note

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