Why Haven Devon Cliffs Actually Deserves Some Attention
I spent three days there last October with a group of eight, mostly because it was cheap and close to the coast. I was wrong about it being just a cheap pitstop. The place is genuinely well set up if you know what you are looking for. Most people skip it because the marketing sounds generic. The reality is more complicated than a brochure. Devon Cliffs sits right on the coast near Teignmouth. That matters because the weather shifts faster there than almost anywhere else in the south west. Bring layers even in July. The cliffs themselves are the main draw, along with a fairly large lodge complex and some proper walking routes that most first time visitors miss.
Unleash The Fun Your Ultimate Guide To Haven Devon Cliffs The UKs Premier Resort
This guide covers the things that actually matter when you are there. Not the sponsored highlights reel. The stuff that saves you from wasting money on activities you do not need while missing what is worth seeing. I learned this the hard way on my first visit when I booked a guided coastal tour that ran along the exact same path I could have walked myself in twenty minutes. The main access road runs off the A379. It is straightforward if you are coming from Exeter or Plymouth. From the M5, take Junction 29 and follow signs for Teignmouth. The journey from London usually takes around three and a half hours via the M3 and M5. You will hit traffic near Exeter on Friday afternoons in peak season. Leave before ten or accept that you are going to sit on the A379 for forty minutes. Parking at the resort is included with your booking. The car parks fill up fast during August. I recommend arriving before two in the afternoon on a summer weekend. The northern car park tends to stay open longer because it is farther from reception and most people just wander toward the nearest entrance. I once parked in the south lot and walked back with two bags of groceries while my family waited. It took twelve minutes. The north lot was empty. Learn from that mistake.
What The Accommodation Actually Looks Like
The lodges range from basic two bedroom units to larger four bedroom options. The newer builds have decent insulation. The older ones do not. If you are traveling in winter, request a newer lodge near the southern section. The heating in the older blocks struggles when the wind comes off the sea. I slept in a third floor lodge last January and could hear every footstep from the unit below. Soundproofing is not great across the board. Check the kitchen equipment before you settle in. Several times I have found resorts where the basic utensils are missing or broken. Haven tends to restock reasonably well, but I always count the knives and check that the kettle works within the first five minutes of entering. It takes thirty seconds and saves an awkward call to reception while your kids are hungry.
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Things Worth Doing
The coastal path from Teignmouth down to Shaldon is the best walk in the area. It takes roughly ninety minutes each way if you go at a normal pace. The views over the estuary are solid. Go early in the morning and you will have the path almost to yourself. After nine am on a Saturday in July, it is crowded with tour groups. The resort has a heated pool and a small soft play area. The pool is adequate but never spectacular. It gets busy between eleven and one. Go at eight in the morning if you want actual swim time. The soft play is fine for younger children but teenagers will find nothing to do there. Bring cards or a board game for the older ones. Teignmouth itself is worth exploring. The harbour has decent fish and chip shops. I found a place on the high street called Mr B's that is honestly not bad. The promenade is long and flat, which makes it good for walking or cycling if you have rented bikes from the resort. They charge around fifteen pounds a day per bike. That is standard pricing but still annoying if you have a large family.
What To Avoid
Do not book the on site guided cliff walk tours unless you have mobility issues or genuinely do not want to navigate on your own. The guide walks the same route at the same pace you would. I watched a group of six stand around listening to someone explain geology for forty five minutes when they could have read a sign. The tour costs around twenty pounds per adult and ten for children. Skip it. Avoid the resort restaurant for dinner if you are on a budget. Meals run forty to sixty pounds per person without drinks. The takeaway options in Teignmouth are cheaper and better. There is a proper Italian place and a good curry house within walking distance. Drive if it is raining. It is only two miles.
Seasonal Considerations
June through August is peak season. The resort is loud, the beaches are packed, and everything costs more. September is significantly quieter. The sea is still warm enough for swimming in early September. I swam off the pier at Teignmouth in the first week of September and it was fine. October can be rough. Storms come through regularly and some facilities close or reduce hours. Check before you commit to an October booking if you care about having everything open.
The Edge Case That Caught Me Out
Last year I arrived on a Sunday and discovered that the resort shop had closed at five on Sundays during the off season. We needed formula, snacks, and basic supplies. The nearest supermarket is a ten minute drive away but the bus service runs only twice an hour. I ended up driving to Tesco in Teignmouth which is about eight minutes from the resort. Save yourself the panic. Check shop hours on their website before you arrive and stock up on essentials if you are coming after five on a Sunday outside of peak summer months.
Final Notes
The resort is not perfect. It will never compete with a proper hotel. But for a family break within driving distance of London or the south west, it does what it claims. Book direct to avoid third party fees. Arrive early in peak season. Walk the coastal path at dawn. Skip the overpriced tours. Bring proper walking shoes because the cliff paths get muddy and slippery even in summer after rain. And if someone tells you it is the premier resort in the UK, they are probably working for the company. It is a good resort. That is fair.
