Feature: Wish You Was Here

Exmouth – A mini family break for a Mum, and two children (11 and 7) August 2017

I know – I promised Greece – but I’ve just come back from a lovely mini break to Exmouth with the children. In an attempt to stay local (no aeroplanes) we decided a traditional seaside holiday was in order. Exmouth, South Devon – 5 hours from Canterbury, Kent, on 3 trains and a tube wasn’t as bad as it sounds. Book your tickets in advance through the Trainline as they are cheaper – I didn’t so they weren’t!

I booked a flat through Air BnB – who I have now used in Barcelona and Normandy and have found to be an altogether very pleasant experience. I like the personal touches - our host met us at the station and recommend several places to go and places to avoid, which was actually very helpful when you don’t know the area and you are on a short break. The flat was lovely and right opposite the beach- and there was WiFi (a lifesaver when holidaying with children – no matter how much you convince yourself you are going to read and play charades every evening)

I chose Exmouth because there was plenty to do in case of inclement weather – which there was plenty of. A nice mixture of quaint tearooms, tacky seaside shops and gastro pubs means there is something for everyone. A cinema and leisure centre with a climbing wall (the children’s favourite) plus a long sandy beach with all the usual attractions and plenty of tourist boat rides.

The highlight of the trip as far as the children were concerned was the crabbing. 2 nets @ £2.95 and a bucket @ £2.45 plus daily bait was the best money I spent apart from the mini bottles of wine in plastic bottles to drink on the beach! 

Go for a coffee and cake to http://www.thepointbarandgrill.com where you can watch the children crabbing off the quay whilst relaxing with the morning papers.

Being by myself with an 11 and 7 year old for 5 days – I was obviously starved of adult company – I called my husband at least 7 times a day – apparently I only want to talk to him when I am away!!! Exmouth does offer so many things to do that you really can amuse yourselves for hours each day.

A few mentions of eateries must be made from my stay in Exmouth so here you go…

Breakfast - http://www.bumbleandbee.co.uk  An absolute treat right next to our Air BnB flat. The service was West country friendly and the food was all homemade and local. The best thing here was the children’s breakfast menu – excellent choices at reasonable prices (in case they don’t eat it – but they really , really will ) Dippy eggs, mini hot chocolates, American style pancakes with banana and Nutella and sausage sandwiches with the crusts cut off – winner. For the grown-ups – the Bumble bubble and squeak with local eggs and ha, or the smashed Harissa avocado on homemade bread with feta and local honey – the charming young waitress remembered us each morning and we would definitely go back here. Even some local crafts ad souvenirs to purchase in the café – I do love an excuse to shop, especially before midday

Dinner – Rockfish https://www.therockfish.co.uk  We booked here as it was new, fancy and had a great Trip Advisor review (all things I look for ) A 7.30pm table for an adult and 2 children on a very rainy night on the “terrace” – much to my delight the “terrace” was actually completely covered if needed and was toasty warm. Our waitress was especially lovely – she had all the knowledge required to make excellent recommendations of the fresh fish they had on the menu that evening without me feeling as though she was up selling me the priciest option. The children were thoroughly entertained by the manager and his kid’s packs – activity book, pack of cards, pencils, keyring, wallet and stickers (better than your average pizza place!) We went for – Crispy calamari with chilli sauce, 6 local oysters, children’s grilled cod with unlimited chips twice, local skate, two ice cream sundaes, two apple juices, a 2015 Rioja and an Irish coffee – all for £60 ish – an absolute bargain – amazing fresh sea food straight from the sea we had been swimming in hours earlier. We even got a cab called for us as it was a typical British Summer evening – sideways rain!

Exmouth is somewhere we would go back to as we only scratched the surface of the array of things to see and do – plus the children got to sit next to a dog on the train home (this was their best bit of the holiday apparently – glad we travelled sooooo far!)

Written by Fiona @trixierich