So you’ve booked your van. The new swimming cossie is ready. The surfboards/bikes/footballs/frisbees/fishing rods/kids and husband are packed. You’ve done enough now, let us do something for you.

Zoe has collected the information that we (and our friends) all hold in our heads about the best places to visit and things to do in the South West. We are ‘locals’ after all and we have our favourite secret beaches, hidden pubs, cycling trails, places to take the dog, fishing spots, family activities, surf beaches and things to do when it rains!

When you are booking your holiday, let Zoe know if there is anything that you particularly want to do we can send you one of these adventure information packs. We keep updating these adventures with feedback from our customers so they will just keep getting better and better.

Secret Beaches and Gorgeous Seaside Villages

There are 165 beaches in Cornwall and a further 60 in Devon. Some get very busy in high season, but with a little local knowledge and research you can find some absolute gems away from the crowds. You might be looking to surf or body board. If you have small children you may be searching for a safe beach with lots of facilities. Or you may be looking for dog friendly beaches. Or quiet little hideaways to escape everyone. This list will help you find a secret locals’ beach which fits the bill!

Foodie Restaurants and Great Pubs

There are lots of fabulous foodie establishments in Devon and Cornwall – we are blessed with Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver and Michael Caine to name but a few but we also have loads of fabulous cafes and pubs serving fantastic food, in gorgeous settings. We are spoilt for choice. So we have created a list of the places that we know are good. Plan your whole holiday around some of these hidden gems and enjoy some excellent, locally sourced food in amazing locations.

Family Activity Adventures

There is nothing that brings a family closer together than tackling a new activity as a team. Try one of Zoe’s suggestions for a truly memorable holiday experience. These include an exhilarating ride around Plymouth Sound in a power boat, spotting seals and maybe dolphins, a campsite which has it’s own pirate ship and offers such adventurous activities as water zorbing and mega zip wire. We have horseriding centres, surfing schools, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing centres and the best activity centre in North Devon where you can do anything from rafting to surf instruction to high wires.

Zoe has thoughtfully added details of great campsites close to each activity and good local pubs and eateries.

Family Cycling Adventures

If your family enjoys cycling, you might like to check out these routes that Zoe has researched – ideal for families and not too challenging. She has added in good campsites nearby and even a ride that ends at an excellent pub, that can only be reached by bike or on foot!

Take Your dog with you on Holiday

We welcome customers who would like to bring their dogs on holiday with them. Devon and Cornwall was lots of dog friendly campsites, fabulous walks for you to enjoy with your dog, and excellent places to eat which are dog-friendly.

Zoe has created a collection of places to stay and visit with your dog and our campsite list shows which sites are dog friendly.

Fishy and Fishing Adventures

Fly and coarse fishing, sea fishing, boat trips, fish markets and Fish and Chip shops and Seafood Eateries – Zoe has it all covered in this collection of great places to fish, where to buy excellent fish and finally where to eat it. She has even included details of where you can see basking sharks!

Surfing Adventures

We have got together with Award winning Surfing experience Company Global Boarders to offer two slightly different campervan experiences - a gourmet surfing day or a Surfing Experience Day as part of your campervan escape. The Surfing Experience Day is a unique opportunity to spend the day surfing some of the best spots in Cornwall, in style, with trusted group leaders who are there to take care of your every requirement. You will experience real surfing, in different locations, in a relaxed and un-pressured environment. Global Boarders take care of everything – they provide top class equipment, and transport you to the best beaches for the best waves on the day.

The gourmet surfing break combines cookery master classes with private surf experiences using lifeguard-qualified coaches, gorgeous campervans and Ben's Cornish Kitchen, a new restaurant with a fast-growing reputation in Marazion. Ben Prior, is passionate about food. “My cooking is influenced by my travels with an added Cornish twist”, says Ben. “When I’m creating my seafood laksa or Arabic mezze, I focus on fusing the aromas of the delicate herbs and spices into the dish and creating interesting taste.” You will spend the morning in a cookery master class, followed by lunch in Ben’s great restaurant, then private surf guiding at some of the best and most secret beaches in Cornwall.

Surfing Beaches

If you fancy creating your own surf adventure, we have a list of the best surfing beaches we know about, with details of the quality of the surf, the direction the beaches face and notes about any facilities available. Finding a good surfing beach is very much about your skill level, what sort of wave/break you are looking for and the conditions on the day – with this guide you should have the info you need to make the right decision on the day about which beach to head for.

What to do if it rains

So you had your fingers crossed for sunshine…and its raining. What do you do? Using our local knowledge we have created a list of things you can do even if the weather isn’t on your side.