Woodlands Family Theme Park

Woodlands isn't going to blow your mind, but it's exactly what you need when the kids are bored and Kingsbridge's charm isn't cutting it anymore. It's a modest family theme park near Devon's South Hams area with the usual rides, games, and attractions spread across the grounds - nothing you haven't seen at similar parks, but it does the job for an afternoon.

The rides are gentle enough for younger children but older kids might run through them in a couple of hours. There's also an arcade, mini-golf, and play areas. It's the kind of place where you're not paying for anything extraordinary - just decent, reliable family entertainment that gets the job done. Bring a picnic if you can; the on-site food is the standard theme park markup.

Who'll get the most out of it? Families with children under twelve, really. If your kids are teenagers, they'll find better thrills elsewhere. The park works well as a half-day break during a caravan holiday in the area - you're barely twenty minutes from Start Bay or Beverley Holidays, so it slots in nicely between beach days and coastal walks.

Go mid-week in summer if you can, when queues are shorter. The place gets rammed during school holidays and weekends. Allow three to four hours maximum. Check their website for current opening times and prices before you head over - they're not always consistent with seasonal changes.

It's functional rather than special, but that's sometimes exactly what a park holiday needs.