If you are planning a great Devon summer holiday, short-break staycation, or respite getaway Brixham showcases the very best of Torbay with amazing scenery, food, shopping all set around a magnificent working harbour.

In the peak season Brixham can get very pricey, but one of the best ways to enjoy this gorgeous part of south Devon is to stay in a caravan at a nearby holiday park. With a young family, caravans are a cosy, comfortable and 100% hassle free. South Bay Holiday Park is one of my family’s favourite destinations for a Brixham holiday and in this review Ill share everything you need to know to enjoy a great time! 

About South Bay Holiday Park

South Bay Holiday Park is a caravan park ‌in higher Brixham, close to the southwest coastal path. It has caravan and chalet accommodation in a lush green and hilly parkland setting. If you’re looking to visit with your mobile home, sadly South Bay Holiday Park does not do camping or touring.

It’s a great location to make your base for exploring south Devon with nearby highlights including:

• Torbay
• Berry Head
• Kingswear and Dartmouth

Where is South Bay Holiday Park?

You’ll find South Bay Holiday Park in the “Cowtown” side of Brixham, just under a mile away from the sights and delights of “Fishtown”, the harbour bowl. Here is the address of South Bay Holiday Park:

St Mary’s Rd, Brixham TQ5 9QW

How far is South Bay Holiday Park from the beach?

If you have been to this part of South Devon, you’ll know that you’re in cove country and will need to duck and dive to get to a decent beach safely. If you don’t want to jump in the car and head over to Paignton, here are the closest beaches for your South Bay Holiday Park stay:

St Marys Bay Brixham

Distance from South Bay Holiday Park: 0.6 miles (5-minute walk)

This is the closest beach to South Bay and is accessed via the costal path. There is a steep descent to the beach via 100+ concrete steps as this compact bay is flanked by cliffs all round.

What was great for the smugglers of centuries past is a nightmare for a family with arms full, but if you get down to the beach, the privacy, peach and tranquillity is well worth it. 

Breakwater Beach, Brixham

Distance from South Bay Holiday Park: 1.4 miles (30-minute walk)

It’s a bit of a trek, but heading over to the Breakwater beach by the sea wall in Brixham makes a great day out from your caravan. Not only do you have a small pebble beach and the iconic sea wall by Brixham marina, you can also walk towards Berry Head and take advantage of Shoalstone seawater pool for a unique bathing experience. 

Man Sands

Distance from South Bay Holiday Park: 1.4 miles (30-minute walk)

The walk over to Man Sands in Kingswear is amazing. We saw goldfinches, pheasants and if you go via Sharkham Point, you can see seabirds that include guillemots, razorbills and fulmars. Man Sands is pretty large and delightfully secluded. If you don’t mind wild toileting, you can stay there all day! 

How far is South Bay Holiday Park Brixham from town centre?

South Bay Holiday Park is on the outskirts of Brixham so you’ll only have a 5 minute drive or 20-minute walk to hit the town centre’s restaurants and shops.

You can also hop on the bus service that runs between South Bay Holiday Park and Brixham town centre. The No. 15 country bus stops right outside the holiday park and costs £2.10 for an adult fare. Here is the timetable:

Number 15 country bus timetable

South Bay Holiday Park Amenities

One thing my family loves about South Bay Holiday Park is the comprehensive range of on-site amenities. After packing your bags and hauling the crew over to a caravan in a remote location, the last thing you need is to be strategizing things like laundry and some basics for the fridge. Here’s what’s on-site at South Bay: 

Launderette

Last-minute handwashing is a real hassle and often an inevitability, as most caravans don’t have a washing machine. Thankfully, there is a decent laundrette on-site that is clean, well maintained and won’t break the bank. The tumble dryers are very powerful and will get your beach towels dried in no time!

• A wash is £3.00
• The dryers cost 50p for ten minutes

Shop

Tea, milk, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, white fluffy bread and butter will keep your mouths full while you find your feet on arriving at your caravan! 

The shop is well stocked with all the basic groceries, fresh fruit and veg, dried goods and, if I recall correctly, some locally sourced meat and sausages. They do cashback and mobile top-ups too. Buy souvenirs, pocket money toys and games here during your stay. 

Clubhouse

No holiday park is complete without a clubhouse to relax and enjoy a drink and a meal and the evening’s entertainment. South Bays clubhouse has kept the old holiday camp charm with simple classic entertainment. It can get crowded on popular nights! Alternatively, pop in during the daytime to use the free Wi-Fi.

Takeaway

Make sure you take the night off and forget schlepping into “Fish Town” too. Feed the tribe from Chefs Corner, the takeaway at the clubhouse. You can choose classic family fare, including fish and chips, pizza and curry. 

South Bay Holiday Park Activities

I’m ashamed to say that when I get around to taking a break, I am looking for rest and relaxation rather than gadding about every Devon tourist attraction. The on-site activities and entertainment are a big part of the value of a family caravan holiday and South Bay does not disappoint, with something for all ages: 

South Bay Holiday Park swimming pools 

South Bay Holiday Park has indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a fun flume to enjoy. A pool attendant supervises the pools. Though they’re small, serious swimmers can get some laps in during the Adult swimming sessions in the mornings. Opening times are 9:30 to 6pm and the outdoor pool is open between May and September.

Children’s play area

The simple and safe children’s playground has all the basic park facilities like swings and climbing frames just moments from your caravan. 

Crazy golf

For us, no holiday is complete without a round of crazy golf. To be honest, the crazy golf at South Bay is pretty low-fi with moulded turf only, but it’s enough to have fun putting with young children. It’s 100% free, just get your putters from reception. 

Games room & games den

Older kids and let off steam and blow some of your cash in the games den. There is pool, X-boxes with a variety of games and, of course, the money-hungry coin-operated machines. 

The Trim Trail

This is a dedicated fitness trail where you can run or walk.

How much are entertainment passes at South Bay Holiday Park?

You can buy entertainment passes that will get you access to the pool and clubhouse events from reception. As of June 2022, the prices are:

• £30 per caravan per week
• £18 per caravan per short-stay

South Bay Holiday Park Mascots

If you are a holiday park regular and love the mascots and entertainment, you’ll definitely enjoy meeting Freddy Fox  & Friends, the park mascots. They have cool dances, treats, and lots of kid-friendly activities the family can enjoy! The Foxy Club is usually out and about on-site during the school holidays and owner events. Make sure you say hello to:

• Trixie the Rabbit
• Cheffy the Chef
• Paxo the chicken
• Kenny the Badger (my favourite)

South Bay Holiday Park map

Can’t wait to get to South Bay Holiday Park and see where your caravan is going to be?

Here is the official South Bay Holiday Park map with all the chalets and caravans included. When you’re at South Bay, you can use the map to get around on-site or check out the pitches if you are interested in buying. If you need a copy, just ask reception when you arrive!

How much does it cost to stay at South Bay Holiday Park?

It is easy to book a cost-effective holiday at South Bay Holiday Park. If you are travelling in the summer expect prices of £400+ and of-peak you can get a great week-long stay for £250+.

South Bay Holiday Park is open between March and the end of October.