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It's official! We have won the Regional Winner for Devon Award  in the Top 100 Sites 2024  from Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome Magazines. As you can imagine, we are delighted. The best thing about this award is that it is voted for by the people that matter the most - our guests. And that makes it a real honour. Somehow it's even more special to know that it was our customers who took the time and effort to vote for us, to say we do a good job, and that we offer a great service in a lovely location - in fact, the best in the region... it means the world to us. A huge thank you to all who voted for us. Martin, our brilliant teams and I have won various awards over the past 24 years in the business including the Visit Britain National Caravan Park of the Year award in 2009 for another caravan touring park we used to own. We received that national award from comedian Michael McIntyre at the Railway Museum in York. Though I must say, I looked surprisingly glamorous for the occasion with a sparkling slim-fitting long gown that I can sadly no longer squeeze into. It 's wonderful to get recognition for all the long hours and hard work everyone at Newberry Valley puts in and when we receive such praise it spurs us all on to keep doing our very best as we begin this season. Here's the full write-up from Practical Caravan... The park is filling up for this year and this award is likely to improve our popularity so if you fancy a relaxing and beautiful holiday at our multi-award-winning campsite site, don't leave it too long!

In the winter, our three alpacas get spoiled – they are completely free to roam all the fields surrounding the campsite and enjoy the delights of the varied grasses and hedgerows. They even occasionally head over the peak of the hill into the adjoining fields owned by the local farmer, Richard. Thankfully, we have a great relationship with him, and he is most amused when Jess, Cocoa, and Tilly pay him a visit. Our gorgeous Cocoa When I visited Peru back in 2016, I spent some time up in the high Andes. There, I was able to see herds of alpacas living wild, roaming the Ausengate mountains and meadows. They had indigenous Quechua herders, usually women, who would live out on the land with them to shepherd and keep an eye on the general well-being of the herd. I tell you what – it’s not a job for the faint-hearted. Temperatures can get very warm in the day and then below freezing at night. In addition, they can travel significant distances over very rough and challenging terrain, and the alpacas (as well as the humans) are at risk of attack by the Andean Mountain pumas. I’m glad looking after alpacas here in the UK is significantly easier! Alpacas in the High Andes... Brrrrrr! Like all animals, each of our girls has a very different character, likes, and dislikes. Jess is the nervous, hyper-vigilant one of the group who is always on the lookout for danger. She will make a very unusual high-pitched alarm sound if she feels there is a security risk close by. Cocoa is the older of the two brown alpacas and tends to be a bit bossy and serious at times, then Tilly is a soft and gentle girl who regularly gets into trouble with the older two. Alpacas, wherever they live, have to be sheared annually. The fleeces are beautifully thick and soft, and the fibre, once spun, produces a very special and unique wool. The ancient Incas valued the alpaca fibre more highly than silver and even gold. Our girls are not particularly keen on being sheared each year, but Colin, our expert shearer, has it off to a fine art, and it’s over in no time despite their protestations. We now have enough bags collected to send to the mill, so one of my big jobs sometime this year is to sort through all the bags to find the good-quality fibre. I have been procrastinating as it will be quite a mammoth task. However, it would be so lovely to have our own wool to use and sell, so I will prioritise it as a job for a sunny spring day.   Once the season starts again and the campsite reopens in mid-March, the wild alpaca adventures will be put on hold, and they will be brought back down to their large field overlooking the pitches. Given that they are prey animals, they can get a little stressed by dogs getting too close, which is why we don’t allow dogs in the viewing area, but otherwise, they are very inquisitive, and they love to watch all the activity on the site. Do plan a visit sometime and pop up to watch them for a while... it's a very relaxing pastime.

Many years ago Martin and I visited Key West in the USA. It was a quirky place and every evening people gathered at the harbour frontage to watch the sun go down, whilst various circus acts strutted their stuff on the plaza. Well, here at Combe Martin, we don’t have a plaza and we don’t have any circus acts. Still, every Saturday evening from May until the end of July (weather permitting) we have the renowned local DJ Steve Optix sharing a taste of Ibiza on the beach. If you enjoy chilled-out evenings watching the sunset over the sea whilst a soundtrack of Balearic beats plays close by, then Combe Martin village is the place to be! The best bit is you haven’t had to deal with all the hassle of busy airports, security queues, flight delays and cockroaches in your room. From the campsite, it’s just a 5-minute wander down to the seaside anytime between 5 pm and sundown. However if a tranquil night of peaceful relaxation, with stimulating conversation or reading a good book is more your idea of a brilliant Saturday evening… no problem. During the main peak summer season we even have dinner covered so you don’t have to cook. We serve pizzas every Wednesday and Saturday night at Newberry Valley throughout the summer. Join us at Newberry Valley Park, perfectly nestled on the edge of the lovely seaside village of Combe Martin. Book now to secure your spot and immerse yourself in the delights North Devon has to offer you!

I was looking through some old photos of Newberry Valley recently, and it got me thinking about how far we've come since 2006. When we first took over the park, it had a modest AA 3 pennant grading. It wasn't exactly crying out for help, but let's just say it was... basic! For those not familiar with the AA grading scheme, it's rather like hotel stars but for campsites - they inspect everything from facilities to customer service and give a score out of 100. Getting a Feel for the Place After getting to know the park inside and out, we started making improvements. We'd already achieved "National Caravan Park of the Year" with our previous site in 2009, so we knew what was possible with the right focus and investment. Year by year we made upgrades and improvements around the site. From these rather basic facilities... to these luxurious underfloor heated rooms Watching It Evolve Year by year, we watched our grading scores climb: • 2010: Upgraded to 4 pennants (77%) • 2014: Achieved 5 pennants (85%) • 2018: Reached 89% • 2021: Hit 90% and earned our 5-star gold award • 2022-2024: 91% - our highest ever score! The inspector's recent report was particularly encouraging: "This well-managed and maintained park was looking good in the sunshine. The pitches were clean and tidy and the surrounding grounds, trees, shrubs and flowers were all well-tended. The facilities were spotless with good detail paid to the cleaning. The dish wash area and laundry room were equally as clean." From basic non-electric grass pitches to generously-sized grass and paved hardstanding pitches, many fully serviced with water and waste drain and all with a 16amp electric hook-up. And Flourish It feels good to know that we have achieved such a high grading status, but most important to us is that feeling of a job well done as we reflect back over the years, remembering the hundreds of happy customers who hold great holiday memories close to their hearts. Come, stay with us, and experience the joys of our fantastic 5-star facilities and service. Book your getaway now. We can't wait to welcome you!

The sea in Storm Darragh The wild and windy weather that was hitting the Devon coastline before Christmas certainly stirred up the sea into a frothy frenzy even in the usually calm natural harbour of Combe Martin. We've had some pretty big waves rolling in recently that are certainly not conducive to the usual kayaking and paddleboarding activities that have become incredibly popular here over the past few years. The sheltered inlet offers the ideal environment for exploring the bay and the rugged North Devon coastline, which is otherwise inaccessible. A few years ago we even had our own regular visitor to the cove - a dolphin who was named Dave. He was frequently seen swimming close to the kayaks throughout the summer months. Now I have to admit to not having great sea legs myself so I have been a bit of a coward when it comes to getting out on the water to discover the stunning coastal scenery of this area however our friends Gary and Helen Mallinder and their team at Surfside Kayak Hire are experts. Maybe given that this is my 'bucket list' 60th year I really ought to bite the bullet and give it a go.... so watch this space 😜 Surfside is located close to Combe Martin Beach and they offer kayak and SUP hire as well as a selection of fabulous guided tours. (They also have a shop with all sorts of lovely clothing and other great bits and bobs too - ideal for a spot of retail therapy!) So if this 'floats your boat' (dreadful pun, apologies 😂) do take a look at their website . We'd love you to stay with us at Newberry Valley Park and discover for yourself our beautiful village and the wonders of Combe Martin bay.

A sunny March day exploring Marwood Gardens I often wonder how come in the UK Father's Day is in the middle of June when the weather is warm and pleasant, and Mother's Day, in contrast, is in the middle of March, when even the best spring weather is still pretty chilly. Wouldn't it be a great idea to swap them around each year so it was fair? Last year the weather on Mother's Day was a little nippy but it was sunny and bright so I suggested we visit the lovely Marwood Gardens, near Barnstaple. Renowned for its stunning colours from early Spring to late Autumn, this steep valley was bought in 1949 by Dr Jimmy Smart and nowadays is home to many special collections of plants including camellias, magnolias and astilbes. This privately owned garden boasts 20 acres of shrubs and trees with three lakes as well as a lovely tearoom and plant sales area. The beautiful magnolia pictured on the left is one of over eighty varieties that are spread throughout the garden and they looked amazing as we wandered around. There's also the most gorgeous wisteria near the entrance and so much more to explore. They also hold a variety of events and activities at the gardens throughout the year so be sure to check out Marwood Hill Gardens if you are planning to come and stay with us sometime. Join us at Newberry Valley Park, perfectly nestled between the coast and the countryside. Book now to secure your spot and immerse yourself in the delights North Devon has to offer you!

The site is closed until March 2025 and the staff are currently away enjoying a well-earned break with their families over the Christmas and New Year period. While we absolutely love welcoming guests throughout the season, there's a unique charm to having the site all to ourselves in winter. A misty view over the lake Boxing day here started with blue sky and sunshine however the mist slowly rolled in by lunchtime. This meant that by the time we had got ourselves organised to stroll around the park to work off the Christmas excesses, it was somewhat chillier than earlier in the day. Not only that but the fog lay low producing an eerie, yet in its way a rather beautiful atmosphere. Heron in the mist I didn't spot it at first but my eagle-eyed son, Ashley, pointed out the heron at the side of the lake in the distance. He often visits us (the Heron, that is, not Ashley!), undoubtedly to have something to eat. Thankfully he's not generally greedy and I'm sure he knows better than to tackle our big fish! Though it may not look too inviting on these misty winter days, the fishing lake is a popular spot throughout the season. I love to watch the large carp cruising around beneath the surface like submarines, soaking up the sunshine whilst teasing the fishermen. Here's where you can find out more about coarse fishing on our lovely campsite ( below are three photos of the many sent to us each year by happy fishermen). Join us at Newberry Valley Park, perfectly nestled on the edge of the lovely seaside village of Combe Martin. Book now to secure your spot and immerse yourself in the delights North Devon has to offer you!

I was 60 in September. Every birthday can stimulate reflection and contemplation, but when it’s at the start of a new decade it somehow inspires, in me at least, to take a look more deeply at my life. The result was my ‘near and far bucket list’.   Just to explain a little more… the near and far aspect is simple. The ‘far’ list includes faraway places to visit and is not restricted to be undertaken or completed within my 60th year. However, the ‘near’ list is all about visiting local places and doing lots of new and different things close by all within the next twelve months.   At my great age (I am going to leave that statement as an ambiguous one 😊) it’s too easy to get complacent and stuck in a comfort zone but my dear friend kicked off the year by treating me to a brilliant evening of axe throwing. Norse Hawk  is located just outside Barnstaple (about 30 – 40 minutes’ drive from us here depending on traffic). Sophie welcomed us with a full health and safety briefing and a demonstration of how to throw, then it was time to give it a go.  Well, I tried and I tried and…. I couldn’t hit the target. Time after time the axe bounced, banged, and bumped its way to the floor. Sophie guided and encouraged us with helpful tips and suggestions until eventually, with a celebratory whoop I hit the target, and with a bullseye! Here’s the photo as proof.   Once we had got the gist of it, Sophie introduced some fun individual and team games to add a bit of extra pressure, and our session flew by with loads of laughter and chatter.   They do custom, family and group bookings and anyone from 9+ can try their hand. Sessions do need to be pre-booked so if you are tempted take a look here . It really was brilliant fun, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to do something a bit different.

Each Autumn plenty of good things happen around North Devon that provide great entertainment for locals and visitors alike. The month kicks off with the Sea Ilfracombe Maritime Festival , attracting local, national, and international visitors. You can enjoy a vast array of attractions, local food, live music, and family entertainment, all for FREE over the weekend. This year on 7th September it’s the Ilfracombe Bike Show which has in previous years attracted more than 500 bikes and trikes as well as stalls promoting various aspects of road use. It’s a great opportunity to meander along the seafront amidst motorbikes of all shapes and sizes. The Devon Open Studios event runs for two weeks each September featuring the work of established names alongside new and emerging artists throughout Devon. In the north of the county, there are 12 locations to visit enabling you to support local artists and makers, which in turn helps to sustain the regional economy and contributes to the vitality of local communities. As well as these events you’ll find some lovely gardens in the region worth a visit with an abundance of seasonal colour. Look out for Marwood Hill Gardens and RHS Rosemoor . Whatever your interests, there's bound to be something to keep you engaged in the region Happy memories are what our business is all about at Newberry Valley. And the most important part of our day is creating the ideal environment for you and your family to enjoy those special holiday moments together.

There are times when the simple loving loyalty and soulful connection with my dog is far easier than having to deal with people, but then again, I have had some pretty challenging canines in my life over the years too. Even with the difficult ones, it’s fair to say that I have a real soft spot for dogs. At one time we had four large pooches living with us which was pretty chaotic. Now we have just our lovely Luna who loves to sit in our lounge windowsill and watch all the comings and goings in the driveway outside. We love dogs Prior to us buying the campsite in May 2006, dogs were not accepted on the campsite. As soon as we took over that had to change immediately. Martin and I have always had dogs since we were children - over the years between us we have had labradors, dalmatians, rottweilers, German shepherds and even a wolfdog so for me there was no debate – the rules changed and we do all we can to accommodate your furry friends on-site. After all, they are family members. So we have created a few things to make holidaying with your mutt easier. There’s our dog wash facility where you can swill off their feet to avoid muddy paw prints in your van or tent and then we also have the fully fenced dog field where they can have a good run-off lead. Due to the topography and hilly landscape of Combe Martin the dog field is all on a slope – it certainly does get my heart pumping and somewhat challenges my fitness levels but for most dogs, it’s a walk in the park (pardon the pun!!) Happy dogs, happy campers In general, we prefer no more than two dogs per pitch, but we do accept more when the owners are confident that their animals are used to camping and would not cause excessive noise issues or other interference with neighbouring guests. We suggest that if you have more than two dogs do get in touch by phone 01271 882334 or email us at relax@newberryvalleypark.co.uk so that we can discuss your individual circumstances. To check out the dog-friendly page on our website CLICK HERE Tail-wagging tales We are ideally positioned with a dog-friendly beach literally just a few minutes’ walk from the site entrance. The larger beach in the bay doesn’t allow dogs from May to September however Newberry Beach which is actually closer to the campsite, welcomes them all year round. It's a fab place for them to explore and have a refreshing swim leaving you and your family with many joyful memories and a happy and healthy dog. So don’t leave them whining in the kennels… plan your relaxing break with your pooch today.