Is South Hams Devon’s Best Kept Holiday Home Secret?

Devon isn’t short of famous holiday destinations.

There’s Salcombe, with its sailing boats and expensive waterfront. 

Dartmouth, with its historic harbour and winding streets. 

Then there are the beaches – such as Bantham, Slapton Sands, Blackpool Sands – and countless smaller coves scattered along the coast.

But, mention South Hams and you might get a blank look.

It’s strange when you consider what the area has going for it. 

South Hams brings together some of the most attractive coastline, countryside, beaches and estuary scenery in South Devon, yet it doesn’t have the same instant recognition as some of the places within it.

… and that’s exactly what makes it worth looking at if you’re considering buying a static caravan for sale in the UK.

What Exactly is South Hams?

South Hams isn’t one seaside resort. 

It’s a wider area of South Devon that includes a collection of towns, villages and coastal destinations.

Salcombe, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Hope Cove are all part of the picture, along with a much wider stretch of countryside and coastline.

That matters when you’re looking for a static caravan or holiday home.

Searching only for one famous destination can give you a very narrow view of what’s available. 

Looking at the wider South Hams region opens up different settings, from beaches and estuaries, to quiet countryside locations.

You don’t necessarily have to be sitting in the middle of the most famous town to enjoy everything that attracted you to buying a static caravan in Devon in the first place.

Why Does South Hams Feel Like a Secret?

It’s probably because the best known places have names of their own.

People say they’re going to Salcombe, Dartmouth or Kingsbridge. 

They don’t necessarily say they’re going to South Hams.

But, from a holiday home perspective, the wider area is arguably more interesting than a single destination.

You might want somewhere close to a beach. 

Someone else might prioritise countryside views and a peaceful setting. 

Another buyer might want easy access to restaurants, boat trips and attractions.

South Hams gives you all of those possibilities within one broader region.

That’s something worth remembering when you’re searching for static caravans for sale in the South West. 

The best location for you may not be the one with the biggest name.

It’s Not Just About the Coast

The coastline is an obvious attraction, but South Hams would lose much of its character without the countryside behind it.

Rolling green hills, farmland, woodland and traditional Devon villages create a completely different landscape once you move inland.

Then there are the estuaries, which give parts of the region their distinctive character. 

For example, the River Dart and Kingsbridge Estuary, provide sheltered waters for sailing, kayaking and other watersports.

You can spend one day walking along the coast, another exploring a harbour town and another heading inland for a quieter walk through the countryside.

That variety is one of South Hams’ biggest strengths.

A holiday home in South Hams doesn’t have to mean doing the same thing every weekend.

And Then There Are the Beaches

South Hams has some serious competition when it comes to beaches.

Bantham is one of the area’s best known sandy beaches, with views towards Burgh Island and plenty of opportunities for walking and watersports.

Blackpool Sands, near Dartmouth, is another popular choice, with its sheltered setting and beautiful stretch of shingle and sand.

Then there’s Slapton Sands, a long beach backed by the freshwater Slapton Ley, creating an unusual combination of coast, wetland and countryside.

Those are just some of the better known options.

For static caravan owners, this is important. 

You aren’t relying on one beach being good enough for every visit. 

There’s a whole coastline to explore.

What About the Holiday Parks?

This is where the South Hams becomes particularly interesting for prospective holiday home buyers.

The area’s holiday parks aren’t all identical, and neither are their surroundings. 

Some offer a more traditional family-friendly experience, whilst others appeal to people looking for a quieter base for exploring the coast and countryside.

If you’re researching static caravans for sale in the South West of England, three nearby parks worth putting on your radar are Whitehill Country Park, South Bay Holiday Park, Devon Hills Holiday Park and Waterside Coastal Holiday Park.

The point isn’t that one of these is automatically the right choice.

A holiday park is a major part of the ownership experience, so it’s worth looking beyond the price of the caravan itself. 

Think about the park’s location, facilities, atmosphere, pitch fees, rules, opening arrangements and how you’ll actually use the holiday home.

What Would You Actually Do There?

This is perhaps the easiest question to answer.

If you like being on the water, South Hams has sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat trips. 

Salcombe is particularly associated with boating, and Dartmouth’s position on the River Dart makes the waterfront central to the town’s character.

If walking is more your thing, the South West Coast Path provides miles of spectacular routes through the region.

If you prefer beaches, you’ve got plenty to choose from.

If you like exploring towns, Salcombe, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge all have very different personalities.

If you want to escape the coast altogether, all 368 square miles of Dartmoor National Park is within easy reach.

That’s a lot of variety for one static caravan base.

But is South Hams Actually Right for a Holiday Home?

Here’s where it’s worth resisting the temptation to say that South Hams is perfect for everyone.

It isn’t.

If you want a huge resort with a packed entertainment schedule, extensive on-site facilities and everything designed around staying on the park, you’ll need to compare individual parks carefully.

Equally, if your idea of a holiday is being able to walk from your caravan straight into a lively town centre, a rural park may not suit you.

And South Devon isn’t the cheapest part of the country to visit. 

Popular beaches and towns can become busy during the summer – Devon is regularly listed as one of the best places in the UK to go on holiday – while some coastal roads are better suited to taking your time than rushing from A to B.

Those aren’t necessarily negatives, but they are things to consider before buying.

A holiday home works best when the reality of owning it matches the fantasy of owning it.

The Real Secret Might Be Looking Beyond the Obvious

Maybe South Hams isn’t really a secret at all.

The people who know Salcombe, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and the South Devon coast have already discovered what makes the wider region special. 

They just might not have thought about it as one place.

That’s what makes South Hams interesting for static caravan buyers.

Instead of starting with “which famous Devon town should I buy near?” it’s a good idea to ask, “what sort of Devon holiday do I actually want?”

Coast or countryside?

Quiet or lively?

Beach days or boat trips?

On-site facilities or a base for exploring?

Once you know that, the search becomes much easier.

You might find that the right holiday home isn’t in the destination you initially had in mind at all.

It could be somewhere in the South Hams.

Sources

Dartmoor.gov

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