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ACTIVITY HEAVEN IN DEVON

Woolacombe may boast the best beach in Britain — but your kids may be too blissfully busy to notice

From water slides and climbing walls to an art shed and ceramic studio, there's no shortage of entertainment at the Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park

THE sun is shining and adventures galore await on the three miles of golden sand that were voted Britain’s best beach.

So what’s keeping me from the stunning seaside and surfer’s paradise at Woolacombe, five minutes from our north Devon holiday home?

 Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park is just five minutes from the beach, but with so many activities on site it may be hard to tear the little ones away
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Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park is just five minutes from the beach, but with so many activities on site it may be hard to tear the little ones awayCredit: guy harrop

Well, plenty of things, if the truth be told.

No problems exactly, just a myriad of thrilling distractions for my boys aged eight and six.

Try getting Reggie and Stanley down to the sand when there are bungee trampolines and kiddy karts to walk past at the Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park.

They couldn’t see the point of ­leaving our site, which overlooks the breathtaking coastline, when it boasts adventure golf, an amusement arcade and a climbing wall.

 The park boasts a climbing wall, adventure golf and an amusement arcade
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The park boasts a climbing wall, adventure golf and an amusement arcadeCredit: guy harrop
 The bungee trampoline is a big hit with kids
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The bungee trampoline is a big hit with kidsCredit: guy harrop

And then there were the high ropes course, surfing simulator, Waterwalkerz and adventure play areas to keep the little ones ­entertained for hours.

It’s a miracle I managed to drag them away from our exciting family base at all.

Especially after Stanley had discovered the art shed and ceramic studio, which kept him amused for hours.

He would happily have whiled away each day in the site’s two swimming pools, boasting daredevil slides, water fountains, and a huge pirate’s ship to explore.

 Eat in at a luxe lodge, or walk three minutes to a restaurant
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Eat in at a luxe lodge, or walk three minutes to a restaurantCredit: guy harrop
 Exmoor Zoo is home to hundreds of animals, including cheetahs and wolves
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Exmoor Zoo is home to hundreds of animals, including cheetahs and wolvesCredit: Alamy

And Reggie couldn’t believe his luck when he stumbled across the aqua jets, beach ball, table tennis, pool tables and cinema, showing the latest blockbuster releases.

Much as I enjoyed The BFG, I put my foot down at watching it for a third night running.

And I was similarly firm when it finally came to getting the boys off the site.

Even then, rather than the beach, they had their hearts set on other attractions nearby.

The Milky Way Adventure Park near Clovelly was a huge hit, boasting super rides Cosmic Typhoon, The Cosmic Caterpillar and Clone Zone, as well as dodgem cars, magic shows, bird displays and countless play areas.

There simply wasn’t enough time to do everything.

 The pools boast water fountains, slides and a huge pirate's ship to explore
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The pools boast water fountains, slides and a huge pirate's ship to exploreCredit: guy harrop

It was a similar story at Exmoor Zoo, home of the Exmoor Beast and hundreds of animals, which kept the boys spellbound for hours.

After much debate, the singing dogs, cheetahs and wolves were ­particular favourites.

Woolacombe’s idyllic Holiday Parks in the heart of Devon’s Golden Coast are made up of four bases — Golden Coast, Woolacombe Bay, Twitchen House and Easewell Farm.

We loved our luxury mobile home on the Woolacombe Bay site, which benefited from a £4million ­refurbishment last year.

 The Milky Way Adventure Park — with rides, dodgem cars, bird displays and play areas — is another popular attraction
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The Milky Way Adventure Park — with rides, dodgem cars, bird displays and play areas — is another popular attraction

Our sea-view lodge, with TV, three bedrooms, fitted kitchen and BBQ deck overlooking the beach, was a three-minute stroll from the bar, restaurants and reception complex.

There each evening, staff put on cabaret, bingo or a disco for the young at heart.

Fun kids’ clubs were also available during the day for parents wanting a bit of time out.

Woolacombe’s ­glorious beach was within walking distance, but yellow double-decker buses ferry guests to the sea and around the four sites.

 Parents can indulge in some down time while their youngsters enjoy a kids' club
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Parents can indulge in some down time while their youngsters enjoy a kids' clubCredit: guy harrop

We made a beeline for the Old Mill, a 17th-century inn and a great spot for a meal, with a brilliant ­outdoor play area for the youngsters to work up an appetite.

We never made it to other popular attractions nearby, such as the Big Sheep, where kids can hand-feed lambs and sheep, drive tractors and enjoy its new roller-coaster.

Nor did we get to the Combe ­Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, offering hours of fun and exploration for Tyrannosaurus Rex devotees.

But at least, in the end, I did get the boys to the beach.