3 Bed Holiday Home, Doniford Bay

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled into Doniford Bay Holiday Park looking for this three-bedroom place, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The whole setup reminded me more of those family caravan parks I used to visit as a kid, but in the best possible way. You know what surprised me most? How quiet it actually gets in the evenings, especially if you snag one of the homes set back from the main pathways. The sound of waves from the nearby beach creates this gentle background hum that’s honestly quite soothing – though fair warning, seagulls here are absolutely relentless if you’re eating outside.

The house itself is pretty spacious for what you’re paying, and I mean genuinely roomy, not that cramped holiday rental nonsense where you’re bumping into each other constantly. Three proper bedrooms, which worked perfectly for our group of friends visiting from Bristol. The kitchen’s well-stocked enough that we could actually cook decent meals instead of surviving on pub food (though honestly, the Marine Inn in Watchet is worth the five-minute drive if you want proper fish and chips). What really won me over was the little outdoor space – there’s this deck area where you can sit with morning coffee and watch kids cycling around the park paths. Parking’s right outside, which sounds boring but trust me, after lugging suitcases around other holiday spots, having your car literally steps away is brilliant.

Watchet itself is one of those coastal towns that hasn’t been completely overtaken by chain restaurants and tourist tat shops yet. The marina’s lovely for an evening walk, and if you’re into trains at all – or traveling with someone who is – the West Somerset Railway station is right there in town. I actually stumbled upon the best cream tea at this little café on Swain Street, though I’m blanking on the name now. The whole area feels properly Somerset, if that makes sense – rolling hills meeting the sea, with Exmoor sitting there in the background looking all dramatic. During our stay in early September, mornings were crisp but afternoons warmed up beautifully, perfect for exploring the coastal path toward Blue Anchor. Just pack layers because the weather changes its mind constantly around here. The holiday park has all the usual amenities (pool, playground, that sort of thing), which kept everyone happy during a particularly drizzly afternoon. Would I come back? Absolutely – it’s that sweet spot between proper countryside escape and having enough nearby to keep you occupied.