Greenways Valley Holiday Park

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what strikes you first about Greenways Valley Holiday Park? It’s not actually what you’d expect from the name – this isn’t your typical caravan site with screaming kids and coin-operated showers. I mean, it sort of evolved into something much more interesting than that. Tucked down Caddywell Lane (and honestly, you’ll probably miss the turn the first time because it’s one of those Devon lanes that barely fits two cars), this place has quietly become one of those gems that locals try to keep to themselves.

The thing is, Great Torrington isn’t exactly on everyone’s radar – it’s not Padstow or St. Ives where you’re fighting for parking and paying London prices for fish and chips. But that’s exactly why this works so well. You’re about twenty minutes from the coast at Westward Ho! (yes, with the exclamation mark – only place name in England that has one, random fact), but far enough inland that you get proper countryside quiet. The owners have clearly put some thought into this – they’ve managed to create these little pockets of accommodation that feel more like staying at a friend’s place who happens to have really good taste. Some are converted static homes that don’t feel static at all, others are these cabin-style setups with proper attention to detail. Nothing feels mass-produced or institutional.

What really got me was how they’ve handled the whole boutique thing without being pretentious about it. There’s no stuffy reception desk or someone hovering around asking if your stay is exceeding expectations every five minutes. Check-in is refreshingly straightforward, parking is never an issue (which, if you’ve driven around North Devon in summer, you’ll appreciate), and they’ve somehow managed to maintain that holiday park community feel while giving everyone enough space to actually relax. The grounds are properly maintained – not manicured to within an inch of their life like some places, but clearly cared for. You can walk into Great Torrington town center in about fifteen minutes if you want proper shops and that excellent Saturday market, or just stay put and enjoy the fact that you can actually hear birds instead of traffic. Evenings are particularly lovely here – there’s something about the way the light hits the valley that makes you understand why people move to Devon and never leave. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect – the WiFi can be a bit temperamental, and if you’re used to hotel room service, well, this isn’t that kind of place. But honestly, that 9.1 rating makes complete sense once you’ve been here. It’s the kind of place where you end up staying an extra night just because leaving feels unnecessarily complicated.