Brand New to this Website! May 2022
Hi, and a very warm welcome to Dale 36, where our caravan is situated within the very beautiful Challaborough Bay Holiday Park.
Both my husband Phill and I have been visiting Challaborough Holiday Park for 5 years. We absolutely love this beautiful location, so much so that, very recently, April 2022, we took the plunge and bought our very own wheelchair friendly 2019 ABI Derwent Caravan. It's a truly special caravan, lovely and spacious inside, with sliding doors and wider doorways for wheelchair access. It has a ramp for wheelchair access.
The caravan has a front sun deck, with its own table and chairs. The outside table design is wheelchair friendly. We are very pleased to be able to share our caravan and rent it out, to help towards the rates and site fees, for when we are unable to use it. We have added a lot of little extras for able bodied guests and for wheelchair guests, which we hope you will like. We have received some great feedback, so far, so hope if you choose to stay in our caravan, that you and your family/friends have a wonderful holiday.
No more than two well behaved dogs are very welcome.
It is bookable for able bodied guests as well of course, but please note that the worktops are lower than normal due to the wheelchair friendly design. So, if you are very tall and depending on how much cooking and washing up you will be planning to do on your holiday, this caravan may not be suitable for you. However, having said that, my lovely husband Phill enjoys a lot of cooking, and he is 6” 4”, and he has not had a problem with the lower work tops. Likewise, I am quite tall as well and I have not had a problem. If you have any questions or need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. Best wishes, Bev & Phill.
The caravan is based on a level road which leads directly to the beach, clubhouse, and bar. Also, on site they have a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and an arcade, outside play area, and Nisa shop. Most supermarkets also deliver to site (Waitrose, Morrisons, Tesco & Sainsbury etc).
Our caravan is modern and immaculate. It is a 2019 caravan with 2 bedrooms, and there is also a pull-out sofa bed in the lounge so it can sleep 6 in total. There is one large specially adapted wet room bathroom with shower. There is a an over the bed, pole patient helper, also known as a monkey pole, it is in the main bedroom, and is very easy to assemble. See photo above.
The beach at Challaborough is a Blue Flag beach with daily Lifeguard cover in the summer season. There is plenty to do with kayaks, paddle boards, wetsuits etc, available to hire on site, they also run Guided Tours. Surfing and body-boarding is also very popular.
Please note however that the Challaborough Bay beach is not dog friendly from May-September. So dog owners will need to use the Burgh Island causeway beach. Dog lovers generally to the right on the causeway, non-dog lovers to the left-hand beach.
PLEASE NOTE that there is a slight raised bump or lip just inside the bathroom door, so please take care when entering or leaving the bathroom. This is a necessity so that the wet room can function properly, so that the shower water can drain away.
All bedrooms have plug sockets and USB outlets. There is gas central heating and parking for one car outside. Please park on the stones parking space and not on the grass thanks. As our caravan is new to the site WiFi is forecast to be available for us, from early June 2022, so watch this space for an update. - Update installation now, 20-24th JUNE. Until then we are managing very well with a dongle which was quite cheap. Wifi is also available when sitting inside or out in the bar area.
All bedding is provided, but guests are asked to bring their own towels, tea towels, and hand towels as desired. Your beds will be all made up on arrival.
Entertainment passes are available to purchase from Parkdean Reception for a reasonable fee, which gives you access to the Swimming Pool, Clubhouse kids club etc.
The Waterfront Bar serves food and drink all day and does not require passes.
Please note that the cafe above the small car park above the Burgh Island causeway beach is now closed. The building is being refurbished. (info correct at July 2023)
The Venus cafe which is beside the main big car park above the Burgh Island causeway beach, is still open. It is next to the toilets and the wet suit hire shop. There is a disabled toilet there as well.
There is plenty to see in the local area if you want to explore
• Burgh Island, with dog friendly beach all year round, is a tidal island which you can see from Challaborough, you can either walk via the coastal path towards Bigbury or drive a short distance via rather narrow roads to the Bigbury sea front car park. For walking on the coastal path up a hill, it is half a mile walk to the Burgh Island beach from reception, turn left. It is accessible using an electric wheelchair or a mobility scooter, we have seen both used. We have also seen pushchairs being pushed and pulled up the path. Please note though that the coastal path is Not suitable for a manual wheelchair. The very beautiful Burgh Island is accessible at low tide via a large beautiful sandy beach, it is a causeway which at high tide is completely covered, leaving you to return via the Sea tractor if you want to. The centre of the beach on the causeway is electric wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly. Large cars go backwards and forwards a lot, on the centre of the causeway beach to take guests to and from the hotel. Also, delivery vans use it as well to supply the hotel and the Pilchard Inn. The sea tractor is not wheelchair friendly.
The hotel itself is very famous as Agatha Christie used to write from the art-deco hotel and was known for its pirates and smugglers. You can walk around the island and there is an old pilchard lookout at the top and also the Pilchard Inn if you fancy a drink, or bar snack. Challaborough nestles on the Southwest coast path.
Other nearby places to visit are: -
• South Hams - Dartington, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Modbury, Salcombe, Totnes, Dartmouth Wembury
• Teignbridge - Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Buckfastleigh, Chudleigh, Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Shaldon, Teignmouth.
• Plymouth - Historic Barbican, where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the new world. Plymouth Hoe, home to Smeatons Tower. Large selection of restaurants shops and bars. National Marine Aquarium. Dartmoor Zoo
Local Pubs / Restaurants: -
• Waterfront Bar & Restaurant on site
• Journeys End at Ringmore
• Pickwick Inn at St Annes Chapel - currently closed at May 2022. Due to re open with new owners and or manager soon
• Pilchard Inn at Burgh Island
• The Oyster Shack at Bigbury
• The Village Inn at Kingsbridge
• Church House Inn at Kingsbridge
Local Take Aways
• Bay Takeaway & Pizzeria
• Fryer Tucks (Licensed, with a dine in option).
We have been told this month, July 2022, that "Parking Eye in the Sky" is now working! So as soon as you arrive at the caravan, within 15 minutes of arrival, see inside boiler cupboard door. Scan QR code and enter you car details. Top tip - when the little yellow bollards appear, if you have friends visiting you for the day, and they park in the main car park please ask them to check all the parking signage very carefully.
Note from same meeting, you probably know this already, there are currently No Electric Car charging points at the Challaborough Bay site and there are no plans to install them at present, May 2022. Please Do Not charge your electric car on site. The maintenance staff have been told to disconnect any leads to cars, that they may see, that are charging up to caravan electricity points.
For various important reasons we are going with 7 DAY BOOKING PERIODS ONLY, Saturday to Saturday. However you can book for 14 days or longer if you want of course. Check out time is on SATURDAYS before 10am please. Check in time will generally be 3pm. But if you need to arrive earlier than that, please get in touch and I may be able to help.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
