We’ve arrived at Haven Devon Cliffs in Exmouth for our family holiday, and it’s fair to say our first impressions have been a bit of a mixed bag!

On the one hand, we’ve got a really nice caravan with lovely views out towards the sea, and the surrounding coastline is absolutely beautiful. On the other hand, the cleanliness of the caravan when we arrived left quite a lot to be desired.

Still, we’re here to enjoy ourselves, and after our first walk down to the beach, I’m already looking forward to exploring more of the area.

A Lovely Caravan… Just Not Particularly Clean!

First things first, the caravan itself is actually really nice. It’s spacious enough for us, with a comfortable living area, a well-equipped kitchen, bedrooms and some lovely furnishings. There’s even decking outside where we can sit and enjoy the view.

The main bedroom is pretty nice too, with built-in storage and a cosy feel to it. It’s just a shame that the cleaning didn’t match the quality of the accommodation.

Unfortunately, things weren’t quite so impressive when we started looking a little closer.

The biggest issue was probably the freezer, which had such a ridiculous build-up of ice that the door couldn’t even close properly! I’m not entirely sure how that was missed during cleaning, but it certainly wasn’t a great first impression.

Then there was one of the toilets, which hadn’t even been flushed. Erm… yeah. I don’t think I need to go into any more detail about that one!

We’d actually brought some dishwasher tablets from home because we suspected we’d want to give all the plates, glasses and cutlery a proper wash before using them. Turns out that was a very good decision, because they definitely weren’t as clean as we’d have liked.

It’s a little frustrating because the accommodation itself is lovely. A proper clean before guests arrive would have made such a difference.

At Least the Views Make Up for It!

One thing I really can’t complain about is the location of our caravan.

We’ve got a lovely view across the holiday park and out towards the sea. It’s the sort of view that makes you want to stand by the window for a few minutes and just take it all in.

The living room has large patio doors leading onto the decking, so we can enjoy the scenery without even having to leave the caravan. After the slightly disappointing welcome, seeing that view definitely helped improve the mood!

A Walk Down to the Beach (And the Dreaded Walk Back!)

Once we’d settled in a little, we decided to head down to the beach for a walk.

Now, Devon Cliffs is certainly an appropriate name for this place because getting down to the beach involves one seriously steep hill! Going down wasn’t too bad, of course. We were enjoying the scenery and looking forward to reaching the sand. But I was already thinking about the walk back up.

Thankfully, the beach made it worthwhile. The views were absolutely stunning, especially with the sunlight breaking through the clouds and shining across the sea. There were some really dramatic colours in the sky, with the red cliffs providing an amazing backdrop.

It was one of those moments where you just have to stop and take a few photos, although I don’t think photographs can quite capture how nice it looked in person.

We spent some time walking along the sand and enjoying the scenery before eventually having to face the inevitable journey back. And yes, that hill felt considerably steeper on the way up! I suppose that’s one way to get a bit of exercise in during a holiday.

A Quick Tesco Shop to Get Us Through the Next Few Days

We also managed to find a Tesco not too far away, so we decided to stock up rather than keep making little trips for food and essentials.

We ended up doing pretty much the equivalent of our normal weekly shop! At least we’ve now got plenty of food and supplies in the caravan, so we should be sorted for the next few days.

It’s quite nice having a proper kitchen and being able to make our own meals whenever we want, especially when we’re travelling as a family. And after all that walking, it’s good knowing we don’t need to venture out again just to find something to eat!

First Impressions of Devon Cliffs

So, has it been a good start to the holiday?

Overall, yes, although I really do think the cleaning standards need improving. It’s a shame because the caravan itself is very nice, and the location is fantastic. The freezer, dirty kitchenware and unflushed toilet really shouldn’t be things you have to deal with when arriving for a holiday.

That said, the beautiful sea views and our first trip down to the beach have definitely been highlights already.

We’ve got plenty more time here and lots more to explore, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of Devon has to offer.

Hopefully the biggest challenge from now on will just be deciding whether we’re prepared to walk back up that enormous hill again!