We have been visiting Parkdean Resorts’ Looe Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall for years now so I thought it was about time I did a proper review of the site for you. We have probably stayed here for long weekends, mid-week or 7-day stays 8 or 9 times now, at various different times of year, in a variety of different caravans so we’ve got a pretty good feel for the site. Being Cornwall we have also been here in all kinds of weather!!
All of our visits to Parkdean Resorts at Looe Bay have been self-funded, but I am also an affiliate for them. Any bookings made via their website may earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
The accommodation
Parkdean Resorts do have different types of accommodation available across their various sites. At Looe Bay Holiday Park they have caravans and lodges. When you’re booking through the website you might get a caravan that’s owned by Parkdean, or you might get a privately owned one that they’re renting out on the owner’s behalf. It’s always good when it’s a private let as the kitchens are usually better equipped. I’ll be honest though, I think the lodges are basically just glorified caravans without the wheels rather than a chalet style building or something log cabin peeping out from the woods!
On our most recent stay we were in the Sheviock which sleeps 8. We’d actually been given a free upgrade, something which has happened a couple of times now. I think if they’ve got a space they just bump everyone up a level so we all feel like we have got a bargain! It was only 3 years old and had various extra touches than the one we’d booked like a nicer TV, USB sockets and an en-suite to the main bedroom. With five of us, an extra loo always comes in handy. For us, having central heating is an essential whenever we stay in a caravan. Hope you don’t need it, good to have access to if you do.
The on-site facilities
The facilities at each Parkdean site are different, but they’re all family focused and Looe Bay Holiday Park is no different. The facilities are centred around the main entertainment complex. Here you will find the restaurant, the arcade, take-away kiosks and the bar/entertainment venue. I can’t tell you what the restaurant is like as we’ve never actually eaten in it. We always try to keep the costs as low as possible when we’re away so tend to cook in the caravan. What I can tell you is that Looe Bay Holiday Park is right next door to one of the best fish and chip shops in Cornwall – The Coddy Shack. They unfortunately had a massive fire just a few days after our last visit to Looe Bay Holiday Park so I’ll update this review once I know they’ve reopened.
They have a variety of entertainment each night. The stuff for the youngest kids starts quite early (about 5pm). There is, of course, also the obligatory bingo games. But there’s discos and games and appearances from the Starlander Gang that the kids absolutely love.
During the day there’s a full program of activities and kids clubs, again aimed at kids of all ages. Some of them are free, and some are chargeable. You can pre-book them in advance via the app.
The swimming pool
The swimming pool here is an indoor one. To be honest, it isn’t anywhere near as big as ones at other sites we’ve been to. Ruda for example is vast by comparison, but it’s also a lot more expensive site and even guests have to pay to use it. It is warm and it is included so there’s not that much more you can want from a pool really. We always go beach ready, then just walk back to the caravan to change once we’ve finished swimming, as the changing rooms are a bit rubbish.
Keep an eye out on the time table BTW. It is closed at certain times for water activities such as kayaks and scuba.
The other facilities on-site
The playground has been refurbished during the time that we’ve been visiting Looe Bay Holiday Park. Again, it’s not massive but it’s got enough equipment to keep the kids happy when you don’t want them bouncing around the caravan.
There’s also a couple of tennis courts, and a couple of other sports courts. We spent a LOT of time on these during our last visit as Middle Child is really into basketball currently. The soft play area is suitable for up to 5 years old really but it’s free to use. It’s a bit tired but serves a purpose.
Things to do nearby
OMG there is so much to do in and around Looe! First of all there’s Looe itself, and its beach. There’s plenty of parking in the Millpool car park, which is about 5-10 minutes walk from the beach. The beach itself is sandy, doesn’t disappear at high tide and is massive a low tide. It has rock pools to explore and slopes gently so is nice and safe with the kids. There’s loos right next to it and plenty of places to get ice creams or food. All in, it’s a perfect family beach.
Crabbing is also a very popular cheap activity in Looe. You’ll find some lovely cliff-top walls and Hannafore beach (the other side of the river from Looe beach) is perfect for rock pooling. You’ll find lots of boat trips that leave from the quayside. Polperro is a beautiful fishing village a few minutes’ drive away. That’s got a small beach, various shops, a small museum a (slightly freaky) model village and yet more beautiful walks.
The Monkey Sanctuary is just outside Looe and is heavily advertised. It’s interesting, but not very big. We bulked out visit our with the playground but you could probably do the whole thing in an hour or so.
Within an hour’s drive there are so many places you can visit, on a variety of budgets, suitable for a variety of ages. You’ll never get bored!
Our Parkdean Looe Bay Holiday Park Review
Well we wouldn’t have come back time and time again if we didn’t like it here! We’ve always found the site to be clean and quiet (something I really value from a caravan holiday). Looe Bay Holiday Park doesn’t have as many facilities as some other Parkdean sites, but that’s reflected in the price. And, to be honest, there’s so much to do in the local area that it would almost be a waste to have anything less than full-blown Butlins style facilities on site when you just end up off site all the time anyway!
There’s a good range of accommodation (therefore suitable for a range of budgets). It’s in a great area for family holidays and there’s a very good reason why we have been back year after year after year!
This review of Parkdean Resorts Looe Bay Holiday Park, Cornwall is based on our experiences at the time of our visit. Things can change over time, including the facilities available. If you have any specific requirements such as access it’s always best to check with the site directly before visiting. If anything I’ve said in this review is no longer accurate then please do let me know. Thank you.
Book your holiday
To check availability, and to book, visit the Looe Bay Holiday Park website
The earlier you book, the bigger the discount you can get. They also quite often do discounts and offers throughout the year so it’s worth checking what’s available.
How to get there
Address – Looe Bay Holiday Park, St Martins, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 1NX
Looking for ways to save money on your holiday?
Whenever we go on holidays we’re always looking for ways to save money on our day trips, but still have an amazing time. Check out my top tips for saving money when you’re on holiday.
If you’ve found this post useful please consider supporting the future of blog by buying me a coffee. You can either click the blue coffee icon in the corner, or the blue button below. It’s quick, secure and very much appreciated!
Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
