South-west Christmas Lunch and optional camping
At Ship Inn Cockwood and Cofton Holiday Park
Church Road Cockwood Exeter EX6 8NU
Julia Wright / 07740406449/juliaright@aol.com
The South-West Christmas Lunch will be held at the Ship Inn at Cockwood near Exeter on 11 December. Located on the picturesque Exe Estuary, opposite Exmouth, the Ship Inn is a traditional village pub serving good home-cooked food alongside Cask Marque Approved real ales and great wines from around the world. Further details can be found at http://www.shipinncockwood.co.uk.
Camping will be available at the nearby award-winning Cofton Holiday Park, a 20 minute walk from the Ship Inn. I would suggest staying for up to five nights from Sunday 8 to Friday 13 December as there is a lot to see and do in the area. There are excellent walking and cycling opportunities from the site, including following the Exe Estuary Cycle Trail to Dawlish and Dawlish Warren.
Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is an area of grassland, sand dunes and mudflats centred on a 1½ mile long sandspit/beach across the mouth of the Exe Estuary. It is one of the most important places for wildfowl and wading birds in the whole of the South West. Thousands of birds come to feed, on migration, or to spend the winter here. This varied Reserve has many different habitats including salt marsh, fresh water ponds, wet meadows and woodland. The Warren is so important that it is protected for its wildlife by both national and international law.
For those who would prefer to do some last minute Christmas shopping, a half-hourly bus runs from outside the park to Exeter and Newton Abbot, via Teignmouth. The quaint historic estuary port of Topsham is also accessible by bus. Topsham has a cosmopolitan atmosphere with an eclectic cluster of specialist shops and fine restaurants.
At the Holiday Park there is an on-site indoor pool and spa complex, a gym, restaurant, pub and shop. Charges apply for the pool and gym.
Charges per night for camping vary as there are discounts for early booking or stays of five nights or more. There is also an 18 euro rate for those who are members of ACSI and have a valid membership card. If we have more than 20 vans we will qualify as a rally, although I am not sure we will reach that number.
Numbers will be limited to 30 for the lunch. Although it is early to be thinking about Christmas, it would be really helpful if you could let me know if you are interested in the lunch or the camping option so that I have an idea of the likely take-up. I will liaise with the Holiday Park about bookings.