Lady’s Mile Holiday Park Review – Luxury Lodge, Hot Tub & Honest Verdict
A luxury lodge with its own hot tub, a family-friendly holiday park in Devon and an entire weekend away for just £280. Sounds almost too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Well, that’s exactly what we booked when The Hadwins headed to Lady’s Mile Holiday Park in Dawlish, taking the children and Roxy along for a weekend of exploring, swimming and, hopefully, a little relaxation.
We’ve stayed at quite a few holiday parks over the years, so we were interested to see how this independently operated resort would compare with the bigger names.
Would it be a hidden gem, or would Scott find plenty to moan about?
As usual, the answer was a bit of both!
Our Lady’s Mile Lodge – An Incredible 11/10!
Let’s start with what was undoubtedly the highlight of our weekend: the accommodation.
We booked a two-bedroom, dog-friendly lodge with a private hot tub, costing just £280 for a weekend at the end of February.
And we have to say, it was absolutely fantastic.
In fact, if we were scoring the lodge out of ten, we’d give it eleven!
It was easily among the best holiday park accommodations we’ve stayed in.
The lodge was spacious, modern, comfortable and beautifully presented. Even though it was dog-friendly and didn’t have carpets, it still felt incredibly welcoming.
The kitchen came equipped with an air fryer and dishwasher, while the television provided access to Netflix and YouTube.
The bedrooms were comfortable, with lovely soft beds, towels and a few extra touches that made the whole place feel that little bit more luxurious.
And then there was the hot tub.
After a day exploring Devon in February, there really is something special about relaxing in warm bubbling water on a chilly evening.
Our accommodation rating: 11/10.
We should point out that £280 was the price we paid for our particular weekend, rather than a guaranteed current booking price.
Exploring Lady’s Mile Holiday Park
Lady’s Mile is a large holiday park with a mixture of camping pitches, touring caravans, static holiday homes and lodges.
Our lodge was situated towards the top of the park, which meant a reasonable walk to the main entertainment complex.
In fact, one evening we actually managed to get lost trying to find our way back!
We felt some additional lighting and clearer directions would have been useful, particularly after dark.
The park itself is built on a slope, although thankfully nothing too extreme compared with some of the hills we’ve encountered on previous holidays.
There are plenty of facilities spread around the grounds, including a children’s play area, dog-walking space, activity track, outdoor swimming pool, launderette and a small convenience shop.
The outdoor pool also had a flume, although it wasn’t operating during our February visit.
We were pleased to see that the toilet and shower facilities we looked at appeared clean and well maintained.
One thing we did notice was the large number of seasonal touring caravans. Some looked rather tired, and parts of the park felt more like an established residential neighbourhood than a traditional holiday resort.
That may suit regular visitors perfectly, but it did affect the atmosphere for us.
Indoor Swimming Pool, Arcade and Family Entertainment
One of the biggest advantages of Lady’s Mile is the amount of entertainment available within the main complex.
During our stay, we found:
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An indoor swimming pool
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A gym
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Amusement arcade
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Soft play area
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Pool tables
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Restaurant and bar
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Fish and chip takeaway
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Children’s entertainment and bingo
The indoor swimming pool was a particular highlight.
During our visit, there was no need to pre-book a swimming session, and we weren’t restricted to a short allocated time slot.
That was a massive bonus, especially when travelling with children who would happily spend half the holiday in the water!
The children’s entertainment was enjoyable too. Amybelle certainly had fun, although we didn’t feel the shows quite matched the scale of what we’ve experienced at Haven or Butlin’s.
Nevertheless, there was enough happening to keep the family occupied.
Facilities and operating arrangements can change, so it’s worth checking the latest details before booking.
Food and Drink – A Little Disappointing
Unfortunately, the food was one area where Lady’s Mile didn’t quite live up to our expectations.
We had a family meal in the onsite restaurant, which came to approximately £81 for four people, including two steak meals.
The prices weren’t unreasonable considering what we’d ordered, but the quality was disappointing.
We simply didn’t feel the meals were particularly tasty or worth what we’d paid.
The children, however, were much happier with the onsite fish and chip takeaway, which received a definite thumbs-up!
For families looking for a more affordable option, the takeaway could be worth considering.
One thing we really appreciated was that the restaurant and bar had a designated dog-friendly indoor seating area, meaning Roxy could join us rather than being left behind.
On our final evening, we decided to try a Chinese takeaway near Dawlish Warren instead.
Just a little tip from our experience: the takeaway we visited only accepted cash at the time, so it’s worth checking payment options beforehand.
Dawlish Warren and the Surrounding Area
Lady’s Mile Holiday Park is conveniently located for exploring Dawlish and the surrounding Devon coastline.
Dawlish Warren was around five minutes away by car, making it an easy place to visit for a walk, a day at the beach or a few traditional seaside activities.
There’s a long sandy beach, along with amusement attractions, ice cream shops and plenty of the usual seaside entertainment.
However, the breakwaters along the beach do interrupt longer walks on the sand, which we found a little frustrating.
We also explored Dawlish itself, which has some pleasant coastal areas and beaches.
It’s a lovely part of Devon, although, being particularly keen on beaches and watersports, we personally prefer some of the coastline we’ve experienced in Cornwall and North Devon.
That’s simply our preference rather than a criticism of Dawlish.
Is Lady’s Mile Holiday Park Good for Families and Dogs?
There is certainly plenty to recommend about Lady’s Mile for families.
The indoor swimming pool, arcade, play facilities and entertainment provide lots of options, particularly when the British weather isn’t cooperating.
Our lodge was also exceptionally comfortable, and the dog-friendly facilities were a welcome bonus.
However, we did feel that the large number of seasonal pitches gave parts of the park a different atmosphere from what we’re used to.
Many of the children appeared to already know one another and spent time in established groups, which made it harder for ours to meet new friends.
It wasn’t a major problem, but it’s something we noticed during our weekend.
Would The Hadwins Return to Lady’s Mile?
This is where our verdict gets a little complicated.
The accommodation was outstanding. We genuinely couldn’t fault our lodge, especially considering the price we paid.
The park had plenty of facilities, the indoor pool was excellent and there was enough to keep everyone entertained.
However, the restaurant was disappointing, some parts of the park felt a little tired, and the surrounding beaches weren’t quite what we look for in a seaside holiday.
So, would we return?
Probably not, but that’s more about our own holiday preferences than Lady’s Mile being a bad place to stay.
We can absolutely see why families enjoy visiting, particularly those looking for a dog-friendly holiday park in Devon with swimming, entertainment and comfortable accommodation.
Our verdict: Definitely worth considering, especially if you can find a good deal on one of the hot tub lodges. But for The Hadwins, it’s probably onwards to somewhere new!
Watch Our Full Lady’s Mile Holiday Park Video Review
Want to see what Lady’s Mile Holiday Park actually looks like before you book?
In our video, we take you around the lodge, explore the holiday park, show you the facilities and visit nearby Dawlish Warren.
You’ll also get our usual honest opinions, including what impressed us and what didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Watch The Hadwins’ honest Lady’s Mile Holiday Park review and luxury lodge tour on YouTube.
If you’re planning a family holiday in Devon, we hope our experience helps you decide whether Lady’s Mile is the right place for you.
And remember, a fantastic lodge doesn’t always mean a holiday park will be perfect for everyone!
