River Dart Adventures — Attraction in South Hams

Firstly I wrote this complaint to River Dart management more than 2 weeks ago and have been ignored by them.

We visited River Dart Country Park on 26th June. When we arrived, it seemed like a very nice place so we thought we would have a great day. As we were heading towards the play area, my friend, my husband and I decided to take away tea and coffee from Sawmills Cafe. As we were placing our order, my husband decided to get some crisps which were placed on a table at an easy reach for customers. We always read the packaging before we eat anything, also as the table was low, even reading the flavours of the crisps were not very easy and my husband handled 1 or 2 packages only to be told off by one of the staff not in a very pleasant manner. The staff asked him only to touch what he was going to buy otherwise they would have to sanitise the crisps. I don’t understand how he was supposed to buy what he was going eat without reading what it was first. Imagine supermarkets say the same thing to all of us?? Also why would the snacks be right where customers can touch? We were shocked by this treatment and my husband left the crisp corner without buying any crisps.

We were given oat milk to add to our tea so my husband went to one of the tables inside the café and started to add the milk to his tea on it. The same staff asked him not to use the table but use the other table right next to that one, again in an unpleasant way. At this time my friend and I were still at the till and felt quite disturbed by the unreasonable rules and attitude.

The staff was giving me my tea and I said to her, “You just touched our tea, should we feel the need to sanitise our cups?”. While we were expected to find sense in the rules of the Park Cafe, the staff didn’t want to find sense in what I said. Yes it was not sensible, nor were the rules of the café and the attitude. My friend joined the conversation and pointed out the whole thing was a bit over the top. She said to the staff, “All the children are playing in the play area and they are all touching everything.” Although this should have made sense to the staff, it possibly did, she said, “Other customers are fine with the rules.” And I said to her, “Maybe they just don’t say anything.”.

After this, my friend’s cup’s lid was broken so she asked for a replacement lid and she went on to hand the broken lid to the staff and the staff replied again with attitude, “No, I can’t touch it.”. At this point, we were really taken aback and decided to leave before we were told off for anything else.

In all the places we go these days, we have never seen anything like this especially where people are playing on top of each other. We left River Dart after 5pm and were quite hungry. We didn’t even dare to go near their café. Instead we went to another restaurant in Newton Abbot. We had a pleasant evening meal and no one was told off by the staff...

We have been many times for day trips but this weekend we did a weekend camp with our 3 and 6 year old children. Although this is undeniably a beautiful place to visit, with fabulous outdoor facilities we were bitterly disappointed with our camping experience. The field was full of groups who were incredibly noisy and in full on party mode. There is an 11pm noise curfew and this was more or less enforced but the noise level up to this point was horrendous. My 6 year old did not get to sleep until 11pm both nights which resulted in a child who was too tired and emotional to really enjoy the outdoor activities. There were also packs of kids charging around through all the pitches and round the tents and shouting at the tops of their voices. My 6 year old was so intimidated by them that he wouldn't go to the toilet block opposite our tent alone. We did go to complain the first night and found the wardens to be really helpful and told us they had asked the people involved to be quite a few times already. They promised to speak to them again and would also have a further word with them in the morning. Before we left we went to speak to reception about how unhappy we were with the noise level and they seemed fairly unconcerned and said June and July is just like that with groups every weekend. They said before the summer holidays begin (before the already high pitch prices go up) it's pretty likely we would have a similar experience, hence we will not be returning. Its is a huge shame as we live locally and would have loved to come regularly through the summer term. I do think the policy to allow groups (many campsites do not) should be made clear at the time of booking. It is definitely NOT a good place to bring small children if you want them to get any sleep before 11pm. I wonder if River Dart could look at using the picnic meadow for single families as a quieter area to protect them from the groups as it really should...

A return visit to this great place. I have never camped here so comment only as a day visitor.

There's plenty to do from the amazing selection of slides, wooden forts and obstacle courses to the main lake with pirate ship.

It's deffeinitely a "good weather" experience as there is nothing to do indoors at all.

There is lots of seating and places to set up among the dry activities but the lake side of things less so.

On a busy day the available spaces gets filled easily and is limited.

Also, when I say lake, it's not strictly a lake. It's a waste deep area (on a 6 year old) fresh water play area. There's a pirate ship to climb up and mess about on and an obstacle course crossing the water at the far end.

You will need reef shoes! The floor of the lake is filled with small sharp stones and is really really uncomfortable on your feet. Adults an nippers will both need them. It just so happens the lake side shop sell them but you can save a few quid grabbing them before you visit.

There are other a few activities that can be booked and paid for separately. Last time we visited some 5 years ago there was water zorbing. This has been replaced with less exciting canoes which require an adult to partake rather letting the kids just crack on.

There is an amazing high ropes course and this was £21 each person. This can take a while to complete, especially if you're at the back.

Activities and entry can only be booked online at this time. We did manage to book the ropes course once there as we didn't realise but on a busy day you may not be able to.

For us this a good, once a year kind of place to visit during the holidays. It's cost and limited activities means it lacks the more to return more often but definitely worth a visit of...