If you have had enough of ‘staycations’ and ‘holistays’ then do what we did and venture further afield -- but not too far -- to another bit of Britain. I've always kept a photograph of me when I was little on holiday in Devon. For some reason, this year I wanted to retrace my steps. I wanted to go back to that place -- Cockington Forge -- where I'm standing without a care, and just a big, silly smile on my face. Happy memories and a happy holiday. We looked up Cockington on the map, and found out that it was situated along the stretch of coast called 'The English Riviera'. I imagined it was all Fawlty Towers, and full of sniffy middle-aged couples that smelt of lavender. Not at all suitable for amazingly cool people with children. But I was prepared to be proved wrong.

So we booked a house, for old times sake, near Cockington. It was called Hillandale, a graceful villa that backed onto its own wood. With its own swing. When we actually got there I couldn't believe we were only a 15 minute walk from the seafront and yet it was a rural idyll. It wasn’t so long ago that humans – like animals and plants – moved at nature's pace. Time was marked by the passing of the seasons. In Cockington (and indeed much of Devon) life is still like that. The blackberries in the garden were ripe for picking and – although it was still summer – we couldn’t resist making a crumble with apples stolen from our neighbour’s tree. I was in heaven -- The Good Life.  

The walk through the wood led us to the Torquay seafront. We had one hysterical (literally) walk which started with our daughter not wanting to leave the telly and being so foul that we became determined to get her to walk further and further - 10 minutes later she stopped howling just in time for the rain to fall in the most almighty way. The rain was a constant on the holiday. So, we lucked out with such a gorgeous house. It was fun to be inside.

On the other days we ventured around the area. I loved going back to Cockington (and did an updated photograph outside the Forge for my Mum and Dad), and stopped off at Cockington Court and its craft centre (01803 607800). We loved seeing the glass being blown, and the man making rocking horses. But I don't think any of us will ever forget the amazing Rex Latham -- a traditional blacksmith and showman who took a great  deal time and effort showing us how to make things in his forge.  He even got us to make our own key ring - which we use everyday. He made the iron go gold - he said he was magic and we believed him.  He's completely booked up for the next couple of years with commissions but if you can see him in action it is a treat you won't forget.

Another highlight was visiting the outdoor Waterpark called Splashdown@Quaywest just on the outskirts of Torquay.  It was our first visit to a waterpark, and we screamed and laughed for the 3 hours we were there -  and followed it by a Marshfield Sundae in the café.

Dartmouth was a very pretty town to visit. Sat proudly atop the Dart estuary, it’s a picturesque jumble of weathered cottages and peeling paint. Devon is not just the land. It is also the sea. There is an eternal struggle between the two. Neither quite wins, neither quite loses. To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and the flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be. It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins, the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean.

As for beaches in the area, well you’ll be spoilt for choice, but one of our personal favourites was Saunton Sands, an impressive three-mile long expanse of sandy beach approximately 8 miles from Barnstaple. The beach faces due west and is cut off to the south by the combined estuaries of the rivers Taw and Torridge. The beach is backed by vast sand dunes – the highest in the country, known as Braunton Burrows.  Also, worthy of note is the fact that the sand is excellent for building sandcastles; it’s also a fabulous location for shells of all sizes and types. And, if you like surfing, you’ll be at home; it makes claims to being the best longboard beach in the country.  It’s also a great beach for families; there are lifeguards in the summer and facilities including: toilet, shop and Sands Café Bar. We tried to go to Blackpool Sands, although I do struggle with the idea of paying to go on a beach. Unfortunately they don’t allow dogs. So we drove on.

On another day we went to Crealy. There is something very old-fashioned about Crealy Great Adventure Park. If you took a London teenager there, they would laugh at you. Which makes me like it all the more. The brand new rides Maximumus looked like a low-budget reworking of last year’s Runaway Train. And Vortex was quite tame. But our daughter loved them both. And a log flume is a log flume, whichever way you cut it. We managed to fill a full day there and ended our day looking at all the animals in the petting zoo and going on the horse rides - the queues weren't bad either - Just make sure to bring sandwiches. And a flask – my warm glow of nostalgia doesn’t stretch to overcooked pasties and thin coffee.

On our last day we went to Pennywell Farm. Like Odds Farm, but with the South Devon hills as a backdrop. And the new rocket ride, which involves a tractor pulling screaming children round a newly ploughed field. Despite the protestations of overly-cautious parents, the kids loved it. And they loved the miniature pigs and the entertainers in the theatre. Even though it rained - we'd go back in a heartbeat.  We love Devon

Neris and family  stayed at Hillandale which they booked through the highly recommended Blue Chip Holidays, tel 0844 7044987.