Ruda Holiday Park Review
We paid £560 for a four night break in a 2 bed Mortehoe caravan at Ruda, (you can find a caravan tour below), in Croyde Bay, Devon, for 2 adults and 2 children. This included hiring a high chair and swimming pool tickets. I am hoping to get a refund for as the swimming pool was closed during our visit. This was booked for early July 2020; a week after holiday parks were allowed to open during the coronavirus pandemic. Below you will find a review of our experience at Ruda as frequent ParkDean Resorts holiday goers. I have also detailed how we found the covid regulations in place during our stay.
Ruda Holiday park is owned by Park Dean Resorts and has a mix of static caravans, lodges and a huge pitching for toring and camping with communal washing facilities, electrical hook up points and entertainment passes. The site is pet friendly, including having dog friendly caravans on site so you can bring your four legged friends too. Ruda holiday park has free on site wifi, with the option to pay for an upgrade on when in your caravan should there be a rainy day or you fancy watching Netflix in the evening – providing you bring a laptop or tablet with you!
Staying at Ruda Holiday Park, Croyde Bay, North Devon
We originally booked our trip to Devon last August before COVID-19 even entered our thoughts and loved the look of Ruda Caravan Park after searching for campsites in North Devon. We have stayed with ParkDean resorts many times with our last holiday with them being on the Isle of Wight at Thorness Bay campsite. Obviously, because of Coronavirus we were umming and ahhing about going but as holiday parks opened up the week before we were due to travel we were unable to cancel. This meant no refund. We also wanted to get out of our flat for a bit as not having access to a garden was starting to get tough.
We selected Ruda holiday park because it looked great. I loved the look of the water park and it was close to a beach. It also has other facilities such as soft play and plenty of choices for food onsite. I can’t say it wasn’t disappointing that the swimming pool and soft play areas were closed during our break. I understand why and we did not let that stop us having a great time. With swimming pools set to open in the coming weeks hopefully, Ruda holiday park soft play area will open again soon too. In the meantime though there are two play parks at each end of Ruda Holiday Park and a gorgeous local sandy surfing beach.
Ruda Holiday Park Accomodation
For our ParkDean holiday 2020 we booked an extra long, extra wide two bedroom Mortehoe Caravan which sleeps up to six people. Everything you need is included in the accomodation at Ruda including bed linen. Although we did have to request that these were changed when we arrived due to them smelling of vomit. Sadly, changing the sheets did not really do anything and it may be a cleaning product they are using. We sprayed our sheets with our own perfume and bought some fabreeze from a tesco in Barnstaple to freshen it up. Opening the windows really helps too.
The Mortehoe caravan is a great size for a family of four and there is plenty of room in the master bedroom, which included an ensuite, for a travel cot. You can lay down the second single bed mattress on the floor in the master bedroom room for a toddler to sleep on. Our toddler is little so a travel cot is ideal but we do not have one. You can hire these when booking. We did hire a high chair for him but didn’t order in a travel cot as we weren’t sure on the size of the main bedroom. The kitchen is fully equipped including a full size fridge and freezer. Seating is comfortable and we found it easy to cook our meals.
Ruda Holiday Park Coronavirus Regulations
Here are what’s changed at Ruda Holiday Park during the Coronavirus pandemic
- You will Check in online. The day before you arrive you will get your caravan number and location alongside a park map so you can familiarise yourself with how to get to your accomodation. When you arrive at Ruda Holiday Park someone will ask your name and accomodation number, give you directions and inform you if there is a red sign you can not enter and need to go to the overflow carpark to wait, if there is a green sign you are free to enter the caravan.
- One way systems in the main venue and limited people in shops and takeaways.
- Spacing out tables and chairs in resturaunts.
- A call and collect menu from the Coast resturaunt. The menu has starters, mains, desserts, snacks, alcoholic and soft drinks for you to call through, collect in around thirty minutes and eat back in your accomodation. The food is packed in takeaway boxes. It’s an excellent option and one we used on our first night. There is also a fish and chips takeaway and pizzas available to take away too.
- Keys and information inside the caravan when you arrive
- Virtual entertainment only – no disco, tabletop entertainment packs etc and various kids clubs which you must book in advance. Some are paid for.
Ruda Holiday Park Site Map
Restaurants at Ruda, Croyde Bay
Onsite at Ruda Holiday Park you will find the Coast resturant adjacent to the showbar and lounge as well as a fish and chips takeaway and an Italian which closes at 9pm. The food provided is varied and there are kids meals options available which is really handy. We tried the fish and chips takeaway one evening which was really nice and affordable. We also used the call and collect from the Coast restaurant which had loads of choices including alcohol. We tried the premixed cocktails alongside our baguettes and loaded chips as well as two delicious puddings. It was a great option for our first night onsite as we didn’t go food shopping until the next day.
There is a small Nisa shop on site too for essentials and sweets although it’s quite expensive but has lots of options should you forget anything or fancy cooking when you arrive. It’s also got some great sausages for breakfast if you fancy something hot before you start exploring the local area.
Our Holiday in North Devon
I’ve put together a little holiday vlog sharing some of the times we did on our trip to Ruda Holiday Park and other activities we did including visiting The Big Sheep & Exmoor Zoo which are both around 40 minutes away. We also did our food shopping at the Tesco Extra in Barnstaple but there is a smaller Tesco at Brauton around five miles or so away.
Spending a few hours down at the beach was really nice on the Thursday. From our caravan it was about a five or ten minute walk down to the beach which has lifeguards, a surf school, an ice cream shop and open toilets. Croyde Bay is a really beautiful beach and we saw some pretty awesome waves whilst there.
I was surprised with Evie who has never really swam in the sea but she dove in and had loads of fun playing and building sandcastles. It was so nice just to let her play after so many weeks of being stuck inside. The beach alongside the park allowed her to play properly. It was nice and quiet and the park equipment was really spread out too so there was lots of space for families.
Should You Have A Staycation During Pandemic?
Ultimately, this is up to you. My advice would be to take masks, hand soap and hand gel. Practise good hygiene and stick to big open spaces. A staycation holiday during the coronavirus pandemic will not be the same as the holiday you are used to having. It will have more structure and regulations which you might find hard to deal with if you want to relax.
We feel we had a positive experience at Ruda holiday park and the staff worked really hard to keep everyone safe. I regularly saw cleaning and they had a track and trace system in place for everyone entering the main entertainment complex alongside the one way systems. Everyone was polite and friendly, helpful and whilst we didn’t get to use all of the facilities we came home feeling good.
A staycation is a great way to have a holiday as if you do feel unwell you can easily get tested locally and you can come home. Having self contained accomoation made me feel better too. Most importantly my kids still got their summer holiday. A chance to play at the beach, in the park and just let off a bit of steam. If you’re cautious and responsible, I don’t see why you wouldn’t have a nice holiday at Ruda holiday park.
If yuo found this helpful wh not check out our other ParkDean Resorts reviews.
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