£850k play areas get go ahead

£850k play areas get go ahead at Watermouth Castle

Get ready for an enchanting journey like no other as Watermouth Castle prepares to unveil its latest additions: Hobbledown Bay, Pixie Role Play Village and The Mining Village.

Nestled within the Castle grounds, these magical outdoor play areas promise to ignite children's imaginations and create unforgettable moments for families.

With planning permission now granted, the £850k project will breathe new life into the amusement park, replacing outdated areas with bespoke play equipment designed to spark creativity and adventure.

Imaginative play structures

Imagine wooden structures interconnected by tunnels, slides, walkways and climbing walls, providing endless opportunities for exploration and fun.

In the captivating Mining Village sand and water play await.

Founders commitment

Under the visionary leadership of the Escapade Group, this project is part of a £1.2million investment plan aimed at enhancing the visitor experience at Watermouth Castle.

Alongside the new play areas, visitors can look forward to refurbished apartments within the Grade II Listed Castle, a spectacular transformation of the Big River ride featuring new animatronics and boats and improvements to the crazy golf.

Community impact

A planning officer at North Devon Council Council said: "The high quality of the proposed play equipment is considered to bring an improvement to the amusement park as a whole and is a welcome addition to attract more visitors to the site and the area benefitting the local economy."

Opening details

Scheduled to open by May 2024, 'Hobbledown Bay and The Mining Village' will mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter at Watermouth Castle.

Escapade Group founder Nick de Candole said: "From the moment my business partner and I walked into Watermouth Castle we knew we wanted to be part of its history and the next stage of its development. The Haines family did an amazing job during their ownership of the Castle and we hope our plans  will help cement its future. Our team has been very busy over the winter months to help bring some of these plans to fruition and we hope our guests enjoy the changes."

Nature friendly enhancements

In addition to the new play areas, wider landscaping works including the installation of bird and bat boxes and the planting of trees will further enhance the Castle's natural beauty and wildlife habitat.

Sharing the joy

As part of the transition, the existing Snail Ride has been donated to Fairytale Farm, while the old play frame found a new home at a local school, ensuring that the magic of Watermouth Castle continues to spread far and wide.