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Quick LinksLocal Knowledge – March 2026
Oakdown Holiday Park · Sidmouth · East Devon
Local Knowledge – March
What’s worth doing near Oakdown in March, as our own season opens and the Farmers Market returns to Sidmouth.
March is when Oakdown properly wakes up. We open for the new season on 18 March — and by happy coincidence that’s the very same day Kennaway House holds its first Farmers Market of the year, so there’s a natural reason to be out and about the moment you arrive. The clocks go forward towards the end of the month too, which means longer evenings just as the season gets under way.
Below is our pick of what’s worth doing in East Devon and West Dorset this month, gathered from the people who actually run these places. None of it needs booking weeks ahead, so it’s easy to fit around whatever else your first few days here look like.
On this page
Kennaway House Farmers MarketRugby Ramble Charity WalksWest Bay & Broadchurch TrailDog Friendly & AccessibleGood to Know
East Devon
Kennaway House Farmers Market
The first spring Farmers Market of the year is held on the lawns of Kennaway House, a Regency-era mansion in the heart of Sidmouth, on 18 March from 9am to 12:30pm. Regional producers and artisans set up on the lawns. It’s a good, easy way to spend the first morning of the season — a natural pairing with checking in at Oakdown the same day.
Postcode EX10 8NG — about 3.2 miles west of the park, roughly an eight-minute drive. www.kennawayhouse.org.uk. Dogs are welcome on the lawns. Following extensive restoration work, the house is now fully accessible, with a newly refurbished passenger lift, Blue Badge parking spaces close to the building and a dedicated disabled entrance via the side door.
East Devon
Sidmouth RFC Men’s Rugby Ramble Charity Walks
Sidmouth Rugby Football Club hosts its charity Rugby Ramble walks on 14 March, a locally-run event that raises money for good causes while getting people out into the countryside around the club. It’s the kind of event that rarely makes it onto a visitor’s radar, run by locals for locals, but anyone staying nearby is welcome to join in or simply cheer the walkers on.
Postcode EX10 8NJ — about 3.0 miles west of the park.
West Dorset
West Bay & the Broadchurch Trail
West Bay’s East Beach and clifftops served as the towering backdrop for ITV’s Broadchurch. The dedicated Broadchurch Trail lets you retrace the steps of DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller around the harbour, cliffs and beach that made the series so recognisable. It’s a proper walk rather than a quick photo stop, taking in the full sweep of the coastline that the cameras made famous — and it works equally well whether or not you’ve watched a single episode.
Postcode DT6 4EN — about 22 miles east, roughly a 36-minute drive. Trail details at visit-dorset.com. The harbour walks are excellent for dogs. The beach is accessible to dogs too, subject to seasonal restrictions.
Accessibility note. The harbour area has flat, paved, accessible walks, well suited to wheelchairs and pushchairs alike. The beach itself is steep shingle and isn’t wheelchair-friendly, so the harbour is the better option if mobility is a concern. Please don’t walk directly under the cliffs.
At a Glance
Dog Friendly & Accessible This Month
Best for Dog Owners
Dogs are welcome on the lawns at the Kennaway House Farmers Market. West Bay’s harbour walks are excellent for dogs too, with the beach accessible subject to seasonal restrictions.
Best for Accessibility
Kennaway House is fully accessible, with a passenger lift, Blue Badge parking and a dedicated disabled entrance. West Bay’s harbour area is flat and paved and well suited to wheelchairs, though the beach itself is steep shingle and not wheelchair-friendly.
Good to Know
A Few Practical Questions
When does the season at Oakdown open?
We open on 18 March, the same day as the first Kennaway House Farmers Market of the year, so it’s an easy way to mark the occasion.
Is the Farmers Market dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome on the lawns at Kennaway House.
Is West Bay accessible for wheelchairs?
The harbour area is flat and paved, but the beach itself is steep shingle and isn’t wheelchair-friendly.
How far is West Bay from Oakdown?
About 22 miles east, roughly a 36-minute drive.
What is the Broadchurch Trail?
A dedicated walking trail around West Bay retracing the steps of DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller from ITV’s Broadchurch, which was filmed on the town’s harbour, cliffs and beach.
What’s a good first day at Oakdown in March?
If you arrive on 18 March, the Kennaway House Farmers Market that same morning is an easy, low-key way to start the season before settling in.
Want to see what’s on in other months? Our full Local Knowledge guide covers the whole year near Oakdown.
Join us for the start of the season
We open on 18 March — book now and be among the first back on the park.
