A moorland National Park that goes on forever and miles of heritage coast topped and tailed by riviera coastline define the southwest county of Devon. You and your family will never tire of rolling hills dotted with thatched cottages, and dramatic coastlines with cliff-edged bays and elegant Georgian towns like Torquay straight from an Agatha Christie crime caper. With so many places in Devon to explore, we recommend you pack picnics for every day out. The hours will disappear exploring rock pools and smugglers’ caves. Another attraction is the dolphins somersaulting off sweeping beaches. Then there are the famous Devonshire teas – oven-warm scones, sticky strawberry jam and dollops of clotted cream. Need we say more?
Devon
A moorland National Park that goes on forever and miles of heritage coast topped and tailed by riviera coastline define the southwest county of Devon. You and your family will never tire of rolling hills dotted with thatched cottages, and dramatic coastlines with cliff-edged bays and elegant Georgian towns like Torquay straight from an Agatha Christie crime caper. With so many places in Devon to explore, we recommend you pack picnics for every day out. The hours will disappear exploring rock pools and smugglers’ caves. Another attraction is the dolphins somersaulting off sweeping beaches. Then there are the famous Devonshire teas – oven-warm scones, sticky strawberry jam and dollops of clotted cream. Need we say more?
VisitEngland Gold Award Winner: The 25 Boutique B&B
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Steps away from Torquay’s seafront is this year’s B&B & Guest House of the Year winner, with quirky yet stylish decor and oodles of home-baked treats.
VisitEngland Gold Award Winner: North Hayne Farm Cottages
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Offering exceptional farm holidays in the heart of Devon, the 2020 Gold award-winning Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year is ideal for families.
VisitEngland Silver Award Winner: Cary Arms & Spa
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Mixing a traditional English inn with the style and comfort of a boutique hotel, the 2020 Silver winner of Small Hotel of the Year guarantees a memorable stay.
Watch history come to life at Morwellham Quay in Devon
Take a living history lesson from the team at Morwellham Quay, a beautifully preserved Victorian village in the Devon countryside.
Location: Morwellham Quay, Devon
Fall in love with Exeter Cathedral
Be awed by Exeter Cathedral; a gothic masterpiece and one of the South West's most iconic landmarks, even better when viewed from above.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Journey back to the 1920s at Coleton Fishacre
A 1920s Art Deco house and garden in the beautiful Devon countryside.
Location: Kingswear, Devon
Head to Salcombe for butterscotch beaches and electric blue water
A haven for yachties and those who prefer to keep their deck shoes firmly on dry land.
Location: Salcombe, Devon
May events: Tuck into a three day food festival in Exeter
Celebrate the best food and drink from the South West at this event in May.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Rainy Day Activities: Find out what lies beneath Exeter
Escape the rain to explore Exeter’s Underground Passages and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum - ideal indoor attractions for a drizzly day.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Walk alongside donkeys in Clovelly Village
Take a peek back in time as you wander the historical fishing village of Clovelly in North Devon.
Location: Clovelly, Devon
Rainy Day Activities: Try a Tipple at Plymouth Gin Distillery
At one of Plymouth's oldest indoor attractions, see first hand how Plymouth's unique smooth gin is made.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Visit The Mayflower Steps & Museum
Stand with your own feet on the Mayflower Steps, which mark the approximate location from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked upon The Mayflower for the final time, in the year 1620.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Head to The Cary Arms for a luxurious dog friendly getaway
The Cary Arms is the perfect location for a dog friendly getaway, and with one of the UK’s dog friendly beaches on its door step, dogs can enjoy a paddle all year round.
Location: Babbacombe, Devon
Uncover millions of years of history on the English Riviera
The English Riviera is steeped in rich seafaring history, with stories of pirates, smugglers and shipwrecks waiting to be uncovered.
Location: English Riviera, Devon
Discover Dartmoor's myths and legends
Let your imagination run riot as you visit locations of well known Dartmoor legends.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Let Plymouth bring out your adventurous streak
Plymouth provides the perfect place for adventurers, with water sports, scuba diving, climbing walls, cycle paths, walks and boat trips.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Take on the South West Coast Path National Trail
Wander the South West Coast Path and see the trail that allowed officials to catch smugglers in their coves and hideouts.
Location: Somerset
Discover Devon's Literature Scene
Devon has provided inspiration for a host of literary greats down the centuries. Many of them lived in Devon, or stayed to be inspired for a time.
Location: Exmoor, Lynton & Lynmouth, Taw and Torridge estuaries, Braunton Burrows, Morte Point
May events: Learn from food experts at Salcombe Crab Festival
Love seafood? Salcombe’s delicious crab celebration should be right at the top of your things to do in Devon list.
Location: Salcombe, Devon
Look to the night sky on Exmoor
This National Park of diverse landscapes, woven together in a rich tapestry, provides inspiration day and night
Location: Exmoor, Devon/Somerset
Follow Sherlock Holmes around Dartmoor
Visit the eerie place that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write Hound of the Baskervilles.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Discover Ted Hughes' Dartmoor
Visit the village of North Tawton, follow the scenic Tarka Trail and soak up the sights and sounds which inspired one of England's greatest poets.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Catch some waves at Woolacombe Beach
North Devon has some of the county’s most popular family beaches, including award-winning Woolacombe.
Location: Woolacombe, Devon
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