Our A to Z of Devon

!

Let’s start with a punctuation mark. Westward Ho! is the only place to officially have an exclamation mark in its name. Named after a novel of the same name by Charles Kingsley, it’s a pretty unique claim to fame! Westward Ho! is a family-friendly seaside resort with a long sandy beach, tidal seawater pool, a famous pebble ridge and lots of rock pools. Grab a bucket, a fishing net and a line with bait and try crabbing. My family spend hours hauling crabs into their buckets – catch and release of course!

Animal attractions

This rural agricultural country has plenty of animal attractions including Paignton Zoo, Exmoor Zoo, Shaldon Wildlife Park, Dartmoor Zoological Park, The Big Sheep, Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, Pennywell Farm, Yaraks Bird of Prey Centre, Occumbe Farm and the award-winning World of Country Life in Exmouth, to name but a few.

AONB

Devon has five designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty including North Devon Coasts, East Devon, South Devon (incorporating the stunning South Hams area), the Tamar Valley and Blackdown Hills. Where better for scenic walks, bird-watching and appreciating the abundance of flora and fauna in these protested areas.

Appledore

Now a pretty coastal village, Appledore has narrow streets lined with art studios, cafés and fish & chip shops which belies its formidable maritime past. It was home to a historic shipyard that launched ships to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588, built military vessels and specialist survey vessels for the Royal Navy before closing in 2019.

Architecture

From the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway (the highest and steepest water-powered railway in the world) to the 900-year-old Exeter Cathedral with its Astronomical Clock, Devon has many fine examples of merit-worthy architecture. From ancient abbeys (Buckfast), crenelated castles (Powderham), stately homes (Arlington Court) and twee thatched cottages (River Cottage HQ), there’s something for all tastes.

Barbican

With 100 listed buildings and the largest concentration of cobbled streets in England (flat-shoe advisory!), Plymouth’s Barbican is well worth a visit. Once a medieval walled town with a castle (replaced by the Royal Citadel in the 1660s) it has put its Elizabethan properties and warehouses to new use.

Cafés, shops, pubs and galleries line this compact waterfront area. It’s home to the Mayflower Steps, Plymouth Gin Distillery and Dartington Glass. Don’t miss the world-famous Capn’ Jaspers with its quirky gadgets, chain-rope tables, half-a-yard hot dog and the ultimate Big J breakfast spilling out of a French baguette.

Blue Flag Beaches

Devon has 120 miles of coastline with over 50 gorgeous sandy beaches. Fourteen of these have Blue Flag status for their clean waters including Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Blackpool Sands, Torre Abbey, Croyde and Westward Ho! Many of these family-friendly beaches have lifeguards in summer with cafés, surfboards, chairs and wetsuit hire.

Award-winning Woolacombe Beach has three miles of golden sand and is one of the Best Beaches in the UK in the World according to TripAdviser Travellers Choice Awards 2020.

Beer – the place not the drink!

Who wouldn’t want to live in Beer? This chocolate-box pretty thatched fishing village is on the south coast of Devon with a sheltered beach and independent pubs, tea rooms and shops. It’s the perfect place for a Devon cream tea, or a pint of beer.

Breweries

OK, now to the other sort of beer. Sample craft brews, cider and ales straight from the barrel at the Totnes Brewing Co which has its own cosy pub. The Wizard Brewery, Ilfracombe offers brewery tours and tastings along with samples of its award-winning Druid Fluid and Lundy Gold ales.

For cider, check out Sandford Orchards Brewery at the Old Cider Works in Crediton or Hunt’s Cider in Totnes. These are just a taster of over 24 breweries in Devon and you’re never far from a country pub so thirst won’t be an issue!

Brunel

Take the train into Cornwall and you’ll pass over the River Tamar via the Royal Albert Bridge aka Brunel Bridge. Built in 1854, it was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, an engineering giant of the railway era.

Historians and rail buffs will appreciate the Brunel Trail which was created to mark Brunel’s 200th birthday. The 3-mile trail runs from Coryton Cove to the footbridge in Dawlish Warren. Information boards along the way are posted at Lea Mount Park, the Railway Viaduct, Coastguards Footbridge and Rockstone Flats Footbridge.

Carpet

Synonymous with its quality carpets, Axminster is the home of a quality carpet industry dating back over 250 years. With a ready supply of wool from Devon’s lush countryside, Axminster Carpets was started in the town by weaver Thomas Whitty.

They have provided bespoke quality carpets by Royal Appointment to the Royal Household, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, luxury hotels and every Wetherspoon’s pub. The Grade II listed factory now houses the town’s heritage centre and museum and is well worth a visit.

The 15-mile branch railway known as the East Devon Line is the perfect way to arrive in Axminster after an impressive rail journey along the South Devon coast from Exeter.

Castles

Devon has piles of castles but not all of them are really really old. The magnificent Castle Drogo is the last castle to be built in England and was constructed in 1930. Castle connoisseurs can pursue their passion at Totnes Castle, Berry Pomeroy, Powderham, Okehampton (ruins), Exeter, Dartmouth, Tiverton, Lydford and Compton Castles. Perhaps the most eye-catching is the iconic white Haldon Belvedere Castle, now a romantic wedding venue.

Caves

Devon has several remarkable caves including prehistoric Kent’s Cavern (see History), Chudleigh Cavern and Garden (suitable for experienced cavers), and nearby Cow Cave. Beer Quarry Caves has tours in some of the miles of man-made tunnels formed by over 2000 years of mining (does that count?).

Cavers can also explore Afton Red Rift, Ash Hole Cavern (a scheduled monument in Brixham), and the extensive Pridhamsleigh Cave System with its 100-foot-deep underground lake on the edge of Dartmoor.

Celebrating Devon’s heritage & culture

There’s something for all interests and all seasons when you delve into the calendar of unique events and festivals in Devon. They celebrate famous sons (such as Francis Drake), traditional lifestyles, industrial heritage, fishing, swashbuckling pirates, scarecrows and Victoriana, all with an undercurrent of fear and superstition still pervading the ancient customs.

 

Cream teas

We can’t cover Devon without giving its famous clotted cream a mention, best served piled onto warm scones and topped with homemade strawberry jam. Note that in Devon the jam goes on top while in Cornwall, jam is spread under the cream.

Devonshire cream is made from the rich milk produced by cows grazing Devon’s lush green pastures. It is made by heating full fat milk then leaving to cool and separate before being skimmed off the top. The thick texture is due to the high fat content (a heart-attack inducing 64%).

Dartmoor

One of Devon’s two national parks, this moorland wilderness has 450 miles of public rights-of-way. It is home to wild Dartmoor ponies, butterflies and rare flora. It attracts 2.3 million visitors who enjoy the festivals, delightful tea rooms, pubs, craft studios, towns and villages.

The easiest and most rewarding way for walkers and hikers to reach Dartmoor is by train along the newly reopened Dartmoor Line which runs from Exeter to Okehampton.

December

Often wrongly categorised as a “non-tourist” month, December in the Westcountry offers a surprising number of seasonal activities and quirky events. Why should the locals have all the fun? With so much fabulous food and unique entertainment, it’s the perfect place to spend a multi-generational Christmas & New Year get-together.

Dog-friendly

Devon is a particularly dog-friendly tourist destination with miles of rural walking trails, the South West Coast Path and open spaces on Dartmoor and Exmoor. It’s perfect dog-walking country although pets should be kept on a lead when livestock is present.

Some beaches operate a dog ban in the peak summer season while others are dog-friendly all year round. These include Beesands, parts of Dawlish and Exmouth beaches, Salcombe North Sands, Slapton, Teignmouth and Thurlestone.

Donkeys

Donkeys are fondly thought of in Clovelly as they were previously the “workhorses”. They were used to transport shopping, furniture and other items up and down the steep stepped cobbled streets. They are now taking life easy in a field sanctuary and welcome carrots and other tidbits from visitors!

The other hotel for rescued donkeys is at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary where visitors are welcome. It offers free admission to the Family Trail, Kitchen and Gift shop. All proceeds go to pay for the donkeys’ well-earned retirement as they live for at least 30 years.

English Riviera

Britain’s answer to the French Riviera is Torbay, aka the English Riviera. The 22-mile coastline includes Torquay, Paignton, Brixham and miles of award-winning sandy beaches. Take that, St Tropez!

This coastal gem even has its own Riviera Line that connects Paignton with Exeter and nine other stations. It beats the slow-moving summer traffic hands-down!

Exmoor

Bordering the North Devon coast from Combe Martin to Minehead, Exmoor National Park provides a peaceful area of moorland, woods, valley and farmland. It’s a top spot for hiking and nature-spotting and there’s growing evidence of a large cat residing in this national park!

Fairground

Roll up, roll up! Dingles Fairground Heritage Museum is no ordinary fairground. It’s a massive collection of vintage fairground rides, music organs, artworks, showfronts and artefacts. This 45,000 sq.ft. undercover museum in Lifton is open to the public with rides and games operated on a token system.

Festivals

Festivals and country fairs in Devon celebrate the best of Westcountry life. They focus on music, food and drink, seafood, beer, the arts, crafts, sailing regattas and fun days.

Some traditional festivals are steeped in history and legend. Consider the Flaming Tar Barrels Festival in Ottery St Mary and Widdicombe Fair, the original Uncle Tom Cobley gathering. There’s the International Agatha Christie Festival, Abbfest, Brixham Pirate Festival, Dart Music Fest, Dartmouth Food Festival, Pig-stock near Bideford, and Ilfracombe’s Victorian and Steampunk Celebration. Only in Devon!!

Films & TV

With such stunning landscapes, coastline and grand estates, Devon naturally features in many TV series and films. Spielberg’s War Horse (filmed on Dartmoor) leads the herd along with Sense and Sensibility (Saltram House), My Cousin Rachel (South Hams), The Mercy (Teignmouth), Churchill (Plymouth and Totnes) and Remains of the Day (Powderham Castle) among many others.

Geocaching

Dartmoor Letterboxing has been superseded by geocaching – a high-tech GPS treasure hunt for those who find walking in the countryside frankly a bit boring. There are over 25,000 geocaches in Devon in places of interest, parks, country lanes, under bridges – oops giving some of them away already!

Golf

Devon’s rolling green landscape is home to 56 golf courses, from the Royal North Devon Golf Club at Bideford (the oldest course in England) to the exclusive links at Boringdon Estate near Plymouth. Incidentally, King Edward VII was patron of the North Devon Club which allows it to add the moniker “Royal” to its name. Of course, Devon has plenty of miniature golf courses too.

History

With pre-Roman settlements, Devon has plenty of history as part of the 8th century Kingdom of Wessex. It’s home to the oldest bakery (Jacka) where the Pilgrim Fathers stocked up the Mayflower with biscuits before setting sail for America in 1620.

It also boasts the oldest cinema (Torbay Picture House) but these are mere babes compared to the human remains discovered in Kent’s Cavern, Torquay. According to carbon dating, these 44,200BC bones could be the oldest human remains in northwest Europe. It received Gold in the Devon Tourism Awards 2020 as the top International Visitor Experience.

 

Ho Ho Hoe!

We’ve covered Westward Ho! (filed under !) but Devon has another famous Hoe just a short stroll from the Barbican In 1588, local sea captain-cum-privateer Sir Francis Drake reputedly finished his game of bowls on the green before turning his attention to the approaching Spanish Armada.

Overlooking Plymouth Sound and Tinside Lido is the landmark Smeaton’s Tower (formerly Eddystone Lighthouse) watching the comings and goings of naval ships, ferries, fishing and leisure boats. Plymouth Hoe is also the best viewing point to watch the British Fireworks Championships held in mid-August.

Ice cream

Devon is home of the Red Devon cattle breed, known for its rich milk. It’s the staple ingredient for making clotted cream and rich ice cream that Devon is famous for. Hockings cream and red vans are a common site around Bideford and Appledore, Salcombe Dairy has been in the business since 1979 and Langage Farm finally moved from the original farm premises when it was swallowed up by the Plympton Industrial Estate.

Fortunately, their herd found a new home and 40+ flavours of ice cream can still be found at the Farm Shop on Ridgeway, Plympton’s High Street. Other names worth a licking include The Cow Lick, Yarde Farm and award-winning Otter Valley Dairy at Honiton.

Islands

Devon has two sizeable islands: Lundy in the Bristol Channel and Burgh Island which can be reached by a tidal causeway. They couldn’t be more different.

Lundy Island is a bird sanctuary reached via a choppy boat ride. It is home to wild goats and colonies of burrowing puffins, seabirds and Manx Shearwaters. Burgh Island is on Devon’s south coast at Bigbury-on-Sea. It is home to an exclusive Art Deco Hotel which inspired Agatha Christie’s thriller novel And Then There Were None.

Jurassic

The UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast starts in Exmouth, South Devon and stretches for 95 miles into Dorset. Hiding 185 million years of fossilised history it has an outstanding historical and geological significance dating back to when the Jurassic seas covered the land. It’s a fantastic coast for fossil hunting, coasteering and walking the Axminster to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve.

Combine these prehistoric sites with a 21st century train ride along the scenic Avocet Line (Exeter to Exmouth) or the East Devon Line (Exeter to Axminster).

Kayaking

Paddle down the River Tamar or go sea kayaking in Dartmouth or Torbay. It’s a great way to enjoy Devon at its most unspoilt.

 

Lace

Honiton is known as the Lacemaking Capital of the World. For hundreds of years the town was a specialist hub for intricate lace and glove-making, now curated in the AllHallows Museum. Antique and craft shops also celebrate the town’s past which included supplying lace for Queen Victoria’s wedding dress.

Honiton is one of the stations on the spectacular East Devon Line making it ideal to visit by train.

Llama trekking

Llama trekking and Alpaca Walks are a growing trend on Dartmoor or in scenic off-road surroundings near Poundsgate, South Devon. Engage with these gentle inquisitive animals as you enjoy an informative guided walk with them on a lead. Conclude with a cream tea!

Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway

Where else in the world would you find two quaint tourist towns connected by a Victorian contraption that’s eco-friendly and provides a thrilling ride? Lynton and Lynmouth, in North Devon, are connected by a unique funicular cliff railway. Built in 1890, this awesome attraction was way ahead of its time being fully water-powered and eco-friendly.

The 131m long Lynton and Lymouth Cliff Railway (LLCR) was handcarved out of the cliff and took three years to complete. Two passenger cars, joined by a cable, work by gravity. The lower car releases water from its 700 gallon tank into the river to make it lighter than the upper car. When the brake is released (hydraulically operated, of course!) the car rises up the steep 45 degree cliffside while the heavier top car descends.

This amazing Victorian invention was funded by philanthropist and publisher, Sir George Newnes, at a cost of £8,000. It remains the world’s tallest and steepest water-powered railway, still leading the way in eco-friendly engineering.

After 131 years, the LLCR is still racking up awards including Silver in Devon’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2020. It holds the Green Tourism Gold award for sustainable tourism and was voted “UK’s Best Cliff Railway” in a recent Which? Readers’ Poll. Grab a ticket from the wonderfully quirky Grade 2 listed ticket office / cafe (£3 for humans and £1 for dogs!!) and enjoy the stunning view as you ride.

Museums

Topping the list of Devon Museums is the RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Gallery). Housed in a Gothic Revival sandstone building in Exeter it has free admission to see over one million artefacts.

Other museums include Bygones, North Devon Maritime Museum, The Jolly Roger (Bovey Tracey), Ilfracombe Museum, Dingles Fairground, Dartmoor Prison Museum and Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life. Credit for the most unusual has to go to the replica Golden Hind in Brixham Harbour. They’re all hidden gems to frequent on a rainy day!

National Trust

The National Trust manages some amazing castles, mansions, manors and historic buildings in Devon along with acres of protected countryside and coastline.

From Agatha Christie’s Greenway home to the impressive 30-metre high waterfall at Lydford Gorge, it covers a broad spectrum of attractions. One of the most unusual is A La Ronde, the UK’s only 16-sided house. The former home of two artsy spinster cousins, this Exmouth gem includes jaw-dropping interior decor incorporating 25,000 shells and a feather frieze!

Throughout the year, many National Trust properties host festivals and events to provide fun days out while preserving Devon’s unique history and heritage. Hartland Abbey and Gardens starts the year off with Daffodil Days and Bluebell Sundays. Easter egg hunts and craft activities are available for visitors to Arlington Court during the Easter break. The Arlington Carriage Museum also offers harness demonstrations and carriage rides around the estate and there’s an outdoor cinema on select summer evenings. Killerton Estate is open year-round for visitors. As well as walks and tours, it hosts events ranging from a Victorian Christmas to a veteran tree management course. Rounding off the year in style, NT’s Finch Foundry comes to life on 23rd November to celebrate the patron saint of blacksmiths, St Clement.

National Parks

See entries under Dartmoor National Park and Exmoor National Park.

Ocean City

Ocean City is the nickname for Plymouth, one of the UK’s largest seaports. It has a maritime heritage of fishing, navigation and naval history. This waterfront city is appropriately the home of the amazing National Maritime Aquarium.

Plymouth is the start (or end) of the Tamar Valley Line, one of the most breathtaking train journeys in the UK. It follows the River Tamar on the Devon side before crossing the Calstock Viaduct marking the gateway into Cornwall.

Otters

With the River Otter, Otter Inn, Otter Valley and villages such as Otterton, Otterly and Ottery St Mary, there are lots of otter connections in Devon. (See Tarka Trail) The Otter Estuary Nature Reserve covers 57-acres of mudflats and marshes famous for migratory bird spotting.

Otterton Mill dates back to the Domesday Book. This historic working watermill in Otterton has a gift shop, gallery and café and is one of the best places to indulge in an afternoon cream tea.

Palm trees

Few places have a mild enough winter climate for palm trees to flourish, but you’ll find plenty of subtropical palm trees and exotic plants in Torbay.

Pannier Markets

Pannier Markets are a quintessential Devon feature, particularly in Barnstaple and Bideford. These historic indoor markets were where farmers, butchers and growers would bring their produce, meat, vegetables and eggs in baskets (panniers) to sell on market day. The panniers might be long gone but the atmosphere and quality of goods for sale by local producers makes these markets well worth supporting.

Puffins

See Islands

Quince Honey Farm

Recently awarded Gold in the Devon Tourism Innovation Awards, Quince Honey Farm is one of Devon’s unique attraction in South Molton. Started over 70 years ago, it’s a 54-acre working honey farm and family-friendly visitor attraction. It offers nectar gardens, nature trails and a soft play area in the Play Hive.

Take a tour of the Honey Factory and see bees at work through a glass window in the Bee Exhibition. You’ll see honey in a different light after this visit!

Railways

There’s lots of connections with railways from Heritage Steam Railway rides including Dartmouth Steam Railway, South Devon Railway and Exmoor Steam Railway. The volunteer-run Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Co. is a narrow-gauge railway through Exmoor countryside. Lynton and Lynmouth are connected by a Cliff Railway (the world’s highest and steepest water-powered funicular to be exact).

If you want more than a rattling good ride, there’s the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre Museum with a cafe in refurbished carriages. And we mustn’t overlook Brunel’s magnificent Royal Albert Railway Bridge (1859) carrying the railway across the River Tamar.

Sipping and sampling

South Devon is developing a reputation for producing some fine sparkling wines at Yearlstone Vineyard (Devon’s oldest), Sharpham Winery and Pebblebed Vineyard. They complement the traditional Sandford Orchards Cider Works scrumpy cider and Plymouth Gin that have been produced in Devon since the days of the Mayflower.

There’s also the centuries-old Buckfast Tonic Wine (an early Red Bull), brewed by monks at Buckfast Abbey. This potent concoction includes a bolt of caffeine to counter the soporific effect of 15% alcohol. Tours available at all these attractions.

If you prefer something a tad stronger, head to Bovey Tracey for a tasting experience at Dartmoor Whisky Distillery.

Steps

There are several famous landmarks with steps starting with the Mayflower Steps on Plymouth Barbican from where the Pilgrim Fathers departed on the tiny Mayflower in 1620. The Tarr Steps in Exmoor National Park is Britain’s longest clapper bridge, made from large stones and flat boulders over the Rive Barle.

Our third contender is Clovelly, a coastal village community where the traffic-free main street is actually a cobbled flight of shallow steps. It frequently hosts festivals and events, usually with a herring, lobster or maritime theme. Donkeys were once used to haul sleds laden with fish and other goods up Clovelly’s cobbled steps from the harbour. You’ll be glad to know that a Land Rover service now transports weary visitors up the back lane if you can’t face the ascent!

Surfing

North Devon’s wave-lashed coastline has the best surfing in Devon. From Croyde to Woolacombe you’ll find barrels, breaks, tubes and swells that thrill the heart of any serious surfer. (See Wet and Wild)

Tarka Trail

Perhaps the most famous otter of all is Tarka the Otter, in an early 20th century novel of the same name. It was adapted into a film in 1979 and led to the development of the Tarka Trail around Barnstaple and Bideford. The series of footpaths, cycle-ways and rail trails runs for 180 miles around North Devon and is part of the National Cycle Network (Route 27).

The Tarka Trail intersects with several stations on the Tarka Line branch railway including Barnstaple and Eggesford.

Theatres

Devon has its own culture hotspots with the acclaimed Theatre Royal, the Barbican Theatre, the Athenaum and the University’s The House Performing Arts Centre in Plymouth. Exeter has three theatres: The Barnfield Theatre, Exeter Phoenix and Northcott Theatre. The Queen’s Theatre entertains in Barnstaple while the Landmark Theatre Ilfracombe, cruelly dubbed Madonna’s Bra, has a full programme of classics and comedy. In Torbay, look no further than the Palace Theatre Paignton and the Princess Theatre in Torquay where Agatha Christie was a frequent attendee.

Of course the summer sees a plethora of arts and music festivals across Devon.

Topsham

Pretty Topsham is one of my favourite waterfront towns to visit on the Exe Estuary. It’s a popular haunt for boating, kayaking and sailing. If you don’t have your own sail boat or dinghy, the next best thing is a cruise aboard the beautifully restored Tudor Rose riverboat with Stuart Line Cruises. But that’s not all.

Topsham is a great place for posh nosh. Sample local Devon fare at one of the historic waterside inns or spoil yourself with dinner at the award-winning Darts Farm Restaurant. They also have an amazing food hall selling artisan produce and local beef.

UNESCO

England has 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and three of the best are in Devon. The Jurassic Coast has cliffs layered with fossils and geological interest while the Cornish Mining Landscape has sites in West Devon around Tavistock and the Tamar Valley. The North Devon Biosphere Reserve is also a UNESCO Designated Site. Who knew?

Valley of Rocks

The extraordinary valley of Rocks on Devon’s North Coast has an extraordinary landscape and geology. The huge stones are piled high and are inhabited by feral mountain goats that sure-footedly scale the sheer rocks. The fossilised Lynton Beds are the oldest rocks in Devon.

Waterparks & aqua parks

As soon as the sun comes out I love to head to a waterpark to cool off, and Devon has quite a few. Visit the family-friendly Slip and Slide Water Park at Croyde Bay or whoosh down the maze of water chutes at Splashdown Quaywest in Torquay.

The restored Tinside Lido on Plymouth Hoe has retained its glorious Grade II listed Victorian features but has been refurbished to include three tidal pools, pontoons, a hoist, jetties and fountains. It’s right on the Hoe with panoramic views of boats entering and leaving Plymouth Sound and the nearby marina.

Most Devon towns have their own indoor heated swimming pool or leisure centre making them a great place for kids to play whatever the weather.

Wet and wild watersports

For watersports, head to Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton for surfing action. Roadford Lake, Lifton is ideal for sailing and paddle-boarding while the Tamar Valley is perfect for leisurely kayaking and canoeing. Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton offer Sea Kayaking Courses while Bideford has its own Wake Park.

Witches

The last execution in England for witchcraft took place in Exeter in 1685. Bideford women Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles were executed in Exeter in 1682 followed by Alice Molland in 1685 in Heavitree. A plaque on the wall of Rougemont Castle commemorates their infamy as part of the Exeter Medieval Trail.

X-cellent…

Devon’s attractions, climate, scenery and beaches make is an X-cellent place to visit. It attracts around 5.7 million visitors, well outnumbering the 795,000 residents. With X-traordinary attractions ranging from the Jurassic Coast and Dartmoor to Pennywell Farm (Gold Winner Devon Tourism Awards 2020) it’s got to be worth a visit!

Yachting

Some of Britain’s most prestigious yachts are built right here in Plymouth by luxury boat-builders Princess Yachts. Salcombe, Dartmouth and Topsham are popular haunts for sailing and there are sailing schools and yacht charters all along Devon’s south coast.

Yum

Devon is a veritable pantry of outstandingly good food and drink. It has four Michelin-star restaurants and plenty more worthy contenders! Restaurateurs love to showcase the local produce from lamb and seafood to Devonshire clotted cream, cheese and ice cream. Just try fresh crab on a warm baguette or Langage Farm’s Thunder and Lightning ice cream containing golden syrup ripples and crunchy honeycomb… you’ll want to move here permanently, I promise!

Zoos and wildlife parks

Zoos With a distinct emphasis on eco-tourism, ecology and saving the planet, Devon has a number of zoos and wildlife attractions. Some of the oldest and best include Paignton Zoo and Exmoor Zoo. The Dartmoor Zoological Park is also in the region along with The Big Sheep, Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary and Pennywell Farm.

Well, that’s taken us neatly through the A-Z of Devon’s attractions, activities and sights. We’re sure you’ll find plenty more when you enjoy a stay in a holiday cottage in Devon. Is there anything that you can think of to add to it? Let us know in the comments below.