Gillian Birch 
Visit England has been busy narrowing down the thousands of attractions and activities in England to compile a list of 101 Things to Do Before You go Abroad. Devon had five mentions, showing just how diverse this top holiday hotspot is!
Discover the five things to do in Devon that made it onto the Visit England list, then book your next holiday cottage in Devon so you can experience them for yourself!
To celebrate St George’s Day, April 23rd, Visit England compiled a list of 101 Things to Do Before You Go Abroad. The Westcountry is home to a disproportionate 16 of those bucket list must-do’s, with 11 exclusively found in Cornwall.
Curious to know more? Then read on to discover the top things to do in Cornwall, according to Visit England. See how many you can tick off!
Sculling and scoffing seem to be the main occupations at the annual Kingswear Regatta in the South Hams! This fun rowing event mixes serious rowing with fun events including a Lamb Spit, Dog Show and a Duck Race, all in aid of local charities.
Take a trip to Kingswear at any time for a lovely day out on the River Dart, or read on to discover all the events at the annual Kingswear Regatta weekend.
Arts-themed Dartington Hall celebrates the life and works of Indian-born Rabindranath Tagore at the annual Tagore Festival. This Nobel-Prize-winning musician and writer visited Dartington in 1930 and influenced the development of the Arts Centre.
Discover more about this enigmatic artist by reading on, and consider attending the Tagore Festival to experience Indian music, drama, literature and songs.
Safety on Dartmoor Day is organized by the Dartmoor National Park in conjunction with the fire and ambulance services and volunteers from DartmoorRescue with their trained rescue dogs. Fire engines and air ambulances will be on display.
Read more about the beautiful setting of Lydford Gorge and discover a range of things to see and do at this family-friendly event near Okehampton.
If you fancy some lively entertainment and arts, best get down to Devon for the Babbacombe Festival the third week in June. There’s Oompah Night, a Festival Funk Party, a Fish and Chips Music Festival and a Flower Show on Babbacombe Downs.
We can’t do justice to all the events at the Babbacombe Festival so read the full-length article and book a Devon holiday cottage in June before it’s too late.
The Polperro Festival had been celebrated for decades as part of the Summer Solstice. Now a thriving arts and cultural heritage event, it offers fun for all ages from the Mock Mayor Ceremony and Morris Dancing to the Solstice Bonfire.
Enjoy reading about this action-packed week in the quaint village of Polperro. It may entice you to visit this charming corner of Cornwall in festival week!
The Saltash Regatta and Waterside Festival is even older than the Henley Regatta. In 2013 it will be celebrating its 178th event! Gig racing, fancy dress races and the annual Cutter Race take place in the shadow of the famous Tamar Bridge.
Read more about this historic town and the events during the Regatta weekend. A street market, children’s fair and live music make this a popular free festival.
Now in its 220th year, the Royal Cornwall Show has been delighting thousands of visitors for generations. Primarily a Trade and Agricultural Show, it has many animal breeds on display along with farm equipment, food, music and entertainment.
The next best thing to visiting the Royal Cornwall Show is reading about it. From steam engines to the RAF Falcons, you’ll be royally entertained!
The former RAF St Mawgan airfield is once again alive to the sound of small aircraft revving up for take-off as the new Classic Air Museum opens near Newquay. The museum isn’t just for aircraft enthusiasts and ex-military types, it is a family-friendly day out with plenty to interest everyone.
Explore these heritage aircraft or take a panoramic flight. You can even be a passenger in a stunt plane and do a loop-the-loop!
High on Bodmin Moor in the middle of nowhere, Siblyback Lake is a local haven for all types of watersports as well as walking, cycling and angling. It has now added a new experience – a Cable Wakepark – offering kneeboarding, wakeboarding and waterskiing.
Equipment hire and tuition are no problem at this great Cornish attraction, so read on to discover more about this exciting new sports facility.
Bosvigo Gardens in Truro began as a personal dream created from the visual palette of artist Wendy Perry and her husband Michael. With their lovely 17th century cob farmhouse as a backdrop, there are several themed gardens and a beautiful Victorian conservatory to enjoy.
The gardens have limited opening from March through September and they offer plant sales too!
The National Trust property of Lanhydrock may not be the first place you think of to take active youngsters, but a recent visit convinced me that it can be the perfect place to take them.
With 900 acres to run off their energy and no need to quell their noisy excitement, I found lots to entertain children at this magnificent Cornish estate.
The rolling hills and scenic river valleys of East Devon are a beautiful part of the West Country, and for short breaks this area is very easy to get to by car via the M5 or by train.
Discover the enchantment of this area and its pretty villages by booking a holiday cottage in East Devon today!
Mid-Cornwall is the most popular area of Cornwall for visitors, stretching along the north coast from Portreath to Mawgan Porth and along the south coast from Falmouth to St Austell. Sandwiched between is a meaty and substantial filling of rural countryside, river valleys and the county capital, Truro, along with Newquay, Perranporth, St Mawes and Mevagissey.
Find out just how much mid-Cornwall has to offer, then book your holiday cottage in Cornwall soon!
As a Westcountry resident, two of my favourite places are Dartington, in the scenic countryside of the South Hams, and the market town of Totnes with its 11th century motte and bailey castle. Best of all they are linked by a pleasant walk along the Dart Valley.
Totnes has loads of interesting and unique shops and attractions and Dartington provides a beautiful glimpse of old Devon – both great places to visit on your holiday.
Although no-one can contend that Cornwall is a thriving destination for theatre-goers, as a resident I love going to some of the small and out-of-the-way theatres that spring up during the summer. One of the best known is the Minack Theatre, an amazing man-made auditorium carved into the cliffs at Porthcurno and aptly known as the “Theatre under the stars”.
On National Garden Schemes Days, gardeners open their gates to share their beautiful gardens with the public and raise money for their chosen charity. There are 28 NGS days in Devon in May, so choose one, or maybe visit them all!
We give you the lowdown on these one-off events, explains more about how the NGS works, and give a taster of these Devon paradises.
Ten Tors is a tough challenge of hiking and climbing ten tors on Dartmoor over a weekend in early May. Aimed at teenagers and young adults, it involves the teams of six being self-sufficient as they battle the elements that Dartmoor is famous for.
Read on to discover the history of the Ten Tors Challenge, and see if you are up to taking part in this tough test of fitness and endurance.
Port Eliot Dog Festival is a great opportunity to see some of the Westcountry’s finest dogs as well as getting a rare chance to enter the magnificent gates of the ancient Port Eliot Estate. All proceeds go to support the Children’s Hospice South West.
Read on to enjoy full details about this local dog show event, and consider supporting this very worthwhile event by attending or entering your dog in a class.
Who would have thought that the Basketry and Beyond Festival 2013 could be so entertaining! Hosted in the grounds of historic Dartington Hall near Totnes, the event includes stalls, demos, seminars, a Ceilidh and even a “weave it and wear it” parade!
Discover more by reading the full article crammed with information and tips. You’ll find yourself drawn to attend this crafty event, for sure.
You may be more familiar with seeing donkeys on the beach than valuable polo ponies, but each July Watergate Bay hosts the award-winning Polo on the Beach. Free to attend, it combines horse racing and international polo with music and entertainment.
Read on to learn about the history of polo, the full schedule of the Polo on the Beach event and what else Newquay’s Watergate Bay has to offer visitors.
The steep cobbled streets of Clovelly make this a timeless place to visit, especially over the late May Bank Holiday when it hosts the Clovelly Celebration of Local Ales and Cider. Sample the wide choice of ales produced by small local breweries.
Discover more about Clovelly by reading on, and then make a point of visiting this authentic fishing village during the lively Cider and Ale Festival.
Cornwall’s Fal River Festival packs in 150 events to entertain and amuse visitors of all ages. This not-for-profit community festival is organized by Truro and Penwith College and includes water-themed events including films on the ferry after dark!
Discover more fun events in our overview article which details fishing, boating and swimming competitions, drama, music, workshops, theatre and more.