Top Things to do in Devon
Top 10 Farms in Devon, England
From the wilds of Dartmoor to the wooded hillsides of the Lyn Valley, Devon is undoubtedly one of England's most beautiful counties. Its overwhelmingly rural landscape means that catered accommodation is restricted to over-subscribed Bed and Breakfasts and hotels which are mostly concentrated in towns like Exeter and Barnstaple.
Devon is a great location for a family holiday in the great outdoors, with everything from beach resorts at Ilfracombe to rambling in the hills of Exmoor and tors of Dartmoor. It is a large county, but whether you want to follow the Tarka Trail, or walk down the Doone Valley, you can be sure there will be cottages open for holiday rentals nearby.
Most of Devon's holiday rental cottages started as farm buildings of some sort, and planning restrictions mean that many of them retain their rural charm on the outside. However, the cottages are generally renovated to 21st Century standards inside, with double glazing, TV, washing machines and fully-equipped kitchens. Families are well catered for in the higher end properties with games rooms, sometimes including full-size pool tables and large gardens for children to explore.
Despite the unpredictability of Devon's weather even during the summer months, the comfort of these properties gives great peace of mind. Moreover, a week's holiday rental of a cottage in Devon can cost as little as £300 - £400. During the peak season you can spend as much as £900 a month for one of the larger or more luxurious cottages, which still works out to be cheaper than a lot of hotels, especially if you have to book several rooms to accommodate a family of four or five.
To get the best of Devon's startling countryside and its friendly communities, renting a holiday cottage near Lynton and Lynmouth can be a good start. It is a useful base from which to explore North Devon, and is within walking distance of several beauty spots, such as Watersmeet (complete with a small but impressive waterfall) and the Valley of the Rocks. Separated by a steep cliff, you can travel up a funicular railway from coastal Lynmouth to clifftop Lynton, with plenty of stunning walks, shopping opportunities and several beaches and boat trips to nearby coastal attractions.
The twin villages also boast a concentration of well-equipped holiday cottages, from modest fisherman's cottages on the path to Watersmeet to grander hillside houses on the way to the Valley of the Rocks. Whatever your budget, Lynton and Lynmouth can provide some tempting accommodation options for your first Devon holiday.
Restaurants in Devon
1. Hayes Farm Stables
2. Otter Valley Dairy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By 75kathryng - Somerset, United Kingdom
We are a family of ice cream lovers and this is the very best. Excellent range of interesting flavours served with a smile however busy it is! It isn't cheap at £2.50 for a single scoop cone but the portions are generous and the cones are good quality. The best part of the day after shopping in Exeter for my children is stopping at 'Award Winning Ice Cream'.
3. Peak Hill Llamas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 158 reviews
Fun-filled activity sessions and guided walks with llamas on East Devon's spectacular Jurassic Coast
Reviewed By alihosk1971 - Fareham, United Kingdom
We spent about an hour and a half with these amazing animals and their ‘mum’ Maggie. What an amazing lady with amazing animals ! Had such a good time on what was a difficult day for Maggie. Thank you so much xx
4. Borough Farm Sheepdog and Falconry Displays
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 154 reviews
Borough Farm, home of Channel Five's 'Mist-sheepdog tales', has hosted Sheepdog Displays since 1998. Tues, 11am Farmyard Show (July and August) Wed 6pm Sheepdog and Falconry Displays (May-Sept) Thurs 6pm Shepherding Experience walks (May-Sept) For a full list of events please visit the Borough Farm website Shepherd David Kennard hosts Tuesdays Farmyard Show, with an hour of hilarious antics, as Alfie the sheepdog, tells the story of the duck in the castle, with the help of a host of farmyard friends. For Wednesday evenings show David is joined by Exmoor falconer George Pile, with his delightful collection of Kestrels, Owls and Falcons. Sheepdogs Fly, Zola, Alf and Sweep are put through their paces as they work far into the distance, or close at hand in the ring with more Sheepdog and Duck fun All set against the backdrop of the beautiful Borough Valley. With teas, coffees and the finest homemade cakes served at the Borough Farm Shepherd's hut (barbeque too during July and August)and under cover seating for the occasional damp evenings, we hope that your visit to Borough Farm will truly be "an unforgettable country evening" On Thursday evenings David takes small groups on a walk around the stunning Morte Point headland. David has farmed the land for nearly 20 years and this opportunity to watch his top sheepdog Fly working in natural environment is simply breathtaking.
Reviewed By Squeakybird - Newbury, United Kingdom
We spotted the sign on the roadside for the Falconry and Sheepdog display, so thought we would go along and watch. We were not disappointed! Their first show back because of Lockdown, and David apologised several times if the animals didn’t ‘perform’ The ducks wouldn’t do as planned, but it was hugely entertaining, with David determined to get a duck down the slide....so funny! The sheep herding was amazing to watch, it didn’t go completely as it should have done, but to watch the skill of David regrouping the two dogs and working them to bring hundreds of sheep close, was amazing. Our favourite bits were Merc keep jumping the fence to get fuss from audience, Sweep sitting in the water, Glen’s attention to David, and then Alfie ..... the ultimate duck herder. Falconry was great to watch, with excellent skill and clear love for his birds, it was enjoyable to watch the swooping birds. The Covid measures in place didn’t deflect from the show, and can completely recommend this to anyone. Excellent work! It does get a little chilly, so make sure you take a jumper or blanket.
5. Watertown Llamas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Meet and Greet First of all you will be properly introduced to the woollies. They love to be brushed, which is a great way to bond with the llamas you will be walking. They will be looking forward to meeting you and will give a guided tour of the 22 acre farm, with the chance to meet all our llamas. In the summer months you may even get to see the young cria (baby llamas) at play! Agility Visitors will get to practise leading and guiding their llamas around a fun and exciting obstacle course. This involves steps, hurdles, jumps and hoops! The Walk The llama walk is usually around 1.5 miles over fields and is quite hilly. It takes in some great views of rural North Devon, with lots of photo opportunities. Towards the end of the walk we reach a small lake, with a chance to feed the ducks, swans and geese, and have a row around the island in the boat. Extras The llama experience takes around 2 hours. We can accomodate up to 10 people leading their own llama, but is regrettably not suitable for children under the age of 5. Children under 10 will get to lead a llama with an adult. Unfortunately we have no wheelchair access, but many folk with special needs are also able to enjoy walking with our llamas around the farm. The Walk and Talk can be tailored to suit individual groups, so if for example, you are contemplating ownership of llamas or alpacas we can spend a bit more time teaching handling methods, haltering and husbandry etc. We are happy to adapt the day to suit your needs. Just give us a call and let us know!
6. War Horse Valley Country Farm Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By annagG1592SO
meeting and walking the gentle Alpacas, fun for all ages, i loved our visit and so did my niece who is 5, interesting museum , and trailer ride around the farm, seeing the cows being milked and the dogs loving the work hey do herding the cows to be milked, a real learning experience, much fun , this was my second visit and i will go again x thank you
7. Hidden Valley Pigs
8. Orchard Organic Farm
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By RustyJ76
Amazing place to stay. Had the best week people that run it are lovely and very helpful. Very clean and a great set up.
9. Little Orchard Alpacas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 55 reviews
Little Orchard Alpacas offers unforgettable Bell Tent Glamping breaks during the summer and Alpaca Experiences all year round.
Reviewed By louisebY7069QU
Our group booked the whole glamping site for a three night stay. We were welcomed by Rich who was so helpful in answering our questions and telling us about the farm. We absolutely loved meeting the alpacas and pigs, the site is picturesque and private, everything we needed (and more) was provided (utensils, toiletries and even drinks and snacks!!). The tents were beautifully decorated, and we had a great time using the fire pit, cooking equipment and games provided. Vic and Rich went above and beyond our expectations and we would love to visit again, we will recommend this to all our friends and family as a brilliant experience. Thank you Rich and Vic for a wonderful holiday!
10. Woolley Animals Alpaca Walking Devon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 43 reviews
We are a family run smallholding and host alpaca walking and sheep activities. Why not come and walk alpacas with us in beautiful Devon? We have some cute Swiss Valais Blacknose Sheep - they look like teddy bears! When we have lambs you are welcome to help bottle feed! we are happy to show people our beautiful animals on one of our animal experiences but we like your visit to be personal so we do ask you to call in advance to book. We charge a fee for alpaca walking as we tailor the walk to your group's needs, we usually take up to twelve people although for parties we can take more by arrangement. The experience activity includes meet and greet, learning about the animals, group walk and hand feeding and bottle feeding babies. We can provide refreshments for humans too! We also offer a one hour 'no frills' walk during the Summer months. WE OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please visit our website for details.
Reviewed By 98GLH
We had an amazing time after (finally!) making our visit. Cathy was so accommodating with helping us arrange a date to come and visit their lovely animals :) The whole experience was super relaxed, and the sun even came out for us to enjoy delicious tea and scones after our walk. The talk before our walk was very interesting and answered a lot of our questions; and was very well arranged to keep the 3 groups of people socially distanced. We had chosen which alpacas to walk beforehand, both Jeff and Rufus were lovely natured and easy to walk (and take selfies with!) We would definitely highly recommend and can't wait to come back and meet the new additions next year! Georgia and Elaine :)
