Top Things to do in Devon
Top 10 Outdoor Activities 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. Woolacombe Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,630 reviews
Woolacombe beach is family owned & family run with families in mind. We provide car parks, a lifeguard service, toilets, first aid and food and beach goods outlets.
Reviewed By amandataylor0205 - London, United Kingdom
Breathtaking view of Lundy Island this beautiful beach was outstandingly clean even though it was absolutely packed with families enjoying the sunshine. Great waves for surfing and lovely little natural pools for the younger children to play in safely. One of the best English beaches we have visited.
2. The South West Coast Path
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By charliedog56
Set off from minehead up to Portsmouth now Can be very challenging near minehead but Can recommend it to anyone. Takes the cares of the world off your back just so much to see We fly down to betray airport and do around 120 mile stretch every year .fantastic views and many nice people on the way. You won't regret doing it we book through a company called contours who arrange everything for you hotel luggage transport every thing. Just chase your bags every day. WALK OF A LIFETIME.
3. Salcombe to Bolt Head Walk
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 289 reviews
A 3 mile moderate walk along part of the South West Coast Path National Trail passing through an enchanted landscape of rocky spires and jumbled pinnacles to the mouth of the Salcombe estuary, with inspiring views in all directions, this is a coastal walk guaranteed to lift the spirits.
Reviewed By richardm19622019 - Bedford, United Kingdom
This is a great walk, tough and uphill to start, then stunning views as you get to the top and walk around bolt head, down to the valley to finish before heading back to Salcombe South sands. Brilliant. May have to wait for the ferry if catching it to Salcombe after as only 12 allowed on at a time. Enjoy
4. Baggy Point Easy Access Walk
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 501 reviews
A short and easy 2.7 mile walk on the South West Coast Path out to the tip of Baggy Point and back again, taking in spectacular views of the coastline towards Bideford Bay and Hartland. Children will love the whale bones and the old wreck post, as well as the rocks and cliffs. A gently sloping walk out to Baggy Point and back. An alternative route back includes a short steep climb.
Reviewed By Vijay_from_Surrey - London, United Kingdom
Great walk; not too busy (went in peak of August); as usual a friendly NT assistant at the car park; relatively easy with our two kids of nine and twelve. Two options to get to from Croyde NT parking; one over a couple of hills, the other a coast path by the cliff, we looped round over the hills and back through the coastal path. Personally I would not have done the walk by the cliff on wet or windy weather, but on a fine day it's worth doing. We spent almost two hours, but can probably be done in half that time, we took out time exploring down some rocks and taking pictures of kestrels.
5. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,145 reviews
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a conservation and education charity located in South Devon. With around 2,500 animals across 80 acres, we have more species than anyone else in the South West. These include: lions, tigers, giraffes, crocodiles, rhinos, lemurs, flamingos, meerkats, orang-utans, Komodo dragon... the list is endless! We also have indoor and outdoor play areas, the Jungle Express train, a seasonal bird show and numerous food and drink outlets. With something for guests of any age to enjoy, you'll need all day to experience what we have to offer! Paignton Zoo is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Reviewed By A3559FQsaraha
Great zoo clean and well kept animals seem happy visit lots Brilliant for children good picnic areas good takeaway food available free parking Lovely shop
6. Slapton Sands
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 465 reviews
Naturist beach which is located on Slapton Sands, near Strete, south of Dartmouth. In 1944, it was the site of the World War II military exercise, Exercise Tiger.
Reviewed By BryanG256 - King's Lynn, United Kingdom
This has been on the Bucket List since I first read about it a few years back. As you travel towards the village you see the inland nature reserve & then a car park with the Sherman Tank that was extracted from the sea by Ken and placed here as a memorial to all the lives lost on that fateful day in Apr 1944 that should have been a practice for D-Day. Very moving indeed because as you venture across the road you see the wide open sandy beach which was so peaceful on our visit & it’s hard to imagine why lives were lost . I understand there is a 2nd tank on the other end of the beach.
7. Tarka Trail (Braunton to Meeth)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
The Tarka Trail is a pedestrian and cycle way within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve. This page is for the 48km, shared-use section between Braunton and Meeth which runs along the line of an old railway. It is part of the National Cycle Network and totally traffic free. Along this stretch, interpretation boards and other information help you discover the heritage, culture and natural features you can see. Horses are also welcome between Torrington (Servis bridleway) and Meeth. Further detailed information, including maps can be found in the Tarka Trail Guide available online from the website and in local bookshops, museums and Tourist Information Centres.
Reviewed By N1625YYsarahf
We hired bikes from Barnstaple station and cycled to bideford with a lunch stop at Instow. We had a fantastic time, lovely scenery and lots of things to look at along the way. instow was a lovely place we had a nice lunch there at the boat house. Fremington was nice too there is a nice cafe in the old railway station where we stopped for tea and cake on way back and a kids pirate ship play area which my nephew would have loved as he’s mad on pirates! Can’t wait to cycle more of the trail starting at the other end next time.
8. Exmoor Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,626 reviews
Winner of FSB Family business 2019,Winner of the Legacy award ,Best Family Business 2017, Gold award for best attraction in the South-west 2012, Exmoor Zoo has become an ideal family day out. The zoo has established a good rapport with the North Devon community and offers a very hand on experience.Activities run throughout the day (every half hour in summer), meet a bird eating spider, hold a snake, feed wallabies), meet some of the zoos friendly furry animals and go to all the talks and feeding sessions!Home to the “Exmoor Beast” (a pair of black leopards), Puma, Cheetah, Maned wolves, monkeys and lots of other unusual animals like Tamandua, Fishing cats, Tapir, Singing dogs and Binturong to just name a few! The zoo is a living place with changes all the time; no visit is ever quite the same.Useful information:• Disabled access (wheelchair provision and scooter hire)• Activities through out the day• Cafeteria• Children’s playground• Undercover picnic areas• Zoo trail.
Reviewed By red_snowUK - Marlow, United Kingdom
We are staying in the area for Christmas and found Exmoor Zoo on TA. What a gem of a Zoo, a great range of species from reptiles to big cats to wildfowl to primates and a wide range of mammals including the lovely and rare in Europe, singing dogs What I really liked was seeing a lot of the more unusual species and how close you get to large cats as they devour their meat. I saw new enclosures being built for new species as well. A great find, really enjoyable and great for close up observations ..... including a “beast of exmoor”
9. World of Country Life
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,086 reviews
World of Country Life is now closed for the winter period, and will re-open on Friday 12th March 2021. Devon's multi-award-winning all-weather day out for the whole family - open Feb half term - Oct half term! You can ride on the deer train or watch the excellent Hawkridge Birds of Prey flying display. Get up close to the animals in the pet centre or burn off some energy on the outdoor adventure playground including the massive Air Bouncer and the full-size Harry the Harvester play area! There's also a museum of farming and an indoor Victorian Street, featuring a dairy, cottage & pub! The vintage & classic car collection features vehicles that have appeared in Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge & Parade's End. Then there's the steam engines and Reg Imray motorcycle collection. Refuel at Farmer Lee's Food Barn restaurant. With so much to see, come rain or shine, can you do it all in a day?!
Reviewed By billyantb - Yeovil, United Kingdom
I took my son and his friend to World of Country Life ( both 6 years old ) this week during half term. Wow what a day ! It was fantastic , they had so much fun . There was so much to do from the bouncy castles , soft play areas ,puzzle room, ride on toys , ball pit , park area , deer train , goat walk , seeing all the animals , walking around the old vehicles and motorbikes which my son particularly enjoyed , crazy golf, the big pirate ship and more! We had lunch in the cafe which was really nice . The choice on the menu was good and I was impressed with the specials board. My son had sausage and chips and I was impressed that the sausages wasn’t the standard frozen catering sausage you’d typically expect from a leisure attraction , he was served nice butchers sausages, which were yummy so I was told . The cafe was busy as it started to drizzle with rain but all the staff were very helpful and polite. It was decorated lovely with Halloween decorations . We will certainly return again next year and dine in the cafe. From start to finish it was an enjoyable day! Thank you for a great family fun day out.
10. Exmouth Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,645 reviews
Reviewed By SarahJH51 - Coventry, United Kingdom
This beach was amazing, up and coming new buildings for the children and young people to play while adults relax The ice cream stand cannot be missed, amazing flavours and delicious, Clean and tidy all people respected Covid Life guards could be seen walking along the beaches Great place to be.
TAGS
