Sunny Devon is clotted cream, fresh crab sandwiches on the beach and cider on the quayside; it’s a salty surfing lesson, camping wild on rugged Dartmoor and driving leisurely down country lanes with green fields rolling on both sides. With so much in such a small area, you could spend weeks here. Merging the best of land and sea, Devon has everything from historic cities to seaside villages and surf beaches to subtropical gardens.
Memory of Devon
“What a fabulous county Devon is! We surfed on the north coast, camped out on Dartmoor and headed south to Salcombe for the sailing. The weather was positively tropical compared to Manchester!”
The Marr family, Manchester
Culture and Heritage
In Devon you can step back in time to explore ancient cities, discover seafaring characters like Drake, the settings for novels by Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle and myths and legends. Today Devon hosts everything from food festivals to literature celebrations and sailing regattas.
Attractions
The natural beauty of coast, moor and forest is hard to beat. Exeter also has a magnificent cathedral, Plymouth is a hub of naval history and you’ll find exquisite gardens at Castle Hill and Tapeley Park. The ‘English Riviera’ on the south coast offers traditional seaside pleasures in the resorts of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
Sport
The sea serves up sporting action in the form of surfing, sailing, sea fishing and pretty much every watersport you can imagine. Inland, there’s great walking from epic hikes on Dartmoor to gently winding coastal paths. Add cycling and some great golf courses and you’ve got the perfect destination for an active holiday.
Food and Drink
Devon bursts with fine foods. The sea supplies the freshest fish and the county’s famous cream teas are a treat worth travelling for. Celebrity chefs John Burton-Race and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have been lured here and the Devon Celebration of Food in October is one of the biggest events of its kind.
Music and Nightlife
You may have come to Devon for peace and quiet relaxation, but country pubs, regular festivals and the bigger towns and cities all offer great music and nightlife. Exeter’s Vibraphonic Festival in March sees hundreds of well-known and up-and-coming artists play venues across the city.
Buy before you fly
To make your trip to Devon easier, you can buy tickets to attractions, travel passes, and much more at our online shop, and avoid the queues! The BritRail GB Flexi Pass (www.visitbritaindirect.com/en-us/detail.aspx?ProductCode=T3) allows you to explore the country at your own pace, and the Great British Heritage Pass (www.visitbritaindirect.com/en-us/detail.aspx?ProductCode=TP1) gives you free entry to nearly 600 of Britain’s finest historic houses, gardens and monuments. For more great offers, go to VisitBritain Direct (www.visitbritaindirect.com/en-us/).
Must see and do
Top daytime must-do's |
Top night time must-do's |
|---|
- Surf the breakers in Croyde, Saunton Sands or Lynmouth.
| - Camp wild on Dartmoor with its wind sculpted tors, craggy landscape and wild ponies.
|
- Catch and barbecue your own mackerel in Brixham, Exmouth or Appledore.
| - Sup local ales in a waterside pub while drinking in some spectacular seaside scenery.
|
| |
- Discover seafaring history in Plymouth, where the Mayflower left Britain’s shores.
| - Head to the bright lights of Plymouth, Exeter or Torquay for a night out.
|
- Cycle or walk the Drake’s Trail to discover more about Sir Francis Drake.
| |