What to do when in Devon
The county of Devon is a fantastic place to spend your holiday – no matter who makes up your holiday party. It’s a beautiful part of the country, with a real variety in landscapes including the expansive and rugged Dartmoor, coastal paths that stretch for hundreds of miles and some really beautiful villages and seaside towns.
One of the most vibrant and picturesque towns is Dartmouth. The town is found on the River Dart and you’ll find a twice weekly market, shops and galleries along the cobbled streets. It’s also the home of the Royal Naval College and you’ll find plenty of sailing folk in the vicinity. The annual regatta is held every August and there are lots of sailing schools in the area. The town opposite is Kingswear, and the two are connected by a ferry for both cars and pedestrians, or you can drive the long way round.
A short distance from Dartmouth you’ll find one of Devon’s best beaches – Blackpool Sands. This is a private beach where you pay an all-day fee for parking, but it’s worth it as the pebbly beach shelves into great swimming water almost immediately, especially if you come at high tide. Behind the beach, there’s a beach shop and restaurant, so you won’t need to come armed with food supplies.
You can get involved in a lot of sport in Devon including, of course, all the different water sports like windsurfing, surfing and diving. There are plenty of hiking trails and places to go mountain biking too. You’ll also find plenty of places to climb in Devon and if you’re an experienced climber there are some great crags to try out on the north Devon coast as well as on the high tors of Dartmoor.
Slab climbers will find some challenges at Baggy Point and there’s a vertical granite wall at Sheeps Tor, with different routes for novices through to some middle grade routes. If you’ve never tried climbing, head to the Dart Rock Climbing Centre for a beginner’s course.
Of course, if you’re looking for less activity and more sightseeing, there are lots of country houses and beautiful gardens open to the public in Devon. And for the kids, you can always find fun theme parks and water parks not too far away.
Wherever you plan to visit, there’s plenty of holiday accommodation on offer. There are lots of holiday parks in North Devon, as well as a huge choice of hotels, B&Bs or private holiday cottages. It’s probably best to decide what activities you want to do or places you’d like to see before you choose where you’re going to stay.
Devon is a great place to holiday – whether you’re with friends or you are taking your children on holiday. Once you’ve discovered how much Devon has to offer, it will probably be somewhere you return to again and again.
