Devon
Why we love Devon
Hugging the south-west, Devon is a playground for adventurers, explorers and lovers of food and drink. With around 120 picturesque sandy beaches, it offers the perfect place to pitch a picnic stocked with locally sourced foods. Its crystal waters offer decent surf, while its towering cliff-side walks hark back to the fossilised Jurassic south.
From medieval towns to cute seaside villages, there’s a slice of paradise waiting for you. Whether you’re a walker, a cyclist or a wheelchair user, fancy a dip, a flop or even a trek with a lama, washed up with a fat menu of local treats and sleep under the stars, Devon has it all.
Mysterious Burgh island by sea tractor
Take a sea tractor to a small tidal island that inspired Agatha Christie. Explore its grand Art Deco hotel, and have a pint at its pub, before waiting for the sea to come in around you and a sea tractor to take you back to the mainland, Bigbury-on-Sea.
Explore beneath Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral is a must with its, but have you ever stopped to think about what lurks beneath the city? Explore the medieval subterranean tunnels which labyrinth under this city.
Edible Devon
Learn about the fascinating world of wild food foraging and turn your walks into edible inspiration. Or why not take a trip to South Devon Chilli Farm, on top of a pretty hilltop village with more than 10 acres peppered with chilli.
Things to do in Devon
Featured things to do
National Marine Aquarium
Explore the Great Barrier Reef in Plymouth. Discover the colossal tanks of the National Marine Aquarium, Britain’s biggest aquarium.
Quince Honey Farm
Get a buzz out of exploring a working honey farm. Take an amble around Quince Honey Farm’s Nectar Gardens or extensive meadows rammed with sweet-smelling flowers. See millions of bees up close, visit the Honey Factory and take a peek behind the scenes at how the honey is produced.
Discovery day in Exmouth
Fancy an early autumn dip? Why not combine it with a new learning kite surfing? Book yourself in for a discovery day in Exmouth. Learn the basics in this three-hour lesson.
Visit Plymouth Gin distillery
England’s oldest working distillery. Where better to learn about (and taste) the heritage of gin. All housed within a medieval building dating from 1431.
Places to stay in Devon
Brixham
A cute harbour-side town in South Devon, where you can feast on freshly caught fish every day. It offers waterfront walks, a scenic beach and an outdoor Art Deco lido, Shoalstone Pool.
Croyde
With its picture-perfect beach is perfect for surfers and those looking to learn or just soak up the vibe, complete with on-shore winds and Atlantic swells.
Totnes
A pretty little bohemian enclave set on the River Dart, where artists, musicians and lovers of all things organic and lots of independent shops and fair-trade cafés.
Explore nearby
Getting to Devon
Devon is well served by trains from all over the country, and many of the routes are very picturesque, making it a great way to travel. The two main lines from London are from Paddington and Waterloo. You can also drive here: the M5 runs from Exeter and the M4 from Bristol. You can also get her by coaches from Exeter, Tiverton and Plymouth and others.
By air
There are flights from many UK airports to Exeter International Airport including Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and the Channel Islands.
There are also plenty of international flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin and Geneva and others, as well as long-haul including Toronto.
Getting around
One of the best ways to get around is using the public transport network, from coach, train and bus. There’re taxis too.
By train
Trains are a perfect way to enjoy sustainable travel and soak up some pretty fabulous views too. Great Western Railway (GWR) operate a number of journeys across Devon from over 270 destinations by train.
By bus
The bus service is extensive across Devon with plenty of chances to link to smaller routes.
By taxi
Readily available. Probably best to ask your accommodation provider for details.
By coach
There are National Express and MegaBus links to lots of UK towns and cities as well as various locations across Devon.
By bike
Peddle power is the perfect way to access some of the best of the county’s natural heritage as well as its areas of Natural Beauty. Devon has a host of wonderful cycle routes, many of which are connected to the main cycle network and range in length and difficulty.
Want to know more?
Check out Visit Devon for the top inside tips and travel inspirations.