Freedom – this encapsulates the best things to do in Devon. This lush county sits in southwest England, stretching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south.
Rugged coastal paths, wild moors, towering cliffs, hedge-lined lanes, and scenic beaches create a feeling of expanse and a landscape where anything is possible. Go over this list and pick your own adventure.
Beaches
1. Bantham Beach
Sun in your hair, a fresh breeze wrapping you in its embrace, and the sound of the waves lulling you into relaxation – hitting the beach is indeed one of the best things to do in Devon. The finest in the South Hams is Bantham. Picturesque and raw, this beach at the mouth of River Avon is framed by a ring of sand during the high tide, which transforms into a gold expanse when it is low – great for little kids for wading and paddling.
Price: Free Location: Bantham, Kingsbridge TQ7 3AN, United Kingdom
Privacy and solitude reign supreme in Slapton Sands. This pebble beach is three miles long backed by Slapton Ley, the largest freshwater lake in the southwest. If you are tired of the crowds and is looking to recharge and gather yourself, there is no better place to visit.
Price: Free Location: Near the A379 road between Kingsbridge and Dartmouth
Slapton Sands, South Hams, Torcross, Devon. by Jim Linwood / CC BY 2.0
Outdoors
3. Dartmoor National Park
Vast, wild, and mysterious, Dartmoor National Park features granite-topped hills, marshy bogs, and patches of purple heather – a sight all too familiar to Sherlock Holmes fans that have read or watched the Hound of the Baskerville. The landscape and weather prove dramatic and eerie but still makes for a magnificent walk amidst the mist. Horse riding, climbing, and seasonal guided tours are available, too.
This sand dune system is the biggest in the United Kingdom. If you love the outdoors, count on it – this is definitely one of the best things to do in Devon. Sandy hummocks and salt marshes are everywhere, plus seas of purple thyme, pyramidal orchids, and yellow hawkweed. You are sure to fall in love with the landscape!
Sparkling whites crown this prestigious vineyard. Enjoy the steep vine-covered hills and head to the shop for a taste after.
Price: £8.95 Hours: 10 AM to 6 PM during May to September; 10 AM to 5 PM during March to April; 10 AM to 3 PM during October to December (Booking is required for some tours) Location: Three miles south of Totnes, off the A381
Photo credit: sharpham.com
7. Yearlstone Vineyard
More than the award-winning wines, it is the location and ambience of Yearlstone Vineyard that puts it on the list of the best things to do in Devon. It is on the same latitude as Moselle Valley and is enveloped by sloping hills and the River Exe.
Price: £3 admission; tours range from £3.50 to £50 Hours: 11 AM to 4 PM every Wednesday to Sunday from Easter to November Location: The outskirts of Bickleigh Village, 10 miles north of Exeter on the A396
Photo credit: TripAdvisor
Historic Sites
8. Castle Drogo
Grand and outlandish, Castle Drogo is a country house and castle that opened in 1930. Its Tudor and Medieval architecture attracts visitors from around the world. Apart from the spectacular building, the woodland trails below it features mesmerising alpine-esque views that overlooks Teign Gorge.
Price: £9 for adults and £4.45 for children Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM from mid-March to October Location: near Drewsteignton, Chagford, Dartmoor, in Devon, England
Castle Drogo Front (or back) by Tim Regan / CC BY 2.0
9. Greenway House
At the top of every list of the best things to do in Devon is a visit to Greenway, the summer home of famous crime writer, Agatha Christie. Readers also know Greenway as the Nasse House in the book, Dead Man’s Folly. Part-guided tours reveal parts of the house seemingly frozen in time.
Price: £10.30 for adults and £5.10 for children Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5 PM Location: Greenway Rd. on the River Dart near Galmpton in Dartmouth, Devon, England
Built in the 1920s, the Coleton Fishacre is a Jazz Age beauty that is the former home of the D’Oyly Carte family of theatre impresarios. Art deco embellishments delight guests and the croquet patio charms with subtropical gardens and sea vistas.
Price: £10.30 for adults and £5.10 for children Hours: Open daily from 10.30 AM to 5 PM Location: Brownstone Rd. near Kingswear in Dartmouth, England
Coleton Fishacre – Kingswear, Devon by Glen Bowman / CC BY 2.0
11. Exeter Cathedral
Dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, commonly known as Exeter Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral that is one of the most impressive ecclesiastical sights in Devon. Its soaring ceilings, Gothic vaults, collection of 14th-century sculpture, carvings, and ancient galleries prove to be local treasures. There are daily guided tours but the best and most dramatic experience of the place is through the roof tours every Tuesday and Friday.
Price: £7.50 for adults; children go free Hours: 9.30 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Saturday; 11.30 AM to 3.30 PM on Sunday Location: 1 The Cloisters, Exeter EX1 1HS, United Kingdom
No doubt, RAMM is more than the average Victorian Museum. Interactive displays captivate and exhibits enthral, including Roman-era artefacts, local Tudor carvings, and ethnographic displays. A little brush with culture sure goes a long way here.
Price: Free Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM every Tuesday to Sunday Location: Queen St., Exeter in Devon England EX4 3RX
Photo credit: TripAdvisor
13. Museum of British Surfing
An instant shoe-in on the coolest things to do in Devon, the Museum of British Surfing stands out with spirited surfboards and vintage wetsuit-lined walls. More than anything, a walk along the museum is a smooth ride of surfing stories. From 18th century Brit sailors surfing in Hawaii to the surf pioneers of England in the 1920s, the exhibits here prove that surfing is forever!
Price: £2 for adults; children go free Hours: 11 AM to 3 PM every Wednesday to Monday from Easter to December Location: The Yard, Caen St, Braunton EX33 1AA, United Kingdom
Extra Tip: Check out Plumguide for the best holiday homes and vacation rentals in Devon.
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