Blackdown Hills

The Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the Devon and Somerset border, is a real hidden gem. Unspoilt by mass tourism, it is a beautiful landscape of steep valleys, forest and farmland, laced with rivers and streams. The area offers excellent cycling, walking and riding and there is plenty of history to interest visitors, from the Iron Age to World War Two. The hills are dotted with pretty villages, where a walm welcome and good food are always on offer.

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Budleigh Salterton

This old salters’ community nestling on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast has a 400-year-old cobble beach. A delightful riverside walk to the old village of Otterton runs from Budleigh Salterton through the picturesque Otter Valley.

Otterton defies modernity with its chocolate-box thatched charm. Even the Kings Arms Inn has a post office and general store. Otterton Mill is a Pandora’s box of cultural activity with a bakery, working flourmill, arts and crafts, and gallery of fine Devon art. A popular restaurant with live music provides evenings of delicious food and entertainment.

Nearby is Hayes Barton, the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh, favourite explorer of Queen Elizabeth I. Bicton Park and Botanical Gardens are also nearby and are the most magnificent privately owned gardens in Devon. Around the headland from Budleigh Salterton is the famous and striking geology of Ladram Bay, with its red cliffs plunging into the sea.

Nearby attractions include Otterton Mill for delicious local food, arts and crafts and Bicton Park Botanical Gardens for a great family day out.

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Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor is not just about the landscape; there’s a lot more to it than that. It’s not just about the ponies, or the tors, the history or the heritage; but that’s a good start.  It’s about getting out there, experiencing new things. This living, breathing, working landscape holds the secret to a past that stretches back over the centuries, and a future that is both sustainable and green. From rare birds andbutterflies, Neolithic monuments and ancient woodland, to tradition, folklore and farming on horseback, Dartmoor has it all. Leading the way for the arts, all things organic, a haven for literary greats and explorers, you will be walking in some awesome footsteps.

In all its glory and splendour. From hiking and biking and the great outdoors, get on to the moor and just do.  See dartmoor ponies, andnature at every turn, odd little dartmoor villages, castles, culture, tradition and heaps of community spirit.

And at the end of the day, settle down at a dartmoor pub, eat fresh dartmoor food and sleep deeply in your bed. Whatever your idea of the perfect getaway, you can find it here on dartmoor. We have all kinds of accommodation, from cosy dartmoor guest houses/B&Bs, boutique dartmoor hotels, and breathtaking dartmoor campsites, to thatched dartmoor cottages, and even wild camping.

Exeter

Exeter is an intimate city brimming with character and steeped in ancient history. The City offers a wide range of attractions, facilities and entertainment making Exeter the perfect day out. Exeter is surrounded by vast swathes of lush green Devon countryside, within minutes drive of the centre.

Whether you’re taking a holiday, if you are touring or looking for an interesting day out, whatever your age, Exeter has much to entice all year round.

Visits to the following are an absolute must: 850 year old cathedral, Britains only Underground Passages, Historic Quayside – array of craft and antique shops, pubs and tea rooms, Exeter Festival – held every year in the summer, Theatres, Art Centre and Art Galleries.

“With a touch of buzzy, big city atmosphere and a thriving arts scene, Exeter is one of the liveliest cities in the southwest. The city’s long heritage means there are plenty of monuments and historical attractions to occupy at least a day’s sightseeing, and the excellent selection of bars, cafes and restaurants make Exeter a vibrant place to be after dark” – Lonely Planet.

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Honiton

Located on the route from London and one of the traditional gateways to Devon, the town lies amongst countryside that has changed little since 1724 when Daniel Defoe described the view from Honiton Hill as ‘the most beautiful landscape in the world. A mere picture, and I do not remember the like of it in any one place in England, this is classic English countryside’.

A famous lace making and market town with a well-regarded farmers market, Honiton has a national reputation as an antiques centre with over thirty antiques shops and auction rooms.

One of the old traditions is that of the Hot Penny Catching Ceremony. A golden glove is carried atop a long garlanded pole. It is said that whilst the glove is raised, thieves and criminals are immune from prosecution. The beginning of the annual fair is announced, and heated pennies are cast among the onlookers.

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Okehampton

A traditional market town nestling in the northern foothills of Dartmoor, Okehampton is a great place for the outdoor enthusiast.

Known as the walking centre of Devon, visitors can discover the wild side of Dartmoor on foot or explore forgotten villages by bike. Then there’s riding, swimming, fishing and golf. For the less active there is a Victorian shopping arcade, a museum, a lovely park for picnics and the second oldest Norman Castle in the county.

To the north of the town are Dartmoor’s two highest peaks, whilst to the south lies the National Trust gorge at Lydford – a picturesque village with its Whitelady waterfall.

There is an Edwardian evening in December, and a farmers market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month.

The nearby Granite Way is a fantastic cycle route worth exploring.

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Sidmouth

Sidmouth lies on the Jurassic Coast, and its Millennium Walkway passes beneath vivid red Triassic sandstone cliffs scoured and sculpted into fantastic shapes by the passage of ancient rivers. From here you can climb the South West Coast Path to Ladram Bay with its stunning red rock chimneys in one direction or picturesque Branscombe in the other.

Sidmouth approaches perfection as it has everything you could possibly want – beaches, stunning coastal walks, gardens, a theatre and cinema, stylish eating places, and some of the best shops in East Devon selling desirable items such as unusual gifts, designer clothing, and lifestyle goods.

With over 500 listed buildings, a liberal sprinkling of blue plaques testifies to Sidmouth’s charm with a host of famous visitors including Princess Victoria, the Grand Duchess of Russia, and Elizabeth Barrett Browing..

Just outside the town of Sidmouth, is the Donkey Sanctuary, home to around 500 donkeys with a total of 13,600 donkeys being rescued over the years. Set in unspoilt farmland and countryside, visitors return time and again to meander among the donkeys and absorb the serene and relaxed surroundings.

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Tavistock

This old stannary town was once the world’s major copper producing area. There is a charming country atmoshphere in the town with its pannier market and many old fashioned specialist shops.

Major annual events for locals and visitors alike include: the Goose Fair in October, the Dickensian evening in December and the Tavistock Music Festival in May.

For the more energetic there are lovely walks along the canal.

For places to stay visit www.dartmoor.co.uk

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Teignmouth

The quintessential Devon resort town, Teignmouth will lay claim to your affections the minute you arrive. Most of its history is wrapped up with its harbour, with fishing, and with clay from up the valley at Bovey Tracey. Since Georgian and Regency times Teignmouth has been attracting visitors to its wide beaches and amenable climate, and this has shaped the greater part of what Teignmouth is today. The seafront is much as your great grandparents would have enjoyed it, save for the recent addition of a popular £400,000 children’s play area, new adventure golf course and multi use games area. The town near the seafront is predominantly Regency and Victorian in style. The story of Teignmouth and Shaldon’s life and times are on view in an excellent local museum on French Street.

As well as playing host to many visitors each year, Teignmouth retains its commercial port resources, and thereby keeps an interest in other sectors of the economy, which adds a vitality to its everyday life, to the great benefit of locals and visitors alike.

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Topsham

A fascinating and quaint historic estuary port, Topsham has some fine architecture. There are Dutch traders’ houses and fine examples of buildings from Georgian and Edwardian times.

The town has an eclectic range of shops for sailors, cooks, collectors and visitors alike. Offering gifts, antiques, clothing, fine wines, local food and natural beauty products, Topsham is a treasure-trove of boutiques located in a traditional maritime environment.

There are a number of character pubs and quality restaurants here, including The Georgian Tea Room which recently won a Taste of the West Gold Award, the Galley Restaurant (Best Restaurant in Devon) and La Petite Maison, which was recently a Silver Taste of the West Award winner. Just outside Topsham, you will find Darts Farm. An entire shopping village under one roof, where you can buy excellent local produce, lifestyle items or dine in the restaurant.

The Exe Estuary supports a wealth of habitats and wildlife and these can be discovered at  Bowling Green Marsh nature reserve.

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Other places of interest in Devon

For more information on tourist attractions in Devon take a look at www.visitdevon.co.uk