Family Holidays in Devon

With a wealth of Top Attractions for all the family, a variety of accommodation options with facilities for children, and a playground of wide open spaces to go wild in, Devon is the ideal family holiday destination.

Why not explore the fascinating English Riviera urban Geopark or the mixture of coastal activities and rural havens of North Devon. Meanwhile the tors of Dartmoor are just waiting to be explored and for that city-coast-country experience try the Heart of Devon.

From meeting farm animals to braving a rollercoaster, building sandcastles to exploring historic houses, Devon’s Top Attractions guarantee a great day out for all the family. Highlights include:

4 ways to travel in style on boats, trams and trains with Stuart Line Cruises, Seaton Tramway, South Devon Railway and Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway.

5 Farm and animal based attractions, such as Pennywell Farm and The Big Sheep, provide hands on experiences with a variety of animals including ponies, goats, piglets, sheep and much much more. Other animals can be seen in their natural habitat at Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and the National Marine Aquarium.

17 heritage houses, museums and gardens, such as Bygones, Buckland Abbey and Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, where children can learn by exploring and by seeing, touching and in some cases hearing what happened in years gone.

Heaps of children's activities during school holidays and weekends at attractions such as Woodlands, Pecorama and the National Trust’s Killerton House & Gardens and Arlington Court.

And much more – With over 40 Top Attractions across Devon to choose from, you won’t have time to be bored! 
  

For three seaside towns with 14 award-winning family-friendly beaches, including sheltered shallow bays and safe and warm paddling waters, the world’s first Urban Global Geopark, a wealth of attractions offering unique family experiences and a packed calendar of events, the English Riviera is a superb family holiday destination.

Discover prehistoric life at Kents Cavern where Britain’s earliest ancient humans hung out thousands of years ago, or view life in miniature at Babbacombe Model Village. Further along the coast, an afternoon spent rock-pooling at Goodrington Sands or crabbing in Brixham or Torquay harbours is time well spent and Babbacombe Downs with its cliff railway a peaceful spot with stunning views and more beaches to discover.

Why not pick up a new skill in North Devon with a surfing, sailing, windsurfing, sea kayaking, horse riding, fishing or golf lesson! You can even be a zoo keeper for the day at Exmoor Zoo and find the answer to those burning questions: Do penguins smell? How many times per day are baby parrots fed?

Step back in time at historic communities such as the cobbled, traffic-free fishing village of Clovelly or, at the other side of North Devon, the twin towns of Lynton & Lynmouth, connected by a water-driven cliff railway. From here, Exmoor is on the doorstep with its unique landscapes including ‘Little Switzerland’ The Valley of the Rocks and the native red deer.

The award-winning, clean sandy beaches along the North Devon coast are great for sandcastles, paddling, body boarding, hide and seek in the dunes, rock pooling, shell collecting and more. Traffic-free walking and cycling trails for all abilities include the Tarka Trail, ideal for cycling and with bike hire for tandems, mini tandems, child trailers and child seats.

With 368 square miles of open space, children (and parents) can run wild on Dartmoor, a vast, awesome playground. See Dartmoor Ponies in their natural environment and visit their tiny counterpart at the Miniature Pony Centre. Head for Lydford Gorge, a tree-lined ravine with thunderous waterfall, magnificent whirlpools and deep, cool plunge pools – ideal for a spot of wild swimming in the summer months. For little monkeys and big kids too, there are some great adventures to be had: enjoy a heart-thumping zip wire, rope swinging experience at Tree Surfers; take part in a commando assault course at River Dart Adventures, and visit the pirate ship and Lilliput, which will keep little ones entertained for hours.

For a diverse mixture of city, coast and country head to the Heart of Devon. The cosmopolitan city of Exeter offers a bustling calendar of events, especially during Exeter Summer Festival with historical re-enactments, family picnics, concerts and fireworks on the Quayside. The many attractions in the area also hold events such as Beautiful Days at Escot during August, a music festival for all the family. Try White Deer Camping at Crealy Great Adventure Park or join in at one of the events at Powderham Castle, the ancestral home of the 18th Earl of Devon with its deer park sitting alongside the beautiful Exe Estuary.On the stunning Jurassic coastline discover the long sandy beach at Exmouth and the historic smuggling cove turned picturesque fishing village of Beer. Nearby, Pecorama is a delight of train sets in miniature and ride-on as well as playgrounds and gardens to enjoy.

For further information and details on booking 
your holiday in other regions throughout the 
South West of England, please go to: 
www.visitsouthwest.co.uk