Top 5's in Devon

As there's so much to see and do in Devon sometimes it's useful to get some tips so here's a few ideas of 'top 5's' in Devon.

• Top 5 beaches
• Top 5 views
• Top 5 off-beat activities
• Top 5 free things to do
• Top 5 adventures
• Top 5 walks

Top 5 Beaches:

1. For swimming - Blackpool Sands
A sheltered stretch of golden beach in the picturesque Start Bay, South Devon. This privately owned beach is clean, has lifeguards in the main season and includes a great beach café and shop.

2. For surfing - Croyde
A World famous sandy beach, backed by sand dunes and situated in a small bay on the North Devon Coast. The stepped beach and rocks make it one of the best surfing spots in Europe.

3. For rockpooling – Wembury
From an hour before low tide to an hour afterwards, the rocks at Wembury Beach near Plymouth are a haven of marine wildlife from limpets to anemones, hermit crabs to starfish. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the tide times and be kind to what you find!

4. For sandcastles - Woolacombe
So proud of the sandcastle making credential of their beach is Woolacombe, that they host an annual sandcastle making championship. Every July on the North Devon beach, expect to see creations ranging from standard castles to spaceships, cartoon characters and crocodiles.

5. For a beach barbeque - Ness Cove
Great for getting friends together and dusting off the bucket barbeque, South Devon’s Ness Cove beach is accessed via an original smuggler’s tunnel carved through the cliff and is one of the more secluded beaches in the area. Just let the council know that you’re planning to have a BBQ and off you go!

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Top 5 Views:

1. Valley of the Rocks – To feel like you’ve stepped into a Lord of the Rings set, visit this amazing natural landscape in North Devon, where the steep sides of the valley lead down to the coast path which offers panoramic coastal views (and resident feral goats!).

2. The top of Haytor – Probably the most talked about tor on Dartmoor, the top of Haytor, whether you choose to climb right to the top of the granite outcrop or decide that the walk up the steep hillside is enough exercise, the reward is a 360° view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, much of Devon can be seen from here including the Exe Estuary and the south coast.

3. Exeter Cathedral rooftop – Book a summer tour of Exeter Cathedral’s roof space to walk the longest continuous mediaeval vault in the world and the reward is the top of the North Tower which gives views across the city and surrounding countryside. 

4. The Dart Estuary – The view from Dartmouth Castle at the mouth of the River Dart in South Devon spans up river to harbour towns of Dartmouth and Kingswear and out to sea where sail boats and Royal Navy exercises share this stretch of English Channel.

5. Plymouth wheel – Plymouth’s very own version of the London Eye, in place for the summer, offers views of the city, its harbour and the coastline from the spot where Sir Francis Drake used to enjoy a game of bowls.

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Top 5 Off-beat activities:

1. Catch the South Sands Ferry – In the summer months this foot ferry service operates between Whitestrand, in the centre of Salcombe, and the picturesque South Sands beach where it is met by a sea tractor, which takes up to the top of the beach. From here, check out the watersports centre for a sailing lesson or kayak tour, or stretch your legs on the South West Coast Path.

2. Go horse riding on the beach – Book a hack with one of the stables in Devon that offer riding on the beach for one of the best places to ride and get some great exercise while you’re at it (horse riding is said to be one of the best outdoors activities for burning calories!).

3. Catch your own supper on a mackerel fishing trip – The mackerel season generally coincides with the summer when you can hire a small motor boat from one of the towns or villages along the East Devon coast, cast a line, kick back and chug along in the hope of snagging a feast.

4. Try a Plymouth Gin cocktail – World famous Plymouth Gin has been distilled in the Blackfriars Distillery on Plymouth’s Barbican since 1793, making it the oldest working gin distillery in England. Visitors can take a tour and sample the tipple then relax in the cocktail lounge.  

5. Spend a night under the stars – Try a spot of wild camping on Dartmoor, one of the few places in the UK where it is accepted and even encouraged. As long as you choose your spot sensibly by doing your research and avoiding certain non-permitted areas, the choice is yours. Round off your wild trip by trying a spot of wild swimming in rivers or natural pools.

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Top 5 Free things to do:

1. Red Coat tours – With Exeter’s Red Coat Tour guides, choose from a programme of free walking tours for an insight into the history of this Roman city. Tours range from those about the green spaces of Exeter to those with gruesome tales of riots, murder and the plague and a special Halloween tour in what is reputed to be one of the most haunted cities in the country.

2. The Donkey Sanctuary – Meet the donkeys near Sidmouth in East Devon. The charity, dedicated to preventing the suffering of donkeys around the world, offers free entry to visitors who are invited to meet the very sociable donkeys that love the attention. There are also various field walks and it is walking distance from the coast.

3. Devon Guild of Craftsmen – Riverside Mill in Bovey Tracey, on the south-eastern edge of Dartmoor, is home to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen whose members include some of the best local artistic talent. The shop and exhibition space make are well worth a perusal and the terrace café makes a great pit stop.

4. Dartington Hall Estate – Spanning 1200 acres, the estate is run as a charity with a focus on the arts, sustainability and social justice. Visit Dartington Hall, whose site has been occupied for over 1000 years for a wander around the stunning landscaped gardens and see what’s on at the Barn Cinema or head down to the shops for great local produce, crafts & gifts.

5. Get out and about! – Devon is a huge natural playground for those who love the great outdoors. Visit one of the forest parks or nature reserves or explore the moors to find your own favourite corner of Devon.

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Top 5 Adventures:

1. Surfing the Atlantic waves – Whether you’re already a pro or want to take your first steps, Devon’s north coast enjoys some of the finest waves in the country. The area is a magnet for surfers all year round and has many surf schools offering friendly tuition.

2. Coasteering – The latest craze in high-adrenaline activities, coasteering is taking off in Devon with companies on both coasts taking groups to the nearest challenging stretch of coastline to traverse along it by jumping, swimming, scrambling and climbing.

3. Off-roading  - A four-wheeled adventure for those looking to hone their driving skills in the muddy slopes of a dedicated course in East Devon’s Blackdown Hills. 

4. White water rafting – For an autumn or winter adventure, try white water rafting. The steep granite rivers running off Dartmoor offer challenging rapids during the October to March rafting season and can be booked with companies offering expert guidance.

5. Climbing – Devon is spoilt for climbing spots from the granite tors of Dartmoor to the high coastal cliffs and local caves. And there are indoor centres where you can try a first climb too.

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Top 5 Walks:

1. Devon’s Little Switzerland – (5miles) This circular walk is based on the scenic town of Lynmouth on Devon’s Exmoor coast.  A walk of contrasts, its outward leg follows the valley of the East Lyn River while the return, on route of the Two Moors Way and Tarka Trail, is a high, airy walk along the valley top.

2. Heath and Valley – (6.25miles) This walk is based on Newton Poppleford and uses minor lanes and old tracks to the west of the village before circling back on the route of the East Devon Way.  It offers a pleasant walk through quiet countryside as well as some good views over the valley of the River Otter, one of East Devon’s characteristic landscape features.

3. A Victorian Landscape Walk – (5miles) Meldon Viaduct, to the west of Okehampton, is a superb example of Victorian engineering.  Now a significant landscape feature it was built to carry the old railway main line and was closed to trains in the 1960s and instead is now available to walkers and cyclists on the Granite Way and offers superb views over the edge of Dartmoor.

4. A Walk in Hope – (5miles) Hope Cove, in the far south of the county, is one of the most attractive settlements on the whole of the South West Coast Path in Devon.  It actually consists of two coves, Inner Hope and Outer Hope, the latter being the larger of the two and the location of most of the settlement’s facilities.

5. The ‘Most Rebellious Town in Devon’ – (7.5miles) The East Devon
Way is a 40 miles route which runs parallel to, and inland of, the coast of East Devon between Exmouth and Lyme Regis.  It passes through quiet countryside and a variety of towns, villages and smaller settlements.