For a holiday where you truly get away from it all, leave the car at home and leave the lanes and country roads for the locals. Being car free is easy in Devon, with the extensive public transport network, you can easily leave the car behind, have a great time and cut your carbon footprint all at the same time.
Firstly, getting to Devon…
Devon is easily accessible via national coach companies and the national rail network with mainline stations in Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay to name a few. These stations then have simple connections across the county to make getting to your destination and exploring as easy as pie. Plus, with modern technology, you can buy your train ticket, plan your route and even find out what platform you need to be on all in one app!
Rail travel isn’t always cheap, but with the variety of railcards on offer for families, couples, children, senior citizens and those with access needs, you can save loads and cut down on your carbon footprint all at the same time.
Once you’re in the county, you can of course continue to use the trains but if you fancy something a little more nostalgic, there are steam trains and cliff railways in various towns and villages to help you get from A to B. The Dartmouth Steam Railway gives you some incredible views along the way, while the South Devon Railway will take you from Totnes to Buckfastleigh and the Babbacombe Cliff Railway and the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railways will help you get up and down some otherwise steep routes.
As well as having a regular train service, the county is also served by a network of local buses. There are several main depots and stops in the major towns and cities and these have connections to smaller outlying places. You can find out more and plan your route using traveldevon.info
Being on the coast, you of course also have the option of travelling by ferry. There are ferries available from most of the region’s harbours with trips taking you along the Jurassic Coast, trips around the English Riviera and a voyage from Bideford across to Lundy Island.
The most cost effective way to get around Devon of course is on foot or by bike. You’ll find plenty of interesting walking and cycling trails all over the county, with maps available from accommodation providers and visitor information centres. The South West Coast Path is a great way of exploring and travelling around the coastal towns and villages.