Looking forward to your summer staycations in Devon? Well, let us help you get more excited and plan your itineraries with these suggestions of amazing days out the whole family can get involved with!
Active families will love everything Devon has to offer, it isn’t called Mother Nature’s Playground for nothing, you know! Whether you want to drive four by fours across the moor, go horse riding, rock climbing or swimming, there is something for everyone.
For the adventurous, check out Go Ape at Haldon Forest where you can find their first Tree Top Challenge and Tree Top Adventure in the South West. With a host of adventures to enjoy in the tree tops!
Once you’ve exhausted swinging from tree to tree, make sure to check out the activities and trails at Haldon Forest before you leave. Managed by Forestry England, there are endless trails and activities for any age and ability, as well as several stunning picnic spots, if you worked up an appetite from your day’s adventuring.
If you like the sound of thrill seeking in the tree tops but you’re not located near Exeter, you can always head to Tree Surfers in Tavistock. Their activities are suitable for ages 4 and above and you can enjoy everything from archery to Tarzan swings! They are located at the incredible Tamar Trails where you can spend the whole day outside. They have an array of activities, with walking trails, cycling and even canoeing on the River Tamar to entertain you! You can also pilot a canoe along the Grand Canal in Tiverton – it's just one of many activities available, you could even sail leisurely along the canal in a horse drawn barge!
Another place to make your own adventure is at Roadford Lake which is located in the beautiful Wolf Valley. The activity centre allows you to go at your own pace or join in with an instructor-led session, so you can learn something new, brush up on your skills or wow the others with your expertise.
If your kids like getting muddy, you have to spend the day at the Bear Trail – Devon’s muddiest family assault course. With 30 obstacles and unlimited mud, this award-winning mud fest is a great way to get the kids away from the screens and taking on nets, zip wires and tunnels. You can tackle the course as many times as you like and the whole family is welcome to take part!
In East Devon, you’ll find the Devon Activity Centre, who are experts in delivering fun with a wide variety of activities. With everything from go karting, segways, clay pigeon shooting, axe throwing, paintballing and more, it’s a great option for anyone who wants to try their hand at a range of different games. Axe throwing is a popular activity for the whole family too and is something you can do while in Exeter with the Celtic Tossers. They offer two styles of axe and each session includes a demonstration from a Master Tosser so you can really get the most out of the experience.
Of course, visiting Devon is a great opportunity to get out on the waves and enjoy the coast. Either grab a board or kayak and get out there on your own to ride the waves (did you know the North of the county is part of the UK’s first surf reserve?). There are a host of companies offering watersport tuition and equipment hire on the majority of Devon’s beaches, giving you plenty of options to get out and make a splash. If you don’t quite feel confident enough to head out on the open water, try out your skills at North Devon Wake Park. With an Aquapark, cable wakeboarding and Ringo rides, you can go as gently or as adrenaline pumping as you like!
Looking for more activities and attractions for this summer? See more here.
