Explore

Devon is a county of great beauty, history, culture and contrast, with a huge choice of intriguing places to explore and experience.

Devon has much to be proud of …

… it boasts two coastlines, two National Parks, five areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO Geopark, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It also has two cities, bustling market towns and numerous pretty villages; hundreds of beaches ranging from tiny secluded coves to long stretches of golden sand; ancient geology and fascinating histories as well as leading-edge art, technology and places of learning. It’s such a diverse landscape, we’ve highlighted some of the region’s most popular places to visit here.

Excellent events attract people all year round, and a whole world of Devon attractions exist simply to bring fun and interest to visitors and locals alike – whether you’re two or 92, and in to farm animals or foraging fungus, as part of an extended family group or on a romantic couple’s break. Devon is an incredibly dog friendly region, so your furry friends don’t have to miss out either!

Visit Devon and you’ll find that there is more to this spectacular and diverse county than you might have thought. In addition to beautiful beaches and stunning scenery, you’ll find rolling hills, historic buildings and ruins, extreme sports and the best in food and drink. You can even do all that with the confidence that you can limit your carbon footprint with our selection of eco-friendly stays. With plenty of places to stay in Devon, the most difficult decision you’ll have to make is where in this unique county you want to visit first.

Did you know ..?

• Devon straddles a peninsula and so has two separate coastlines, around 65% of which is named as Heritage Coast
• The South West Coast Path runs along the entire length of both
• The area around Saunton and Croyde in the north often records among the highest temperatures in Britain
• The south east coast from Salcombe to Exmouth is one of the sunniest parts of the UK
• Devon’s botany is very diverse and includes some rare species not found elsewhere in the British Isles other than Cornwall
• The administrative centre and capital of Devon is the city of Exeter, but its largest city is Plymouth
• Devon is known for its mariners including Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh