Devon Film Itineraries – Period Dramas
If you want to pretend you’re a Bridgerton or relive the world of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility? Why not enjoy this itinerary following some of the locations of our favourite period dramas around Devon?
Day 1 - Plymouth and South Devon
Start your day with a trip to the National Trust’s Saltram estate on the outskirts of Plymouth. The house was featured in the feature film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility starring Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson and will get you in the spirit of the period.
After a visit to Saltram, make your way into Plymouth city centre, where you can stop off at the Barbican, one of the oldest areas of the city. While you’re here, make a trip to Plymouth Gin, not only is it the oldest gin distillery in England, but they provided the gin for the Mayflower, which set sail from Plymouth for the new world in 1620.
From here, make the 35 minute drive over to the town of Totnes. This Bohemian town hosts an Elizabethan Market on Tuesday mornings between May and September, where many stallholders dress up! From here, you can explore the historic Dartington Estate and make your way to Berry Pomeroy Castle. Now in ruins, the castle is one of the most haunted places in the country – so approach if you dare!
Click here to find places to stay around Totnes.
Day 2 - South Devon and Dartmoor
From the Totnes area, make your way towards the Dartmoor National Park. Stop off at Buckfastleigh, where you can hop a ride on a steam train with South Devon Railway and relive your favourite period travel scenes.
From here, you can easily explore the Dartmoor National Park, which inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyles’ Hound of the Baskerville and Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse. The various villages, open moorland and iconic sites all help you embody your favourite period heroes or heroines.
By road, you can travel to our next stop of Tavistock in under an hour. Tavistock is home to the traditional Devonshire cream tea, so where better to enjoy one yourself?
Click here to find places to stay around Dartmoor.
Day 3 - North Devon
For our final tour of the period drama locations in Devon, we’re heading into North Devon. We’re starting with Clovelly Village, in the Bideford area. Clovelly was once owned by Queen Elizabeth I and has retained much of its historic charm. It is completely vehicle-free, so if you don’t fancy walking the cobbled streets, look out for the shuttle which will take you down to the harbour. While here, befriend the rescue donkeys, which are used to transport goods around the village in the absence of cars and lorries.
Clovelly is a private village, so there is a charge to look around, but it is well worth it.
Next up, we’re visiting Hartland Abbey, which is just a 20 minute drive from Clovelly village.
Hartland Abbey has served as a filming location for a number of period dramas and the latest adaptation of Rebecca was filmed around the Hartland area, including some scenes at Hartland Abbey. After exploring the Abbey and grounds, you can visit Hartland Quay, which featured heavily in both Rebecca and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society films. Once you’ve visited, you’ll understand why it’s used so often in period dramas – the rugged and natural cliffs give it a wonderful atmosphere which is easily captured on film.
For places to stay in North Devon, click here.