One of the best places to spend the May half-term holidays is East Devon and the Jurassic Coast. With a range of things to see and do, including the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, this region of Devon is somewhere you can do everything or nothing – depending on your mood!

Visiting for the day? You’ll want to spend some time on the local beaches and with places like Sidmouth, where you’ll find the Town Beach and Jacob’s Ladder Beach, Seaton with its accessible seafront and Budleigh Salterton with its unique pebbles and beach huts, there are plenty of opportunities to make a splash. From fossil hunting to rockpooling to swimming and water sports, you’ll find lots of things to do at beaches across East Devon.

The region is also a great place for walks and cycling – there are even opportunities to hire bikes so you don’t have to remember to bring your own. You’ll find several family-friendly walking and cycling routes, like the East Devon Way and the South West Coast Path, which you can pick up at various points around the Jurassic Coast.

In Sidmouth, you can enjoy a scenic walk around the Byes, while Honiton gives you access to the Blackdown Hills and places like Roundball Wood. Further afield, you can explore places like Hembury Fort, which is awash with bluebells and other spring flowers at this time of year.

Looking for more walking routes around the region? Here are some of our favourite walks in the area.

 

 

Image of Blackmore Gardens Trees

Accessible Blackmore Gardens Tree Trail

Sidmouth Arboretum has produced several local trail leaflets that allow visitors and residents to find out more about our remarkable treescape.  This walk around the town centre, which begins and ends by the parish church, is fully accessible to wheelchair users and mobility…

The byes

The Byes Tree Walk

One of the series of local trails produced by Sidmouth Arboretum to acquaint you with our wonderful treescape, this short walk around The Byes should take about an hour and a half and is on level paths accessible to families with pushchairs and people using mobility scooters.

Honiton Free things to do

Roundball Hill Woodland Walk

With beautiful views overlooking Honiton from the top of Roundball Hill, this woodland walk is a great option for those who love the countryside! Although suitable for older children and dogs on leads, this route is made up of steep terrain and crosses into roadways so please be…

Another option for a fun day out this May half term is seeing how much local wildlife you can see. Take a walk along the River Otter to see if you can spot some of the otters the river is named for or any of the elusive beavers that live in the area. You’re most likely to spot them in the evenings, so keep quiet and keep your eyes peeled!

Twitchers should head to Seaton Wetlands, which is free to visit all year round and has a series of hides, perfect for seeing what wading birds or birds of prey you can spot. Alternatively, visit Wildwood Devon in Ottery St Mary for a day out getting up close and personal with a variety of cute animals, including red squirrels. Wildwood is also home to a replica Saxon village and offers several activities and workshops during the school holidays.

If you like the sound of exploring the past, you can always stop off at one of the region’s many museums, the majority of which are free to visit. You can find museums all over the East Devon and Jurassic Coast area and they offer a great option for anyone caught out if the weather changes.

Alternatively, why not enjoy the nostalgia of a tram ride by visiting Seaton Tramway? Over half term they are running their popular Pirate Tram, ideal for younger kids and adults alike!

If you’re on the hunt for some adrenaline fuelled adventures, visit Crealy Theme Park, which is easily accessible from Junction 30 of the M5. Full of rides and live entertainment, this half term you can enjoy a BMX extravaganza, from here you can easily make your way on to Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary or Budleigh Salterton.

Interested in a visit? Want to stay a bit longer? Check out the accommodation available in Sidmouth and the surrounding area here.