The Donkey Sanctuary

No trip to Devon is complete without visiting The Donkey Sanctuary. There’s a tranquil corner…

Free Days Out in Devon

Watching the pennies? Holidaying on a budget? Don’t worry – visit Devon and you’ll find an abundance of things to do…for free!

Yes, free. Devon has plenty to do and see that won’t cost you a penny, so if you’re trying to keep those holiday costs down but don’t want to skimp on the enjoyment, then Devon’s the right destination for you.

National Parks

We have two glorious National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Both have their own unique characters – while Dartmoor is a wild, wide-open place filled with mystery, towering granite Tors and dramatic scenery, Exmoor (although it too has its open spaces), is filled with secret, hidden treasures such as Tarr Steps. And if you’re into star-gazing, Exmoor is now designated as a Dark Sky Reserve (one of only two in the world) so on a clear night you’re guaranteed to see the Milky Way in all its true splendour without any light pollution masking the view!

Over on Dartmoor you’ll be able to grab the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life and stumble across Neolithic monuments, dramatic gorges and beautiful sights, such as the Dartmoor ponies. Both moors have their legends too – on Exmoor you can discover the world of Lorna Doone, while on Dartmoor be careful not to get caught in the ‘Grimpen Mire’ or chased by the dreaded Hound of the Baskervilles!

I love to go a-wandering…

Ramble the length of Devon for free on the South West Coast Path, a fantastic route which will introduce you to some of the finest views and bring you all the way around to the Jurassic Coast, where you can hunt on the beach for fossils. Throughout Devon a network of paths and bridleways will take you off the beaten track and into the heart of the countryside – and there are plenty of local pubs on the way to grab some well-earned refreshments too. For a free walk in the city, try one of Exeter's Red Coat Guided Tours, a must on any visit to Exeter.

Try geocaching - otherwise known as a digital treasurehunt. Hunting for hidden 'caches' using a smart phone for navigation is becoming increasingly popular, and is a great way to get children out on a walk. It's also surprisingly easy to get started; read our guide to geocaching in Devon.

Surfers are spoilt for choice, with easier peaks on the south coast and at the sandy expanse of Woolacombe beach on the North Devon coast, while more capable board-jockeys can head to Croyde for some challenging waves. If you’re not a surfer, there are lots of rock pools to discover here too.

Back on the south coast you can grab a bucket and spade for a few pennies and go crabbing at Dittisham, and if the weather is at its best then you can head to any one of the numerous Blue Flag beaches around Devon for a splash in the waves. If you don’t fancy the idea of open-sea swimming then pack your costume and head to Shoalstone Open Air Pool.

Culture vultures

If you like a bit of culture, there are plenty of freebies on offer too. Wander around west Devon’s castles at Lydford, or visit the West Devon UNESCO World Heritage. You can visit the fascinating herb gardens at Buckfast Abbey (and pick up a bottle of their famous fortified wine while you’re there) or follow the Agatha Christie Literary Trail through Torquay and Torbay for a glimpse into the Queen of Crime’s life.

No matter what you want to do, there’s plenty of choice in Devon, and it doesn’t have to cost you a penny!

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 3468 review(s)
The Donkey Sanctuary

Sidmouth

No trip to Devon is complete without visiting The Donkey Sanctuary.
There’s a tranquil corner of the Jurassic Coast near Sidmouth that hundreds of rescue donkeys call…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
from 1435 review(s)
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery - RAMM

Exeter

There’s more in Exeter’s award-winning museum than you might imagine, its 16 galleries of displays take visitors on a voyage of discovery from pre-history to the present day…
Thelma Hulbert Gallery

Honiton

THG is an acclaimed public art gallery featuring an inspiring programme of contemporary art & craft exhibitions of local, national and regional significance. The gallery…
Burgh Island

Kingsbridge

Burgh Island is an iconic landmark on the South Devon coast, located directly opposite Bigbury on Sea beach. Burgh Island is separated from the mainland by a tidal beach,…
Budleigh Salterton Beach

Budleigh Salterton beach is a long pebble beach extending for 2.5 miles along the Jurassic Coast, from Littleham Cove to the west, to Otterhead in the east, where the River…
Ludwell Valley Park Trail

Exeter

A self-guided trail with five information boards exploring Ludwell Valley Park.
The information boards each show a different aspect of the valley park including its…
Dawlish Warren Nature & Wildlife Reserve

Dawlish Warren

While Dawlish Warren is well known as a traditional holiday resort, it's most valuable ecological asset appears outside of the summer months... the descent of thousands of…
Exmouth Local Nature Reserve

Exmouth

Exmouth Local Nature Reserve is a massive area of tidal sand and mud at the southern end of the Exe estuary – in fact, it’s one of the biggest Local Nature Reserves in Devon.…
Seaton Wetlands

Seaton

Nearly 4km of level trails and boardwalk through beautiful marshland and reed beds alongside the river Axe, home to an abundance of wildlife.
Seaton Wetlands are made up…
Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Cullompton

The Blackdown Hills is an unspoilt rural landscape of great beauty with an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna to discover. The Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding…
Exmouth Beach

Exmouth

Exmouth Beach is well celebrated for its two miles of golden sand, rare on this coast and fascinating rock pools it's a paradise for children and adults alike.
Exmouth…
Exeter City Wall Trail

Exeter

A fascinating self-guided tour. Pick up a free leaflet from Exeter Visitor Information & Tickets and discover the exciting history of Exeter's City Wall.
The oldest parts…
East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

East Devon

The East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty landscape is characterised by intimate wooded combes, vast areas of heathland, fertile river valleys and breathtaking cliffs…
Exe Estuary

Exeter

The Exe Estuary is of international importance for wintering waders and wildfowl, supporting 1000s of birds. One of the best opportunities to view the wildlife of the…
Matford Marsh

Exeter

Matford Marshes is a small, relatively new site halfway between Exeter and Exminster - just 3 miles (6 km) from the city centre. It's one of our Exe Estuary reserves.…
Seaton Wetlands

Seaton

Nearly 4km of level trails and boardwalk through beautiful marshland and reed beds alongside the river Axe, home to an abundance of wildlife.
Seaton Wetlands are made up…
Custom House Visitor Centre

Exeter

The Custom House Visitor Centre is located right in the centre of Exeter's historic quayside and occupies one of the most historic buildings on the waterfront.
It houses…
Exeter Medieval Trail

Exeter

Discover Exeter's medieval past, find out about many of Exeter's surviving gems and the events that helped to shape this period of Exeter's past.
Medieval Exe Bridge The…
Branscombe Beach

Branscombe

Branscombe beach is a long shingle beach, an ideal place to relax and enjoy the stunning coastal scenery. The beach is set below the beautiful village of Branscombe, and…
Beer Beach

Beer

Set in the beautiful picturesque fishing village of Beer, Beer beach is a beautiful family friendly shingle beach surrounded by limestone cliffs. Beer Beach is close to…

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Free Days Out in Devon

National Parks

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