Where to stay while exploring Devon’s literary connections

11th October 2019

Categories: Visitor News

With Devon’s beautiful landscape it really is no surprise that it has served as the inspiration for writers for hundreds of years. If you’re a bibliophile you’ll already be aware of the number of literary festivals you can attend in the county, but you might not know that you can follow in your favourite authors’ footsteps. We’ve put together some of the best places to visit in Devon that have literary connections as well as a few suggestions of places to stay and things to see.

We’re going to start off with the most obvious one, the English Riviera. As well as being a popular tourist destination, the English Riviera has had more than its fair share of writers over the year. In fact, you can take part in the Writer’s Trail which takes you around all the main sites and gives you fun facts about the various writers that have lived in the region. The most famous writer to reside in the English Riviera is Agatha Christie who lived in Torquay and visited several places in and around the Torbay. Obviously your first port of call should be Greenways, her former holiday home, you can even access the house which is now managed by the National Trust by steam train. If that sounds like your kind of thing and you maybe want to immerse yourself in one of her books, like Murder on the Orient Express, make sure to visit Dartmouth Steam Railway which you’ll also find in the Torbay.

Image: Greenway

While Agatha Christie is the most famous of Torquay’s residents, she isn’t the only one. Rudyard Kipling, author of the Jungle Book, lived in Torquay for a time and former Prime Minister and author, Benjamin Disraeli also spent many a holiday there. These days, you might be lucky enough to run into writer Lesley Pearce who lives in the town. As there is so much to explore in this part of Devon, you’ll want to spend a few days there, luckily for you, there are plenty of options for accommodation.

Right in the heart of Torquay is TLH Leisure Resort which has everything you could want from a break in the Torbay. The resort has a selection of accommodation options including four hotels and a number of self-catering apartments with plenty of on-site entertainment and leisure facilities to keep you amused during your down time.

Image: TLH Leisure.

If you want something a little more relaxing, why not book into one of the town’s spa hotels? The Headland Hotel and Spa is in one of the most beautiful parts of Torquay looking out over the sea or the Cary Arms Hotel and Spa has plenty of luxury and is dog friendly, plus they have a variety of accommodation options, including self-catering cottages.  

Another options is the Bay Torbay Hotel in Torquay, based right in the marina giving you an amazing seafront view. For something smaller, Grosvenor House Torquay is in a quiet but central location and is close to a number of the town’s top attractions, including Torre Abbey and the Riviera International Centre.
If you want the chance to come in and out at your own leisure, take a look at a holiday home like those offered by Barramore Holiday Apartments where you can choose from nine different apartments which can sleep up to six people.

Being in the heart of the English Riviera there are plenty of places to visit in and around Torquay, many of the pubs and bars in Torquay, Brixham and Paignton make claim to being one of Agatha Christie’s favourite haunts. If you’re looking for some inspiration of your own, you’re in the right place. Kent’s Cavern will give you the chance to experience life underground, while Babbacombe Model Village will leave you thinking up a spin off for Gulliver’s Travels.

You don’t have to stay in Torquay either if you want the chance to explore the wider Torbay. Beacon House in Brixham is a historic B&B dating back to the 1850s and is close to big attractions like Splashdown Quaywest if you wanted to break up the trip a little!

Torbay’s writers didn’t just reside in Torquay, if you head to neighbouring Teignmouth, you can find the former home of the poet Keats. Just along the coast from Teignmouth is Dawlish which has a nature reserve and some of the south west’s only black swans living in its town centre – giving you much more inspiration for stories of your own! It’s a delightful place to base yourself for your literary tour, Lady’s Mile Holiday Park is an award-winning, family run park which is less than a mile away from Dawlish Warren’s blue flag beach. Alternatively, there is Langstone Cliff Hotel which is situated in 19 acres of woodland overlooking the sea and Exe Estuary.

Image: Langstone Cliff Hotel.

The English Riviera isn’t the only place that has inspired some great works of literature and Poirot isn’t the only detective to come out of Devon, one of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous cases was also inspired by a trip to the county. The setting for the Hound of the Baskervilles is based on Dartmoor, so why not spend some time roaming the moor and see if you can find a mystery to solve? Dartmoor is a beautiful place, so you won’t be short of things to do or see. There is also a memorial for the poet Ted Hughes placed in the National Park as well as plenty of moorland myths and legends to inspire your own writing.

The well-loved WWII story, War Horse, was also inspired by this gorgeous landscape. Author Michael Morpurgo said he was inspired to write the book following a meeting with war veterans on Dartmoor.
Why not stay a few days and get settled at Lurcombe Farm Cottages? Both cottages are surrounded by the moor, so you’ll be sure of a quiet get away and plenty of opportunity to explore. Or for something a little different, Yurtcamp Devon offers a glamping experience like no other. If you aren’t sold on the idea of glamourous camping, there is always the Two Bridges Hotel which has been described as an oasis in the heart of Dartmoor. The hotel is well known for its history and character, especially in the colder months when you are welcomed in with crackling log fires.
Dartmoor is well known for its amazing walking trails and being a National Park has plenty to offer in the way of things to do.

Image: Two Bridges Hotel.

Devon is graced with two National Parks and Dartmoor isn’t the only one that has inspired popular classic novels. Exmoor and the surrounding area feature heavily in the classic Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor by Richard Dodderidge Blackmore. The story focuses heavily on the wild nature of the landscape and in particular, the Lyn Valley. One way to enjoy this fascinating part of Devon is by basing yourself at the Bay Valley of Rocks Hotel in Lynton. The hotel is a charming Victorian building which was favoured by a number of writers over the years including Shelley, Wordsworth and Coleridge! Lynton also has its own Camping and Caravanning Club Site for those of you wanting to get back to nature. The site is only a short drive from the beach and has lots of modern amenities and facilities for the whole family. When you’re not exploring the moor, there are plenty of things to keep you entertained including taking a trip on a Victorian cliff railway line and of course the host of traditional country pubs that can be found in the region.

Image: Golden Bay Holiday Village

While we’re at the northern end of the county, we should mention a couple of the writers that used this area of Devon for their muse. The town of Westward Ho! actually got its name from a book written by Charles Kingsley, a resident of neighbouring Bideford. If you want to stay in Westward Ho! you won’t be short of options, it’s a popular destination for families and holiday makers alike. One option is Golden Bay Holiday Village right in the heart of Westward Ho! and offering spectacular views of the coastline and easy access to the blue flag winning beach. The site was originally the Royal Hotel but for the past fifty years or so has been an award-winning holiday park with a number of accommodation options to choose from. Braddicks Holiday Centre is another award-winning holiday park set right on the beach, again you have a choice of accommodation with everything from villas to caravans on offer, some of them are even pet friendly! Seafield Holiday Park is open all year around and has the National Trust managed Kipling Tors right in the doorstep while Westward Living gives you the option of award-winning holiday cottages right on the coast and just moments away from the Royal North Devon golf course.

Image: Pier House.

Because of its popularity as a holiday destination, you’ll find plenty to do in Westward Ho! so to make sure you stay refreshed, pop into the Pier House, the only seafront bar and bistro in the town. Alternatively, the Waterfront Inn located in the heart of the town is a family-friendly option for you.

If you want to spend some time in Charles Kinglsey’s hometown, Bideford is nearby and has lots of great accommodation options too.

Another famous book that came out of north Devon is Tarka the Otter. The Tarka Trail is a well-known cycle and walking trail around Barnstaple and Bideford and visiting the towns will give you lots of options for Tarka related activities, including finding the otter statue – rubbing its head is said to bring good luck! This region of Devon is where you’ll find the flagship Brend Hotel, the Imperial Hotel. Several of the hotel chain’s premium accommodation options can be found in Barnstaple, click here to find out more.

Image: Imperial Hotel.

For a home from home, take a look at the cottages available from Love North Devon Holidays conveniently located to enjoy the whole of north Devon.

Finally, on our tour of Devon’s literary connections, we’re heading to the mid Devon region and Exeter. Just outside the city is a town called Barton which was renamed as Upton Pyne in Jane Austen’s novel Sense and Sensibility. The book talks about several locations in and around Exeter, so naturally, it’s a great place for Jane Austen fans to base themselves. As one of the county’s cities, you’ll find a whole host of accommodation options in Exeter with everything from holiday parks to hotels to guest houses and serviced apartments. One option is Castle Brake Holiday Park which can be found in Woodbury Common.

Image: Castle Brake Holiday Park.

For a real Sense and Sensibility experience, why not book into Moorparks Holiday Cottages on the outskirts of Exeter where you can immerse yourself in an 1850s farm cottage and live like a local watching the farm come to life around you.
Finding things to do in this area is pretty easy, you could go to the races at Exeter Racecourse or spend the day thrill seeking by visiting Crealy Theme Park and resort.

Does your favourite author or book hail from Devon? You can let us know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and if one of your favourites is mentioned here, keep us updated on how you theme your Devon break around them!