A Mega May Half Term for Devon

16th May 2019

Categories: Visitor News

Devon is gearing up for a Mega May Half Term and there are plenty of things to get excited about at Devon’s Top Attractions. There are over 40 attractions in Devon to visit, offering fun-packed family days and experiences. Some of the top attractions are putting on new and very special events.  Whether you’re visiting Devon or lucky enough to live here, get ready for some great fun at Devon’s award-winning attractions this May half term.

Chris Murray, Chairman of the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, said “Devon continues to offer the whole package to both visitors and locals alike and Devon continues to be a number one holiday hot spot destination and a wonderful place to live. With over 40 of the best days out to choose from and a huge selection of special events planned, the attractions have yet again excelled all expectations in offering visitors a fabulous May half term.”

Step back in time and enjoy “Medieval Madness” at Powderham Castle. See the Knights of Royal England and their jousting display and enjoy the medieval-themed half term activities that children will love. A perfect day out for all the family.

Or head to Castle Drogo and follow their Brilliant Butterflies and Magnificent Moths Trail around the garden and grounds. Hunt out the clues to claim your prize.

If you’re a Roald Dahl fan, then head to Miniature Pony Centre and meet the characters and join in the fun. If you fancy battling it out against Ms Trunchbull in sports day games or brewing up some of George’s Marvellous medicines, then this is the place to spend a day this half term, not forgetting the adorable new foals that you can meet at the Centre. This will be a week of interactive fun for all the family.

The annual Picnic at the Park is back at River Dart Country Park on Sunday 2 June. Get ready for a whole host of fun activities for all the family. Try out the assault course, clayzer and dare devil activities and enjoy the fun dog show. Be sure to book your tickets in advance

Head for Pennywell and enjoy their “Magical Unicorn Week”, full of magical unicorn fun and bring out the inner unicorn in all of us. Meet Magical Merlin, Pennywell’s resident unicorn and take part in the unicorn treasure hunt. Enjoy unicorn craft activities, games and prizes and this is all in addition to Pennywell’s usual half hourly activities.  Plus, every child with an online admission ticket gets a FREE unicorn hot chocolate!

Adrenaline junkies (with a driving license) can head for Diggerland and have a go at dumper racing, in a real JCB. There really is nothing quite like roaring around the Diggerland course in one of these specially adapted machines, swerving and sliding through the slaloms against the clock. Take the family and make a day of it!

Crealy is ready and waiting to give families an “Absolute May-hem”, this May half term. Crealy has over 60 attractions and rides to choose from this, making it the place to be for the whole family this school holiday. Take a spin on the Twister ride as you tower above at 12 metres high or make a splash on the Tidal Wave log flume where you’re sure to get wet!  It that’s not enough, jump on the Aqua Blasters and zoom around the lagoon in your own bumper boat and fire your water cannon at anyone in your way.

Over at World of Country Life there will be lots of swash- bucklin’ fun going on at their popular Pirate Week. There will be pirate-themed activities galore and their pirate ship play area will play host to an amazing pirate sword fighting show.  Plus, all the usual daily activities to fill your day with family fun.

Head for the Donkey Sanctuary on 26 May for their Spring Family Fun Day and Dog Show. Present your prized pooch and enjoy an action-packed day. Their Spring Show kicks off the sanctuary’s exciting programme of events in their 50^th anniversary year. During your visit, uncover the hidden treasure to claim your reward on the Golden Carrot Hunt.

Head to Morwellham Quay over the Bank Holiday weekend and meet the ‘Ragged Victorians’. Make a piece of rope, smash rocks to find copper, go to the Victorian school, pan for gold and dress up as a Victorian. There’s so much to do.  Camping is also available at Morwellham Quay so why not make a weekend out of it?

There will be a ”Classic and Vintage Vehicle Rally” on at Pecorama on 26 May, which promises an outstanding display of vehicles from the last century and a perfect day out for all those car enthusiasts. There will be special musical guests including Saxminster Saxophone Quartet and the Inline Four Vintage Jazz Band. There will also be family entertainment in the Top Spot Marquee from Ozzy D and Ben the Juggler on the 27 – 30 May.

Get the family outdoors this May half term at Becky Falls and discover what lives in the woodland. Find out about what amazing plants and animals live around the falls. Explore exotic animals in the Animal and Discovery Zone and compare them to their British counterparts. Don’t forget to attend the ‘Meet the Keeper’ sessions and complete the children’s stamp trail. You can even borrow an explorer backpack before you embark on your expedition.

Kent’s Cavern is a cool place to visit this May half term so why not join them and enjoy their ‘Ice Fest’ week. There will be a full programme of events and a range of activities celebrating the remarkable story of the ice age animals and the stone age human occupation of these caves. Great fun for all the family.

Stepping back in time, it’s “Dino Week” at Woodlands Family Theme Park. Get ready to step into a world set 160 million years ago and encounter dinosaurs in their natural habitat in the Dino Trek attraction and meet Roary the interactive dinosaur who will be making an appearance. Titan the Robot will also be making an appearance at Woodlands on 28 May and back by popular demand is the Fizz Pot Science crew who will be there on 31 May.

There will be more dinosaur fun at Seaton Tramway on 27 May and 31 May where you can journey to a land that time forgot. Board the adventure-filled tram ride with music, stories, fossil dig and dinosaur activity and help Professor Percival uncover the secrets and fulfil a mission to make contact with some forgotten species. Pirate lovers can take a ride on the Pirate Tram -the Seaton Pearl and The Fairy Special trams will also be running over half term on selected dates.

Head  to the The Big Sheep in North Devon, where they will have a Unicorn and Dragon Week. A mystical week filled with interactive fun. If you have ever fancied meeting a real unicorn or having a selfie with a dragon then The Big Sheep is the place to visit this half term. Meet Dreckly the Dragon, a huge interactive walking dragon: take pictures, hear him roar and learn weird and wonderful facts from the brave knight. Don’t miss all the other usual fun at the Big Sheep, including rides, attractions and live shows, pets corner sessions, lamb feeding and the famous sheep racing.

Back by popular demand and for all those fans of rails and ales, there will be a Spring Beer Festival at South Devon Railway on the Bank Holiday weekend from 24 – 27 May. In addition, there will be steam trains running all over the May half term. Over at Coldharbour Mill and Country Park, they have a steam day on 27 May where they will be bringing the past back to life and you can catch a unique insight into the industrial revolution and experience the sights, smells and sounds of a woolen mill powered by steam power.

There will be a day’s “Geology field trip” along the South Devon coastline on 24 May onboard Stuart Line Cruises. With a leading Geologist onboard giving full commentary and detail about all the rock formations and our ever-changing heritage landscape as you gently sail past and take in the stunning coastline views. Stuart Line Cruises will also be setting sail during the Torbay Air Show on 1 – 2 June and will offer a wonderful way to see and hear the Air Show.

Over at Bygones in Torquay, you can help celebrate Queen Victoria’s 200^th birthday at the annual teddy bear’s picnic. Bring along your teddy and try to spot the ten hidden teddies and complete the quiz for a sweet treat. There will be a ‘Seaweed Festival’ on the 26 May at Clovelly, held to promote seaweed for its immense health and nutritional benefits. Try some dishes made from seaweed and see the range of stalls selling seaweed products and arts and crafts.

To find out more details about all of these events and where many more are taking place, visit www.devonstopattractions.co.uk