Sports Events in Devon
Devon's landscape is the star of the show. Two dramatic coastlines, a wild national park, historic harbour towns and miles of cliff-top trails give every sporting event here a setting that doesn't exist elsewhere in England. Whether you want to watch world-class competition from the harbourside or take on a personal challenge across Dartmoor, Devon offers sports experiences worth travelling for in their own right.
Great sporting spectacles to watch in Devon
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta
The undisputed highlight of Devon's sporting calendar for spectators. The second largest regatta in the UK, the Dartmouth Royal Regatta, draws nearly 100,000 visitors over three days each August, with sailing, rowing, spectacular air displays, fireworks, street food and live music filling the town throughout. You don't need to know a bowline from a buoy to love it — the atmosphere alone makes it one of the great summer days out in the Southwest. Book accommodation in Dartmouth and the surrounding area well in advance.
Sidmouth Regatta
Sidmouth offers a gentler but equally charming alternative to Dartmouth's grand spectacle. Set against the town's elegant Regency seafront and dramatic red cliffs, the Sidmouth Regatta brings sailing races, rowing competitions and a relaxed seaside festival atmosphere to one of Devon's most beautiful coastal towns. It's a natural complement to everything else Sidmouth has on offer in summer — particularly for visitors already in the area for Sidmouth Folk Fest — and makes for a wonderfully unhurried day by the water. An ideal choice for families and those looking to soak up the very best of traditional Devon coastal life.
Horse racing at Exeter & Newton Abbot
Devon has two outstanding racecourses, both worth a visit in their own right.
Exeter Racecourse sits high on Haldon Hill with sweeping views towards Dartmoor – one of the UK's most progressive tracks and one of the oldest, established in 1769, with 17 days of quality jump racing through the National Hunt season. The Haldon Gold Cup in November is the headline event, and New Year's Day racing has become a beloved Devon tradition. A race day here feels distinctly Devon — the views, the air and the atmosphere are unlike any urban course. Newton Abbot Racecourse offers a summer flat racing season from March to October, with free entry for children and students, making it an excellent family day out, and the compact course ensures there isn't a bad view in the house.
Surfing at Croyde
Even if you're not a surfer, watching competition surfing at Croyde Bay on a good swell day is genuinely thrilling. Croyde Bay is renowned for its powerful surf and has hosted numerous competitions, with the Jesus Surf Classic one of the most anticipated events in the UK surfing calendar. Combine it with a North Devon coastal walk and lunch in the village, and you have a near-perfect Devon day.
Sporting events you can take part in
Running — trails, coast paths and moorland
Devon's landscape produces running events that attract participants from across the UK, specifically because of where they take place. The calendar includes trail races at Escot Park; the South Hams Ultra, following the new South Hams Way; open water swim-run events at Roadford Lake; and the English Riviera Race — a closed-road 5K and 10K along the Torquay seafront.
Dartmoor offers some of the most challenging and dramatic trail and ultra-distance running in England, with events ranging from accessible half-marathons to serious multi-stage crossings of the moor. If you're a runner, Devon is worth putting on your race calendar purely for the experience of the routes.
Best time: Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions. Summer events are popular, but Devon's exposed coastal and moorland routes can be demanding in the heat.
Cycling — lanes, gravel and coastal roads
The variety of terrain — gentle Mid-Devon lanes, exposed Dartmoor climbs, dramatic North Devon coast roads — makes Devon a destination cyclists return to specifically for its sportives and gravel events. The Haldon Heroic and Devon Grit are among the best-known off-road events, while road sportives draw cyclists seeking challenging distances through outstanding scenery.
Triathlons and open water swimming
Devon's multi-sport calendar includes triathlons, duathlons, aquathlons and open-water swims, catering to a wide range of ages and abilities, including events for children. Safe coves, clean water and well-organised events make Devon a natural home for open water swimming, and Roadford Lake in West Devon is a particularly popular venue for multi-sport weekends with lakeside camping.
Plan your sporting trip
Most of Devon's major sporting spectacles — the Dartmouth Regatta, Haldon Gold Cup, GoldCoast Oceanfest — sell out local accommodation quickly. If you're planning a trip around a specific event, book early.
Browse our Places to Stay pages to find accommodation near your chosen event, and explore the full What's On in Devon calendar for exact dates. For Devon's biggest annual events across all categories, visit our Big Devon Events page.