by Holidays in Devon are simple, healthy and old -fashioned. A trip here mixes two of the most beautiful joys of life: delicious food and nature. Most of the visitors have drawn on the magnificent beaches on the north and south coasts, but in the interior of the country has its attraction: Dartmoor and Exmoor are huge rocky platform and great sky, while the gentle, Frisian fields of Frisia-filled fields of mid-Devon-hub crusts of dead, meandering rivers and thick forest supported Hide.
Devon Volk makes the best of the rich harder on her doorstep, with pasture bremal lamb, wild boar, pheasant and locally landed seafood all staple foods in restaurants. On weekends, market cities offer busy food, antiques and craft stands, while village fairs offer an eccentric taste of the country for land. As everywhere, where it pays off to research before you go. Do it right and a vacation in Devon is defeated.
Further Devon inspiration can be found in our leaders on the best hotels, restaurants, pubs, cream tea, beaches and things of the city.
In this guide
The perfect weekend in Devon
Dartmoor is only half an hour west of Exeter, where there are fast main tracks to London, a dramatic and surprisingly accessible weekend destination. Gourmet Chagford or the straw -covered village of North Bovey make good bases from which you can easily explore the hut circles of the Bronze Age of the Bronze Age, Old Glades, hamlet and wide excursions from wild ponies. The accommodation options in North Bovey include Bovey Castle (from £ 192), while in Chagford the three crowns (from £ 115) and Gidleigh Park (from £ 297) are present.
A road trip is the easiest way to get a feeling for Devon’s wilderness. First go to Grimed, one of the most complete examples of the prehistoric villages of the bog and then drive to two bridges to a short walk to Wistmans Wood, an old dwarf oak forest with huge moss boulders and braid trees. The Dartmoor Prison Museum houses a fascinating story of this Victorian prison and a cruel collection of objects that have been confiscated by prisoners, including provisional weapons and escape equipment such as contemporary, decayed leaves. Dartmet is a local beauty point, Buckland-in-the-moor is an exceptionally pretty Hamlet, while the Rugglestone Inn in Widcombe-in-the-Moor is the place for a pub lunch and a pint dartmoor real ale. More of the best pubs in Devon can be found in our guide.
With a parking lot at its base, Hound Tor is one of the least tedious places for a walk – climb to the top of this high -towering granite rock to get the panorama view of the panoramic view. The hike from here to Haytor is a personal favorite with a rugged moorland prospects and a forested logie that represents the most idyllic picnic area on the rows of rows. In our guide you will find more of the best things in Devon.
You could see a spontaneous folk night in a local pub for evening entertainment. Connect to the sunny granite wall opposite Chagford’s Globe Inn on a mild Friday evenings, where Chit chat is interrupted by a local professional singer from occasional bursts of the live opera.
The perfect week in Devon
For a longer stay in Devon, split your time between moor and the sea. Only a few places offer a better contrast to the square beauty of Dartmoor than to the soft sand and glittering bays from Salcombe on the south coast. The South Sands Hotel (from £ 135), the Harbor Beach Club (from £ 160), the Salcombe Harbor Hotel (from £ 176) and Gara Rock (from £ 275) are all excellent accommodation options.
With a safe, flat swimming in a perfect crescent moon, South Sands is my beach and is located near all the hotels listed above. Find more of the best beaches in Devon in our guide. From there it is a half-hour walk, a shuttle ride or a short boat trip to Salcombe, a tedious Yachtie city with narrow streets that are lined with boutiques and cafes with pastel-colored strips. Watch your own ice cream in Salcombe Dairy. Find out how to make gin in Salcombe gin, stock up on Devon Fudge into Roly’s Fudge Pantry, enjoy a water grille at Dick and Wills or a classic Devon Pub lunch at Ferry Inn. More of the best restaurants in Devon can be found in our guide.
Devon’s most spectacular route of the southwest coast path begins in Salcombe and runs towards Bolt Head. Buy a picnic from the Biacheide Café the Drinking Garnele on North Sands and hit the eight miles long walk to Hope Cove, jagged peaks, remote sand stage and Bukolische Devonshire willow with doke-eyes cows and gambolling lambs.
On the way there is National Trust Property Overbecks, where the beautiful view of the water in the property of the subtropical gardens of the property is framed. Take your time for a sundowner on the beach terrace of the South Sands Hotel.
You spoiled the selection of the food in these parts. Try the Victoria Inn and for the best local fish and a view of the Victoria Inn.
The Pilchard Inn in Bigbury is a short trip away and is a weather-appropriate smuggler pub in which Devon Real Ales and a good pub serves next to a hearty part of the piratic history. Cut off twice a day from tides, it is part of the fun to get there-a two-story high-Sea tractor ferry guests over the farewell times. The Millbrook Inn is a cozy pub that is served on a quiet stream in the South Pool, the gourmet pub kitchen using organic and high productions, if possible, served using organic and high production.
Insider tips
Beaches
Devon’s beaches are crowded in summer, but if you are ready to walk from a parking lot along the coastal path for a few minutes, you will be rewarded for the day with your own secret bay. Elender Cove and Gammons Head Beach are two hidden beauties that are worth the walk. Check an Ordernance Survey Map if you want to plan ahead. You can find more beach suggestions in our guide.
Village clock
The Stannary Town of Ashburton is Devon’s best destination for antique purchases. There is even a way to pass them around.
Day exit
Rent the banquet boat for a gourmet meal with a turn, which drives up the river Dart in the spring and summer months. The two -hour session takes up the view of Dartmouth Castle, Agatha Christie’s holiday home, the Royal Naval College and the pretty village of Dittisham, in which seals often play next to the boat. There is cover in bad weather.
Secret garden
The luxury Hotel Endsleigh near Tavistock, which is hidden at the end of a long private journey, likes those who are pulled with a small budget outside the borders. But his breathtaking gardens of the II list of the gardens that sweep dramatically down to the Tamar river are accessible to the public for a donation of £ 5 or for visitors who book for lunch or one of their excellent afternoon teas.
Did you know?
The Cornish Pasty was actually invented in Devon. Despite the wrong name, the earliest recorded recipe for the pate of archives was discovered in city markings, which are due to 1509. Bakehouse Salcombe is the best place to pick you up.
Go
Most of the main attractions, museums and National Trust real estate from Devon open from the beginning of April to late October. If you can visit outside of school holidays, avoid M5 shrubs and crowded beaches. If you can’t, avoid going down on a Saturday, the change of change for most holiday homes.
After the Easter celebrations, the coastal paths are full of spring flowers. In autumn, turning the colors on the Moors is wonderful, and in September and October the sea is the warmest and the beaches are the quietest. The visit in winter has its advantages – including and a fire in a cozy pub – but there are also disadvantages: most attractions are closed, the bus connections are limited and strong winds can make the coastal hikes uncomfortable.
Where is staying
Best for gourmets
The Gidleigh Park near Chagford (from £ 297) recently regained one of his Michelin stars, while on the other side of the moor the Hotel Endsleigh (from £ 270), which is set in the listed gardens of class 1, also offers sublime cuisine.
Best for Lovebirds
In Salcombe, the South Sands Hotel (from £ 135) has the double with roller pools in the room that gives way to the view of the water. In Dartmoor, the luxurious rooms from Bovey Castle have a comprehensive view of the moor through Mullion window.
Best for SPA lovers
The Borringdon Hall (from £ 138) has a million times, state -of -the -art spa, while in Babbacombe the Cary Arms (from £ 215) have a small but stylish spa with a sea leaf with sea view.
Know before you go
Local laws and etiquette
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Devon has a strong drinking culture: Most pubs are busy at 6 p.m. when the locals end the work. In remote areas, driving drinks is more common than in cities.
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Get a tide table from a newspaper agent and time that visit your beach accordingly: with flood, the beaches are overcrowded, thin sand strips. Swimmers should be careful in front of Rip Idids and strong currents and only swim between the flags on beaches with a lifeguard swimmer.
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Ticks that have Lyme Borreliosis can be a problem in the Moors and in grassy and forest areas of Devon. Wear insect preservatives and put socks in long pants so as not to be bitten and check your skin for small black blobs every day. You can find more information in our guide to protect yourself from ticks on vacation.
Booking tips
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Avoid driving in Salcombe at the Peak Hotel Check -in and -out times (around 10.30 a.m. and 3 p.m.) because it is breastfed
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Plan beach visits with low tide so that there is a lot of sand
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Devon’s weather is famous. Suppose they were raining at least once.
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Many rural areas from Devon have no mobile phone reception.
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Devon is opposing with single -lane lanes, so good reverse capabilities are of crucial importance so that the oncoming cars can come by. If you do not feel confident, practice withdrawing in tight rooms before you arrive to avoid the anger of other drivers (and save your wing mirror).
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Public transport in Dartmoor and Salcombe is limited, but good tours are offered by unique devices and proper dartmoor tours.
About our experts
Epic landscape, cozy pubs and a strong community spirit moved Suzy Bennett to a remote village in Dartmoor over a decade ago. She travels everywhere with her dog Ziggy.
