Devon in … a week – Our Travel Vision

Devon is a county in southwest England, renowned for its spectacular coastline, beautiful beaches , medieval town, moorland national parks and of course the Devonshire cream tea 😊. Devon is divided in North Devon facing the Bristol channel and South Devon facing the English channel.

We spent about a week enjoying the beauty of Devon.😊

Exeter is the capital of Devon and a good base to visit both Dartmoor and the south coast. It’s a vibrant, attractive and historically interesting city. The Cathedral, dating back 900 years, is one of the finest examples of decorated Gothic architecture in England. The Historic Quayside is one of the most attractive areas of the city, with its fascinating history, interesting architecture and lively pubs and restaurants. For a comprehensive history of the quay check out the Custom House Visitor Centre.

DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK

The moorland, protected by National park status since 1951, covers 368 sq miles & it’s full of dramatic landscapes, rolling hills, rivers & full of exciting rock formations, known as Tors.

Useful Websites :

Information and above map :https://visitdartmoor.co.uk/map-of-dartmoor & https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/

From the north of the park along road A382 sights worth visiting:

Spinster’s Rock is the best surviving example in Devon of a Neolithic burial chamber known as a dolmen or cromlech erected around 3500-2500 B.C. It not easy to find though as it’s in a field in the middle of nowhere.

Castle Drogo part of National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-drogo

Chagford : ancient Stannary town with a small but charming town square.
Moretonhampstead : ancient market town dating back over 1000 years to Saxon times.
Bovey Tracey is another pretty market town and home to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Ashburton along road A38 is renowned of its artisan foodie shops, independent and antique shops. For a nice tea break stop at Taylor & Moor tea room/art gallery on the high street https://taylorandmoor.com/.

Buckfast Abbey south of Ashburton is home to a community of Benedictine monks originally established in 1018. The abbey and gardens are definitely worth a stop. In the gift shop you can find the famous Buckfast tonic wine (caffeinated fortified wine originally made by monks) https://www.buckfast.org.uk/

Totnes is an historic market town that combines alternative therapies, breathtakingly beautiful countryside and a fascinating history. Sitting in the heart of South Devon on the banks of the River Dart, this unique and charming town has an international reputation for its lively and diverse community and relaxed atmosphere.

From Est to West from Bovey Tracey along road B3387

Haytor Rocks is a collection of rocky outcrops. The two main outcrops are huge tors of granite that dominate their surroundings. You can park in the visitor centre car park and walk up to the tors. The top offers spectacular views across Dartmoor and the south Devon coast. On a clear day, you can see the South Devon sea.

Widecombe in the Moor is a picture-perfect Dartmoor village and definitely my favorite. The medieval parish church of St Pancras is known as the Cathedral of the Moors. A few steps away from the church is the 16th century Church House, originally built to offer food, ale and rest to local people who travelled great distances over the moors to attend church services. We enjoyed a very nice lunch in “The Cafe on the green” https://www.thecafeonthegreen.co.uk/

Postbridge lies in the centre of Dartmoor on B3212 and is home to the famous Clapper Bridge believed to have been built in the 13th century. The bridge has two central piers spanned by three large granite slabs, or clappers. In nearby Bellever Forest, there are many archaeological remains, including roundhouses, stone rows and a burial cist.

Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement. Dartmoor is rich in prehistoric remains, and the group of monuments at Merrivale is one of the finest on the moor. The site includes remains of a Bronze Age settlement and a complex of ritual sites, including three stone rows, a stone circle, standing stones and a number of cairns. The monuments were probably built over a long period, between about 2500 BC and 1000 BC. The site is part of English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/merrivale-prehistoric-settlement/

Dartmoor ponies are the landscape’s most hardy animal and the official symbol of the national park. They’ve lived on the moor for centuries, thriving despite harsh winter weather. All of the ponies in the moor (around 1500) are wild in the sense they can roam freely but in fact they are owned by various Dartmoor Commoners.

Tavistock is an ancient stannary town, birthplace of Sir Frances Drake and home of the cream tea created by the monks of Tavistocks Benedictine Abbey in the 10th century. It is the only town in Devon to hold world heritage status. Check the following website for details on what to visit: https://www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/top-10-things-to-do

THE SOUTH COAST & THE “ENGLISH RIVIERA”

Plymouth “Britain’s Ocean City” is a vibrant waterfront city packed full of attractions. Wander the Barbican’s quaint cobbled quayside and stop at the Mayflower steeps from which the Pilgrims are believed to have left England aboard the Mayflower, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America on 6 September 1620. The traditional site of their disembarkation in North America is Plymouth Rock. We enjoyed seeing the Mayflower starting point as few years ago we visited Plymouth rock and plantation in New England USA 😊. Not far from the Barbican is the Royal Citadel the most impressive 17th century fortress in Britain. Just after the Citadel is Plymouth Hoe & the Smeaton’s tower the red and white stripes former lighthouse. For map & further details on what to visit check the following website: https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/

Salcombe sits on the banks of the Kingsbridge Estuary making it one of the prettiest towns in South Devon. Located within the South Devon Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Salcombe is known for its stunning coastal views, rolling surrounding countryside, as well as a centre for sailing.

Dartmouth on the banks of the picturesque River Dart, is a pretty medieval town with strong maritime history and home to the Britannia Royal Naval College. The town centre offers a long promenade with amazing views across the river Dart, a pretty marina, great architecture, the Bayard’s Cove Fort, fine shops and restaurants. Not far from the centre you can find Dartmouth Castle https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dartmouth-castle/

Torquay, set at the very heart of the English Riviera, is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches, iconic palm trees, international marina, seafront promenade & genteel Victorian appearance. The town is the birthplace of Agatha Christie. Don’t miss Thatcher Point with a stunning view of Thatcher Rock and the sea.

Cockington is a stunning village, near Torquay, lined with colorful thatched houses, a thatched pub, a manor house & a cricket ground. Many of the cottages are from the 16th Century. Don’t miss it

Brixham is a picturesque fishing village with 18th century fisherman’s cottages, a full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind ship and a variety of atmospheric cafes and restaurants serving fresh seafood from the famous Brixham Fish Market. If you have time visit the natural caves of Kent Cavern and the limestone cliffs of Berry Head . There are some excellent seafoods restaurants in Brixham. Our favourite is Beamers a nautical-themed restaurant with views across the harbour and fantastic food. https://beamersrestaurant.co.uk/

THE NORTH COAST

Clovelly is a picturesque & ancient fishing village once owned by the Queen of England. From Elizabethan days until today, Clovelly has been in private ownership, which has helped preserve its original atmosphere. Clinging to a 400 foot cliff, it has no vehicular traffic, just donkeys and sledges. Its steep, cobbled street tumbles its way down to the ancient fishing harbor and C14th quay . Please note there is an entrance fee to the village. For more info check the following website https://www.clovelly.co.uk/

Appledore is another historic fishing village with winding narrow streets and colorful houses. It sits at the confluence of the Taw and Torridge river with lovely views across to Instow

Croyde, the surfing capital of North Devon, is another magical village home to many fairytales thatched houses and beautiful views over Croyde bay & Baggy Point

Woodacombe has one of the finest beaches in the West Country & Mortehoe has spectacular views across the Channel.

Ilfracombe since 1874 is a leading holiday resort in north Devon with its picturesque historic harbour, quaint pastel coloured houses, 14^th Century chapel and Damien Hirst’s statue Verity.

EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

Exmoor is famous for its towering sea cliffs, high moors, tumbling streams and deep valleys. At just 693 square kilometres it is one of the UK’s smallest National Parks but It has the highest coastline on the British mainland (314m above sea Level). Two thirds of the park is in Somerset and one third is in Devon.

Useful Websites :

https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/

For below map https://visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/exmoor-national-park/

The picturesque twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth are located in the middle of the rugged Exmoor coastline. The pretty village of Lynmouth sits at sea level, following the River Lyn down to the sea, whilst Lynton sits higher on the cliff. The 2 towns are connected by the Cliff Railway (opened in 1890), the highest and steepest fully water powered Victorian railway in the World.

Valley of the Rocks (also known as ‘Valley of Rocks’) is a dramatic section of coastline on the northern edge of Exmoor. The best way to experience its beauty is to follow the coastal path to Lynton (3.5miles circular walk). For a nice break and scones stop at “Mother Meldrums Tea Gardens”

ACCOMODATION

We stayed at Wolfin Farm near Crediton in their lovely annexe. https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/wolfing-farm-luxury-annexe.en-gb.html

Enjoy Devon 😊

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