Holidays in Devon

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With golden sandy beaches, historic cities, and a huge slab of bucolic English countryside, Devon is readymade for a brilliant staycation.

Most are drawn to the county’s two wonderful, wandering coastlines, home to classic seaside towns, such as Bigbury-on-Sea and Sidmouth; award-winning beaches, like Woolacombe; and mile-after-mile of spectacular clifftop walking. The English Rivera, on the south coast, is a stunning stretch of coastline, packed with brilliant beaches and classic seaside towns. The windier, wilder north, meanwhile, is perfect for surfing and water sports.

Vast Dartmoor, a sprawling moorland of forest and valleys, offers endless opportunities for hiking, and charming time-capsule villages, such as Bovey Tracey and Tavistock. Alternatively, lively Exeter, famed for its mighty cathedral, and Plymouth, with its rich maritime heritage and cobbled old centre, are ideal for a weekend city break.

Devon’s allure lies in its variety. There’s history aplenty in Exeter, beaches fit for surfing, lounging or sandcastle building, and wild moorland great for walking. Whether you’re a family, a couple or a solo traveller, Devon’s got all the boxes ticked.

Best things to do on a weekend break

Whether you’re looking for a historic city break, or a few days by the beach, there’s plenty to do over a weekend in Devon. Exeter, with its enormous cathedral, pleasant quayside and lively student population, is a lovely spot to spend a few days, while port city Plymouth offers culture, nightlife and maritime history from a beautiful seaside location.

If you’re only interested in the beach, head to the English Riviera, a cluster of classic resort towns set along a dramatic stretch of south Devon coastline. Any of “Big Three” Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham are perfect for a weekend break in Devon.

Best things to do for families

Beyond the beach, there’s loads to keep the kids busy on a family holiday in Devon. Catch the ferry over to Lundy, a remote island nature reserve adrift in the Bristol Channel. Devon’s answer to the Galapagos, it’s perfect for wildlife loving families.

There are plenty of theme parks in Devon too, including The Milky Way Adventure Park at Bideford, Crealy Theme Park, and Diggerland in Cullompton. For a rainy day, head to the National Maritime Aquarium in Plymouth. The biggest aquarium in the UK, it’s home to over 5,000 weird and wonderful animals.

Best beaches in Devon

Devon has some of the best beaches in Britain. Along the north coast, enormous Woolacombe, windswept Saunton Sands, Putsborough Sands with its many rockpools, and the sand dunes of Braunton Burrows are great options for families.

Down on the south coast, you’ll find Bigbury-on-Sea and Bantham Beach, both great for water sports, and Blue Flag Blackpool Sands, a stunning beach that wouldn’t look out of place on a Greek island.

Finally, east Devon has Branscombe, a cliff-backed pebble beach, Dawlish, a wide, sandy spot that stays quiet even during the summer, and Seaton, a mile-long shingle beach great for kids.

Best walks in Devon

From seaside jaunts to moorland rambles, Devon was made was a good wander. Both coasts are part of the epic South West Coast Path, giving you over 300km (205 miles) of wonderful coastal walking to get stuck into. If you don’t fancy the whole slog, there are loads of little chunks you can tackle, such as Salcombe to Hope Cove on the south coast, Seaton to Sidmouth on the east, and Ilfracombe to Woolacoombe on the north.

Inland, moody Dartmoor National Park and the adjoining Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have plenty of well signposted walking trails between them.

Best attractions in Devon

Part nature park, part adventure playground Wildwood Escot is a great attraction for families. Likewise, Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay is popular with kids of all ages.

For history and heritage, don’t miss Powderham Castle, a stately residence surrounded by a sweeping deer park, and the South Devon Railway, a vintage steam train that runs along the River Dart valley between Totnes and Buckfastleigh.

Fancy a day at the museum? The Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter, The Mayflower Museum in Plymouth, and Dartmoor Prison Museum in Princetown are all well worth a visit.

For families

Devon has no shortage of great options for a family holiday. Woolacombe and Ilfracombe, up on the north coast, are surrounded by some of the best beaches in north Devon, including Woolacombe, Saunton Sands, and the wonderfully named Westward Ho! Beach.

On the south coast, Bigbury-on-Sea is close to a number of family-friendly beaches, as is nearby Bantham. Here, you’re close to Torquay, Plymouth and Dartmouth for day trips.

Seaside towns Seaton, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, on the east coast, all have excellent, large beaches. Plus, you’re closer to Exeter, which can be a good day trip for teenagers.

For couples

The little village of Branscombe, on the east coast, is perfect for couples looking for a quiet break. Nearby Beer, a tiny fishing village sheltered in a rocky bay, but offers a little more choice for eating and drinking.

Croyde, meanwhile, regularly sits top of the list for “most romantic spot in Devon”. With a lovely little beach, thatched-roof cottages and a bunch of cosy pubs, it’s not too difficult to see why.

If walking’s your thing, Devon’s two national parks, Dartmouth and Exmoor are packed with easy-to-follow trails. Alternatively, Plymouth is a great choice if you prefer cities, but still like easy access to nature.

For a weekend break

If you’re short on time, the English Riviera is a beautiful place to base yourself. The three main towns of Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham sit along a dreamy stretch of South Devon coastline, where you’ll find great walking, boat trips, watersports as well as loads of pubs, restaurants and bars.

For a city break, Plymouth has a picturesque historic harbour area packed with places to eat and drink. From here, you can take a boat trip along the coast, which is handy if you’ve only got a few days spare. Exeter, meanwhile, is worth a visit for its incredible cathedral alone. Dating back to 1050, it’s one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in the UK.

For travellers on a budget

Devon isn’t exactly your classic budget destination, but generally speaking, you’ll find prices are broadly similar across the region, with a few exceptions. For example, the English Riviera, being a tourist hotspot, and Plymouth and Exeter, being cities, tend to be more expensive than the smaller towns in the countryside.

There is a lot of range across the whole county when it comes to accommodation, but for the best prices, travel outside of the peak summer season and avoid the school holidays.

For glamping and holiday parks

With so much countryside, you’ll find holiday parks absolutely everywhere in Devon. The most popular ones tend to be close to the north, south and east coasts, but there are plenty inland, on the edges of Dartmoor, and in the countryside around Exeter.

For holiday cottages

Holiday cottages are a similar story to holiday parks – they’re absolutely everywhere. You’ll find them all along both coastlines, which is obviously better if you’re planning a beach holiday, in and around Dartmoor and Exmoor (best for hiking), and the countryside around Exeter.