{"id":2837,"date":"2014-10-31T11:14:42","date_gmt":"2014-10-31T11:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/?p=2837"},"modified":"2022-12-14T12:30:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T12:30:42","slug":"exploring-devon-essential-holiday-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/exploring-devon-essential-holiday-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Devon: Essential Holiday Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"thatched<\/a>

Branscombe, one of Devon’s pretty villages<\/p><\/div>\n

Devon is one of England\u2019s best loved counties. Not only has it given us the cream tea, Agatha Christie thrillers and world class cider, it is home to pristine moorland, incredible beaches, and bustling cities. Covering a large chunk of the South West, Devon<\/a> is so diverse in its charms that you may be confused about which part is right for your holiday, so we\u2019ve compiled this handy guide to exploring Devon to help you decide.<\/p>\n

North Devon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

North Devon stretches from Lynton and the Exmoor Heritage Coast<\/a> in the north, to Barnstaple<\/a> in the west, and down as far as Chulmleigh and Witheridge in the south. It\u2019s easily reached by the M5 and well served by trains via Bristol from London and the north. You can easily leave the office on Friday and be sitting with your feet up in front of a magnificent view by dinner time.<\/p>\n

North Devon\u2019s beaches offer something for everyone whether you\u2019re a keen surfer (Croyde<\/a> Beach), after somewhere family friendly (Westward Ho!, Putsborough, and Widemouth Bay), taking your dog (Summerleaze), or want somewhere secluded to explore (Wild Pear, Woody Bay, or Lee Bay). Tunnels Beaches<\/a> in Ilfracombe<\/a> is a Victorian wonder and well worth the small entry fee. If it\u2019s wet or you fancy something other than sunbathing, swimming, or surfing, North Devon\u2019s shopping is a real treat, especially in Bideford<\/a> and Barnstaple.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t ignore the history of North Devon. Merthoe near Woolacombe was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, while Ilfracombe is a picture-perfect Victorian seaside town. The quay in Clovelly is more than 600 years old and is bursting with tales of pirates and smugglers.<\/p>\n

The Tarka Trail is a thirty mile cycle route taking you from Braunton to Meeth through gorgeous countryside. Push yourself and complete the entire trail with a break for lunch at one of the area\u2019s fantastic pubs and restaurants, or just stretch your legs on a few miles of it. You can see a full map of the route at Braunton\u2019s Tourist Information Centre. If golf be what you’re looking for then head to High Bickington in Umberleigh and try out the wonderful golf courses at Libbaton Golf Club<\/a>, the perfect way to unwind at the end of a North Devon getaway.<\/p>\n

South Devon <\/strong><\/h2>\n

South Devon is well deserving of its reputation as the English Riviera. It boasts warm weather and 22 miles of stunning coast which more than rivals the northern part of the county for beaches and attractions. Teignmouth is popular with families both for the clean beach and impressive Victorian pier, while South Milton Sands is so clean that it\u2019s not unusual to see dolphins and seals splashing around offshore. Paignton is another family friendly town with a well preserved Victorian pier and an excellent park catering for kids of all ages.<\/p>\n

South Hams is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a must-see if you appreciate the outdoors. It\u2019s fringed by both coastline and the Dartmoor National Park<\/a>, but is also jam packed with history including Totnes Castle<\/a> and Buckfast Abbey. Even better, it has some of Devon\u2019s finest pubs and restaurants where you can satisfy the gigantic appetite you\u2019ll build up by delving into the South Devonian landscape.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after a typical British seaside holiday then South Devon will deliver it in buckets and spades. Beaches, ice cream, steam trains, amusement arcades, shopping, eating\u2026 it\u2019s all waiting for you here. Totnes has a laid-back, alternative vibe where over a thousand years of history gives it a magical feel. Newton Abbot<\/a> will give your wallet a work out and is particularly lively on race day; and if you want to go upmarket then head for Kingsbridge<\/a> with its vineyards and sailing.<\/p>\n

Mid Devon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lush fertile countryside is one reason Devon milk and cream is so delicious. You\u2019ll see it for yourself in Mid Devon \u2013 much of which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tiverton<\/a> is the largest town in the region and the ideal base from which to access all of Devon. It\u2019s a nature lover\u2019s paradise, especially along the eleven mile Grand Western Canal. Bampton, Crediton<\/a> and Cullompton<\/a> are all charming and will leave you wanting to return.<\/p>\n

The Blackdown Hills<\/a> area is staggeringly beautiful. It\u2019s a breathtaking mix of pasture, forest, farmland, valleys and plateaus and perfect for perfect for foraging walks<\/a> or bicycle adventures. You\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve stepped back fifty \u2013 even two hundred and fifty! \u2013 years in time, in some places as it\u2019s so removed from the noise and grime of modern life.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s virtually impossible to eat badly in Mid Devon. The region is renowned for the quality of its produce. The Otter Valley Dairy in Honiton serves award winning ice-cream with such a wide choice of flavours you\u2019ll have to make more than one visit. Fresh seafood is easily obtained at Topsham Quay and Salcombe<\/a> Harbour; and Tea on the Green in Exeter is arguably the best atmosphere in which to enjoy a cream tea, as you can watch the goings on in Cathedral Square from your vantage point in this Elizabethan building. Regular farmers markets are held in Crediton, Tiverton and Cullompton, allowing you to buy directly from the producers.<\/p>\n

Devon\u2019s Calendar<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s always something interesting going on in Devon. March is the start of lambing season and you can\u2019t beat the arrival of spring for a feast of natural beauty. Music festivals start in June and continue through the summer. Dartmouth<\/a> Week is held in the third and fourth weeks of August and provides a spectacular sight with all sorts of boats racing for a prize. Dartmouth also runs an outstanding food festival at the end of October; and you can fill everyone\u2019s stockings at the Christmas markets in Exeter, Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Totnes, and Torquay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Devon has no \u201cbest\u201d side \u2013 every corner is absolutely glorious. We could simplify it and say head for North Devon if you\u2019re the active sort, mid Devon if you like to eat well, and South Devon for a postcard perfect beach holiday, however that would be an unfair generalisation as all parts of Devon can give you the relaxing and reviving break you\u2019re searching for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Devon is one of England\u2019s best loved counties. Not only has it given us the cream tea, Agatha Christie thrillers and world class cider, it is home to pristine moorland, incredible beaches, and bustling cities. Covering a large chunk of the South West, Devon is so diverse in its charms that you may be confused […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":2838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[65,31,3,6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2837"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10336,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2837\/revisions\/10336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.independentcottages.co.uk\/holiday-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}