places to visit in Devon

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Parents Guide to Plymouth
How to survive and enjoy life in Plymouth with a family

Places to visit in Devon

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Devon County Council has full details updated daily, at their website.  The websites for South Hams visitor attractions  and the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions have lots of ideas for days out, including details of child-friendly attractions  Opening times and admission charges should be available by following the links on this site. 

Walking in Devon is a great source of ideas about walks of all lengths and varieties right through the county.

Follow the web links to find out much more about these attractions including opening dates/times and admission price: BECKY FALLS WOODLAND PARK:  Manaton, near Bovey Tracey on the east side of Dartmoor.   A variety of trails through the woods, marked in different colours, from easy strolls to very demanding.  Discovery trails for children.  Stout walking shoes are recommended for the walk to the falls.  BUCKLAND ABBEY:  Yelverton.   Once  a Cistercian monastery, then the home of Sir Richard Grenville who  sold  it  to  Sir Francis Drake; now jointly managed by the National Trust and Plymouth City Council.  It contains many Elizabethan  artefacts  and details much of Drake's history.  Way marked walks through 600 acre estate.  Family activities often arranged in school holidays.  (See holiday activities)  Situated ll miles north of Plymouth off the A386.  Managed jointly by the National Trust and Plymouth City Council.   DARTMOOR'S MINIATURE PONY CENTRE:  On Dartmoor 2 miles west of Moretonhampstead on the B3212.  Over 150 animals including miniature ponies and donkeys that foal throughout the spring and early summer. on 20 acres of Dartmoor parkland.   Picnic areas, Paddock View cafe, Willow Garden and gift shop.  Closes for the winter. DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK:  The National Park Authority organise guided walks and events, some of which are specifically designed for young people and families.  The walks are led by knowledgeable guides who are all Dartmoor enthusiasts.   If you have any doubts talk to the guides before setting off.  Final walking routes will be decided by the guide, taking into account the weather and ability of the group.  Copies of the free Dartmoor Visitor newspaper, containing details of walks and other events, are available from the National Park Information Centres.  For further information about Dartmoor visit the website or telephone/ visit the High Moorland Visitor Centre at Princetown.  Tel:  (01822) 890414   DARTMOOR ZOOLOGICAL PARK:   Sparkwell, near Plympton.  There are over 200 animals at Dartmoor Zoological Park, from tiny stick insects to Ben the Brown Bear and Solomon the Lion, set in 33 acres of beautiful parkland.  Summer opening times:  10.00 am to 6.00 pm (from 28 March 2008); winter opening times:  10.00 am - 4.00 pm.  MORWELLHAM QUAY OPEN AIR MUSEUM:  Tavistock.   A  19th century copper mine and picturesque old port.  Visitors can ride the woodland tramway beside the River Tamar and into the copper mine.  Try on 1860's costumes and watch fascinating demonstrations (seasonal).  Explore the quays, Garlandstone ketch, cottages, farm, museums, school and workshops.  Wildlife Reserve, woodland and riverside trails; picnic parks, Victorian Inn (seasonal).   Allow 4 – 5 hours for a visit.  Follow signs from Plymouth to Tavistock then A390.  A season ticket is available allowing, on payment of a yearly fee, unlimited visits and reduced price admission to special events at Morwellham.   PENNYWELL FARM:   near Buckfastleigh. The big all day farm fun and activity park.  Farm craft and wildlife activities to entertain the family all day.  Race the ferrets, bottle feed the baby lambs or enjoy a puppet show and sing-a-long in the Farmyard Theatre.  A different hands-on activity every half hour; listen for the bell.  Nativity plays and visits to Santa during December.  Visit the Website at  www.pennywellfarmcentre.co.uk   PRICKLY BALL FARM HEDGEHOG HOSPITAL:   Prickly Ball Farm, Denbury Road Nr. Newton Abbot.  Once in Newton Abbot follow the signs to Totnes which will take you onto the A381, follow this road for about 1 mile. Go straight ahead at the roundabout and turn right after 40 metres into Denbury Road. Continue for half a mile until you find the free car park on the left.   Open for the summer season (between April and October).
WOODLANDS LEISURE PARK:   Blackawton, Dartmouth, TQ9 7DQ,  Woodlands near Dartmouth is an all weather family attraction with something for everyone; big style playzones to entertain big and small kids throughout the winter.  Ride the fantastic Sea Dragon Swing Ship, steer big U-drive Tractors where you are in control while toddlers have fun tractoring round Pedal Town.  Experience the Empire with 5 floors of challenging tower climbs, rides and slides.  Other features are the Zoo-in-a-Farm, Master Blaster and The Ice Palace fantasy playcentre for under sevens.  Reduced all-inclusive winter price just £6 per person, under 92 cm free.  Open daily March to November from 9.30 am; open Saturday and Sunday through the winter, and every day from the 14th to 22nd February 2009 for half term.  Check out the website for opening times over Christmas and New Year 2008/9.   Water features do not operate in the winter.  See Holiday activities for further information.  www.woodlandspark.com
Other attractions in Devon: BABBACOMBE MODEL VILLAGE:  Hampton Avenue, Babbacombe, Torquay.  Impressive model village with miniature landscaped gardens and an evening light spectacular.  (34 miles from Plymouth city centre) BERRY POMEROY CASTLE:   Berry Pomeroy, near Totnes.  One of the largest castles   in Devon,  it dates from Norman times, with dungeons and the ruins of  a  never-completed  Tudor  mansion.  Said to be the most haunted castle in Devon.  Refreshments.  2.5 miles east of Totnes off A385. BOWDEN  HOUSE:  Totnes.   Houses the British Photographic  Museum.  Tudor House (reputed to be haunted); children's corner, refreshments.  Guides dress in Georgian costume. 1 mile from Totnes on A361. BUCKFAST  ABBEY:  Buckfastleigh.  Built over a period of 32 years,  being completed in 1938  by Benedictine Monks who made the monastery their home.   The Abbey is a very beautiful  building - visitors are  asked to respect the fact that it is a church and dress and behave accordingly.   Other  attractions  include  an exhibition   and  award-winning education service, shops, tea rooms, a very comprehensive religious book shop, information office.  Mother and baby room. BUCKFAST  BUTTERFLY FARM  AND  DARTMOOR OTTER SANCTUARY:   Buckfastleigh.  Butterflies from all over the world in a jungle habitat; otters in a carefully-designed environment.   Also birds, fish and terrapins. BURRATOR:  Dartmoor.  There are attractive walks in the woodlands surrounding Burrator Reservoir.  Leave Plymouth on the A386 Yelverton road, from Yelverton follow the B3212 to Dousland, then follow the signs for Burrator. CANONTEIGN FALLS:  Chudleigh.  Said to be England’s highest waterfall at 220 feet.  Woodland walks, Wetland Nature Reserve, adventure playgrounds, picnic sites. COLDHARBOUR MILL WORKING WOOL MUSEUM:  Uffculme, Cullompton.  Discover the story of the Victorian adults and children who worked here!  See how low children crawled under working machinery and find out how noisy a power loom was.  The creative 'New World Tapestry' the longest tapestry in the world, which was mainly crafted in Plymouth, moved from here to Bristol at the end of October 2003.  Mill shop, restaurant and picnic area.  (62 miles from Plymouth city centre) CREALY ADVENTURE PARK:  Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter.  With the first log flume in Devon; also action realm, adventure realm, animal realm, farming realm, magic realm and natural realm.  (47 miles from Plymouth city centre) DARTMOOR PRISON MUSEUM: Princetown.   Tel:  (01822) 892130.  Exhibits reflecting the history of the once infamous prison, which was built in 1805 and housed French and American prisoners of war in the early nineteenth century. DARTMOOR ZOOLOGICAL PARK:   Sparkwell, near Plympton.  There are over 200 animals at Dartmoor Zoological Park, from tiny stick insects to Ben the Brown Bear and Solomon the Lion, set in 33 acres of beautiful parkland.  Summer opening times:  10.00 am to 6.00 pm (from 28 March 2008); winter opening times:  10.00 am - 4.00 pm DIGGERLAND:  Verbeer Manor, Cullompton.   Where adults and children can drive real JCBs; plus other activities.  (63 miles from Plymouth city centre)  LIVING COASTS:  Beacon Quay, Torquay.  Family adventure and a chance to find out about marine conservation. OVERBECKS  MUSEUM  AND  GARDEN:  Sharpitor, near Salcombe.  (National Trust)  A six-acre garden with rare plants and shrubs, with spectacular views over Salcombe estuary.  Museum of  ships, ship-building, local shells, moths, butterflies, birds' eggs, animals.  Children's room with exhibition of dolls and toys.  100 year old Polyphon.  Picnic area; light refreshments available.  Not open on Saturdays.  Situated 1.5 miles from Salcombe, signposted from Marlborough and Salcombe.  PAIGNTON  ZOO ENVIRONMENTAL PARK:  Totnes  Road,  Paignton.   Large zoo, involved in conservation breeding programmes, with gardens, nature trail, family activity centre and miniature railway.   The Zoo's Education Service, which has classrooms, a library and a loan service of educational materials, welcomes educational visits.  Refreshments; Mother and  Baby  room. RIVER   DART  ADVENTURES:  Holne Park, Ashburton.   90 acres of parkland, woodland, with riverside and nature trails.  Extensive adventure playgrounds, and new Pirate ship in Smugglers Cove play lake with toddlers beach.  Picnic areas and refreshments.  During the school holidays organised day activities include climbing, caving and canoeing.  Also 'Dare Devil' activities for all the family, including high ropes, mega zip wire, canoeing and indoor climbing (at small extra cost). SALCOMBE CHOCOLATE FACTORY:  Orchard Court, Island Street (next to Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream).   See chocolates being made in this factory outlet, with gift shop. SOUTH DEVON STEAM RAILWAY:  The Station, Buckfastleigh.  Steam trains running on the old GWR branchline from Buckfastleigh to Totnes from April to October.   Phone for railway timetable.  Set in several acres of grounds with picnic areas; children's play area and maze, museum,  stock  shed, model railway, refreshments.  Also Santa  trains  at weekends in December.   YELVERTON PAPERWEIGHT CENTRE:  Leg O' Mutton, Yelverton.  Private collection of hundreds of glass paperweights, many for sale.  Free admission.
Other attractions in  Devon  may also  be   found  detailed in the free "Holiday Times" newspapers for South Devon and South  Hams,  available from Tourist Information Offices.

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Page updated:  17 November 2008

 

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