Behind the spectactular coastline, you will find landscapes ranging from gentle rolling hills to the wild and ancient wilderness of DARTMOOR.
Between coast and moor, you will find enchanting mediaeval market towns (KINGSBRIDGE and TOTNES), and along the rivers Teign, Dart, Avon, Erme, Yealm and Tamar,
nestling in the wooded valleys, waterside villages (DITTISHAM and NOSS MAYO), all with a rich and ancient heritage.
This is a land of over one million years of heritage. Visitors can descend into the stone-age caves of KENTS CAVERN
or KITLEY CAVES, where both people and animals have sheltered for the last half a million years, or visit England's newest castle (built 1910-1930), CASTLE DROGO,
designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with it's grandeur of a medieval castle and 20th century comfort.
Wherever you turn, there are unique examples of buildings dating back 600 years:
BUCKLAND ABBEY - The home of Sir Francis Drake
COMPTON CASTLE - The family home of descendents of Sir Walter Raleigh
DARTMOUTH CASTLE - Guarding the port since 1388
TOTNES CASTLE - Defending the town since the 11th century
TORRE ABBEY - 1196 Abbey, the orginal centre of modern Torquay.
BERRY HEAD FORT - The fortification began with the Romans, but the present ruins date from 1795.
BUCKFAST ABBEY - Benedictine monastery dating back 1000 years
BAYARDS COVE (1536) - It was in 1620 that the PILGRIM FATHERS set sail.
MORWELLHAM QUAY - "the greatest copper port in Queen Victoria's Empire"
CROWNHILL FORT - discover Plymouth's hidden defences built in 1890
DEVONS MUSEUMS - details of 33 of Devons museums including those in South Hams & Torbay
The most powerful cultural influence in the region is DARTINGTON which enjoys an international reputation as a centre of excellence for the arts.
The Shakespearian productions in the gardens add a new dimension to theatre.
The towns of Totnes, Dartmouth, Salcombe all support local artists communities. Cockington Country Park is the home of ten craft studios and the outlet for the work of sixty of the county's leading craftworkers,
and Bovey Tracy is the home exhibition centre for the DEVON GUILD OF CRAFTMEN.
Activities in Devon range from a short stroll down to the local pub, to every sporting activity you can imagine.
You can try your hand at any water sport: sailing, surfing, waterskiing, windsurfing, and even diving or parascending. If you wish to experience the sights under the waves of Torbay, try a cruise in the
GLASS BOTTOM BOAT.
The area boasts eight excellent golf courses, all of which offer different, but exacting challenges.
If country pursuits are more to your liking, there is: horseriding; fishing, from bank, boat or shore, for trout, plaice or shark; and clay pigeon shooting.
If you are still seeking something different, you can join the DAWN PATROL; try HOT AIR BALLOONING;
or visit COURTLANDS CENTRE for mountain/water activities.
Public footpaths and bridleways criss-cross Devon, and help to make this one of Britain's finest areas for walking.
The 90 mile section of the SW Coast Path, give spectacular views across an everchanging coastline.
Small sections of this National Trail can be enjoyed by using the "Coast Path Hopper Bus", which allows
you to take a bus to your chosen start point, walk your selected section of the Path, and then to catch the "Hopper" back home.
The 365 square miles of Dartmoor offers endless walking options, but you can choose to "Take the chore out of walking the Moor" on a guided walk with
MOOR TOUR.
Riverside Trails are available for the Rivers Dart, Erme, Erme/Plym and Avon. Whilst "Templer Way" starts at Haytor high on the Moor,
and winds it's way down to the seaport of Teign, a distance of 18 miles through open moorland, woodland, meadow, historical tracks and estuary foreshore.
All towns and Tourist Information Centers now offer self-guided walk literature for both the serious walker and for those who wish to
leave their car in a pub carpark, complete a short circular walk, and return for a pint and a ploughmans.
Devon Wildlife Trust offer guided walks through their reserves, and "Trailventure" offer guided walks with transport from/to their
Ashburton base.
If more leisurely activities are required, then there are hundreds of gardens open to the public as well as a vineyard, chocolate factory and malting.
The warming influence of the gulf stream and year round mild climate, brings buds to bloom early in Spring. There are moated gardens
with 'subtropical' collections from all over the world.
COLETON FISHACRE - a beautiful stream fed garden created by Lady Dorothy D'Oyly Carte of Gilbert and Sullivan fame.
OVERBECK GARDENS - six acres of rare and exotic plants and shrubs against a superb seascape.
SALTRAM HOUSE - Exquisitely furnished and decorated 18th century mansion in period garden and 500 acre park.
COCKINGTON PARK - Idyllic village with lakeland walks, nature trails, organic and rose gardens, set in 460 acres.
FAST RABBIT FARM - Extensive valley garden and woodland.
If food and drink is your particular interest, then the area can offer some unique attractions:
SHARPHAM VINEYARD - On the banks of the River Dart, who produce their own wines and cheeses.
STANCOMBE TRADITIONAL FARMHOUSE CIDER - recorded in the Doomsday Book (1086), and once owned by Queen Elizabeth I, who gifted it to Sir Francis Drake.
TUCKERS MALTINGS - England's only working malthouse open to the public.
BLACKAWTON BREWERY - Real ale available at many local inns and pubs.
AVON OYSTERS - The Oyster Shack (Al fresco seafood bistro & delicatessen).
SALCOMBE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Handmade chocolates bought direct from the factory.
SALCOMBE SMOKERS - Smoked salmon/prawns/trout over oak chippings.
If you feel like a change from the breathtaking scenery, visit one of the scores of places of special interest:
QUAYWEST - Britain's biggest, best, wildest and wettest Waterpark.
PAIGNTON ZOO - A jouney of discovery through the world's threatened habitat.
NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM - Unforgettable journey through the oceans
BABBACOMBE MODEL VILLAGE - A masterpiece of miniture landscaping
WOODLAND LEISURE PARK - The UK's top family park.
DARTMOOR WILDLIFE PARK - largest collection of big cats in the West.
SORLEY TUNNEL - family fun at the friendly farm.
If you wish to explore the area without having to use your car, there are many options:
PAIGNTON & DARTMOUTH STEAM RAILWAY
runs from Paignton to Dartmouth along seven miles of spectaular Torbay coast and
the wooded slopes bordering the River Dart. This trip can be combined with a river trip and bus ride to make an unforgetable day:
Paignton to Kingswear - Steamtrain
Kingswear to Dartmouth - Ferry
Dartmouth to Totnes - River Link
Totnes to Paignton - Bus
SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY - operates steam trains between Totnes and Buckfastleigh along the six miles of the Primrose Line. Why not take: a boat trip from Dartmouth to Totnes; a train ride from Totnes to Buckfastleigh;
and then a visit to Buckfast Abbey before returning to Dartmouth.
The Salcombe / Kingsbridge ferry service operate regular services. You can walk across the footpaths from High House to Kingsbridge, and catch the ferry to Salcombe. During the "estuary cruise" you may be lucky enough to spot seals, fish, or nesting herons and egrets.
Here you can spend a day in the port or take a ferry to East Portlemouth and spend the day in a sandy cove such as Millbay.
The Western Lady, WWII rescue motor launches all recorded on the National Historic Ships Register, operate a ferry service between Brixham and Torquay which can be combined with a walk along the Torbay Coastal Path.
Cockington Pony & Trap "taxi" will take you from Torquay seafront to the picturesque Cockington Village, where you can enjoy a cream tea in this unspoilt village.
DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST offer a "Wild Night Out" when you can encounter bats, owls and other creatures of the dark. Enjoy a barbecue of local food, star gazing and spell-binding stories.
After a night under canvas, wake up with the dawn chorus to experience the wonders of a woodland, lit by early morning sun.
This guide can only give a very limited view of the facilities available for both visitors and residents, but we hope that you have enjoyed reading the guide, and that it has given you some ideas
for your holiday.
