Places to visit in South Devon

Babbacombe Cliff Railway

Surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery to be found in the UK, the Cliff Railway provides a vital and non-exhausting way for locals and holidaymakers alike to soak up the peaceful atmosphere and take in the amazing views as they travel to and from the water’s edge.

 

Babbacombe Model Village

Explore 4 acres of award-winning gardens showcasing hundreds of model scenes, The village portrays English life and culture over the last 6 decades and is sure to bring to life those childhood memories.

Berry Pomroy Castle

Tucked away in a deep wooded valley, Berry Pomeroy Castle is the perfect romantic ruin with a colourful history of intrigue. The location of the castle makes it ideal for walkers who can explore the nearby beautiful woodland or you can enjoy a light lunch, home made cake or restorative cup of tea in the cafe.

Bicton Park Gardens

Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these magnificent grade 1 listed gardens are set in Devon picturesque Otter Valley , between the ancient city of Exeter and England’s Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The superbly landscaped park combines 18th century tranquillity has modern amenities.

Bolberry Down

Explore the history of this magnificent corner of Devon whilst enjoying spectacular views out to sea on a walk over Bolberry Down.

Burgh Island

Separated from the mainland by a beautiful sandy tidal beach, Burgh Island is only accessible on foot across the beach at low tide, or via the unique sea tractor when the tide is high.
The area of Bigbury and Burgh Island is part of the South West Coast Path – and you can spend hours wandering along the stunning coastline just looking out to sea.

Brixham Battery

Brixham Battery Heritage Centre has a small museum on the site of one of the two batterys, The role of the battery was to defend against the expected invasion by enemy forces in occupied France.

Brownstone and Coleton Camp

This stretch of coast east of the Dart Estuary is complete with cliffs, beaches and traditional farmland. From Coleton Camp car park a moderate walk leads to the South West Coast Path, with access to Scabbacombe beach. Close to Brownstone car park, at Froward Point, is one of the few remaining Second World War gun batteries.

Bygones

See, hear and smell life in Britain from the Victorians to WW2 and the retro Fifties. There’s plenty to see and do across three floors with snapshots of 100 years of history, interactive displays, unique curiosities and quirky memorabilia.

Canoe Adventures

Explore South Devon’s stunning River Dart estuary between the historic towns of Totnes and Dartmouth – setting off from Tuckenhay or Stoke Gabriel with pubs, secret places, campfires, shipwrecks, wildlife and stories along the way.

Castle Drogo

Set high above the Teign Gorge on the edge of Dartmoor, Castle Drogo is a masterpiece of early 20th-century architecture.

Currently coming towards the end of a 6-year project to restore the castle roof, due to be completed for the 2019 season.

Coldharbour Mill

Coldharbour Mill is one of the oldest woollen mills in the UK, having been in continuous production since 1797. Originally owned by world-renowned textile producers Fox Brothers, the Mill took fleece from all over the world and transformed it into yarn, cloth and textiles. Today the rich heritage lives on as one of the finest working wool museums where visitors are not just able to relive the sights and sounds of the industrial revolution but also see craftsmen and women making traditional textiles, beautiful knitting yarn and hand woven rugs.

Coleton Fishacre

This most evocative of country homes was built in the Arts & Crafts style, and is imbued with Art Deco elegance. A light, joyful atmosphere fills the rooms, and music plays, echoing the family’s Gilbert and Sullivan connections. You can get an insight into 1920s life ‘upstairs and downstairs’ from the glamorous Saloon and the airy servants’ rooms.

Compton Castle

Dramatic fortified manor house and small formal garden.
A rare survivor, this medieval fortress with high curtain walls, towers and a portcullis, is set in a landscape of rolling hills and orchards. Compton Castle is a bewitching mixture of romance and history. It has been home to the Gilbert family for nearly 600 years, including Sir Humphrey Gilbert – half-brother to Sir Walter Raleigh.

Cotehele

A Tudor house with water wheel, working mill, quay and estate. The house is perched high above the River Tamar and decorated with tapestries, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture. Outside, explore the formally planted terraces, or lose yourself in the Valley Garden.

Crackshot

Devon’s leading indoor air gun centre and ranges with two fantastic gun ranges with over 100 targets to shoot at. There is a twenty-meter air rifle range with a choice of either standing or sitting benches, and a selection of targets.
Don’t worry if you have never shot before, all our staff are fully trained and will spend as much time as required to ensure that you learn how to use the gun properly and hit all of the targets.

Dartmoor Prison Museum

Visit Dartmoor prison museum and learn about life inside one of the world’s most famous and notorious jails. The museum attracts more than 35,000 visitors every year from all over the world. Some of the artefacts and documents on display will surprise you but will certainly enable you to form an opinion about prison life.

Dartmoor Zoo

On the edge of one of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes, hidden on the borders of Dartmoor National Park, Dartmoor Zoo boasts a wonderful 33 acres of woodland. Celebrating a wide range of exotic and native animals, including the biggest variety of Big Cats in the South West of England. From Tigers to Tortoises, you’re bound to find some of your favourites.

Dartmouth Castle

One of the most beautifully located fortresses in England. For over 600 years Dartmouth Castle has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary and the busy, vibrant port of Dartmouth. It offers stunning views of the estuary and out to sea and offers a great day out.

Dartmouth Round Robin Tour

This tour makes a great day out which Includes a steam train, river boat and bus, visiting the quaint towns of Paignton, Dartmouth and Totnes.

East Soar

A perfect starting point for exploring the unspoilt and isolated coast between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail, grab your walking boots and discover a stretch of coast made up of secluded sandy beaches and majestic ragged cliffs which have claimed countless ships over the centuries.

Eden Project

The Eden Project is nestled in a huge crater. Here, massive Biomes housing the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions and stories serve as a backdrop to our striking contemporary gardens.

The Fairground Heritage Trust

Over 45,000 sqft of unique and often unique fairground rides, games, stalls and displays all undercover in a beautiful rural location.

The Garden House

A warm welcome awaits you at The Garden House, a garden steeped in history set in a tranquil Devon valley. The 10-acre garden is several gardens in one, with a beautiful walled garden surrounded in ruins of Buckland’s medieval vicarage, bulb meadow, cottage garden, South African garden, quarry garden and acre glade. Discover hidden treasures along its countless pathways and enjoy the sights, fragrances and abundance of plants – a plantsman’s paradise.

Greenway House

The beloved holiday home of the famous and much-loved author Agatha Christie and her family, you can take a glimpse into their lives.This relaxed and atmospheric house is set in the 1950s, when Agatha and her family would spend summers and Christmases here with friends, relaxing by the river, playing croquet and clock golf, and reading her latest mystery to their guests. The family were great collectors and the house is filled with archaeology, Tunbridgeware, silver, botanical china and books.

Kents Caves

Kents Cavern is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and one of Britain’s best showcaves! On your visit you’ll go back to a time when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals. As you walk through the extensive labyrinth of caverns, you’ll be surrounded by 400 million year old rocks and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites.

Knightshayes

With acres of glorious garden and park, surrounding a spectacular Gothic Revival house, Knightshayes is the complete country gentleman’s dream.

Little Dartmouth

A gentle coastal landscape west of Dartmouth with wonderful views, wild flowers and the ruins of a Civil War encampment.

Living Coasts

An all weather attraction, located on Torquay seafront in South Devon, where there’s plenty to see and do: mingle with the playful penguins, get up close to the otters, octopus and seals, and much more. Visit Penguin Beach to walk with the African and macaroni penguins and catch our entertaining feeding time talks.

Mayflower Museum

The Mayflower Museum, set over three floors explores the story of the voyage of the Pilgrims and their journey aboard the Mayflower to the New World.

Mill Bay

Unspoilt, wild coastline with turquoise waters and golden beaches. Beyond, there’s a wild and rugged peninsula to explore towards Devon’s most southerly point at Prawle, with coastguard lookouts dotted along the cliffs commanding the best sea views.

Morwellham

Morwellham is an award-winning attraction which forms part of a World Heritage site, featuring historic port, village, copper mine and railway just four miles west of Tavistock and bordering the beautiful River Tamar.

Mount Edgcumbe

A superb landscaped park, fallow deer, woodland and coastal walks and marvellous view, combine to make Mount Edgcumbe one of the most spectacular attractions in the West Country at any time of the year. One of only three Grade I Listed gardens in Cornwall.

National Marine Aquarium

The National Marine Aquarium is the largest public aquarium in the UK welcoming 300,000 visitors per year. The awe-inspiring exhibits, featuring marine animals from near and far, provide an environment that intrigues, inspires and motivates all visitors to engage with the conservation messages and hopefully do their bit to help protect the marine environment.

Occombe Farm

Occombe Farm is a working farm in South Devon that is open to the public. There’s no charge to come and visit and parking is free, so come and wander around the farm and explore the fantastic 2km nature trail, bustling with wildlife and beautiful views of the surrounding woodland.

Okehampton Castle

Visit the remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, much of whose work survives. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1539, the castle declined into a ruin.

Overbeck’s

Tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe is this hidden paradise: a subtropical garden, bursting with colour, filled with exotic and rare plants and surprises round every corner, which surrounds the seaside home of scientist and inventor Otto Overbeck. The views from the garden over the estuary and coast are truly breathtaking.

Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle

The historic paddle steamer Kingswear Castle is the last remaining coal-fired paddle steamer in operation in the UK today and is running on her home waters of the River Dart once more.She runs 1¼hr Dartmouth River Cruises and cruises between Dartmouth and Totnes so that passengers can now journey on her as part of the famous Round Robin excursion.

Paignton Pleasure Cruises

Paignton Pleasure Cruises run a variety of different boat trips in and around the shores of Torbay, with a multitude of cruises leaving and arriving from Paignton, Torquay and Brixham.
With Wildlife Cruises, Fishing Trips, Evening Cruises, Sunset Cruises… there is something for everyone.

Paignton zoo

With over 2,500 animals across 80 acres Paignton Zoo is one of the South West’s most exciting visitor attractions. .
The Zoo is laid out so you can get up close to some of the animal wonders of the world across our specially designed habitats.

Plant World

Plant World Gardens is one of the floral delights of Devon. Located between Torquay and Newton Abbot, the Garden is laid out to represent the five continents of the world. Our inspirational gardens contain countless rare and exotic plants seldom seen outside their native lands.

Plymouth Boat Trips

Set sail with Plymouth Boat Trips, the South West’s premier cruising, ferry and fishing company. From sight-seeing cruises, private charters and party nights to connecting ferries and fun packed fishing trips – there’s something for everyone.

Plymouth Gin

The Plymouth Distillery is the oldest working distillery in England. It has been making Plymouth Gin according to the original recipe since 1793. Every year thousands of visitors come to experience the unique character of Plymouth Gin Distillery and sample the acclaimed gin. The tour options include a classic Plymouth Gin Distillery Tour or an enhanced Gin Connoisseur’s Tour.

Plymouth Lighthouse

A centrepiece on Plymouth’s Hoe, Smeaton’s Tower has become one of the South West’s most well-known landmarks. The lighthouse was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759 at a cost of £40,000 but was taken down in the early 1880s when it was discovered that the sea was undermining the rock it was standing on. Approximately two thirds of the structure were moved stone by stone to its current resting place on the Hoe.

Powderham Castle

Powderham Castle enjoys a unique, picturesque setting within an ancient deer park beside the Exe estuary, just south of Exeter. Over 600 years of history can be discovered within the walls of one of Devon’s oldest family homes.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and  Art Gallery

Exeter’s world-class museum has stunning displays and galleries, fabulous exhibitions and modern amenities. The displays reveal Devon and Exeter’s rich history and global connections. Exotic animals, birds and insects delight children and the World Cultures galleries display stunning items from all over the world.

Salcombe brewery

The new state of the art, innovative brewery sits amongst the Devon countryside looking towards the Salcombe Ria. The brewhouse is a unique concept built on the site of a decommissioned water reservoir. Visitors are welcome for tours or brew days for those interested in learning and sampling the ales.

Seaton Tramway

Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon’s glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving an unrivalled view of the abundant wading bird life.

South Devon Railway

The multi-award winning South Devon Railway is one of Devon’s and the West Country’s best loved tourist attractions and is the longest established steam railway in the south west.

Stover Country Park

Stover Country Park contains over 114 acres of woodland, heathland, grassland, lake and marsh and a substantial variety of wildlife. It is a site of special scientific interest meaning it is protected by law to conserve its wildlife and geology.

Stuart Line Cruises

Since 1968, Stuart Line Cruises has been listed as one of the “top family attractions in Devon”!
With boat trips sailing the coast around Exeter, Exmouth, Torquay and Sidmouth, they have given hundreds of thousands of happy passengers the chance to see the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, cruise the beautiful River Exe or visit a picture-postcard South Devon town.

Torpoint Antony

Discover the story of a family who became caught up in the extraordinary events of the English Civil War. Their history is bound up in this beautiful house, which is still the home of the Carew Pole family today.

Totnes Dartmouth River Cruise

Take a wonderful circular boat trip, viewing Bayards Cove, Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dittisham Village, Sir Walter Raleigh’s Boathouse, Greenway Quay and The Estate of the late Dame Agatha Christie. A lovely addition to your day out in Devon.