Imagine strolling through emerald-green meadows, wandering past storybook thatched cottages, and breathing in salty sea air along dramatic coastlines. Welcome to Devon – England’s picture-postcard county where timeless charm meets rugged natural beauty. While modern life has transformed parts of this southwestern gem into peaceful retreats for retirees and city escapees, Devon still offers authentic English countryside magic around every bend.
The spirit of England’s maritime glory lives on here, especially in historic Exeter and Plymouth. Today’s adventurers discover Devon’s coastal magic through sailing adventures in charming Dartmouth and Salcombe, or flock to golden beaches in classic seaside resorts like elegant Sidmouth. The landscape transforms as you move inland – from rolling pastures dotted with storybook villages to the wild expanse of Dartmoor’s wilderness.
Cornwall
Devon and Cornwall Travel Guide
Dartmoor: England’s Wild Heart
Between Exeter and Plymouth sprawls Dartmoor – 365 square miles of raw natural drama where granite tors rise dramatically from heather-clad moors. This breathtaking wilderness whispers ancient secrets through Neolithic ruins and abandoned tin mines. Today, wild ponies and roaming sheep outnumber human visitors across most of the national park, while buzzards circle overhead in skies that feel wonderfully untouched.
At Dartmoor’s wild center lies the Duchy of Cornwall-owned Dartmoor Forest. Walkers discover a landscape carved by time – tumbling streams, wind-sculpted tors, and trail networks marked by ancient stones. While short walks are accessible to all, serious hikers should pack proper gear and navigation tools. Remember: overnight parking requires permits, camping should leave no trace, and fires are strictly forbidden. Local visitor centers offer guided walks and riding adventures.
Exeter: Where Maritime History Comes Alive
As Devon’s cultural capital, Exeter boasts more historical treasures than anywhere else in the West Country. From its origins as a Roman frontier town to its Tudor wool trade heyday, the city wears its history proudly. Though WWII bombing altered parts of the city center, the legacy of Exeter’s strategic position on the River Exe remains visible everywhere.
Lundy Island: A Wildlife Paradise
Twelve miles off Hartland Point lies magical Lundy Island – a car-free sanctuary where puffins outnumber people twenty to one. This windswept Atlantic outpost maintains its rugged character centuries after the notorious Marisco pirates prowled its shores. Today managed by the Landmark Trust, Lundy offers simple pleasures: walking coastal paths, birdwatching from dramatic cliffs, and soaking up the solitude.
Spring transforms the island into a seabird metropolis. Watch kittiwakes court on sea stacks, spot fulmars riding thermal winds, and listen for Manx shearwaters returning to burrows at dusk. Don’t miss the island’s namesakes – the clownish puffins (lundey in Old Norse) that give this special place its name.
Grey seals steal the springtime show on Lundy Island, emerging only during April and May to mate along its shores. Year-round visitors can spot these charismatic creatures bobbing in waves off Devon’s coast. But the southwest has even more treasures waiting – from Drake’s daring sea adventures to world-class surfing beaches that’ll make you forget Britain’s reputation for drizzle.
Plymouth: Where Sea Legends Walked
Modern Plymouth may surprise you with its unassuming appearance, but this port city pulses with maritime history. Picture this: Sir Francis Drake casually finishing his bowling game on the Hoe before sailing out to crush the Spanish Armada in 1588. Thirty years later, the Mayflower’s passengers took their final footsteps on English soil here before forging a New World. Though WWII bombs reshaped much of the city Plymouth’s crown jewel remains untouched – the breathtaking sweep of Plymouth Sound, that sheltered harbor that cradled Britain’s naval might for centuries.
Venture beyond the city to discover aristocratic grandeur at Saltram House, where gilded rooms showcase fine art collections. History buffs shouldn’t miss Buckland Abbey, Drake’s former home turned museum. For nature therapy after urban exploration, the sweeping parklands of Mount Edgcumbe offer woodland walks with panoramic views across the Tamar estuary.
The Drake Effect: Plymouth’s Favorite Sea Dog
Born in nearby Tavistock, Francis Drake grew from teenage cabin boy to Elizabethan superstar. By thirty he’d pioneered English slave trading routes, looted Spanish galleons with royal approval, and became the first Brit to circle the globe. His 1580 homecoming turned into a victory parade – Queen Elizabeth knighted him aboard the Golden Hind, then locals elected him Plymouth’s mayor.
But retirement didn’t suit this sea wolf. When the Spanish Armada threatened England in 1588, Drake helped mastermind its destruction using innovative fire ships. Though he eventually met his match off Panama’s coast in 1596, Drake’s legacy lives on in Plymouth’s spirit. Visit Buckland Abbey to see where this complex hero plotted his adventures and died a sailor’s death far from home.
North Devon’s Wave Paradise
Forget Hawaii – when Atlantic swells hit right, Devon’s beaches serve up world-class surfing. Woolacombe’s two-mile golden crescent offers beginner-friendly waves, while just south, Croyde Bay’s powerful tubes attract experienced riders (though summer crowds pack the small bay). Need gear? Both villages buzz with surf shops renting boards and wetsuits.
Prefer spectator sports? Saunton Sands’ endless break provides nature’s theater. Time your visit for September-November when gannets dive like feathered torpedoes off Baggy Point at Woolacombe’s southern end. Nearby Putsborough Sands serves up quieter swimming spots when you need a break from salty lips.
Walk in an Otter’s Footsteps
Henry Williamson’s classic tale Tarka the Otter comes alive along North Devon’s trails. The book’s heart lies in the Taw Valley, inspiring the Tarka Line rail route from Exeter to Barnstaple. But the real magic unfolds outdoors on the 180-mile Tarka Trail looping through the otter’s fictional territory.
Cyclists rejoice – 23 converted railway miles offer traffic-free pedaling through postcard landscapes. Rent wheels in Barnstaple or Bideford and watch for real otters in the river bends. Don’t miss the trail’s coastal stretch through author Williamson’s home village of Georgeham, where cream teas reward steep climbs.
Torquay: The Riviera with Scones
Palm trees? Check. Flower-filled promenades? Double check. Torquay earns its “English Riviera” nickname with Mediterranean flair meets British charm. What began as a health retreat for Victorian invalids (including poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning) now dazzles with candy-colored lights reflecting in the marina at night.
Locals swear by Abbey Sands beach, framed by limestone cliffs and backed by 12th-century Torre Abbey. Explore its art-filled rooms, then stroll subtropical gardens blooming with plants brought home by Victorian explorers. Watch for festivals – from summer seafood feasts to Christmas markets lighting up the harbor.
Woolacombe & Beyond: Devon’s Golden Triangle
Woolacombe forms the sandy heart of Devon’s surfing coast. Holidaymakers flock here for good reason – the village enjoys sunset views over a beach repeatedly voted Britain’s best. Southward, the sands morph into Putsborough’s quieter stretch before culminating in Baggy Point’s wildlife-rich cliffs.
Follow the coast path past surfers tackling Croyde’s famous barrels to reach Saunton Sands. This three-mile blonde beauty hosts surf schools by day and transforms into a dog-walker’s paradise at dusk. Time your drive along the coast road for golden hour when the dunes glow pink and surfers became silhouettes against amber waves.
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