Ideas for a grand day out
So much of the wild beauty is free, the Colmer Estate, the moors, the coastline, the South West Coastal Path and DWT nature reserves but if you want to splash out on a grand day out here are some suggestions: (click on the name to open a new page with website link)
Plymouth
- National Marine Aquarium
- Plymouth Ski Sports Centre
- Plymouth Gin (distillery tours and shop)
- The Barbican & Smeaton’s Tower, The Hoe
- Theatre Royal
- Plymouth Museum, The Box
- The Mayflower Museum
- Tinside Lido, The Hoe – art deco salt water lido
- British Fireworks Championships, The Hoe – held during mid August
Gardens & Estates
- Buckland Abbey, Yelverton (National Trust)
- Saltram, Plymouth (National Trust)
- Compton Castle, Marldon, Paignton (National Trust)
- Coleton Fishacre, Kingswear, Dartmouth (National Trust)
- Overbecks, Shapitor, Salcombe (National Trust)
- Greenway, Galmpton, near Brixham (National Trust)
- Bradley, Newton Abbot (National Trust)
- Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, Nr Exeter (National Trust)
- Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge – seasonal opening days – dogs on leads
- The Dartington Estate, Dartington
- The Garden House, Buckland Monochrome
- Fast Rabbit Farm Gardens, Dartmouth
- Buckfastleigh Abbey, Buckfastleigh
- Sharpham Wine and Cheeses, Sharpham Estate, Totnes
- South Devon Chilli Farm, Wigford Cross, Loddiswell
- Start Point Lighthouse, Start Point – 20 minute walk from car park
- Flete Estate, Holbeton, Plymouth – beaches, gardens and tea room
Family days out
- Paignton Zoo
- Dartmoor Zoo
- Otters & Butterflies, Buckfastleigh
- Morwellham Quay – Victorian village and mine
- Wildwood Escot, near Exeter – amazing animals including red squirrel enclosure and wolves, birds, gardens, saxon village crafts and a maze
- River Dart Country Park, Newton Abbot
- Woodlands Family Theme Park, Totnes
- Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh – child friendly farm with rides & hands-on activities like feeding, goat milking & egg collecting
- South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh – 7 miles of branch line that runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes
- Dartmouth Steam railway – we can highly recommend the round robin rail/river cruise. Steam train from Paignton to Kingswear, river crusie back up to Totnes with bus back to Paignton.
- Becky Falls, Newton Abbot
- Canonteign Falls, Chudleigh
