Things to see & do in Devon
Scone on vacation, back soon: the great thing about Devon’s overabundance of cream teas is that the countryside offers no end of ways to earn one.![]()
Almost the southwest tip of England but not quite, and one of England’s largest counties, Devon is a glorious mix of peaceful countryside, sandy Blue Flag beaches and wild stretches of moorland across two national parks. For lovers of the outdoors it is little short of paradise, and this is naturally where most of our Devon vacations train their focus, ushering you away from towns and cities and into the countryside where you’ll have the most satisfying experience. Devon is where Agatha Christie was born and raised, and where she routinely spent her summers – look out the window in the mornings and it will be no mystery why she was happier here than anywhere else.
Devon’s pastoral landscapes are heaven-sent for happy wanderings. It doesn’t matter if you’re hiking over the barren wilds of Exmoor and Dartmoor, hopping between coves and beaches on the Jurassic Coast, or cycling off-road trails out in the countryside – you’re never far from a welcoming pub or café, surrounded by some of England’s most bucolic natural scenery. Whether you’re traveling with the kids, the dog, or just the one toothbrush, Devon is the clots in the cream.
Our England Vacations
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Lake District hike on the Cumbria Way, England
Hiking vacation in England's Lake District
From
£810 to £1116
10 days
ex flights
Devon self catering cottage in England
Cottage with lake view & wood burner on Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £590
per week (sleeps 4)
York to Fountains Abbey hiking vacation, England
The Prior Richards way self-guided 12th century hike
From
£250
4 days
ex flights
Fowey accommodation in Cornwall, sleeps 2, England
Cottages looking down the valley towards Fowey and the sea
From
£125 to £145
per cottage per night
Isle of Wight self catering cottage nr Shorwell, England
Delightful cottage & garden in picturesque village location
From
£435 to £1035
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
Lands End To John O'Groats biking trip
Britain's classic cycling challenge
From
£1895
16 days
ex flights
Shakespeares Way walking vacation, Cotswolds to London
From Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre
From
£595 to £1980
8 days
ex flights
Yorkshire guided hiking vacation, The Prior Richard Way
A guided 12th century hike, York to Fountains Abbey via Ripon
From
£350
4 days
ex flights
Walking vacation in Kent, self guided walks
Discover hidden Kent, its people and their history.
From
£778
7 days
ex flights
Thames Path walking vacation in England
Self guided walk along the River Thames Oxford to Windsor
From
£660 to £954
7 days
ex flights
Isle of Wight self catering accommodation, England
Quiet cottage on edge of Brighstone village, Isle of Wight
From
£435 to £929
per week (sleeps 2-4)
Thames Path walking vacation, England
Self-guided walk along the River Thames, England
From
£580 to £825
6 days
ex flights
Dartmoor and Exmoor walking vacation, England
Self guided walking between the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks.
From
£269 to £639
3 days
ex flights
South West Coastal Path walking vacation, England
The South West Coast Path and Isles of Scilly
From
£459 to £899
8 days
ex flights
Pilgrims Way self guided walking tour, England
Discover Kent's history, its landscape and its people
From
£649
6 days
ex flights
Short break walking vacation in the Lake District
Mini break re-set to health and happiness
From
£599
5 days
ex flights
Peak District self catering cottages, England
Two organic hideaways for 2, wheelchair access cottage for 6
From
£360 to £950
per cottage per week (sleeps 2-6)
North of England by train vacation
Tour Yorkshire and Hadrian's Wall by train
From
£715 to £795
8 days
ex flights
North Devon ecolodge, England
Uniquely quirky Devon eco lodge with hot tub & great views
From
£501 to £1100
per week (sleeps 8)
Walking vacation in Yorkshire, England
Fishing villages and high cliffs, Ravenscar Yorkshire's North Coast
From
£639
6 days
ex flights
Irish Sea to the North Sea cycling vacation
Join the classic coast to coast cycle challenge
From
US $600
4 days
ex flights
Barnstaple to Bude South West Coast Path walk in England
South West Coast Path in England walking tour
From
£630 to £868
8 days
ex flights
Avon Valley River Path hiking vacation, England
Salisbury to Christchurch River walking vacation
From
£469 to £589
6 days
ex flights
Cumberland Way hiking vacation in England
From coast to hill country in the Lake District
From
£699
8 days
ex flights
Sidmouth and the Devon Coast hiking vacation
Walk along Lyme Bay and the Jurassic Coast
From
£509 to £569
6 days
ex flights
England Coast walking vacation Lydd to Ramsgate
Stunning walk along Kent's historic and iconic coastline
From
£516 to £949
8 days
ex flights
Scotland to England sailing vacation
Lots of sailing rather than stopping enroute
From
£500
7 days
ex flights
Wye Valley hiking vacation in Wales
Secluded charm, ancient woodland and the river Wye.
From
£699
7 days
ex flights
Our top activities in Devon
Walking
The South West Coast Path is among the best-loved long-distance trails in the country, over 1,000km in total that encompasses Devon’s north and south coasts, with shorter trails branching off that lead you to lengthy ribbons of sand, smugglers’ bays, woodlands and cliffs where seabirds nest. Other popular options include the Two Moors Way that links Exmoor and Dartmoor, and takes you through unspoilt rural terrain, or the Dartmoor Way. This latter features prehistoric stone circles and medieval architecture along its route, as well as Norman castles and abandoned quarries. Walking vacations in Devon can vary from easy to quite challenging, but are usually tailor made so that the operator can adjust the route according to your abilities.
Cycling
Devon appeals to cyclists just as much as it does to walkers, with one of the most popular routes being the famous Tarka Trail, which is a part of the much longer Coast to Coast route, and spans Devon in a figure-of-eight shape for around 300km. The route is well-marked, and off-road for lengthy sections, including one that follows a stretch of disused railway. You’ll ride through woodland valleys and moors, along riverbanks and past plenty of coastal views, with frequent pubs along the way.If you need a little extra oomph in the saddle, then you can also find electric bike vacations in Devon. The best way to picture this kind of cycling is like that gentle hand in the small of your back when you were first learning to ride a bike – making any hills you encounter far more manageable. Route notes, maps and full support are provided, and these are center-based trips so you only need a daypack.
Sea kayaking
Between April and September, explore the headlands, beaches, estuaries and sea caves of south Devon on a guided, small group sea kayaking vacation. You don’t need any experience, as all the equipment and instruction is provided, but if you’re not a novice then this is the perfect place to hone your abilities. You’ll be based at a charming farmhouse in a cider-producing valley, close to the coast and the River Dart.
“One of the best long weekends I have had in years. Great sea kayaking with friendly and very useful instruction (if wanted), amazing scenery and coastline, very new and appropriate equipment (kayaks and accessories), good food, lovely accommodation and charming and interesting host – would thoroughly recommend a weekend… Very easy access from London and elsewhere in the train.” – Andy Miller, on a Devon sea kayaking vacation in England
Our top England Vacation
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
From
£205 to £810
per accommodation per week
Accommodation
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about England or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Best time to visit Devon
There’s nothing to say you can’t visit Devon in the winter – a pint by a roaring fire on a blustery day will be sure to warm the cockles. But we think April to September, perhaps giving the busy touristy months of July and August a miss, is the best time for vacations in Devon. In May or September it’s much quieter on the coast, but if you’re tied to school vacations and still want to get away from it all, then make for more rural areas, between the moors and further from the beach.
Where to stay in Devon
Skip the cities; you’ll have a much better time out in the countryside. We recommend a rural eco lodge where the quiet is almost deafening, the Milky Way looks full-fat and you’ll get some of the best sleeps of your life. Alternatively, you might stay at an organic farm in west Devon, right on the famous Tarka Trail, where the Aga-grilled breakfasts will set you up each day for cycling, fishing, walking and day trips to Exeter or the Eden Project over the border in Cornwall.
More about England
Check out our temperature & rainfall chart and find out the best time to visit England that suits you and your calendar.
As with all good England travel guides ours has an excellent map & highlights section to enable you to make the most of your time.
On our England map and highlights page, one place is conspicuous by its absence – the capital.
Our England travel advice features specialist vacation companies and a selection of previous travelers, sharing their knowledge.
There are many aspects to responsible tourism in England, but here we concentrate on where you travel, and how you get there.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Luke Porter] [Cream tea: Shane Global]
[South West Coast Path: mattvaux7]
[Sea kayaking: Matt Buck]
[Dartmoor: Herry Lawford]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
