Has DH booked a dud Devon holiday?

[EchoLimaYankee]

DH booked a holiday on the spur of the moment last weekend. It’s in two weeks time. He proudly shows me the house, it’s beautiful. Then I double check the location and it’s pretty much slap bang in the middle of the county equidistant between the coasts! I love the sea . It’s basically slightly north of Exeter. Is there anything do there?! (We have two young boys) or do we have to suck up the drive to the beach a lot? Which beaches would be the easiest drive (but also nice!).
I’m trying to be grateful and upbeat but I’m a little bit nervous!

Loads to do around Exeter! If you really want to go to the beach it will take you about 40 mins to drive to dawlish/exmouth.
Various NT properties, Dartmoor, miniature ponies, miniature railway, crealy adventure park....

The Donkey sanctuary and Holden woods are both free. Orange Elephant icecream cafe is worth a visit. You can park at darts farm (nice farm shop/cafe) and do the bike ride all the way to exmouth if they are old enough to ride.

My daughter used Exmouth beach and sandy bay. It took them about 20 minutes from Exeter centre. Also Spitchwick common just onto Dartmoor for swimming in the River Dart and a Barbecue.

I live just north of Exeter. You can be at Exmouth beach in about 40 mins and swim there or north Devon Staunton or Woolacombe in an hour or do for surf. Exmouth is better roads to get to the beach. Dartmoor about an hour at most. Woods probably within walking distance as lots of nt or forestry commission nearby m. Not sure what attractions are open but bikes or walks everywhere. It's lovely here honest.

The Donkey Sanctuary has a gorgeous beach walk. Go through the sanctuary, then through really pretty woods and fields down to a lovely shingle beach.

You can get to Dartmoor easily from there too.Some really lovely walks.

Teignmouth isn’t far and has loads to do there.

Chagford on Dartmoor is pretty with lovely pubs, really great lido and walks.

We are heading to North Devon next Saturday for our 5th holiday in the same cottage - slap bang in the middle of the countryside so a bit of a trek to the seaside. We absolutely love it - so much to do. My boys are now 11 and 9 and are so excited to be returning - we don't do the beach everyday but I would find that a bit tedious anyway.

Lots to do and that part of the West Country has the lowest covid in England.

The nearest beach is Exmouth and isn't too far. It's a lovely area.

Under normal circumstances it is a nice place to visit but it just depends what's open and what are the rules.

I live down that way and I wouldn't want to go on holiday at the moment. If you enjoy being outdoors at the beach, moors etc it is lovely but remember it will probably be extra busy this year and obviously weather dependant. Most things like crealy you have to book in advance as they are only taking a certain number of people per day. I would personally plan ahead asap to book things up if you need to.

Thank you everyone! Feeling a lot more positive. Dare I say, excited .

I was going to day chagford pool too. Fab if it's open. Definitely go.

There's loads to do around then and it's so close to both coastlines - the surfing north Devin coast south Devon around the dart (amazingly beautiful - do the round robin if it's in, such a good day out).

And of course the beautiful Dartmoor. Some great walks by cadaver bridge I'd recommend.

Jealous!!

I considered looking inland for a holiday because I thought it would be less busy than the coast.we live over 1.5 hours from any coast so anywhere even 20 miles from the coast will be an improvement.