Devon folk! Please help save our little holiday!

[MyCottageGarden]

On a caravan holiday near Exmouth with my 11yr old DD and my assistance dog (medic alert).
As a widowed single parent, I’ve been saving for this trip for over a year and we live the other end of the country, so this is it for us for at least a year, possibly more as DD starts high school soon. Anyway, you probably know where this is going - the weather is shit, as you know!
We’re here until Monday and there’s no sign of things improving so I’m trying my best to find things to do to make the best of it, but the only things I can find on Google are either outdoors and closed/cancelled due to the weather (such as boat cruises etc) or will not allow assistance dogs due to animal safety such as animal parks which I understand. Also, as DD is only 11, I’m not sure if Crealy would allow her onto many rides alone and probably half of their rides will be closed due to winds.
Anyone have any ideas, please?

I thought about a walk around either Torquay or Brixham harbour but is there anything else suitable, to do around there please?
We did go to Queen’s Drive Space yesterday but all the little huts were closed, presumably due to weather. What a lovely idea that place is though! I can see that being fabulous for families on a warm, sunny day. 🏖️
I’m so gutted that we won’t get to experience this beautiful part of the country at its best.

PLEASE HELP! All the activities on the caravan park are closed due to the winds and DD can’t swim so cannot go into the pool alone and due to DDog (and my condition), I can’t take her. Bored stiff!

Thanks

The donkey sanctuary is free, welcomes dogs and has a fantastic dog friendly cafe. Just outside sidmouth.
Bicton gardens has inside and outside areas, about 10 mins from you.
If you go to Lyme regis, the seaton wetlands is fantastic, free, often on countryfile. It's outside but there are birds and stops to avoid showers and it's quite sunny today. There's also a tram through the wetlands which is good.
You could go to Exeter on the train from exmouth (lovely scenery and it goes alongside the estuary for some of the way. Lots of shops, the Cathedral, the underground pipes (!),the allegedly UKs narrowest street, Gandy Street which was the inspiration for Harry potter, a fantastic free museum and art gallery almost next to the station (worth visiting on its own), the original Roman city walls I think I'd head into Exeter and make a fun day of it!

If you're around the main square the Arty Boat is nice to visit and make something to take home

Hi OP, I live in Exmouth and have grandchildren your daughter’s age.
The Arty Boat on Exeter Road (in town) does pottery and Duck painting I believe.
The Ocean Centre on the seafront has 10-Pin Bowling and an amusement arcade.
You could catch the train from Exmouth to Exeter, or further along the coast to Dawlish, Teignmouth or Paignton. It is a beautifully scenic ride along by the estuary, and you would be able to take your dog.
I agree that a visit to Otterton Mill is worthwhile as the food is yummy, and there is a shop selling all kinds of crafts. Sometimes you can see the watermill in action. From there you can walk around the newly flooded wetlands or along the River Otter hoping to catch a glimpse of its beaver population.
On the road to Sidmouth you will find Bicton Park which has beautifully landscaped gardens, a lake, museum of country life, cafe and shop.
A little further afield near Ottery St Mary is Wildwood at Escot where there are red squirrels, wolves, brown bears and wild boar amongst other animals, plus a maze, death slide and medieval village.
I apologise for the weather, but really hope you can find some lovely things to do. When you visit the World of Country Life, please make sure to see the Bird Show, as my grandchildren were thrilled to see the European Eagle Owl and American Bald Eagle fly and have their photos taken holding them!

I don't live anywhere near Devon and have only been to Plymouth. I quite fancy going there now as it looks like there's plenty to do. If I go, I'll be packing waterproofs.

If you go anywhere in the UK, pack a foldaway raincoat. Theme park visit with cold wet children wasn't fun.

I ❤donkeys.

Excellent! Thank you for this I appreciate it

Go into Exeter - lovely train trip. The RAMM Museum is fantastic. I go every time I manage to get to Exeter.

You could also investigate buses across Dartmoor. See the moor from the comfort of a bus.

Sidmouth is a nice town although it’s mainly just the beach and the ice cream at Taste of Sidmouth. Best ice cream I’ve ever eaten - I wish I could get it where I am!

Ferry rides across the Exe to Dawlish and the fun fair at Dawlish Warren (although it is pretty low rent). But there are the black swans at Dawlish.

steam train from Paignton to Greenway and Greenway Jouse, Agatha Christie summer home. It’s lovely there.

And really, just embrace the rain (I speak as a northerner). Get the right clothes and just enjoy getting out into the countryside. If you’re where I think you are it’s a nice cliff top path to Budleigh Salterton a cutesy village crammed with tea shops and nice cream teas.

Oh yes the Exeter underground passages are really worth it! Devon friends took me there and it’s fun. There’s one bit where you can choose to crawl through but you don’t have to and the guides are excellent.

If you go to the Cathedral for a service there’s no admission charge and their choir and organ music is excellent. It’s an awesome space for music.

There's a lovely traditional sweet shop called Cranch's in Salcombe.
I've been going there since the 1970s!

We have a car, what is parking like?

This thread is making me nostalgic for holidays in Devon - staying with family in the countryside near Tiverton.

The museum at Lyme Regis has great fossil displays and loads about Mary Anning.

What is your DD interested in? There are several historical houses that are nice to visit - A La Ronde between Exeter and Exmouth is amazing. A round house (as the name) lived in by sisters who collected things bits full of stuff that could be quite fascinating for an 11 yo girl.

And it’s National Trust so a good cafe.

I’ve never been to Saltram near Plymouth but I gather it’s been used for filming historical dramas so might be interesting?

I really love the Seaton tram which isn’t too far and is dog friendly.

Also you could go crabbing which isn’t terrible in light rain. Looks like you can do it in Exmouth around the dock area.

A La Ronde allows assistance dogs and it does look good. 🐕

World of Marbles, they have a cute little kids afternoon tea at the moment.

Go to Charmouth and Lyme Regis to look at fossils - you can still do beach walks in the rain. Ditto for Dartmoor, Haytor is probably most accessible on that side of the moor and you can combine with World of Marbles.

Go into Exeter, loads of shopping, restaurants, cinema (will your dog tolerate the cinema?), the underground passages.

Beer Caves

A million National Trusts

Bowling and arcades and climbing wall at the Quay in Exeter, also just great for walking around and getting some food

I'm so pleased you've had some helpful suggestions on your thread, @MyCottageGarden. It's good that you've got your own transport.

We are a very long way away, underneath a solid wall of rain that looks red on the weather map a lot of the time. I really just wanted to bump your thread, though! Best of luck.

Another vote for RAMM in Exeter and also A La Ronde.

You could also look at Babbacombe Model Village which is one of the best in the country and has a small indoor display as well which accepts assistance dogs so you could shelter from the rain if you need to. You could combine it with a visit to Bygones museum which is a 5 minute walk away and also allows dogs. Torquay tomorrow is forecast to be largely dry (fingers crossed!)

Climbing in Exeter? You might be able to sit in the cafe with the dog while your dd does clip n climb.