Holiday in Devon, nr Honiton - where to go, what to see?

[sprout]

We're spending a week in a cottage near Honiton in July. Dd1 is 7, dd2 is 3 1/2. Any suggestions for where to go and what to do, within max. 1 hour's drive? Especially looking for ideas of what to do if we're unlucky with the weather (as usual ). Thanks for any tips.

Diggerland. Have been to the one at Cullompton nr Devon, my dc really enjoyed it.

Farway Country Park and The Donkey Sanctuary are worth visiting with children.

Branscombe beach is beautiful, but I'm not sure whether the adrift cargo ship is still there. There's a lovely pub too. It's one of my favourite places in devon. Beer, Budleigh Salterton are also very nice.
There's a crealy adventure park near exeter, if you are into this sort of things

Paignton Zoo is brill - nice large enclosures and loads to see.

Absolutely must go to Crealy adventure park, in Exeter. You can really spend all day there and not get bored. Also to keep down the costs you are allowed to take a picnic etc.

Thanks, everyone. Lots of good ideas. Are any of the places you suggest OK in the rain...?

If it rains Exeter museum is very good for children, mine (especially ds) love it. Otherwise there's Plymouth acquarium (very good), but it's probably a bit more than an hour drive.

Can I ask about your cottage??? I am looking for somewhere togo in sept but with 4 adults and 3 children (2 aged 23 months at that time and 7 months)
We want to go down south, pref near beach and acitvities with children and child friendly places!!!

i agree that the aquarium in plymouth is v. good and my dd who is 4 has been loads and loves it - definately the best aquarium we have been to in the uk. it might be an hour and half from honiton though. my dd also loves the steam train that runs between buckfastleigh and totnes - at buckfastleigh there is a butterfly farm and otter sanctuary and totnes has some nice shops!
do your dd's like walks? we live near dartmoor and there are so many beautiful walks - a fave with our dd is fingle bridge near drewsteignton which is a beautiful valley with river and walk alongside it. i realise these might be a bit far for you but i don't kow much about honiton area. a great place for lunch and shopping is darts farm near topsham (not too far from honiton)
have a great time whatever you do!

If you like car boot sales, the ones in Devon are pretty good. We used to go to occasional good ones in Yelverton.

jenwa, the cottage only has 3 bedrooms, so would probably be too small for you. It belongs to friends of ours and I don't know if they rent it out outside their friends and extended family. Sorry. Maybe another mumsnetter can help you with a tip?

Thanks Sprout. Have posted a thread and had some ideas back. Just want to go somewhere thats recommended by other mums.
Not sure I want to leave it up to DH and BIL!!! Prob end up in pub city!

Trago Mills (huge, mostly-indoors shopping place but has ride-on things and miniature railway) is OK. Also the House of Marbles. Both places are about an hour from Honiton, on the Bovey Tracy side of the A38. We usually do both together when we're down that way. The restaurant at the House of Marbles is excellent (especially for Cream Teas !)

See that Crealy has been suggested and there is another great place for kids about 15mins journey on from there called Bicton Park.

It's got a large outdoor play area including the usual swings, slides etc but also large tube slides, a big wooden climbing area, a 'village' of houses painted just like Balamory, a maze with low hedges so adults can see over top but not children.

There is a train ride, indoor play area with climbing and also bouncy castle. There is also a small museum on site of farming/domestic life.

It's set in beautiful grounds, loads of room to play and has a good cafe.

Sorry, don't know how to do a link so had to describe it

Don't confuse with Bicton College, the park is just beyond that.