Devon tips including national trust

[Frenziedandfurious]

Hi,
Am taking 3 teenagers for a short break next week to Devon cliffs haven. We've booked paddle boarding but need stuff to do the rest of the time. I've got family NT membership so was wondering what local NT places might be worth a visit.

We're pretty active as a family but the weather doesn't look amazing. Also don't want to spend all our time on the haven site! Any ideas?

Not NT but Dawlish is lovely and not far for you to go

The Bear Trail and Beer Quarry Caves are good.

Might be a bit of a drive for you but there are a couple of good ones near Dartmouth - Coleton Fishacre and Greenways. Greenways was Agatha Christie's home and you can arrive by boat or by steam train (I think, it's been a while!)

Lanhydrock and Coleton Fishacre are both lovely.

In Torquay there's Kents Cavern - prehistoric bones found there . Fascinating place to visit. Pitch and putt courses all over, some with lovely sea views (Broadsands) Dartington Estate, Dartington Glass at Great Torrington, Clovelly, Lynford Gorge (absolutely beautiful) Canonteign falls (higher than Niagara)House of Marbles (Bovey Tracy) National Aquarium at Plymouth
Have a lovely time

Ashclyst Forest (National trust)
Parke (national trust)

A little bit of a drive but we love exploring Dartmoor and woodland areas in Dartmoor, we found a farm shop last year that has animals but o can’t remember what it’s called.

Thank you for all the brilliant suggestions!
I'll have a fun day booking..
Any suggestions for a nice meal in Exeter? I'm meeting my friend there for tea...x 2 veggies and one fussy 15 year old!

sorry that should be Lydford Gorge

Donkey sanctuary at Sidmouth....
Been advised breakfast at the cathedral cafe is good but we didn't get there

Might be a bit far but we did llama trekking across Dartmoor which was good, can get with a cream tea.

www.dartmoorllamawalks.co.uk/

We did gorging by Dartmoor with these people again recommend, weather permitting.

adventureokehampton.com/activities/

The llama trekking looks perfect but no availability for our dates, gutted! I've booked the waterfall and think we'll go to dawlish for the day.

May sneak another Devon trip in soon just to do the llamas!

Killerton and Alaronde are both NT and worth a visit, more east Devon.

Localish NTs include:
Killerton
Knightshayes
Lytes Carey Manor
Castle Drogo

Other places:
Charmouth beach for fossil hunting
Wildwood Escot
Haldon Forest
Crealy
Exeter Caverns

Exeter has most of the national chains like Wagamamas, Zizzi, Bill's, Nando's etc.

I've booked a pizza place for the food as covers all bases in our group! I live within walking distance of numerous chains so trying to avoid on holiday if I can but we're may succumb to wagamamas

Oh if you want somewhere for lunch on another day, can highly recommend Otter Valley Ice cream Parlour & Field Kitchen in Honiton - amazing pizza, sandwiches & mezze plates & the ice cream is fantastic! Always at least 20-odd flavours (salted caramel & chocolate brownie is my favourite!)

The llama place is lovely and they have a holiday cottage with hot tub there which we stayed in for 2 nights which was also nice.

Am gutted to miss out on the llama place this time, but may book that and the cottage next time as we go down every year to see my friend. 😊

National trust: Coleton Fishacre is my favourite: stunning views and the house is fabulous if you like Art Deco. Others in the area: Killerton, Knighthayes and a la ronde in exmouth.
Totnes is a nice town to visit, hippy vibe and independent shops.
Dartmouth is lovely.
Personally I think Dawlish is not that nice, although some quite interesting geological features.
Sidmouth is worth a visit: decent walks in the area, some nice cafes in the town centre.
Budleigh salterton has a few independent shops, quite a few nice charity shops and you can walk from the lime kiln carpark to otterton mill for tea and cakes.
Topsham is a lovely little town with some vg restaurants, on the outskirts of Exeter.