in a fortnight we're going to devon for a week (nr kingsbridge) -- please tell me what i should plan while we're there

[Tutter]

dsses ae 3yo and 10mo

here's a list of things that might interest a 3 year old...
boat trip from salcombe
nice swimming pool in kingsbridge
pennywell farm off the A38
steam train from totnes to buckfastleigh
huge soft play place in plymouth for rainy days called Jump
start point lighthouse
more boat trips from plymouth

any of that interest you?

great beaches at Blackpool Sands and Bigbury-on-Sea

Bus Totnes-Paignton, then train Paignton-Dartmouth, river cruise Dartmouth-Totnes - can't remember what it's called, some kind of round ticket, not too expensive.

Hello, I used to live in Kingsbridge (and Dartmouth). 3yo will probably like the car (or passenger) ferry from Dartmouth to Kingswear. Then you can get a train from Kingswear to Paignton and come back again. Paignton's not v nice imo so I'd get back on and come back again if I were you. It's a steam train so might be nice if your ds likes trains.

\link{http://www.fourseasons.com/nevis/Kendricks restaurant in Dartmouth\ used to be child friendly and does good chips. There are also boat trips up the river from Dartmouth.

Try again, Kendricks

Train

train from kingswear - paignton as www said. Then the day at Paignton zoo then back on the train.

if you stand at the end of the promenade in Dartmouth in the evening you can watch the cars load on and off the Low Ferry and the boats going up and down the river. A good way to while away the afternoon.

if up for a good hike, take the Ferry from Dartmouth to Totnes (same ferry as mentioned below) and hike back. It is 16 miles so you have to really like hiking to do that.

Or for a shorter walk, go from Dartmouth to Kingswear, then walk alongside the railway (there's a marked path) towards the higher ferry and get that back across. It's a short walk, a mile, when my ds was 3 he managed it, not problem.

fabulous - thanks all

ds1 obsessed with all things vehicular, so the trips you mentioned, and the ferry-watching, will be ideal

Can I ask where you're staying? My Dad lives about 6 miles from Kingsbridge, in Chillington.

If you're that side,there's a 2-mile long pebble beach at Torcross (fairly near Blackpool Sands) - not for swimming, as the beach shelves steeply, but my two loved collecting pebbles, sliding down the pebble banks, throwing pebbles into the sea & feeding the ducks in the lake behind the beach.

Other good beaches are Mill Bay/East Portlemouth (get there early to park) which are opposite Salcombe with a ferry across to Salcombe. Hope Cove - like Mill Bay, this one has a stream & all the children on the beach always seem to be building big co-operative damming projects.

Woodlands Adventure Park near Blackawton is a bit expensive but has lots of stuff for all ages including toddlers, and includes a farm park with a tractor ride.

I grew-up near there and go back several times a year.

Salcome, Dartmouth, Totnes, Dartington and other towns are gorgeous but beware Paington, Torquay and Plymouth have much less going for them.

Beaches are stunning at Blackpool Sands (where there is also a stream for your 3yo to build dams in). Also Gara Rock and Bantham. Don't go near Paington or Torbay beaches.

You could take the big water tractor to Burgh Island (where Agatha Christie wrote lots of novels).

A nice place for a sunny pub lunch is the White Hart pub at Dartington Hall. Nice food and gorgeous gardens for the kids to play in.

staying halfway between kingsbridge and your dad then, rusty

If you're self-catering, there's a very good farm shop just past Stokenham church (where I got married)

There are some nice walks once you get off the main road - we used to go to South Poole in the evenings & feed the ducks & then cross the stream by the stepping stones & go for a walk up the lane. It was a long time ago - see this picture, but there may still be ducks.

Torbay has heavy traffic but Paignton Zoo is worth a traffic jam or two and a good day out if it isn't beach weather.

I like Torquay but I have never gone there for the beaches. The marina is great for a wander and to admire the boats. There is a new attraction in Torquay called The Living Coast (or something like that) which is a sea life centre. The penguins from Paignton Zoo got moved there but there are other things too.

The ice cream in Salcombe is fab and made locally and I say that as somebody who isn't that fussed about ice cream too.

Have a lovely time.

what a lovely picture usty - which one are you?

this is where we're staying - do you know it?

Just come back from Dartmouth

We went to Bigbury on Sea...fab cafe..sea tractor..rock pools
Blackpool sands too..gorgeous

Totnes is fab..get river boat to or from & spot seals,& amazing birdlife

Steam train from Totnes to Buckfastleigh..there is butterfly farm & otter sanctuary there-but also fabulous little cafe & rare breeds farm At Totnes station..ds fed lambs,baby guineas,hedgehogs,goats,ducklings etc

ferry boat to Dartmouth Castle..fab tea room there

Woodlands adventure park is fun & not too big

Little swimming pool at Dart Marina is nice & Elemis Spa
The Wild fire Bistro on the Marina is fab as is The New Angel (John Burton Race) and the Seahorse (mitch Tonks)

Breakfast at Alfresco's in Dartmouth a must

Lunch & shopping at Riverford

Paignton zoo

Penny well farm
Powderham Castle

That looks nice Tutter. Have a lovely time! I feel all nostalgic now, dh and I met there (he is from Kingswear).

Oooh yes. I second Lullaby's suggestion of lunch at Riverford Farm. I used to help out at that farm shop when it was teeny-tiny now it is one of the biggest and best organic businesses in the UK.

We stayed in the Dart Marina property featured on
www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk

Fab

ah yes, saw that (like the BFB site), but we are going with ILs so need more space (i.e. 2 separate cottages )

I nearly posted that link & asked if that was where you were staying!
I've heard they are very nice - hope you enjoy your stay!

I'm the one in the front of the picture, apparently trying to take that duck's eye out with a piece of bread.

We used to stay in Chillington at the Fairfield Guest House - I was 10 months old the first time I went there. It's now a residential home for the elderly, still run by the daughter of the woman who ran it when we went there. My parents liked Chilington so much they retired there & I took my children to all the places I'd loved when I was small.

I think my absolute favourite place of all was Totnes Castle - it's a 13th century castle built on top of the Norman motte & bailey earthworks.When we were little that fence you can see at the edge of the walkway round the walls wasn't there & there was a sheer drop to the courtyard!

Lol Tutter

Oh yes, nearly forgot, if you get as far as Bovey Tracey go to the House of Marbles - they have some incredible marble runs including a huge one which uses snooker balls - your 3 y-o will love it! (You can buy marbles in the shop too!)