Devon with a 10 year old

[Loveellie]

I’m visiting South Devon for 4 nights next week with 10 year old ds.

What are some of the must dos? We’re staying quite central and don’t mind driving around a bit.

Thinking nice beaches, good places to eat, best amusement places for golf/rides, scenic walks, maybe an open top bus.

With only 4 days want to make the best of it.

Where exactly are you staying (name of town, I don’t need to know the hotel / campground)?

A trip to Cranch's sweet shop in Salcombe. I've been visiting for over 50 years.

Diggerland
Blackpool Sands
Kent’s Cavern
Babbacombe Model village
River Dart country park
Haldon Forest cycle trails
House of Marbles
Canonteign Falls

An open top bus in Devon??? I’ve been going to south Devon for years and have never seen such a thing. It’s proper countryside. I’ve also not seen any amusement places.

Blackpool Sands, Bigbury, Hope Cove all good beaches.

Steam train/boat trip: https://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/

Beaches: try Bantham beach or Hope Cove

Salcombe and Dartmouth are both very nice to wander around and very scenic. Totnes is quite quirky and hippy-ish (the town sign says “Twinned with Narnia”!)

For rides we love Crealy, near Exeter. River Dart country park also great for outdoor activities.

If you want an open top bus ride there is one in Exmouth (95 route) or a little land train is there too.

Which days? If you are there between Friday and Sunday then https://torbaysteamfair.co.uk/

The beaches on the opposite side of the estuary from Salcombe are nice. Very simple- just a toilet block and an ice cream van. They also get the afternoon sun.

Staying in Newton Abbot.

I don’t know Devon very well at all.

I know there are two theme parks but don’t know which is best/nicest.

Also know that there are some amusement type things in Paignton. But tbh when I went there years ago it probably wasn’t the nicest.

Trago Mills
Stover park
Woodlands theme park
Babbacombe beach and funicular railway

You can do a trip that includes the steam train, a boat and a bus, think it’s called the round robin or something like that. My parents liked it

I personally think Crealy is more fun. There's also near crealy a lovely farm shop called Greendale and they have a big inflatable park you can book too (Bounce South West).

Near to Newton Abbot Dawlish Warren is a nice beach with amusements and food outlets. People can be a bit snobby about it but the beach is huge and its easy to escape the crowds....and you can get the train there.

Haldon forest is good for Bike rides and has a Go Ape high ropes course. Dartmoor is also fab for walking, you won't be far from Hay Tor and there's a nice cafe at Ullacomve Farm on the road up. Bovey Tracey is nice and there's The House of Marbles there which is worth a visit.

Exeter Quayside has Kayak Hire, Bike hire, Bowling and a clip and climb centre as well as lots of nice restaurants.

Teignmouth is also worth a visit, nice little town, big play park on the sea front. Shaldon, just over the river is very nice too and you can visit the smugglers beach through a tunnel.

Paignton Zoo is great. As is the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. In Torquay you can do a boat trip over to Brixham and again that's a nice place to visit. Quay West in Paington is also great fun for kids.

Visit Dartmouth. They have a three ride tour (boat, steam train and open top bus).

Thank you, that is really helpful

Pennywell farm is lovely at any age. Woodlands theme park is good.

Teignmouth - on the front - arcade on the pier, nice beach, great playground with splash pad, also mini golf. A great art scene - lots of independent shops and galleries, and free crafts at ‘the makery’ - good for rainy days. The gem though is back beach - no waves so good for little ones swimming, paddle boards, pubs that back onto beach and great street food huts. Lovely chilled vibe. Can also catch the ferry for a few quid to Shaldon.

Shaldon - nice cafes/pubs, the smugglers cove to Ness beach is good fun, and a nice little zoo right by it.

Dawlish warren - huge beach, arcade, cheap rides, mini golf, go carts - take a picnic

Torquay - arcade with skittles/bowling for £1 per person and play until win claw machines, crabbing in harbour, big wheel, variety of restaurants. Kent’s cavern also worth visiting.

We think that Crealy slightly has the edge over Woodlands, although both are great days out. Woodlands has more big slides and outdoor play and Crealy has a bit more indoors as well a medium sized roller coaster and log flume. I know that you’re only around for a few days, but Crealy has an offer to come back for free over summer.

Paignton Zoo is also well worth a visit in my opinion. If you fancied a day away from the beach, River Dart Country Park is great, there’s a shallow ‘lake’ to play in and amazing forest play areas.

Our favourite ‘scenic’ beach is Oddicombe and Babbacombe, maybe have lunch on Babbacombe Downs, walk down the steep hill to Babbacombe Beach, have a G&T at the Cary Arms, jump off the stone pier, then follow the path under the cliffs to Oddicombe. Maybe hire a kayak or paddleboard there, then catch the cliff railway back up.
Our favourite ‘proper beach day’ beach is Goodrington. There’s also Splashdown right on the beach there, which you could do for a half day. I find it pricey, but with one child it might be more acceptable!

Sadly, the open top bus in Torbay only does a short route these days, so probably isn’t worth looking at (Stagecoach 122).

Devon Sea Safari is amazing and well worth it https://devonseasafari.com/

paignton zoo

devon is huge and there is so much to see and do.

hope cove
salcombe etc are a good hour’s drive from Newton Abbot

stick with Paignton; Teigmouth, you could consider Coleton Fishacre beautiful NT property.