6 Experiences To Have in Devon At Least Once

A dramatic coastline filled with sandy shores, amazing wildlife, and opportunities for adventure at every turn, Devon is the ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and unplug.

Slow the tempo and explore the very best of the southern county with our pick of experiences. Here are six of the best.

Solve a murder mystery on the English Riviera

Home to one of Britain’s best-known authors, Dame Agatha Christie was born in Torbay and spent most of her life living in the English Riviera.

Embark on the Agatha Christie trail to take in sites such as Kents Cavern, which inspired her to write ​‘The Man in the Brown Suit’, and Greenway, her holiday home in Devon and where she wrote numerous novels including, ​‘Deadman’s Way’ and ​‘Five Little Pigs’.

Alternatively, spend a day of glitz, glamour and guesswork at Burgh Island. Just off the coast of Devon, this small island has close ties to the crime novelist, who transformed it into Soldier Island in ​‘And Then There Were None’.

See wild ponies in Dartmoor

Imagine rugged, wide-open landscapes, awesome granite tors, and steep valleys characterised by lush woods and bubbling waters. Welcome to Dartmoor.

The natural beauty here is utterly magnetising. Discover England’s last remaining wilderness amid the magical vistas of ponies playing in herds all over the moor.

Go Skygazing on Exmoor

Exmoor National Park is celebrated as one of the best places in the UK to go stargazing. Boasting low-levels of light pollution, the night sky here is enveloped in a sheet of black velvet, dusted with bright, gleaming constellations, and sometimes even the Northern Lights!

The National Park also offers itself up to adrenaline junkies looking to take the tousled countryside by mountain biking, rock climbing and even white water kayaking.

Surf the seas in Devon

Devon is one of the best spots in Britain for surfing. Surfing schools are peppered across the beach towns across the county to help absolute beginners get up on their boards, or to give semi-experienced surfers an extra boost of confidence to take on more challenging waves.

Saunton Sands is perfect for novices, while those who fancy themselves pros should absolutely hit the ferocious surf at either Croyde Bay or Lynmouth.

Indulge in a Devonshire cream tea in Exeter

Tea time is an extremely important matter in Britain, especially in Devon and Cornwall, where cream tea is a tradition all visitors must partake in.

The neighbouring counties have been at war over the perfect way to eat a scone for decades — is it clotted cream over jam, or is it a slathering of jam over a mountain of thick clotted cream? In Devon don’t even think about jam first – it’s utter sacrilege! Use the cream like butter and scoop and spread a layer before adding a fruity topping.

Though you’ll find tea houses across Devon, Jolly Rogers on Exeter’s Quayside takes tea like a true art form creating elaborate, Instagram worthy creations.

Plymouth Gin Distillery

If you’re not tea-total, definitely head to Plymouth to tour the oldest working distillery in England.

Plymouth Gin Distillery – creators of the British Royal Navy’s favoured blend of gin – offers tours through the distillery, where visitors can see, touch and smell the juniper berries, fruits and spices involved in creating the gin, and also visit the Still House, where every drop of Plymouth Gin has been made since the 1700s.

Got you thinking about visiting Devon? Check out the events, restaurants and attractions in Devon you should not miss!