I spent a lot of holidays as a kid in north Devon, and we ab.so.lutely. loved it growing up. Endless bike rides and scavanger hunts. I also went to live in Plymouth for a few years after Uni when I got my first 'proper' job. But this July, I went to explore areas of South Devon I'd never been to before.
Devon is a bit of a trek to get to from most places. (Minus Cornwall!) But it's worth the journey, especially if the weather is backing you. And this time it did. We tied the trip in with seeing some friends, so started the trip in Devon's capital, Exeter. I hadn't been to Exeter in a few years. And it's totally upped it's game. It's had a huge refurb. There's tonnes more places to eat, chilled bars on the Quayside, and stuff to do. You can hire bikes and kayaks from Saddles & Paddles or to the South West's biggest climbing wall, Quay Climbing Centre. If you're down in that region of the country, you'd be a fool to skip Exeter. We had an awesome two days there catching up, and seeing a very smiley baby, before going to see some more pals in Dartmouth.
I went to catch up with our Guestbooker Lisa, who also has her own blog that you should totally check out; Adventures on a Page. She showed us the highlights of the quaint town of Dartmouth. There's too many beautiful walks to count that you can do round here, we chose to do a short stint of the coastal walk from Baynard's Cove Fort. It was super easy and didn't take long. Plus you can go and swim in this clear enclosed cove. If you've got longer then it's worth continuing the walk to Blackpool Sands. We went in the car as didn't have as much time but it's an amazing beach, that you don't often see in the UK, where you can watch the world go by. I mean, I actually ended up falling asleep. Bliss.
If you do have a car, you should take the chance to drive a bit further, only another ten minutes, to the next civilisation, Torcross. It's an ace road with water on both sides, something special to see. When you get there, park up and have a drink on the beach, or pick up the coastal path again and more stunning ocean views! However, mind my tangent, don't forget about Dartmouth itself! You should go have a gander at the Navy College, and Dartmouth Castle, and hire boats or a water taxi to explore other place across the water.
Our last stop in south Devon, was Dittisham. This place honestly feels like an island. If you're planning a visit, plan your meals as you feel gloriously isolated when you're there. Time stands still and the locals soon feel like neighbours. We had kayaks, boats and paddleboards while in Dittisham, so it's a trip that requires prep. Apparently you can hire from Dittisham Boats, but check that they're open. If it is awful weather, there is a pub where you can attempt shelter. But if it's as nice as you're hoping, you'll spend your days on the water, watching the world go by.
There are tonnes of spots to explore in Devon, these are just a few new ones we explored this July. If you're intrigued, then do a little prep, get a motor, some walking boots, and a board or boat, and like us, you'll have a wonderful adventure.
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