Ride a RIB, catch the regatta
Check out the National Trust at Coleton Fishacres, Greenacre, and Saltram. Wobble your way along the coast with The Paddle Shack. Tour the UK’s naval academy, ride a RIB, and catch the regatta. Find theme parks at Crealy and Woodlands, over 2000 animals at Paignton Zoo, and beaches at Bigbury and Babbacombe.
Kids Ahoy!
Discover over 2000 animals and plenty of amazing plants at Paignton Zoo in 80 acres of landscaped grounds. Meet 5000-plus ocean animals at Plymouth Aquarium, with zones taking you all around the marine world. Or head to Totnes Rare Breeds Farm to pet, stroke, and cuddle the furry and the woolly.
Beaches are big here and you’ll want to bring your buckets for Bigbury, Blackpool Sands, Babbacombe, and Slapton Sands. Let the Dart River Steam Company introduce you to the estuary with a round trip through Dartmouth, Paignton, and Totnes. Or kayak, canoe, and paddleboard your way along the coast with Dartington Adventures.
Enjoy water rides, the zoo farm, and indoor play at Woodlands Theme Park. Discover over 60 rides and attractions, with spectacular entertainment, live shows and animals galore, at Crealy Theme Park. And catch some kiddie culture at The Flavel, or big-screen releases at The Merlin in Kingsbridge.
Ride the almost-vertical Devil’s Drop at the UK’s biggest waterpark, Splashdown Quaywest, and chill again with a river-boat trip on the Dart Explorer. Explore Paignton Pier’s bumper cars, outdoor slide, and chippy. And discover Dartmouth Castle, built to protect the estuary but now just very beautiful, with its gun towers and battlements.
For the grown ups
Overdone it in the on-site bar? Burn it all away at Dartmouth Leisure Centre over aqua fit, yoga, and Pilates. Walk the river from the door. Or get bolder with a spot of bouldering at Dart Rock Climbing Centre. Or play the magnificent tree-lined course at Dartmouth Golf Club and finish with a cocktail at the nineteenth.
Enjoy all the National Trust has to offer at Coleton Fishacres, the 1920s retreat of the D’Oyly Carte family, or check out the walled gardens and valley views at Greenacre. Find a secret garden and even bigger stories and intrigue on the inside at Saltram, and explore Compton Castle, a fortified manor house with formal garden.
Wobble your way along the coast on a stand-up paddleboard with The Paddle Shack. Tour the Britannia Royal Naval College, the UK’s naval academy, or ride a RIB with Nomad Marine. Festivals? Come in autumn for Dartmouth Food Festival, in spring for the music festival, or late summer for the Royal Regatta.
Check out the film and live events at the Flavell Arts Centre. Head back into heritage at Dartmouth Castle, Powderham Castle, and Plymouth Cathedral. Take home tonic wine from the monks at Buckfast Abbey. Finish the day with a tipple on the seafront at Bar 1620, The Dolphin, The Crab and Bucket, or The Cherub Inn.
