Devon's Best Hotels

Becky Falls Woodland Park

- TOP BEAUTY SPOT IN DEVON!

Come and see why Becky Falls was this year voted Top Beauty Spot in Devon and why visitors have been returning since the Falls first opened to the public over a hundred years ago.

Set within a stunning Dartmoor valley, our walks and scenery offer a fun-filled day out for both young and older visitors alike. There's a full programme of children's entertainment during school holidays, including Animal Encounter Shows, Animal Feeding sessions, puppet shows, storytelling and, new for this year, a genuine Victorian Flea Circus, believed to be the last of its kind in Europe.

A visit to us offers stunning scenic walks for all ages and abilities, lots of animals to meet and feed and, of course, the beautiful Becky Falls themselves, which were described by one newspaper as "a 70ft drop of sheer aquatic magic".

www.beckyfalls.com

Beer Quarry Caves

- A vast complex of man-made caverns created by centuries of quarrying Beer Stone

Conducted tours by trained guides, give the visitor an hour-long tour of this vast man- made complex of underground caverns created by centuries of quarrying the famous Beer Stone.

The underground quarry first worked by the Romans, supplied stone for 24 cathedrals including Exeter and St. Pauls, parts of Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. Quarried by hand, the smallest blocks weighing 4 tons, the stone was carted on horse-drawn wagons and by barges from Beer beach to its destination, sometimes involving journeys of several hundreds of miles.

www.beerquarrycaves.fsnet.co.uk

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens

- Enjoy over 60 acres of beautiful gardens with their soft sweeping lawns, elegant water features, fragrant English borders and formal Gardens...

Panning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these magnificent gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter Valley, between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. The superbly landscaped park combines 18th century tranquillity with modern amenities to provide enjoyment for everyone, of all ages, through the four seasons. Registered in the Grade 1 conservation category by English Heritage, the privately owned historic gardens possess a timeless beauty, which has been preserved for the pleasure and interest of our visitors.

Discover the little house of shells, the romantic Hermitage, the secret garden, the lake, streams and woodlands, full of majestic trees and fantastic collections of palms and tropical plants . The park has plenty for children too. There’s a miniature village, a large climbing camp and acres of informal gardens to explore and play in. There’s an educational nature trail where many birds can be seen feeding and heard singing, you can even learn to identify their calls. See the bigfoot maze, mini golf and a children’s football pitch. Relax and enjoy a meal or snack at the Orangery Restaurant with it’s breathtaking views across the gardens.

www.bictongardens.co.uk

Canonteign Falls

 - The highest waterfall in England! . . . .

One of England’s Wonders - Canonteign Falls is found in the beautiful Teign Valley. England’s highest waterfall is a magnificent sight, plunging and dropping to the valley lakes. The Falls descend almost vertically for 220ft (67m) and run on through rock formations and ancient woodlands before cascading into the tranquil lakes below.

With nature and wildlife trails, and walks through woodland, wetlands, lakes and parkland. Canonteign Falls offers a spectacular day out for all the family...

www.canonteignfalls.com

Castle Drogo

 - The 'last castle to be built in England'

Castle Drogo is set above the Teign Gorge with dramatic views over Dartmoor, and is situated in England’s highest National Trust garden.  Castle Drogo was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens between 1910 - 1913 for Sir Julius Drewe, who was a self-made millionaire whose chain of home and colonial stores enabled him to retire in 1899 at the age of 33. One of the most remarkable works of Sir Edwin Lutyens, Castle Drogo was finally completed in 1931 after 21years.
The property is situated at a height of nearly 300 metres within Dartmoor National Park and can experience extreme weather conditions. Approach lane is narrow with tight corners. Appropriate clothing and footwear is recommended – an authentic Dartmoor experience then!

www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housedev_drogo.htm

Crealy Adventure Park

 – Devon’s premier fun destination!

Crealy is all about a great family day out at this fantastic award winning Devon adventure park. Meet the friendliest Rangers, animals to groom, feed and cuddle, ride the wildest rides, explore 100 acres and play in more than 75,000 sq ft of undercover fun!

With 7 new attractions, Devon's Crealy is the park you never outgrow!

www.crealy.co.uk

Dartmoor Miniature Pony and Animal Farm

Enjoy scenic walks along nature trails, take time to relax by the tranquil lakes or have a picnic in our beautiful parkland, set in an idyllic surroundings in the heart of scenic Dartmoor.

See, meet and touch over 150 animals, including our famous Miniature Shetland ponies and Miniature Mediterranean donkeys that foal throughout the spring and early summer. Also waiting to meet you are Gulliver, our Shire horse, and Chico and Harpo, our miniature horses.
As you explore the 20 acres of beautiful Dartmoor parkland you will meet lots of other friendly animals – pygmy goats, Kune Kune pigs, Shetland sheep and lambs. You can head to the Pets Paddock, where you can meet many smaller animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, chipmunks and degus.

We pride ourselves on the environment and management of our animals, so there is no better way for children to safely be introduced to them than here!...

www.miniatureponycentre.com

Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies

- A real treat for otter fans and lovers of nature and wildlife. It makes an exciting and unusual gift for all ages.

Come and marvel at otters from all corners of the world……. Some of the otters here may be rescued, some have been bred here, others are part of breeding exchanges and some are just very old, in need of extra care and are here for retirement! There are three species to be seen, our native British or European otter which can be shy and elusive in the wild, the playful little Asian otters which are a joy to watch and the large North American River Otters who are real show-offs.

An Otter Experience...Spend a morning with the keeper at the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary in Buckfastleigh and gain an exclusive insight into the secret world of the otter and the work of the sanctuary.
This is a hands on experience and follows the daily routine of the staff at the Sanctuary, so expect to get up close with the otters and get dirty in the process.

The Butterfly House is a specially designed and maintained exhibition of living exotic butterflies and moths, where visitors can enjoy direct contact with some of the most beautiful members of the insect order Lepidoptera from around the world.

A fantastic day out for all of the family then – and educational for children and adults alike!

www.ottersandbutterflies.co.uk

Exeter Cathedral

– ‘Nowhere is there a cathedral of greater originality, of more complete harmony or more obvious and striking unity'.

Exeter is one of the smaller but most beautiful of cathedrals in England. Foundations were laid in 1133AD but the structure wasn’t entirely completed until approx 1400AD. It is home to the longest stone vault in the world and located in beautiful settings right in the heart of cultural and historical Exeter.

Free guided tours are available on most days as well as many religious services and choirs, of which you are welcome to participate. The Cathedral relies entirely on voluntary donations for its upkeep and running costs.

www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk

Powderham Castle

- Historic family home to the Earl of Devon.

Powderham Castle lies in a beautiful deer park setting on the banks of the Exe Estuary, just a stone's throw from the historic cathedral city of Exeter.

Powderham was built between 1390 and 1420 by Sir Philip Courtenay. The Castle remains in the hands of his descendant, the Earl of Devon. It was extensively altered in both the 18th and 19th centuries, most notably by James Wyatt in the 1790s. The Courtenay family have been welcoming visitors to the Castle since 1959, and over the years in excess of a million people have been through the doors.

Very little of the Castle itself has changed since those early days, but there are now many more attractions in the grounds for visitors of all ages to enjoy. There is also a collection of paintings and family portraits by many famous artists and a 14ft high Stumbels Clock.

In the castle gardens looking towards the estuary, herons and birds of prey are frequently sighted.

www.powderham.co.uk

Quince Honey Farm

From humble beginnings in 1949, Quince Honey Farm is now Britain's largest honey farm with a visitor centre renowned worldwide for its unique living honeybee displays.

Our honey is collected from the timeless pastures and hedgerows in the lowlands of North Devon and also from the spectacular swathes of purple heather high up on Exmoor. Here in our world famous Honey Farm you can stand and watch these wild and wonderful creatures from the distant past. The unique design of the indoor apiary allows close up viewing in complete safety. The glass booths expose the working colonies of honeybees without interfering with their natural lifestyle.
Here at the heart of the operation you can closely observe the honeybee colonies, which have taken over a modern chimney, a postbox, roof cavities, straw skeps as well as their ancient homes - hollow trees and bushes. Other hives within the Exhibition are designed to open at the press of a button. These innovative designs are acknowledged by experts to lead the world in easy viewing of the most interesting and productive insect the world has got to offer. You can view the complete story of honey production and beeswax from the hive to the finished product.

www.quincehoney.co.uk

Seaton Tramway

Discover East Devon's glorious Axe Valley - from the top deck of a heritage tram.

Journey from Seaton, gateway town to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, through two nature reserves alongside the Axe estuary to historic Colyton, "Devon's most rebellious town".
We have always been famous for our open top trams, but we also have three enclosed single-deck saloons. So visit any time of the year - we have a tram for all seasons!
Seaton Tramway operates narrow gauge heritage trams between Seaton, Colyford and Colyton in East Devon's glorious Axe Valley, travelling alongside the River Axe estuary through two nature reserves and giving an unrivalled view of the abundant wading bird life.

The coastal resort of Seaton is now a gateway town to the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whilst the historic town of Colyton is described as "Devon's Most Rebellious Town" for its part in the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Explore this site for full details and then be sure to pay us a visit!

www.tram.co.uk