Nearby Attractions
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral and Cathedral Close - The centre of historical Exeter is often the starting point for many Red Coat Tours around the city. Although at present not available till Exeter moves to a lower tier due to the pandemic.
Exeter is an ancient city. So old, that it’s one of the oldest in England. Perfect for a weekend getaway, once there you’ll find loads of history to uncover, an excellent food scene inspired by all of the local produce made in the South West, and a great gateway to the rest of Devon.
Harry Potter inspiration
JK Rowling actually studied during her time as an undergraduate at Exeter University and so throughout the city, there are traces of the Harry Potter inspiration she used to create her novels.
For example, Gandy Street is not only well worth a wander along because it’s full of quirky and unique shops, but also because it’s thought to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the books.
Elsewhere in the city, a door on the Cathedral Green is thought to be the inspiration for the Room of Requirement Door, while the Firehouse at the other end of town may well be the basis for the ‘Leakey Cauldron’ in the books.
Either way, head to the Firehouse and you can expect to find some of the very best (and largest) pizzas in Devon!
Exeter Quayside
First used as a port during prehistoric times, Exeter Quay is also often referred to as ‘Exeter quayside’. Located alongside the River Exe, the waterway from which Exeter gets its name, commercial shipping had largely subsided here by the 19th-century in favour of rail. A hand-operated ferry was known as ‘Butts Ferry’ is one of the last of its kind to still be in operation in the UK to this day.
Today, the ancient quayside lies just a ten-minute downhill walk from the city centre. Once there, it feels like you’ve left the city entirely and are instead in an oasis of calm populated by offbeat cafés and antique shops. Come night time and the place is teeming with bars, clubs, and is the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends by the water’s edge. Dragon boat and canoe races are also held here at certain points during the year.
Killerton House & Grounds
National Trust
A family home and a great estate. Glorious landscape garden surrounded by parkland with fine 18th-century house
Would you give away your family home for your political beliefs?
Sir Richard Acland did just that with his Killerton Estate when he gave it to the National Trust in 1944.
Today, you'll find a friendly Georgian House set in 2,600 hectares (6,400 acres) of working farmland, woods, parkland, cottages and orchards.
With many events throughout the year (check the website regarding tier restrictions re tiers before travelling) loads of activities for children and adults.
Knightshayes Court - National Trust
Knightshayes Court is a Victorian country house near Tiverton, Devon, England, designed by William Burges for the Heathcoat-Amory family.
Nikolaus Pevsner describes it as "an eloquent expression of High Victorian ideals in a country house of moderate size.
The house is Grade I listed.
The gardens are Grade II listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
A La Ronde - National Trust
A La Ronde is an 18th-century 16-sided house located near Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon, England, and in the ownership of the National Trust.
The house was built for two spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter. It is a Grade I listed building, as are the adjacent Point-In-View chapel, school and almshouses, together with a manse, which were also built by the cousins.
The gardens are Grade II listed in the National Register of Historic
Castle Drogo - National Trust
Castle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton, Devon, England.
Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was the last castle to be built in England. The client was Julius Drewe, the hugely successful founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. Drewe chose the site in the belief that it formed part of the lands of his supposed medieval ancestor, Drogo de Teigne.
The architect he chose to realise his dream was Edwin Lutyens, then at the height of his career. Lutyens lamented Drewe's determination to have a castle but nevertheless produced one of his finest buildings.
The architectural critic, Christopher Hussey, described the result: "The ultimate justification of Drogo is that it does not pretend to be a castle. It is a castle, as a castle is built, of granite, on a mountain, in the twentieth century".
Saunton Sands Beach
Saunton Sands is a beach near the English village of Saunton on the North Devon coast near Braunton, popular for longboard surfing.
Beyond its southern end, Crow Point, England is the mouth of the River Taw estuary. It is part of the Taw-Torridge estuary Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is at the centre of the UNESCO-designated North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, where Braunton Burrows lies at the heart.
Exmouth Beach
Exmouth Beach is well celebrated for its two miles of golden sand, rare on this coast and fascinating rock pools it's a paradise for children and adults alike.
Exmouth Beach is the ideal place to try your hand at water-sports - be it Kite Surfing, Kayaking, standup paddle-boarding or windsurfing.
The gateway to the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, Exmouth and its cliffs are teaming with geological finds.
The coastline is also part of the South West Coast Path, and the beach and surrounding cliffs provide excellent short and long walks in the surrounding countryside.
The promenade is two miles long and still has old favourites such as swing boats and crazy golf. The walk from the Marina to Orcombe Point is level and has wonderful views towards Dawlish and Torbay,
Dawlish Warren Beach
For the 21st year (2019) running, Dawlish Warren has been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, judged to be one of the top resorts in the UK, Dawlish Warren attracts people from all over the world.
The internationally renowned 'European Blue Flag' Award is only awarded to those beaches that pass the very strictest of criteria for environmental management, visitor facilities, cleanliness and clean bathing waters, meaning that residents and visitors to the resort can expect a top-quality experience.
Lyme Regis
Lyme Regis has a good selection of shops in the town centre and various leisure activities are available. This part of the coast offers some lovely walks, along the Cobb and elsewhere.
There are various events throughout the season, from the annual jazz festival to a regatta.
Beach huts are available for hire throughout the summer and there are lots of opportunities in the area for both water sports and boat trips.
Lyme Regis has many restaurants, cafés and bars and is as attractive today as it was in the time of Jane Austen.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is famous for its wide-open spaces, the Tors, Dartmoor Prison, Bronze Age archaeology, ponies, Sherlock Holmes, myths and legends and for having the worlds largest land slug!
All the ponies are owned by someone but they are allowed to roam free on Dartmoor for large parts of the year until they are counted during the annual pony drifts. They will then be released back onto the moor or taken away to be sold.
Dartmoor covers an area of 368 square miles or 957 square kilometres. It has 33,000 people who live within its boundaries
Exmoor
One of the most striking features of Exmoor is the natural landscape. Better known for the moors, the highest regions of Exmoor are sweeping open plains with gorse, heather, and wild grasses. Dunkery beacon marks the highest spot in southern England outside of Dartmoor, at 519m above sea level. Moorland spreads in every direction from here but drops down into ancient woodlands and sheltered valleys.
The coastline includes various beaches as well as towering craggy cliffs. In fact, Exmoor has the highest coastline on the British mainland. High spots are near Culbone Hill and on Great Hangman near Combe Martin (250m cliff face, coastal hill 318m). This dramatic geography also results in parts of the Exmoor having the most remote coastline in England, with various sections inaccessible either from land or via boat.
Powderham Castle
Powderham Castle is a fortified manor house situated within the parish and former manor of Powderham, within the former hundred of Exminster, Devon, about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of the city of Exeter and 1⁄4 mile (0.4 km) north-east of the village of Kenton, where the main public entrance gates are located. It is a Grade I listed building.
The park and gardens are Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
It is situated on flat, formerly marshy ground on the west bank of the River Exe estuary where it is joined by its tributary the River Kenn.
On the opposite side of the Exe is the small village of Lympstone. The castle was expanded and altered extensively in the 18th and 19th centuries, most notably by James Wyatt in the 1790s. The castle remains the seat of the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon.