One of the things we love about our riverside location is how brilliantly placed we are for family days out. Holidays in Devon are all about exploring and making memories and our guide will help you plan your itinerary or give last minute inspiration. Bonus – there’s lots of great wet weather activities in here.
Looking for some more grown up activities? We’ve got guides on South West garden tours and local National Trust properties.
All Aboard for Adventure at The Dartmouth Steam Railway
You can actually see the steam railway from some of our rooms, it runs along the opposite bank between Kingswear and Paignton. If you haven’t done the journey before, put it on your list. There’s something about a proper steam train that gets everyone excited, regardless of age. The views across the estuary and out to Torbay are stunning, and the seven-mile journey ends right by Goodrington Sands if you fancy stretching your legs on the beach.
Pro tip: if the weather’s warm, Quaywest waterpark is a short walk from Paignton station and the kids absolutely love it.
Walk on the Wild Side at Paignton Zoo
We send a lot of families to Paignton Zoo and they always come back full of stories about the giraffes or the red pandas. It’s a proper zoo – 80 acres with over 2,000 animals – so you’ll want to give yourself a full day. The habitats are really well done, and there’s enough indoor space that you won’t feel completely defeated if it rains (which, let’s be honest, can happen in Devon). The zoo’s just had a change of ownership which has secured its future, so it’s nice to know it’ll be here for years to come. Pack snacks though, zoo café prices are what they are!
Get Hands-On at Pennywell Farm
This one’s brilliant if you’ve got younger children. Pennywell Farm near Buckfastleigh is where kids can get up close with the animals, not just look at them through fences. They run activities every half hour throughout the day, so there’s always something happening. Goat milking, ferret racing, collecting eggs, tractor rides. Fair warning: it’s properly hilly so some places are not the most accessible. If you’re pushing a buggy, you’ll feel it in your legs! Open daily from mid-February to early November.
Thrills and Spills at Woodlands Family Theme Park
Woodlands is only five miles down the road and it’s one of those places that works for pretty much any age. The rides aren’t white-knuckle terrifying, more fun-for-everyone style, but they’ve got three watercoasters that are great on a hot day. The best bit? There’s 125,000 square feet of indoor play space, so when that typical Devon drizzle sets in, you’re not stuck. They’ve also got a zoo-farm section and a falconry centre. It’s not Alton Towers, but that’s kind of the point, it’s more relaxed and you can enjoy it without queuing for an hour per ride.
Discover the Magic of Marbles
House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey is one of those places you stumble across and end up staying longer than planned. There’s something quite mesmerising about watching the glassblowers work and the kids genuinely love the marble runs, especially the huge wall-sized one. Entry’s free, there’s a café (their cream teas are lovely), and it’s right off the A38 so perfect if you’re heading towards Dartmoor or Plymouth and need a stop. Also handy when it’s absolutely chucking it down and you need an hour indoors.
Unleash Creativity at China Blue
This pottery painting place in Totnes is perfect for rainy days. You pick an item, anything from a tiny mug to a serving platter, paint it however you like, and they glaze and fire it for you. Prices are reasonable, so it won’t break the bank. It takes about three weeks to get your finished piece back, but they’ll post it if you’re not local. They’re dog-friendly throughout too, which is rare for this type of place.
Crabbing Along the River
You can’t come on a family holiday to Dartmouth and not go crabbing. You’ll see families lined up along the quayside with their buckets and bits of bacon on string. It’s a fairly wallet friendly activity with the crab lines available in the local shops for a reasonable price. The kids love it, and there’s something quite peaceful about just hanging out by the water seeing what you catch. Just remember to pop the crabs back in afterwards, they’re not souvenirs!
Beach Days Done Right
We’re spoilt for beaches around here. Blackpool Sands is the obvious one, about ten minutes up the road, beautiful turquoise water, proper Blue Flag status. But honestly, there are so many gorgeous spots along this stretch of coast. Some are shingle, some are sandy, some you need to scramble down to. Each has its own character. There’s so many we’ve put together a whole separate guide to the best beaches near Dartmouth.
A Few Insider Tips
Most of these attractions get busy during school holidays, so if you can visit midweek or out of peak season, you’ll have a much nicer time. Pennywell and the Steam Railway may need advance booking in summer.
Weather-wise, always have a Plan B. We’re a hotel in Devon, not the Mediterranean, despite what Blackpool Sands looks like on a sunny day! Most of these places will work in any weather depending on how keen you are!
