Practical, tested answers to the questions guidebooks skip — rainy days, dog-friendly beaches, pushchair access and more.
150 drones instead of fireworks at Golden Coast, Woolacombe, on Saturday 7 November. Free, no booking, dogs welcome, and about twelve minutes long.
2026-10-24 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowTavistock pubs with children: which are relaxed, which are dog friendly, opening days to check, and the park that beats all of them.
2026-10-22 · Tavistock Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Tavistock: the Cornish Arms for value, the Annex for tapas, Malthouse for burgers and the market café — with the days they close.
2026-10-22 · Tavistock Local Know-HowBeaches and swimming near Plymouth: Devil's Point for sea access, the Lion's Den below the Hoe, and the coast within easy reach of the city.
2026-10-21 · Plymouth Local Know-HowFamily-friendly eating in Bovey Tracey: the Cromwell Arms beer garden, Ullacombe Farm's play areas and £1 goats, and Home Farm's picnic tables.
2026-10-21 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowCastle Drogo near Chagford: the last castle built in England, the walk up from Fingle Bridge, the gardens, and dogs outside the house.
2026-10-21 · Chagford Local Know-HowBraunton with a toddler: Saunton Sands takes dogs all year and is flat for miles, the Williams Arms does a daily carvery, and the Tarka Trail is level.
2026-10-21 · Braunton Local Know-HowA day in Tavistock under £50: the free Meadows park, the free pannier market, free parking options and where to eat well for the money.
2026-10-20 · Tavistock Local Know-HowCombe Martin with a toddler: the Pack o' Cards garden has a play area and a stream, the beach has rock pools at low tide, and the village is two miles long.
2026-10-20 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowA full day in Exeter for under £50 for two: the free cathedral green, free guided tours, the 40p ferry, the free museum and where to eat without wasting it.
2026-10-20 · Exeter Local Know-HowCombe Martin in winter: the sheltered bay works when the open coast does not, which pubs stay open, and the Hangman walks in poor weather.
2026-10-19 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowOne day in Exeter, in the right order: the centre and cathedral first, the Underground Passages booked ahead, then downhill to the Quay and the ferry.
2026-10-19 · Exeter Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Combe Martin: the Focsle's ploughman's overlooking the beach, the Harbour Cafe breakfast, and the pub that lets you bring a takeaway.
2026-10-19 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowA day in Chagford under £50: free parking on the square, free open moor, the cream tea at the Old Forge and which attractions to skip.
2026-10-19 · Chagford Local Know-HowDartmoor from Plymouth: how far it really is, Dartmoor Zoo and its annual pass, Bellever and the moor car parks, and why you need a car.
2026-10-18 · Plymouth Local Know-HowWistman's Wood on Dartmoor: the thirty-minute walk in, why there is no marked path, edge access only, and what you will actually see.
2026-10-18 · Chagford Local Know-HowA cheap day in Shaldon: free crabbing off the beach, free Ness Cove through the tunnel, the ferry instead of parking, and takeaway onto the sand.
2026-10-18 · Shaldon Local Know-HowChagford with a toddler: everything is a minute from the square, Stone Lane Gardens is quiet, and Becky Falls has three trails and animal talks.
2026-10-17 · Chagford Local Know-HowNess Cove at Shaldon: the Smugglers' Tunnel down through the headland, dogs allowed all year, no facilities, and the tide to watch.
2026-10-17 · Shaldon Local Know-HowA cheap day in Braunton: free burrows, the free Tarka Trail, cheaper parking than Croyde, and a daily carvery at the Williams Arms.
2026-10-17 · Braunton Local Know-HowShaldon pubs with children: the London Inn on the village green, the Ferry Boat's weekend grill and beach takeaways, and the Clipper's counter service.
2026-10-17 · Shaldon Local Know-HowFree things to do in Exeter that are actually free: Red Coat tours, the Custom House centre, the Guildhall garden, the city wall, the quay and the canal.
2026-10-16 · Exeter Local Know-HowWalks from Bovey Tracey: the free East Dartmoor nature reserve with four car parks, the Parke estate, Bellever Forest and getting onto open moor.
2026-10-16 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowOkehampton in winter: the train still runs, the castle grounds stay open, the Plume has board games, and the high moor becomes a serious proposition.
2026-10-16 · Okehampton Local Know-HowShaldon with a toddler: the village green, crabbing off the beach, the zoo with all-day re-entry, and why the estuary is not for swimming.
2026-10-15 · Shaldon Local Know-HowPlymouth pubs and bars that work with children: the waterfront ones with space and views, opening times, and which days they close.
2026-10-15 · Plymouth Local Know-HowOkehampton is the Dartmoor town with its own railway station and a line to Exeter — which makes it the one moor town that genuinely works without a car.
2026-10-15 · Okehampton Local Know-HowA cheap day in Combe Martin: free bay access, free rock pooling, the Hangman walks and an enormous ploughman's at the Focsle.
2026-10-15 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowAccessible Seaton: the wetlands have wheelchair-accessible paths, the esplanade is flat, and the tramway stops at both — plus what the pebble beach rules out.
2026-10-14 · Seaton Local Know-HowA cheap day in Okehampton: free parking at the castle, free open moor, £5 all-day at Bellever and where to eat for the money.
2026-10-14 · Okehampton Local Know-HowExeter Cathedral before you visit: the longest vaulted ceiling in England, what admission covers, evensong at 5.30pm, and what you can see without paying.
2026-10-14 · Exeter Local Know-HowTavistock with a toddler: the free Meadows park with a zip wire and pump track, two cafés on site, the covered market when it rains.
2026-10-14 · Tavistock Local Know-HowWalks from Okehampton onto northern Dartmoor: the highest and wildest part of the park, the military firing ranges, and the sheltered alternatives.
2026-10-13 · Okehampton Local Know-HowGetting onto Dartmoor from Tavistock: Bellever for shelter, the open moor car parks, Lydford Gorge, and how fast the weather turns.
2026-10-13 · Tavistock Local Know-HowOkehampton with a toddler: the castle has free parking and a steep path, the Plume of Feathers has board games, and Bellever is the gentle way onto the moor.
2026-10-13 · Okehampton Local Know-HowCombe Martin car-free: no station, the bus from Barnstaple via Ilfracombe, and why the two-mile village street matters when you arrive on foot.
2026-10-12 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Chagford: the Globe Inn roast, Ring O'Bells for vegan options, the Old Forge cream tea and the Birdcage — with closing days.
2026-10-12 · Chagford Local Know-HowBraunton in winter: the Tarka Trail stays usable, Saunton takes dogs all year, the burrows flood, and which places keep their hours.
2026-10-12 · Braunton Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Bovey Tracey: Ullacombe Farm, Home Farm Café for vegan and gluten-free, 3 Sixty's late lunch, and the Cromwell Arms.
2026-10-12 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowExeter is the best car-free day out in Devon: three stations, a walkable centre, the quay on foot and the canal path to the Turf. What connects where.
2026-10-11 · Exeter Local Know-HowBraunton Burrows: a UNESCO biosphere reserve with D-Day training relics in the dunes, what to know about flooding, and why there are no facilities.
2026-10-11 · Braunton Local Know-HowStep-free Plymouth: Devil's Point's accessible paths and benches, the Hoe, Royal William Yard — and the cobbles and hills to plan around.
2026-10-11 · Plymouth Local Know-HowThe Hangman walks from Combe Martin: forty-five minutes up Little Hangman, Great Hangman beyond it, and what the highest sea cliff in England asks of you.
2026-10-10 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowA day in Plymouth under £50: the free Box museum, free parking at Devil's Point, the Hoe, the Barbican and where to eat without wasting the budget.
2026-10-10 · Plymouth Local Know-HowSeaton with a toddler: the tramway runs every 20 minutes, the wetlands are free with accessible paths, and the seafront is flat the whole way.
2026-10-10 · Seaton Local Know-HowAccessible Bovey Tracey: the free House of Marbles and MAKE Southwest are indoors and level, Canonteign has a flatter lower route, and what the moor rules out.
2026-10-10 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowSaunton Sands from Braunton: three miles of firm flat sand, dogs allowed all year, contactless parking, and why it beats Croyde on a busy day.
2026-10-09 · Braunton Local Know-HowChagford in winter: which pubs and cafés stay open, how the moor behaves, and why the village is a better winter bet than it looks.
2026-10-09 · Chagford Local Know-HowOkehampton Castle: the largest castle ruin in Devon, free parking at the bottom, a steep path up, and the river walk below it.
2026-10-09 · Okehampton Local Know-HowShaldon car-free: park or train to Teignmouth and take the ferry across the estuary — the best arrival in south Devon, and it saves Shaldon's parking.
2026-10-08 · Shaldon Local Know-HowAccessible Chagford: the square puts everything within a minute, Stone Lane Gardens is level, and Becky Falls has easier trails — but the moor is not flat.
2026-10-08 · Chagford Local Know-HowA cheap day in Bovey Tracey: two free attractions, free access to East Dartmoor nature reserve, £1 to feed the goats, and where to eat for the money.
2026-10-08 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowAccessible Okehampton: the town is compact and the station is level, but the castle path is steep and the moor is unsurfaced. What is realistic.
2026-10-08 · Okehampton Local Know-HowCrabbing at Shaldon: the best spot on the Teign estuary, what you need, how to do it without hurting the crabs, and why not to swim here.
2026-10-07 · Shaldon Local Know-HowChagford has no station and limited buses. The honest guide to reaching this Dartmoor village car-free — and why the village itself needs no car once you arrive.
2026-10-07 · Chagford Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Seaton: Coast Cafe Bar on the front, the Hideaway for quiet breakfasts, the Old Picture House for Sunday lunch, and the Malt House.
2026-10-07 · Seaton Local Know-HowBecky Falls versus Canonteign Falls near Bovey Tracey: three trails and animal talks against England's highest waterfall and a flatter lower route.
2026-10-06 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowPlymouth car-free: a mainline station, the Hoe and Barbican on foot, ferries to Cornwall from Royal William Yard, and what you cannot reach.
2026-10-06 · Plymouth Local Know-HowBovey Tracey with a toddler: the free House of Marbles with its marble runs, Ullacombe Farm's £1 goats and play areas, and the woodland that beats open moor.
2026-10-06 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowPlymouth Hoe: what you can see from it, Smeaton's Tower and the climb, the Lion's Den below, and why it is the best free hour in the city.
2026-10-06 · Plymouth Local Know-HowCombe Martin pubs with children: the Pack o' Cards has a play area and a stream in the garden, the Focsle overlooks the beach, and the Castle takes takeaways.
2026-10-05 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowFree Plymouth: the Box museum, the Hoe, the Barbican, Devil's Point with three hours free parking, and the Mayflower Steps.
2026-10-05 · Plymouth Local Know-HowBraunton car-free: the Tarka Line to Barnstaple then the bus, or cycle the Tarka Trail — the flat traffic-free route that runs right through the village.
2026-10-05 · Braunton Local Know-HowPlymouth's National Marine Aquarium: the UK's largest, free re-entry for a year on every ticket, closed Wednesdays, and how long to allow.
2026-10-04 · Plymouth Local Know-HowSeaton Tramway: hop-on hop-off day tickets, trams every 20 minutes, dogs £2 each way, and why starting at Colyton saves you the parking charge.
2026-10-04 · Seaton Local Know-HowOkehampton pubs with children: the Plume of Feathers has books and board games, the London Inn does good value burgers, and Brothers is adults only in practice.
2026-10-04 · Okehampton Local Know-HowSeaton car-free: no station, buses from Axminster and Honiton on the mainline, and a tramway that works as actual transport once you arrive.
2026-10-04 · Seaton Local Know-HowWalks from Tavistock: the flat canal and river paths from the Meadows, Lydford Gorge's two loops, and getting onto Dartmoor properly.
2026-10-03 · Tavistock Local Know-HowWhere to drink in Exeter: the quayside pubs, the Fat Pig for a Sunday, the late ones at the weekend, and which days each is closed.
2026-10-03 · Exeter Local Know-HowPlymouth with a toddler: the free Box museum, three hours free parking at Devil's Point, the aquarium's year of re-entry, and what to skip.
2026-10-03 · Plymouth Local Know-HowThe flat, step-free routes in Exeter: the quayside, the canal towpath, Riverside Valley Park and the sensory garden — plus the hills to avoid.
2026-10-02 · Exeter Local Know-HowTavistock lost its railway in the sixties. Getting here without a car means the bus from Plymouth — and once you arrive, the town itself is compact and walkable.
2026-10-02 · Tavistock Local Know-HowSeaton Wetlands: free entry with a £1 parking donation, wheelchair-accessible paths, bird hides that double as shelters, and the tram stops there.
2026-10-02 · Seaton Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Okehampton: Brothers for the best food Thursday to Saturday, the London Inn for burgers, and the Plume of Feathers for cider and board games.
2026-10-02 · Okehampton Local Know-HowFlat walks from Exeter: the ship canal towpath to the Double Locks and the Turf, Riverside Valley Park, and the towpath route to Topsham.
2026-10-01 · Exeter Local Know-HowShaldon in winter: the sheltered estuary side stays calm when the open coast does not, which pubs keep their hours, and the ferry's seasonal gap.
2026-10-01 · Shaldon Local Know-HowBraunton pubs with children: the Williams Arms carvery every day, the Beachside Grill at Saunton, and the White Lion's later opening.
2026-10-01 · Braunton Local Know-HowOne day in Plymouth: the Hoe first for the view, the Box or the aquarium depending on the day of the week, the Barbican, then west to Royal William Yard.
2026-10-01 · Plymouth Local Know-HowSeaton pubs with children: the Malt House lets you bring chips in, the Old Picture House does Sunday lunch in a converted cinema, and which days they close.
2026-09-30 · Seaton Local Know-HowExeter pubs that work with children: the quayside options with outdoor space, which are dog friendly, and which days they are closed.
2026-09-30 · Exeter Local Know-HowChagford pubs with children: the Globe Inn's roast, Ring O'Bells as the village local, outdoor tables at the Birdcage, and the days they close.
2026-09-30 · Chagford Local Know-HowRoyal William Yard in Plymouth: converted naval buildings, restaurants, bars and a cinema, good parking, and the seasonal ferry to Cornwall.
2026-09-29 · Plymouth Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Shaldon: the Ness for the view and the Sunday roast, the London Inn on the green, the Ferry Boat's grill and the Clipper's long hours.
2026-09-29 · Shaldon Local Know-HowAccessible Combe Martin: the bay and seafront are level with toilets at the car park, but the village street climbs two miles and the Hangman walks are steep.
2026-09-29 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowExeter with a toddler: the free indoor garden at the Guildhall, the flat quayside, the 40p ferry and the sensory garden — plus what to skip.
2026-09-29 · Exeter Local Know-HowQuieter beaches near Seaton: Beer's sheltered shingle cove next door, the pebble ridge, and what the Jurassic Coast offers east and west.
2026-09-28 · Seaton Local Know-HowSunday in Exeter: what opens and what does not, evensong at 5.30pm, the pubs doing roasts, and why the Quay is the right plan.
2026-09-28 · Exeter Local Know-HowAccessible Shaldon: the village is small and flat along the water, the green is level, and the Smugglers' Tunnel is a slope — but the beaches are not easy.
2026-09-28 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSunday in Plymouth: the Box and the aquarium are both open, which restaurants close, and why the Hoe and the waterfront are the plan.
2026-09-27 · Plymouth Local Know-HowWhere to eat in Braunton: the Duck Dive from 8.30am, the Williams Arms carvery every day, the Beachside Grill at Saunton and the White Lion.
2026-09-27 · Braunton Local Know-HowStep-free Tavistock: the Meadows and the canal path, the covered pannier market, Buckland Abbey's accessible areas — and what to avoid.
2026-09-27 · Tavistock Local Know-HowAccessible Braunton: the Tarka Trail is flat and surfaced, Saunton Sands is firm and level, and Baggy Point has a flatter inland option — plus what the dunes rule out.
2026-09-27 · Braunton Local Know-HowA day in Seaton under £50: free wetlands, free parking at the Colyton tram terminus, the esplanade and where to eat for the money.
2026-09-26 · Seaton Local Know-HowPlymouth's Barbican: cobbled streets and galleries, the Mayflower Steps, boat trips, expensive parking and where to eat — and which days they close.
2026-09-26 · Plymouth Local Know-HowBovey Tracey in winter: two free indoor attractions open all year, woodland that beats the open moor, and how fast the weather turns up here.
2026-09-26 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowExeter Quay: the 40p hand-pulled ferry, the flat walk along Riverside Valley Park, kayak and SUP hire, and the pubs on the water.
2026-09-25 · Exeter Local Know-HowTavistock Pannier Market day by day: antiques Tuesday, crafts Wednesday, the Charter Market Friday, opening times and the December Sundays.
2026-09-25 · Tavistock Local Know-HowGetting to Topsham from Exeter: an hour's flat walk along the canal, four stops on the Exmouth branch line, and what is worth doing when you arrive.
2026-09-25 · Exeter Local Know-HowRock pooling at Combe Martin: superb pools at low tide, how to time it, what you will find, and the safety points that matter on this coast.
2026-09-25 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowExeter's Underground Passages: why you must book, the fifteen-person limit, the optional crawling section, the days it closes and whether it suits children.
2026-09-24 · Exeter Local Know-HowBovey Tracey car-free: no station since the line closed, buses from Newton Abbot, and a town centre with two free attractions within walking distance.
2026-09-24 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowStorm watching in Budleigh Salterton — a steep pebble beach that roars in a swell, a paved promenade to watch from, and unstable red cliffs to keep away from.
2026-10-19 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowStorm watching in Combe Martin — a small bay framed by high cliffs, with a beachfront pub and the Little Hangman climb for height on a calmer day.
2026-10-19 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowStorm watching in Beer — a sheltered shingle bay between white chalk cliffs, with the Anchor Inn's garden on the cliff directly above the beach.
2026-10-19 · Beer Local Know-HowStorm watching in Exmouth — two miles of level promenade to watch from, Orcombe Point for height, and estuary currents that stay dangerous in any weather.
2026-10-19 · Exmouth Local Know-HowStorm watching in Sidmouth — Connaught Gardens on the clifftop are free and open year-round, and the red cliffs make keeping your distance more than a formality.
2026-10-19 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowStorm watching in Brixham — Berry Head gives you the length of Tor Bay from high ground behind fort walls, and the breakwater is exactly where not to be.
2026-10-19 · Brixham Local Know-HowStorm watching in Lynton and Lynmouth — Lynton sits five hundred feet above the harbour, which makes it the safest high vantage point on the north coast.
2026-10-19 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowStorm watching in Ilfracombe — a natural amphitheatre of a harbour with high ground all round it, and more places open in winter than anywhere on this coast.
2026-10-19 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowStorm watching in Bigbury on Sea — Burgh Island sits in front of the bay taking the swell, with a clifftop viewpoint above and a café with sea views.
2026-10-19 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowStorm watching in Croyde — a west-facing bay that holds swell all winter, with Baggy Point above it and surfers in the water whatever the forecast.
2026-10-19 · Croyde Local Know-HowStorm watching in Woolacombe — three miles of west-facing Atlantic beach, with Mortehoe above it for height and shelter.
2026-10-19 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowStorm watching in Westward Ho! — two miles of beach facing the open Atlantic with a pebble ridge thrown up by the sea itself, and a glass-fronted restaurant to watch from.
2026-10-19 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowStorm watching in Teignmouth — the sea wall takes the full force with trains passing behind, and the Back Beach on the estuary gives you a sheltered retreat.
2026-10-19 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowStorm watching in Dawlish — waves break clean over Brunel's sea wall as the trains come through, and the station gives you somewhere to watch from under cover.
2026-10-19 · Dawlish Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Plymouth — Devil's Point gives three hours of free parking and wide views across the Sound, with a rocky bathing spot below the Hoe.
2026-10-19 · Plymouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Exeter — a flat traffic-free canal towpath running south, the quay, and Riverside Valley Park, all free and all open.
2026-10-19 · Exeter Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Bovey Tracey — ancient woodland at Yarner Wood with four car parks, and a National Trust estate on the edge of town.
2026-10-19 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Chagford — a medieval square with both pubs and both cafés on it, and the Teign gorge walk a short drive away.
2026-10-19 · Chagford Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Okehampton — a castle ruin in riverside woodland, the highest ground in southern England behind, and the forest walk that beats the open moor.
2026-10-19 · Okehampton Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Tavistock — the Meadows is a large free park between the Tavy and the canal with a zip wire and a pump track, and Dartmoor starts at the edge of town.
2026-10-19 · Tavistock Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Totnes — Leechwell Garden is free with climbing equipment, the Plains by the Dart are flat, and the town is inland so the weather matters less.
2026-10-19 · Totnes Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Kingsbridge — the quay, a long-stay car park beside it, and Slapton Ley twenty minutes away with bird hides that keep the weather off.
2026-10-19 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Dartmouth — a flat Embankment along the quay, the castle walk, and more good places to eat per square mile than anywhere on this coast.
2026-10-19 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Salcombe — the estuary path, three sheltered beaches, and a town with the second homes dark and the parking easy.
2026-10-19 · Salcombe Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Seaton — free wetlands with level accessible paths and hides that keep the rain off, plus a long flat esplanade.
2026-10-19 · Seaton Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Budleigh Salterton — the River Otter path is flat and easy underfoot, the promenade is paved, and the town is at its quietest.
2026-10-19 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Beer — a working fishing beach between white chalk cliffs, the Anchor Inn's clifftop garden, and the Hooken undercliff walk.
2026-10-19 · Beer Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Shaldon — the sheltered estuary side when Teignmouth is being blasted, a covered tunnel to a red sand cove, and a pub on the green.
2026-10-19 · Shaldon Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Dawlish — waves over the sea wall as the trains come through, the black swans on the stream, and a sheltered cove half a mile south.
2026-10-19 · Dawlish Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Teignmouth — the sea wall for drama or the sheltered Back Beach when it is blowing, with the oldest pub in town a couple of minutes away.
2026-10-19 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Sidmouth — Connaught Gardens are free and open year-round, the esplanade is level, and the town is at its quietest.
2026-10-19 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Exmouth — two miles of flat promenade behind the beach, the start of the Jurassic Coast at Orcombe Point, and a marina pub that opens early.
2026-10-19 · Exmouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Brixham — the breakwater is half a mile of level walkway out into the bay, free and benched, with Berry Head above the town.
2026-10-19 · Brixham Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Paignton — a level promenade the whole length of the seafront, a free pier, and a beach that takes dogs through the winter.
2026-10-19 · Paignton Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Torquay — Babbacombe Downs is free and level, Cockington is sheltered parkland, and the town has more open than anywhere in Torbay.
2026-10-19 · Torquay Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Bigbury on Sea — a wide flat beach with an accessible ramp, Burgh Island in front, and a causeway that cuts off faster than people expect.
2026-10-19 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Braunton — Saunton's three miles of sand allow dogs every day of the year, and Braunton Burrows is vast, free and empty.
2026-10-19 · Braunton Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Combe Martin — a sheltered bay between high cliffs, rock pools at low tide, and three pubs plus the best café on this coast.
2026-10-19 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Lynton and Lynmouth — roadside parking is free outside the summer dates, the Valley of Rocks is free, and Exmoor is at its most dramatic.
2026-10-19 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Westward Ho! — two miles of flat sand facing the Atlantic, a pebble ridge behind, and a glass-fronted restaurant looking out to sea.
2026-10-19 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Appledore — a working fishing village that keeps going in winter, with four pubs within a few minutes of the quay.
2026-10-19 · Appledore Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Bideford — Victoria Park is free with a large playground, and the Tarka Trail runs straight through with no mud.
2026-10-19 · Bideford Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Barnstaple — the Tarka Trail is paved and traffic-free, so it works whatever the weather has done, and it starts in town.
2026-10-19 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Ilfracombe — a working town where more stays open than anywhere on this coast, with a free chapel climb above the harbour.
2026-10-19 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Croyde — a west-facing bay with swell most of the winter, the Baggy Point loop, and the Thatch at the centre of the village.
2026-10-19 · Croyde Local Know-HowNew Year's Day in Woolacombe — three miles of flat sand, surfers out whatever the date, and the handful of places open through the winter.
2026-10-19 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Plymouth — Devil's Point gives three hours of free parking and wide views across the Sound, with Royal William Yard a walk away.
2026-10-19 · Plymouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Exeter — the quay, a flat traffic-free canal towpath running south, and Riverside Valley Park, all free and all open.
2026-10-19 · Exeter Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Bovey Tracey — ancient woodland at Yarner Wood with four car parks, a National Trust estate on the edge of town, and shelter the high moor cannot give.
2026-10-19 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Chagford — a medieval square where both pubs and both cafés sit within a minute, and Dartmoor starting at the edge of the village.
2026-10-19 · Chagford Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Okehampton — the largest castle ruin in Devon in woodland by the river, the highest ground in southern England behind, and two pubs in town.
2026-10-19 · Okehampton Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Tavistock — the Meadows is a large free park between the Tavy and the canal with a zip wire and a playground, and Dartmoor starts at the edge of town.
2026-10-19 · Tavistock Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Totnes — Leechwell Garden is free with climbing equipment for children, the Dart is flat alongside the Plains, and the town is inland so the weather matters less.
2026-10-19 · Totnes Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Kingsbridge — the quay, a long-stay car park beside it, and Slapton Ley twenty minutes away with hides that keep the weather off.
2026-10-19 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Dartmouth — the Embankment, the castle walk, and more good places to eat per square mile than anywhere on this coast.
2026-10-19 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Salcombe — the estuary, three beaches and a town with the second homes dark, plus the Fortescue Inn away from the waterfront.
2026-10-19 · Salcombe Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Seaton — the wetlands are free with level accessible paths and bird hides that keep the rain off, plus a long flat esplanade.
2026-10-19 · Seaton Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Budleigh Salterton — the River Otter path is flat and easy underfoot, the promenade is paved, and the town is at its quietest.
2026-10-19 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Beer — a working fishing beach between white chalk cliffs, the Anchor Inn's clifftop garden, and the Hooken undercliff walk.
2026-10-19 · Beer Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Shaldon — the calm side of the water when Teignmouth is being blasted, with a tunnel through the cliff and a pub on the green.
2026-10-19 · Shaldon Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Dawlish — waves over the sea wall as the trains come through, the black swans on the stream, and a carvery pub with a large car park on the hill.
2026-10-19 · Dawlish Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Teignmouth — pick the sea wall or the sheltered Back Beach depending on the wind, with trains passing a few feet away and the oldest pub in town nearby.
2026-10-19 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Sidmouth — Connaught Gardens are free and open year-round, the esplanade is level, and the Anchor Inn is the pub in the middle of town.
2026-10-19 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Exmouth — two miles of flat promenade behind the beach, the start of the Jurassic Coast at Orcombe Point, and the dog ban lifted since October.
2026-10-19 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Brixham — the breakwater is half a mile of level walkway out into the bay, free, and Berry Head is a free nature reserve on the headland.
2026-10-19 · Brixham Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Paignton — a level promenade the whole length of the seafront, a free pier to walk onto, and a beach that opens to dogs from October.
2026-10-19 · Paignton Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Torquay — Babbacombe Downs is free and the highest promenade in England, Cockington is free parkland, and the town has more open than anywhere in Torbay.
2026-10-19 · Torquay Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Bigbury on Sea — a wide flat beach with an accessible ramp, Burgh Island in front, and a causeway that cuts off faster than people expect.
2026-10-19 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Braunton — the largest dune system in England on the doorstep, Saunton's three miles of dog-friendly sand, and the Williams Arms.
2026-10-19 · Braunton Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Combe Martin — a bay tucked between high cliffs so it stays walkable in weather that closes the open coast, and three pubs in the village.
2026-10-19 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Lynton and Lynmouth — roadside parking is free outside the summer dates, the Valley of Rocks is spectacular under a winter sky, and Exmoor is on the doorstep.
2026-10-19 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Westward Ho! — two miles of flat sand facing the open Atlantic, a pebble ridge to cross, and a glass-fronted restaurant to warm up in.
2026-10-19 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Appledore — a working fishing village that does not empty in winter, with four pubs within a few minutes and the Seagate on the quay.
2026-10-19 · Appledore Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Bideford — Victoria Park by the quay is free and open, the Tarka Trail runs through, and the town is a working one rather than a resort.
2026-10-19 · Bideford Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Barnstaple — the Tarka Trail is paved and traffic-free so it works whatever December has done, plus the pubs that stay open.
2026-10-19 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Ilfracombe — a working town rather than a resort, with a harbour, a free chapel climb and more open than anywhere on this coast.
2026-10-19 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Croyde — a west-facing bay with the dog rules lifted, the Baggy Point walk, and the Thatch, which keeps going all winter.
2026-10-19 · Croyde Local Know-HowBoxing Day in Woolacombe — three miles of beach with the dog zoning lifted, free parking pressure gone, and the handful of places that stay open in winter.
2026-10-19 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Plymouth — the Hoe above the Sound, a cobbled Barbican, a free museum with a mammoth and a Georgian naval yard.
2026-10-03 · Plymouth Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Exeter — a cathedral with the longest Gothic vaulted ceiling in England, medieval tunnels, free guided tours and a quay.
2026-10-03 · Exeter Local Know-HowBovey Tracey in the rain — Becky Falls and Canonteign Falls are both better after rain, and the woodland below the moor shelters where the tops do not.
2026-10-03 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowCombe Martin in the rain — a bay sheltered between high cliffs, rock pools that do not mind the weather, and a 17th-century pub built around a deck of cards.
2026-10-03 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowBraunton in the rain — the dunes are better empty, the surf does not care, and the Williams Arms does a carvery every day of the week.
2026-10-03 · Braunton Local Know-HowTavistock in the rain — a covered Victorian market hall running Tuesday to Saturday, and a gorge fifteen minutes away that improves when it pours.
2026-10-03 · Tavistock Local Know-HowPlymouth in the rain — The Box is free with a mammoth and a 4D film, the aquarium gives a year's re-entry, and Royal William Yard has thick granite walls.
2026-10-03 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter in the rain — medieval underground tunnels, a cathedral, free guided tours and a free indoor play area. Nothing here depends on the weather.
2026-10-03 · Exeter Local Know-HowPlymouth's best food — Fig & Thyme on the Barbican, Pier One on the Hoe from seven, and Royal William Yard's restaurants in an 1830s naval yard.
2026-10-03 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter's best food — Babylon on South Street, the Fat Pig for a Sunday roast people travel for, and the Prospect Inn on the quay for dogs.
2026-10-03 · Exeter Local Know-HowBideford's best food — the Mill Street Brasserie, Amalfi Bar and Cafe open from seven, and the Boathouse at Instow ten minutes away.
2026-10-03 · Bideford Local Know-HowBarnstaple's best food — Claytons & The Glasshouse, Bull & Bear for gluten-free, and the Muddiford Inn with a play area and a 7.30am opening.
2026-10-03 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowCroyde's best food — the Thatch at the centre of the village, Billy Budds for pizza, and the Manor House Inn for a Sunday carvery worth planning around.
2026-10-03 · Croyde Local Know-HowWoolacombe's best food — Captain Jacks, open right through the winter, the Jube on South Street, and Town Farmhouse up in Mortehoe for cream teas.
2026-10-03 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowPaignton's best food — Harbour Light on the harbour, the Boathouse at Preston Sands with a sun-trap garden, and Costero Lounge for an easy lunch.
2026-10-03 · Paignton Local Know-HowTeignmouth's best food — Brunch on Triangle Place, the View at the Pavilions for sea views, and Ye Olde Jolly Sailor open until half eleven.
2026-10-03 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowSidmouth's best food — the Anchor Inn in the middle of town, Milsons Point for breakfast, and the Clock Tower in the clifftop gardens.
2026-10-03 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowExmouth's best food — the River Exe Café moored out in the estuary, the Point at the marina, and the Grove facing two miles of promenade.
2026-10-03 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBrixham's best food — Rockfish on the fish quay serving the morning's catch, the Prince William over the working port, and Smugglers up Church Hill.
2026-10-03 · Brixham Local Know-HowTorquay's best food — Burridge's for coffee and brunch, Meadfoot Beach Cafe above the beach huts, and Ollie's for steaks and cocktails.
2026-10-03 · Torquay Local Know-HowPlymouth with a dog — three hours of free parking at Devil's Point, acres of parkland at Saltram, and the Hoe above the Sound.
2026-10-03 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter with a dog — the quay and canal towpath, Riverside Valley Park, and the Prospect Inn, which takes dogs seriously.
2026-10-03 · Exeter Local Know-HowCombe Martin with a dog — a sheltered rock-pooling bay, a steep climb to views of Wales, and all three pubs plus the best café on this coast welcoming dogs.
2026-10-03 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowBraunton with a dog — Saunton Sands allows dogs year-round, Braunton Burrows is the largest dune system in England, and four places in the village take dogs.
2026-10-03 · Braunton Local Know-HowShaldon with a dog — Ness Cove through the Smugglers' Tunnel is dog friendly year-round, and the London Inn, Ferry Boat Inn, Clipper and Ness all welcome dogs.
2026-10-03 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSeaton with a dog — dogs travel on the tramway for £2 downstairs, the wetlands are free with level paths, and most of the seafront cafés welcome dogs.
2026-10-03 · Seaton Local Know-HowBovey Tracey with a dog — ancient woodland at Yarner Wood, a National Trust estate on the edge of town, and a farm café with animals to feed.
2026-10-03 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowChagford with a dog — a medieval square where both pubs welcome dogs, Castle Drogo ten minutes away, and the Teign gorge walk below it.
2026-10-03 · Chagford Local Know-HowOkehampton with a dog — the largest castle ruin in Devon, the high moor on the doorstep, and the Plume of Feathers and London Inn both dog friendly.
2026-10-03 · Okehampton Local Know-HowTavistock with a dog — a free park by the river, Dartmoor on the doorstep, and the Cornish Arms and Granito Lounge both welcoming dogs indoors.
2026-10-03 · Tavistock Local Know-HowPlymouth out of season — a free city museum with a mammoth, a cobbled Barbican and a Georgian naval yard with thick granite walls.
2026-10-02 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter out of season — a cathedral, medieval underground tunnels, free guided tours and a free indoor play area. Nothing here depends on weather.
2026-10-02 · Exeter Local Know-HowSeaton out of season — trams that run covered cars, bird hides that are shelters, and Roman caves five minutes away that are warmer than the street.
2026-10-02 · Seaton Local Know-HowKingsbridge out of season — the market town the South Hams runs through, with the best restaurant in the area and parking by the quay.
2026-10-02 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowTotnes out of season — an independent High Street built for winter shopping, a free Elizabethan museum and a steam railway up the valley.
2026-10-02 · Totnes Local Know-HowPaignton out of season — a flat seafront, a pier that stays open, a zoo that runs all year and more indoor options than the rest of Torbay.
2026-10-02 · Paignton Local Know-HowDawlish out of season — one of the few Devon towns that is better in winter, with waves breaking over the sea wall as the trains come through.
2026-10-02 · Dawlish Local Know-HowBudleigh out of season — a genteel town at its quietest, with glasshouses at Bicton Park and an estuary path that stays walkable.
2026-10-02 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBideford out of season — a working market town, and the base for every indoor attraction in north Devon.
2026-10-02 · Bideford Local Know-HowBarnstaple out of season — a covered Victorian market, a free museum and the one town in north Devon you can reach by train.
2026-10-02 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowCombe Martin parking — the village runs about two miles down a valley, so parking at the wrong end means a long walk to the beach.
2026-10-02 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowBraunton parking — a working village inland of the beaches, with easier and cheaper parking than Croyde or Woolacombe ten minutes away.
2026-10-02 · Braunton Local Know-HowBovey Tracey parking — a working town with straightforward parking, and the last easy stop before the Haytor road and the high moor.
2026-10-02 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowChagford parking — the medieval square is the centre of the village and everything sits round it, so one stop does the whole visit.
2026-10-02 · Chagford Local Know-HowShaldon parking — the village is small and tight, so the better answer is often to park at Teignmouth's Back Beach and take the passenger ferry across.
2026-10-02 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSeaton parking — the seafront, or free parking at the Colyton terminus of the tramway, which is the better way round on a busy day.
2026-10-02 · Seaton Local Know-HowOkehampton parking — Okehampton Interchange opened in August 2026 with a 200-space car park two minutes from the A30, plus the town and the moor.
2026-10-02 · Okehampton Local Know-HowPlymouth parking — three hours free at Devil's Point, plus the Hoe, the Barbican and Royal William Yard, in a city where everything worth doing is on the water.
2026-10-02 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter parking — the park and ride sites, the quay, and why arriving by train is usually the better answer in Devon's one proper city.
2026-10-02 · Exeter Local Know-HowPlymouth Fireworks on the Hoe, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Plymouth.
2026-10-02 · Plymouth Local Know-HowExeter Round Table Fireworks, Westpoint, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Exeter.
2026-10-02 · Exeter Local Know-HowNo Combe Martin display has been announced for 2026. What is confirmed within reach, with dates and times, and where the local date gets posted when it lands.
2026-10-02 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowNo Braunton display has been announced for 2026. What is confirmed within reach, with dates and times, and where the local date gets posted when it lands.
2026-10-02 · Braunton Local Know-HowTeignmouth Rugby Football Club, across the bridge, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Shaldon.
2026-10-02 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSidbury Manor, near Sidmouth, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Seaton.
2026-10-02 · Seaton Local Know-HowMoretonhampstead fireworks, King George V Playing Fields, Friday 6 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Bovey Tracey.
2026-10-02 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowMoretonhampstead fireworks, King George V Playing Fields, Friday 6 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Chagford.
2026-10-02 · Chagford Local Know-HowNorth Tawton Rugby Club, Friday 30 October. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Okehampton.
2026-10-02 · Okehampton Local Know-HowNo Tavistock display has been announced for 2026. What is confirmed within reach, with dates and times, and where the local date gets posted when it lands.
2026-10-02 · Tavistock Local Know-HowWinter parking in Devon — lower rates, free roadside in some towns, and car parks that were full in August sitting empty.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowGenuinely free places to park in Devon — National Trust car parks for members, Lynton's off-season roadside, Slapton Ley and a few others.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowWhat it costs to park in Devon's seaside towns — from £3.50 all day in Ilfracombe in winter to a flat £8 at Westward Ho! whatever the season.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowTwo to three hours is enough for most people — but the street is cobbled and very steep, and there is a Land Rover service back up.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowEvery Devon pannier market with its opening days and times, confirmed with the markets and their councils — Barnstaple, Tavistock, South Molton, Great Torrington and Bideford, plus the one that is closed.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowSunday is the quietest day in Tavistock — the Pannier Market runs Tuesday to Saturday, but the pubs, the park and Dartmoor are all open.
2026-09-29 · Tavistock Local Know-HowYes — the prettiest village on Dartmoor, with everything on one medieval square and Castle Drogo ten minutes away.
2026-09-29 · Chagford Local Know-HowYes, for half a day — a quay where two rivers meet, narrow pastel streets and unusually good food for a village this size. Not a full day on its own.
2026-09-29 · Appledore Local Know-HowDevon's summer beach dog restrictions typically run 1 May to 30 September. What that means at Putsborough and Woolacombe, and the beaches that allow dogs all year.
2026-09-29 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowNorth Devon cream teas — a farmhouse above Woolacombe, the highest-rated café on the coast, and a carriage café on the Tarka Trail.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowThe best cream teas on Dartmoor are not in cafés — they are honesty-box tea barns and National Trust tea rooms at the bottom of gorges.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowIn Devon the cream goes on first and the jam on top — the opposite of Cornwall. Where to find a proper one, and what it should cost.
2026-09-29 · Devon Local Know-HowVerse is the only place in this guide with a perfect rating, the Crabshell sits on the quay, and Creeks End does a carvery with a proper vegetarian option.
2026-09-29 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowThe Pig & Whistle just outside town is the best-rated food in the area, the Steam Packet sits on the quay, and Bruto Lounge handles allergies carefully.
2026-09-29 · Totnes Local Know-HowBlacksands is the highest-rated food in Ilfracombe, the Thatched Inn does the Sunday lunch people drive for, and Annie and the Flint has the best coffee.
2026-09-29 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowCafé Alf Resco opens at seven, the Cherub is the oldest building in town with about seven tables, and Dudley's has the best gluten-free menu on this coast.
2026-09-29 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowSalcombe's best meal is the Crab Shed, the friendliest welcome is the Fortescue, and the Ward Room has window tables directly over the estuary.
2026-09-29 · Salcombe Local Know-HowAppledore punches well above its weight for a fishing village — the Royal George, Jack Sprats, the Seagate and the Beaver Inn, plus the Boathouse across the water.
2026-09-29 · Appledore Local Know-HowShaldon in the rain — the sheltered side of the estuary, a tunnel through the cliff, and Teignmouth's storm-watching across the water.
2026-09-29 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSeaton in the rain — covered trams up the estuary, bird hides that are shelters, and Roman caves five minutes away.
2026-09-29 · Seaton Local Know-HowOkehampton in the rain — a station museum and café, a castle ruin in woodland, and a gorge that gets better when it pours.
2026-09-29 · Okehampton Local Know-HowChagford in the rain — a square where everything is a minute apart, and the wet-weather options within fifteen minutes on the moor.
2026-09-29 · Chagford Local Know-HowBovey Tracey is the gateway to the eastern moor — a farm café with animals to feed, a National Trust estate and ancient woodland below the tors.
2026-09-29 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowCombe Martin has the longest village street in England, a sheltered rock-pooling bay, and a 17th-century pub built around a deck of cards.
2026-09-29 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowBraunton is a large working village inland of the best beaches in north Devon, with the largest dune system in England on its doorstep.
2026-09-29 · Braunton Local Know-HowShaldon is prettier than its bigger neighbour across the water — a village green, a tunnel through the cliff to a red sand cove, and a tiny conservation zoo.
2026-09-29 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSeaton's tramway runs open-topped Victorian-style trams three miles up the Axe estuary, and the wetlands beside it are free and accessible.
2026-09-29 · Seaton Local Know-HowOkehampton has the largest castle ruin in Devon, the highest ground on Dartmoor on its doorstep, and trains from Exeter again.
2026-09-29 · Okehampton Local Know-HowChagford is the prettiest village on Dartmoor — a medieval square, the last castle built in England nearby, and the best Sunday roast on this side of the moor.
2026-09-29 · Chagford Local Know-HowAppledore is a fishing village of narrow pastel streets running down to a quay where two rivers meet — what to do, where to eat and where to park.
2026-09-29 · Appledore Local Know-HowWoolacombe out of season — most of the village closes, the beach gets better, and a handful of places stay open right through.
2026-09-08 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowWoolacombe in December — the village lights, what actually stays open through the winter, and why the beach is better now than in August.
2026-09-08 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowWhat actually opens in Devon on Boxing Day — which attractions run, which pubs serve, and why the beaches are the best thing about the day.
2026-09-06 · Devon Local Know-HowWestward Ho! in December — two miles of empty sand, Atlantic storm watching and a glass-fronted restaurant facing the sea.
2026-09-06 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowTotnes in December — an independent High Street built for Christmas shopping, a free museum and a steam railway up the valley.
2026-09-06 · Totnes Local Know-HowTorquay out of season — the most weatherproof town in Devon, with caves, a model village and a free country park all running through.
2026-09-05 · Torquay Local Know-HowTorquay in December — the harbour lights, which attractions run through winter, and the free country park that works whatever the weather.
2026-09-05 · Torquay Local Know-HowTeignmouth out of season — the sea wall in a swell is the attraction, the Back Beach is sheltered, and the ferry keeps running.
2026-09-03 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowTeignmouth in December — the sea wall in a swell, the Back Beach lights, and the ferry to Shaldon that keeps running.
2026-09-03 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowTavistock out of season — a covered Victorian market, pubs that stay busy in February, and a moor that is at its most dramatic.
2026-09-01 · Tavistock Local Know-HowSidmouth in December — a Regency town at its quietest, the clifftop gardens, and the caves twenty minutes east.
2026-09-01 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowTavistock Christmas Festival is Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 3.30pm, across Butchers Hall, the Pannier Market and Bedford Square. Plus the Butchers Hall markets, 11 to 23 December, and where to park.
2026-08-31 · Tavistock Local Know-HowSidmouth out of season — a genteel Regency town at its quietest, with the caves twenty minutes east doing the heavy lifting.
2026-08-31 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowShaldon in December — a sheltered estuary village prettier than its bigger neighbour, with four good pubs within a few minutes.
2026-08-31 · Shaldon Local Know-HowSeaton in December — open-topped Victorian trams up the Axe estuary, a free wetland reserve and a converted cinema doing Sunday lunch.
2026-08-31 · Seaton Local Know-HowDevon's Santa trains — which railway to book, what each one includes, how much walking is involved and when to book.
2026-08-31 · Devon Local Know-HowSalcombe in December — the estuary lights, what stays open when the second homes empty, and why winter is the best time to come.
2026-08-29 · Salcombe Local Know-HowSalcombe out of season — the second homes empty, the parking frees up, and the town is arguably at its best.
2026-08-28 · Salcombe Local Know-HowPlymouth in December — a free city museum, the cobbled Barbican, a Georgian naval yard full of restaurants and the Hoe above the Sound.
2026-08-28 · Plymouth Local Know-HowPaignton in December — a flat seafront, a pier that stays open and more indoor options than anywhere else in Torbay.
2026-08-28 · Paignton Local Know-HowOkehampton in December — the largest castle ruin in Devon, the highest ground on Dartmoor, and trains from Exeter again.
2026-08-27 · Okehampton Local Know-HowDevon's New Year's Day swims — which beaches hold them, what actually happens, and how to do it safely if you are getting in.
2026-08-27 · Devon Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth in December — a water-powered cliff railway, a harbour under dark skies, and Exmoor at its most dramatic.
2026-08-26 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowIlfracombe in December — harbour lights, which attractions stay open, and why a town beats a beach village in winter.
2026-08-26 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowKingsbridge in December — the market town the South Hams shops in, with the best eating in the area and a long-stay car park by the quay.
2026-08-25 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowIlfracombe out of season — a proper town rather than a beach village, so far more stays open than anywhere nearby.
2026-08-25 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowExmouth in December — the seafront lights, the marina, and two miles of flat beach with the dog ban lifted.
2026-08-24 · Exmouth Local Know-HowExmouth out of season — the dog ban lifts, the promenade stays flat and level, and the floating restaurant may or may not be running.
2026-08-23 · Exmouth Local Know-HowExeter in December — a cathedral green Christmas market, free guided tours, medieval tunnels and the only entirely weatherproof day out in Devon.
2026-08-23 · Exeter Local Know-HowWhich Devon attractions, cafés and pubs stay open through the winter, which close, and why the off-season is the better time to visit anyway.
2026-08-22 · Devon Local Know-HowEvery Devon Christmas market and lights switch-on confirmed for 2026, with dates, times and parking — from Exeter's month on Cathedral Green to the one-day fayres at Beer and Kingsbridge.
2026-08-21 · Devon Local Know-HowDawlish in December — storm-watching on the sea wall, the black swans, and a carvery with a large car park on the hill.
2026-08-21 · Dawlish Local Know-HowWoolacombe Bonfire & Fireworks is Thursday 5 November at the Meadow Playing Fields — gates 5pm, fireworks 7.30pm, £7.70 adult, and free parking at the beach car park.
2026-08-20 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowFirework Spectacular at The BIG Sheep, up the road at Bideford, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Westward Ho.
2026-08-20 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowFireworks and dogs in Devon — what genuinely helps, when the noise usually happens, and where to walk instead.
2026-08-20 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth out of season — a handsome river town that looks better in December, with the best winter eating on this coast.
2026-08-19 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowDartmouth in December — the quay lights, the Santa trains across the river, and the best winter eating on this coast.
2026-08-19 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowTotnes Bonfire and Fireworks, Aller Park Field, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Totnes.
2026-08-19 · Totnes Local Know-HowWatcombe Fireworks, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Torquay.
2026-08-19 · Torquay Local Know-HowCombe Martin in December — the longest village street in England, a sheltered bay and a 17th-century pub built around a deck of cards.
2026-08-18 · Combe Martin Local Know-HowTeignmouth Rugby Football Club fireworks, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Teignmouth.
2026-08-18 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowSidbury Manor fireworks, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Sidmouth.
2026-08-18 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowMalborough Playing Fields, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Salcombe.
2026-08-18 · Salcombe Local Know-HowCroyde out of season — the pubs stay open, the surf gets bigger, and the dog restrictions lift entirely.
2026-08-17 · Croyde Local Know-HowCroyde in December — a very small village in winter, which pubs stay open, and why the surf is often better now.
2026-08-17 · Croyde Local Know-HowBay of Lights opening fireworks, Saturday 28 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Paignton.
2026-08-17 · Paignton Local Know-HowFireworks Night at the Blue Ball Inn, Lynmouth, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Lynton and Lynmouth.
2026-08-17 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowHow to see the best of Devon's Christmas lights in a single evening — a route, the towns worth stopping in, and where to eat along the way.
2026-08-16 · Devon Local Know-HowChagford in December — the prettiest village on Dartmoor, a medieval square and the best Sunday roast on this side of the moor.
2026-08-16 · Chagford Local Know-HowMalborough Playing Fields, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Kingsbridge.
2026-08-16 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowIlfracombe Fireworks and Halloween Party is Friday 30 October, not Bonfire Night — plus the nearest displays on the 5th if that is the night you want.
2026-08-16 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowBudleigh in December — a genteel town at its quietest, with glasshouses at Bicton Park and an estuary walk that stays easy underfoot.
2026-08-15 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowRNLI Firework Night, Exmouth Rugby Football Club, Friday 6 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Exmouth.
2026-08-15 · Exmouth Local Know-HowHalloween Fireworks Night at the Smugglers Inn, Saturday 31 October. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Dawlish.
2026-08-15 · Dawlish Local Know-HowDartington Trust fireworks, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Dartmouth.
2026-08-15 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowThe complete guide to Christmas and New Year across Devon — lights switch-ons, markets, Santa trains, Boxing Day swims and what stays open.
2026-08-14 · Devon Local Know-HowBraunton in December — a large working village inland of the beaches, with a daily carvery and the biggest dune system in England.
2026-08-14 · Braunton Local Know-HowNo Croyde display has been announced for 2026. What is confirmed within reach, with dates and times, and where the local date gets posted when it lands.
2026-08-14 · Croyde Local Know-HowSidbury Manor, near Sidmouth, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Budleigh Salterton.
2026-08-14 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBovey Tracey in December — the gateway to Dartmoor, with a farm café, a National Trust estate and woodland that shelters when the moor does not.
2026-08-13 · Bovey Tracey Local Know-HowBrixham Town FC Bonfire Night, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Brixham.
2026-08-13 · Brixham Local Know-HowMalborough Playing Fields, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Bigbury on Sea.
2026-08-13 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowFirework Spectacular at The BIG Sheep, Thursday 5 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Bideford.
2026-08-13 · Bideford Local Know-HowBrixham out of season — a working fishing port that does not stop, so the fish stays excellent and the harbour keeps working.
2026-08-12 · Brixham Local Know-HowBrixham in December — the harbour lights over the coloured houses, the working fleet in winter, and the best free walk on this coast.
2026-08-12 · Brixham Local Know-HowSidbury Manor, near Sidmouth, Saturday 7 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Beer.
2026-08-12 · Beer Local Know-HowBarnstaple and District Round Table Fireworks, Barnstaple Rugby Club, Sunday 1 November. Times, tickets and where to stand, plus the other displays within reach of Barnstaple.
2026-08-12 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowDevon walks for Boxing Day that finish somewhere warm — the coast paths, the headlands and the moor routes with a pub waiting.
2026-08-11 · Devon Local Know-HowNo Appledore display has been announced for 2026. What is confirmed within reach, with dates and times, and where the local date gets posted when it lands.
2026-08-11 · Appledore Local Know-HowBigbury in December — a 14th-century pub on an island, a sea tractor through winter water and the best sunsets in the South Hams.
2026-08-11 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowBideford in December — a working market town on the Torridge, with the region's indoor attractions all within fifteen minutes.
2026-08-11 · Bideford Local Know-HowBeer in December — a working fishing beach, white chalk cliffs, and caves a mile inland that are warmer underground than up top.
2026-08-10 · Beer Local Know-HowBarnstaple in December — a huge covered Victorian market, a free museum and the main Christmas shopping in north Devon.
2026-08-10 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowHow to reach Woolacombe without driving — the train to Barnstaple, the bus along the coast, and what you can do on foot once you are there.
2026-08-09 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowWoolacombe with a two-year-old — the flattest beach approach, where the buggy will and will not go, and the indoor fallback when it rains.
2026-08-09 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowWoolacombe car parks compared — Marine Drive, the Esplanade and Barricane, what they cost, which fills first and what to do when they do.
2026-08-09 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowEvery Devon firework display confirmed for 2026, by date, with gate times, display times and prices — from 28 October to the Bay of Lights on 28 November.
2026-08-09 · Devon Local Know-HowAppledore in December — colour-washed cottages, lights reflecting off the estuary and four pubs within a few minutes' walk.
2026-08-09 · Appledore Local Know-HowWhich parts of Woolacombe actually work with a buggy or a wheelchair — the beach access, the one headland walk on a track rather than a cliff path, and the places to avoid.
2026-08-07 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowThe Meadows, between the Tavy and the canal, is free and a short walk from the centre — the one to aim for on a market day, when the town car parks fill.
2026-08-06 · Tavistock Local Know-HowA full day in Woolacombe for a family of four on £50 — where the free bits are, what parking really costs, and where to eat without blowing the budget.
2026-08-05 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowWestward Ho! has no station, but buses from Bideford and Barnstaple reach it — and it saves the flat £8 parking charge.
2026-08-05 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWestward Ho! with a toddler — two miles of flat sand, a playground on the front, and a lending library of beach toys across the estuary.
2026-08-05 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWestward Ho! has two miles of flat sand, and a bar with some of the best wheelchair and mobility-scooter access on this coast.
2026-08-04 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWestward Ho! on a budget — the beach is free once you have paid the flat £8 parking, so make it a whole day rather than an hour.
2026-08-04 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWhere to swim on Dartmoor, what the water is actually like, and the safety rules that matter — cold, river levels, access and etiquette.
2026-08-03 · Devon Local Know-HowWestward Ho! charges a flat £8 all day however long you stay — so make a day of it. Northam Burrows costs the same and gives you more.
2026-08-03 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWhich Devon beaches restrict dogs from 1 May to 30 September, which allow them year-round, and the one that never takes them at any time.
2026-08-02 · Devon Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Westward Ho! — the only place in Britain with an exclamation mark, two miles of sand and a flat £8 car park.
2026-08-02 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Totnes — not a beach town, and better for it. A steep market town on the Dart with a castle at the top.
2026-08-02 · Totnes Local Know-HowEverything a first-time visitor to Woolacombe needs — the scale of the beach, the parking, the dog rules, and the half of the village most people miss.
2026-07-31 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Paignton — the family end of Torbay, flat and easy, with a pier, a zoo and a steam railway.
2026-07-30 · Paignton Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Torquay — it is several places rather than one, where the good bits are, and an honest word about the town centre.
2026-07-29 · Torquay Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Lynton and Lynmouth — two villages five hundred feet apart, joined by a water-powered railway.
2026-07-29 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Kingsbridge — the South Hams market town, and a better base than Salcombe for exploring it.
2026-07-28 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Teignmouth — the two waterfronts, the railway on the beach, the ferry to Shaldon, and the tunnel through the cliff.
2026-07-27 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Dawlish — the town where the railway runs along the beach, and the cove most visitors walk straight past.
2026-07-27 · Dawlish Local Know-HowTotnes car parks compared. The steam railway station is around £7.50; there is free parking on the nearby industrial estate a short walk away.
2026-07-26 · Totnes Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Sidmouth — the tide matters more than the parking, the pebbles are enormous, and the cliffs are genuinely unstable.
2026-07-25 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Budleigh Salterton — the quiet one, with a pebble beach, an estuary and a surprisingly good High Street.
2026-07-25 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Bigbury on Sea — the sea tractor to Burgh Island, the tide that decides your day, and why you need cash.
2026-07-24 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Salcombe — why it is an estuary town rather than a seaside one, why you should take the ferry, and what it costs.
2026-07-23 · Salcombe Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Bideford — a working market town, not a resort, and the best base in north Devon for a wet day.
2026-07-23 · Bideford Local Know-HowTotnes is the best car-free hub in south Devon — mainline trains, river boats to Dartmouth and a steam railway up the valley.
2026-07-23 · Totnes Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Beer — a fishing village under white chalk cliffs, with Roman quarry caves a mile inland.
2026-07-22 · Beer Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Barnstaple — north Devon's main town, where you go when the beach is not an option.
2026-07-22 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowTotnes with a toddler — a hidden community garden with a stream and sandpit, a farm where you feed the animals, and a riverside bistro with baby changing.
2026-07-22 · Totnes Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Ilfracombe — where the good bits are, what to expect from the town, and how it differs from the beach villages nearby.
2026-07-21 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Appledore — a fishing village of narrow streets where two rivers meet. Park at the top.
2026-07-21 · Appledore Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Exmouth — the best town beach in Devon, the estuary danger, the dog ban, and the meal worth booking weeks ahead.
2026-07-20 · Exmouth Local Know-HowTotnes is a steep hill town. Where the flat ground is, and the attractions near it that are genuinely accessible.
2026-07-20 · Totnes Local Know-HowTorquay without driving — a mainline station, buses across the bay, and a cliff railway that removes the steepest hill.
2026-07-20 · Torquay Local Know-HowTorquay with a two-year-old — the flat main beach, the cliff railway that saves the hill, the free country park and the soft play with a sensory room.
2026-07-20 · Torquay Local Know-HowTotnes on a budget — a free museum, a free community garden with a stream, and a farm where feeding the animals costs a pound a bag.
2026-07-19 · Totnes Local Know-HowTavistock is a handsome stannary town on the western edge of Dartmoor — a free park, a Victorian market hall and the best pub cooking for miles.
2026-07-19 · Tavistock Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Dartmouth — why the boats matter, why the beaches are not in the town, and what to do with a day here.
2026-07-18 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Croyde — how small it really is, the surf, the summer dog rules, and why Saunton and Putsborough matter.
2026-07-16 · Croyde Local Know-HowA first-timer's guide to Brixham — a working fishing port rather than a resort, where to walk, and why almost everything here is free.
2026-07-14 · Brixham Local Know-HowDevon station car parks and what they cost — including the Totnes one that is around £7.50 when there is free parking a short walk away.
2026-07-14 · Devon Local Know-HowTorquay car parks — the harbour, Meadfoot, Babbacombe Downs and Kents Cavern. Meadfoot fills by nine in summer and Kents Cavern's is small all year.
2026-07-12 · Torquay Local Know-HowTeignmouth without driving — a mainline station on the beach, a ferry across the river, and a town that works better on foot than by car.
2026-07-11 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowTeignmouth with a two-year-old — the level promenade with a play area, the sheltered Back Beach, and the tiny zoo across the river.
2026-07-11 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowTorquay has a fully wheelchair-accessible cliff railway, a free country park and a flat main beach. Where accessibility works here, and where the hills win.
2026-07-10 · Torquay Local Know-HowTorquay's paid attractions add up fast. The free country park, the cheap cliff railway and the beach that costs nothing — a full day for under £50.
2026-07-08 · Torquay Local Know-HowThe Tarka Trail is thirty miles of flat, traffic-free former railway along the north Devon estuary. Where to start, where to hire bikes, and why it works with buggies.
2026-07-07 · Devon Local Know-HowDevon puts the cream on first. Why that is, why Cornwall disagrees, and the places across Devon actually worth ordering a cream tea in.
2026-07-05 · Devon Local Know-HowSidmouth with a two-year-old — the level esplanade, the pebble problem, and why the tide matters more here than anywhere.
2026-07-05 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowSidmouth without driving — the bus from Exeter or Honiton, and a flat town that is genuinely pleasant to walk.
2026-07-04 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowBrunel's sea wall railway at Dawlish is one of the best free things to do in Devon. Where to walk it, where to park, and the cove at the end of it.
2026-07-03 · Devon Local Know-HowTeignmouth parking — the seafront is around £4.60 for two hours; the Back Beach car park on the sheltered estuary side is cheaper and bigger.
2026-07-01 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowSalcombe with a two-year-old — the ferry that solves the hills, the beach with a stream, and the places with room for a pram.
2026-06-30 · Salcombe Local Know-HowTeignmouth's Den promenade is level and good for mobility scooters. Which side of town works with wheels, and why Ness Cove is out.
2026-06-29 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowSalcombe without driving — the bus from Totnes or Kingsbridge, and the ferry that makes a car pointless once you are here.
2026-06-29 · Salcombe Local Know-HowTeignmouth on a budget — the free sea wall, the ferry that saves a parking charge, and the tunnel to Ness Cove.
2026-06-27 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowWestward Ho! in the rain — the arcades on the front, and the two big indoor attractions five and fifteen minutes away.
2026-06-27 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowWhere to watch a storm come in safely on the Devon coast, which spots to stay away from, and the basic rules that keep it enjoyable.
2026-06-26 · Devon Local Know-HowTotnes in the rain — a free museum in an Elizabethan building, a covered market town, and a theme park twenty minutes away.
2026-06-26 · Totnes Local Know-HowSidmouth car parks compared — the seafront, the town and the Connaught Gardens end, and what to do when the front fills on a summer afternoon.
2026-06-24 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowWhere to rock pool around Woolacombe — Barricane's shell cove, Grunta's boulders and the wilder pools at Rockham, plus how to time the tide.
2026-06-24 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowSidmouth's esplanade is level and easy. The beach is pebbles. What that means in practice, and which parts of town work with wheels.
2026-06-22 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowTorquay sits on a UNESCO geopark of 400-million-year-old limestone. Where the best rock pools are — Meadfoot, Babbacombe and Maidencombe.
2026-06-22 · Torquay Local Know-HowPaignton in the rain — the pier arcades, the zoo across the road, and the steam railway that runs whatever the weather.
2026-06-22 · Paignton Local Know-HowNess Cove through the Smugglers' Tunnel is the best rock pooling near Teignmouth, with Shaldon Beach and Labrador Bay as alternatives.
2026-06-21 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth in the rain — a gorge that is better wet, a water-powered cliff railway, and where to shelter on Exmoor.
2026-06-21 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowKingsbridge in the rain — a market town with proper shops, the best eating in the South Hams, and bird hides that work better wet.
2026-06-21 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowSidmouth on a budget — free gardens, a free beach, the empty beach east of town, and the cheapest good coffee with a view.
2026-06-20 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowJacob's Ladder has the best rock pools in Sidmouth. When to go, what you will find, and the cliff safety that matters here.
2026-06-19 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowSalcombe car parks compared. North Sands takes coins only and the signal is poor, so bring change. Car parks fill by lunchtime in season.
2026-06-18 · Salcombe Local Know-HowSalcombe's estuary coves for rock pooling — North Sands, the ferry beaches, and the wilder pools out towards Soar Mill Cove.
2026-06-18 · Salcombe Local Know-HowDawlish in the rain is better than Dawlish in the sun — waves breaking over the sea wall as the trains come through.
2026-06-18 · Dawlish Local Know-HowSalcombe is a steep town with small beaches. Which parts work with wheels, why the ferry is the answer, and where the gradients will beat you.
2026-06-16 · Salcombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe's coves are cliff-backed and full of life. Rapparee, Lee Bay and the superb low-tide pools at Combe Martin, plus how to time it.
2026-06-16 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowBudleigh Salterton in the rain — the glasshouses at Bicton Park, the High Street cafés, and the caves twenty-five minutes east.
2026-06-16 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowExmouth's beach is flat sand, so rock pooling means the Orcombe end or a short drive east along the Jurassic Coast.
2026-06-15 · Exmouth Local Know-HowPaignton is one of the easiest Devon seaside towns without a car — a mainline station, a flat seafront and a steam railway.
2026-06-15 · Paignton Local Know-HowPaignton is the easiest town in Torbay with a toddler — flat sand, a close tide, a level promenade and a pier with rides.
2026-06-15 · Paignton Local Know-HowSalcombe has no railway station. The nearest mainline stop, the bus down through Kingsbridge, and why arriving this way beats Salcombe's parking.
2026-06-15 · Devon Local Know-HowSalcombe is the most expensive town in this guide. Here is how to have a full day here for £50 — the ferry, the free beaches and where to eat without the mark-up.
2026-06-14 · Salcombe Local Know-HowBigbury in the rain — the sea tractor still runs, the Pilchard Inn is 14th century, and the beach café has proper indoor seating.
2026-06-14 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowCroyde and Woolacombe have no railway station. The nearest stop, the buses out to both beaches, and how long the connection actually takes.
2026-06-14 · Devon Local Know-HowBrixham has no railway station. Which stop to use, how the bus round the bay works, and the far better scenic route if you have the time.
2026-06-14 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth's beaches are shingle and its coves are steep. Where rock pooling actually works nearby, and where to drive for the good stuff.
2026-06-13 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowWoolacombe in the rain, honestly assessed. What is genuinely worth doing in the village, what is worth the short drive, and the walk that is better wet than dry.
2026-06-13 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowBideford is the best base in north Devon for a wet day — nearly every indoor attraction in the region is within fifteen minutes.
2026-06-13 · Bideford Local Know-HowBeer has the best wet-day attraction in east Devon a mile up the road — Roman quarry caves that are entirely underground.
2026-06-13 · Beer Local Know-HowBigbury and Burgh Island have no station. Ivybridge is the nearest mainline stop, buses are very limited, and the phone signal is poor — so book the taxi both ways.
2026-06-13 · Devon Local Know-HowCroyde's rock pools, the better ones at Putsborough, and the low-tide crevices along towards Baggy Point.
2026-06-12 · Croyde Local Know-HowBarnstaple is where north Devon goes when the beach is not an option — a free museum, a covered Victorian market and a trampoline park.
2026-06-12 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth are remote, with no station and limited buses. Once you are there, the cliff railway handles the rest.
2026-06-12 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth with a toddler — a cliff railway ride, water jets small hands can operate, and wild goats. The hills are the catch.
2026-06-12 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowTorquay is the most weatherproof town in Devon. The caves, the model village, the dinosaurs and the free option — what actually works when it rains.
2026-06-11 · Torquay Local Know-HowAppledore is a village of narrow streets and galleries — good for an hour in the rain, then a short drive to somewhere with a roof.
2026-06-11 · Appledore Local Know-HowBrixham's coves are the best rock pooling in Torbay — St Mary's Bay, Fishcombe and the remote pools at Man Sands.
2026-06-10 · Brixham Local Know-HowKingsbridge has no station, but it is the South Hams bus hub — including the route that gets you to Salcombe without parking there.
2026-06-10 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowTeignmouth in the rain — trains breaking over the sea wall, a smugglers' tunnel, a tiny zoo across the river, and the best breakfast in town.
2026-06-09 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowKingsbridge with a toddler — a flat quay, bird hides, a lighthouse, and a beach with an accessible ramp twenty minutes away.
2026-06-09 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowWoolacombe zones its beach in summer rather than banning dogs outright. Which stretch is restricted, which is not, and the date the whole three miles opens up.
2026-06-08 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowDespite the name, Slapton Sands is coarse shingle rather than sand. What that means for swimming, bare feet and buggies.
2026-06-08 · Devon Local Know-HowSidmouth in the rain — a genteel town with limited indoor options, a clifftop café with the view, and the caves twenty minutes east that solve the problem entirely.
2026-06-07 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowPaignton is the flattest seaside town in Torbay — a level promenade, flat sand and a pier you can walk straight onto.
2026-06-07 · Paignton Local Know-HowYes — the passenger ferry does the work a boat would, and the best beaches are five minutes across the water.
2026-06-07 · Salcombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe is built on hills, but the harbour and seafront are level. Where the flat ground is, and which bits to avoid.
2026-06-07 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowPaignton on a budget — a free pier, free flat sand, a hidden cove and a nature reserve, with the paid attractions to be picky about.
2026-06-06 · Paignton Local Know-HowYes, if you take the boat. The ferry approach is half the experience — but there are a lot of steps and no step-free route.
2026-06-06 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowYes at low tide — you walk across the sand for nothing. When the tide covers the causeway, the sea tractor costs about £2.
2026-06-06 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowSalcombe in the rain — the National Trust garden with a musical box, the coasteering that does not care about weather, and the best places to sit it out with an estuary view.
2026-06-05 · Salcombe Local Know-HowYes — Berry Head is a free nature reserve with Napoleonic fort ruins, Britain's shortest lighthouse and a well-rated café.
2026-06-05 · Brixham Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth are five hundred feet apart vertically. The cliff railway solves most of it — and the Valley of Rocks has a level path.
2026-06-04 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth on a budget — the Valley of Rocks, Watersmeet and the esplanade are free; the cliff railway is the one thing worth paying for.
2026-06-04 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowIlfracombe holds up better than most of this coast in the rain. The aquarium, the museum, the harbour and the drives worth making when the weather turns.
2026-06-03 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowKingsbridge's quay is flat, and nearby Bolberry Down has one of the only wheelchair-accessible clifftop paths on the Devon coast.
2026-06-03 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowShort but steep, and the beach is shingle. What to expect, and where to get the view without the hill.
2026-06-03 · Beer Local Know-HowWestward Ho!'s family pubs — enormous portions with beach views, and a playground on the front.
2026-06-03 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowTotnes with children — a riverside bistro with baby changing, a country pub just outside town, and a hidden garden with a stream.
2026-06-03 · Totnes Local Know-HowKingsbridge on a budget — a free nature reserve, a free lighthouse walk and an honesty-box cream tea in the middle of farmland.
2026-06-02 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowThe Tarka Trail runs around thirty miles, but almost nobody does it all — here are the realistic sections and how long each takes.
2026-06-02 · Devon Local Know-HowPaignton car parks — the seafront, the harbour and Preston Sands. Flat, with parking along the front and a mainline station a short walk away.
2026-06-01 · Paignton Local Know-HowExmouth in the rain — the strangest house in Devon, an indoor farm museum, and the floating restaurant that is worth booking whatever the forecast.
2026-06-01 · Exmouth Local Know-HowDartmouth in the rain — the castle, the boats, the steam railway across the water, and the best rooms in town to wait it out in.
2026-05-31 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowPaignton's family pubs — the big busy one on the Esplanade, the harbour favourite, and the beach-front garden at Preston Sands.
2026-05-31 · Paignton Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth's family pubs — darts and pool on the hill, the harbour pub, and a gorge with water jets children operate.
2026-05-31 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth car parks by name — Bottom Meadow, Esplanade, Lyndale, Valley of Rocks — plus the free two-hour roadside parking most visitors miss.
2026-05-30 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowKingsbridge's family pubs — a Sunday carvery with a proper vegetarian option, and a quay pub good with large groups.
2026-05-30 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowKingsbridge has a long-stay car park right by the quay, which makes it the easiest base in the South Hams and a way round Salcombe's parking.
2026-05-29 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowCroyde in the rain, honestly assessed. What works in the village, what is worth the drive, and why the surf is often better when the weather is bad.
2026-05-29 · Croyde Local Know-HowWoolacombe fills up fast. Where to go instead — the far end of the sands, the coves towards Mortehoe, and the beach reached by a different road entirely.
2026-05-29 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowDawlish has a pub with a genuine children's play area — plus a carvery with a smaller portion size and a beach-front pub at the Warren.
2026-05-29 · Dawlish Local Know-HowTorre Abbey Sands is the busy one. Meadfoot, Babbacombe and the steep-stepped cove at Maidencombe are where the space is.
2026-05-28 · Torquay Local Know-HowBrixham in the rain — the working harbour, the flat breakwater walk, and where to eat fish landed that morning while you wait it out.
2026-05-27 · Brixham Local Know-HowBudleigh's family pubs — a sharing roast for the whole table overlooking the cricket, and the town pub off the main street.
2026-05-27 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowTeignmouth's seafront is the busy side. The Back Beach, Shaldon across the river, and Ness Cove through the tunnel are all quieter.
2026-05-26 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowBigbury's family options — a 14th-century pub reached by sea tractor, and a beach café with plenty of room.
2026-05-26 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowBideford's family pubs — heated outdoor booths next to the Big Sheep, a good children's menu, and one of the best free parks in Devon.
2026-05-26 · Bideford Local Know-HowWhere to go in Devon when it rains, broken down by which part of the county you are staying in — north, south, east and the moor.
2026-05-25 · Devon Local Know-HowSidmouth's main beach fills on a hot day. Jacob's Ladder, the empty beach east of town, and the chalk coves further along the coast.
2026-05-25 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowBeer's family options — the best view in the village from a cliff-top beer garden, and a bistro on the headland with easy parking.
2026-05-25 · Beer Local Know-HowSalcombe's beaches are small and they fill. Sunny Cove, the ferry beaches and the remote sands out towards Soar Mill Cove.
2026-05-24 · Salcombe Local Know-HowBarnstaple has a country pub with a genuine children's play area — plus the calmer roof terrace at the best restaurant in town.
2026-05-24 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowAppledore's family pubs — the quay pub with space facing the water, and a Sunday roast board that defeats most people.
2026-05-24 · Appledore Local Know-HowWhere to go in Devon for a day without children, coach parties or car park queues — the quiet coves, the gardens, the walks and the good tables.
2026-05-23 · Devon Local Know-HowIlfracombe's town beaches get busy. The coves that do not — Rapparee, Lee Bay and the secluded cove north of Combe Martin.
2026-05-22 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowExmouth's beach is two miles long, so the crowds are a walking problem rather than a space problem. Where to head, and the beaches east of town.
2026-05-21 · Exmouth Local Know-HowDevon has two completely different coasts. Which one suits surf, which suits estuaries, which is easier with small children, and how to choose.
2026-05-21 · Devon Local Know-HowBlackpool Sands fills fast. The quieter alternatives — Strete Gate's long pebble bank, and the two coves reached only on foot.
2026-05-20 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowWhich Woolacombe pubs actually work with children — the gardens, the space inside, and the amusements two minutes away.
2026-05-20 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe car parks by name — Pier, Cove, Ropery Road, Wilder Road — with summer and winter prices. All-day winter parking is about £3.50.
2026-05-19 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowTorquay's family pubs — the big one inland that copes with a crowd, and the free country park with a pub and playgrounds in it.
2026-05-19 · Torquay Local Know-HowCroyde bay is small and it fills. Where to go instead — Saunton's three miles, Putsborough's quiet end, and the clifftop cove most people drive past.
2026-05-18 · Croyde Local Know-HowIlfracombe is built on a hill, but the harbour and seafront are level. Where flat access actually works, and which coves to leave alone.
2026-05-18 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowTeignmouth's family pubs — the one on the Back Beach where you eat on the sand, and the play area on the promenade.
2026-05-18 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowBrixham's coves are quiet by default because most involve steps. Fishcombe, St Mary's Bay and the remote sands at Man Sands.
2026-05-17 · Brixham Local Know-HowSidmouth's pubs with children — the one with the shaded garden, the best breakfast in town, and the free gardens up on the cliff.
2026-05-17 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowWestward Ho! has two miles of sand for winter dog walks and a clutch of pubs and restaurants that welcome dogs inside.
2026-05-17 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowIlfracombe without driving — the bus from Barnstaple, the town you can cross in ten minutes, and the boat to Lundy.
2026-05-16 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe on a budget — the free harbour, the cheap aquarium alternative, and where to eat well without paying resort prices.
2026-05-16 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowSalcombe pubs with children — the one with the big terraced garden that takes prams, and where the beaches do the rest.
2026-05-16 · Salcombe Local Know-HowTotnes is a good town with a dog — riverside pubs, a castle that puts out a dog bowl, and a country pub just outside town.
2026-05-16 · Totnes Local Know-HowIlfracombe with a two-year-old — the flat harbour, the small aquarium that suits short attention spans, and the castle aimed squarely at under-tens.
2026-05-15 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe's family pubs — including one with a playhouse outside and one nearby with a play area and a stream in the garden.
2026-05-15 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowAt low tide you walk the sandbar for nothing. When it covers, the sea tractor crosses for about £2 with under-tens free. Check the tide — it cuts fast.
2026-05-14 · Devon Local Know-HowExmouth pubs that genuinely work with children — the Point opens at 8.30 with a dog station and blankets, and the Grove faces two miles of flat prom.
2026-05-14 · Exmouth Local Know-HowDartmouth's pubs are historic and small. Which have room for a family, which have high chairs, and where the children can actually run about.
2026-05-13 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowPaignton's dog-friendly pubs, the hidden cove that takes dogs all year, and the main beach's seasonal ban.
2026-05-13 · Paignton Local Know-HowLynton and Lynmouth are unusually dog friendly — the cliff railway, the gorge, the Valley of Rocks and most of the pubs all take dogs.
2026-05-13 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowWhich Devon beaches actually work with a wheelchair or buggy — the ones with level approaches, ramps and boardwalks, and the ones to rule out.
2026-05-12 · Devon Local Know-HowCroyde's pubs with children — the one that works best, the biggest garden, and the beach that does the entertaining.
2026-05-12 · Croyde Local Know-HowKingsbridge's pubs all welcome dogs, and the South Hams coast around it is some of the best dog walking in Devon.
2026-05-12 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowBrixham's harbour pubs with children — the big outdoor areas, the gluten-free one, and why the harbour itself is the play area.
2026-05-11 · Brixham Local Know-HowExmouth car parks — the seafront, the marina, the Maer and Orcombe Point, with a level promenade running behind the whole two-mile beach.
2026-05-10 · Exmouth Local Know-HowDawlish's beaches, the sea wall walk with the trains, and the pubs that welcome dogs inside.
2026-05-10 · Dawlish Local Know-HowExmouth without driving — a branch line from Exeter, a station near the front, and two miles of flat beach you can walk the length of.
2026-05-08 · Exmouth Local Know-HowExmouth is the easiest Devon beach town with a toddler. The flat sand, the level promenade, the fenced play area — and the one real danger.
2026-05-08 · Exmouth Local Know-HowExmouth has two miles of flat promenade and the best accessible beach day in east Devon. Where it works, and the two spots that catch people out.
2026-05-08 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBudleigh is a genuinely dog-friendly town — the cafés, the pub, Bicton Park and the Otter estuary all welcome dogs.
2026-05-08 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBigbury's beach has two dog sections, dogs can cross to Burgh Island, and the pub on the island welcomes them.
2026-05-07 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowBook a slot in season. Tours run to a timetable, groups are limited and the car park is small — and it is the best wet-day attraction in Devon.
2026-05-07 · Torquay Local Know-HowExmouth on a budget — two miles of free beach, the free common behind it, and where to eat without the seafront mark-up.
2026-05-06 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBideford sits on the Tarka Trail, and its best café, its park and several pubs nearby all welcome dogs.
2026-05-06 · Bideford Local Know-HowBeer's beach, the Hooken undercliff walk and the best pub view in the village all welcome dogs.
2026-05-06 · Beer Local Know-HowYes, and the app rarely works because the signal is poor. Bring cash, or use the lower car park with its cash ticket machine.
2026-05-06 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowDawlish may be the easiest car-free seaside day in Devon — the station is literally on the beach.
2026-05-06 · Dawlish Local Know-HowExmoor was Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve. Where to go on the Devon side, when to visit, and what you actually need to take.
2026-05-05 · Devon Local Know-HowBarnstaple's covered market takes dogs, the Tarka Trail starts here, and several pubs and cafés welcome them inside.
2026-05-05 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowDawlish with a toddler — trains passing a few feet away, a sheltered sandy cove, and a pub garden with a play area.
2026-05-05 · Dawlish Local Know-HowAppledore's quayside pubs almost all take dogs — and Instow, across the water, has the best dog-friendly pub in the area.
2026-05-04 · Appledore Local Know-HowFour Devon beaches have a railway station beside the sand — and the journey along Brunel's sea wall is part of the day.
2026-05-04 · Devon Local Know-HowWhich Dartmoor tors small children can actually manage, what the ground is like underfoot, and where to go instead if a summit is too much.
2026-05-03 · Devon Local Know-HowWhere dogs are actually welcome inside in Woolacombe and Mortehoe, plus how the beach's zoned dog rules work.
2026-05-01 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowDawlish's sea wall promenade is level and runs right beside the railway — but the town beach is down steep steps.
2026-04-30 · Dawlish Local Know-HowTorquay's summer dog bans, the beach that never allows dogs, and the cafés and attractions that genuinely welcome them.
2026-04-29 · Torquay Local Know-HowDawlish is one of the cheapest days out in Devon — the sea wall, the trains and the best beach in town are all free.
2026-04-29 · Dawlish Local Know-HowDawlish parking — the station sits on the seafront, so you step out onto the sea wall. The town beach is down steep steps; walk to Coryton Cove.
2026-04-27 · Dawlish Local Know-HowTeignmouth's Back Beach is dog friendly and sheltered, Ness Cove takes dogs all year, and several places in town will have you inside.
2026-04-27 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowSidmouth's beach dog rules, the empty beach east of town, and the cafés and pubs that welcome dogs inside.
2026-04-25 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowSalcombe's estuary beaches welcome dogs and the ferry takes them. Where you can eat inside with a dog, and where the tables are too tight.
2026-04-23 · Salcombe Local Know-HowIlfracombe's beaches are dog friendly and so is much of the eating. Where you can get inside with a dog, and the coves worth the walk.
2026-04-22 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowExmouth's summer dog ban, the end of the beach that stays open all year, and the pubs that take dogs seriously.
2026-04-20 · Exmouth Local Know-HowYes — three miles of flat sand at low tide, or the coast path above. How long it takes and what to check before setting off.
2026-04-20 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowClovelly is privately owned and entry is through the visitor centre. What the ticket covers, the Land Rover back up the hill, and the free coast ten minutes away.
2026-04-19 · Devon Local Know-HowWhich Devon attractions actually let dogs in — the model village, the cliff railway, the country parks and the ones that do not.
2026-04-18 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth is one of the most dog-friendly towns in Devon. Café Alf Resco, Dudley's, the Sail Loft and more — plus which beaches take dogs.
2026-04-16 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowCroyde's summer dog restrictions, the beach that allows dogs all year, and the pubs and cafés that will have you inside.
2026-04-14 · Croyde Local Know-HowTotnes Castle welcomes dogs on leads and even puts out a dog bowl — here is what else to know before you walk up.
2026-04-14 · Devon Local Know-HowDogs are not admitted to the National Marine Aquarium — but Devil's Point, the Hoe and Saltram are all minutes away, and Devil's Point has three hours free parking.
2026-04-13 · Devon Local Know-HowBrixham's dog-friendly coves, the flat breakwater walk, and where you can get inside with a dog on the harbour.
2026-04-12 · Brixham Local Know-HowWhich Devon days out actually work without a car — the mainline stations, the branch lines, the ferries and the flat trails.
2026-04-11 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth without driving — and the best car-free arrival in Devon, by mainline train, steam railway and passenger ferry.
2026-04-11 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowDogs run off lead in most of Stover, but leads are enforced around the lake and you can be fined simply for not carrying one.
2026-04-11 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth with a two-year-old — the boats that entertain for free, the pebble warning at Blackpool Sands, and where there is room for a pram.
2026-04-10 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowWhat to do in Devon with teenagers who are not interested in a beach — surfing, coasteering, trampolining, caves and the places that actually hold their attention.
2026-04-09 · Devon Local Know-HowRosemoor was the first RHS garden to allow dogs permanently, but only on set days and under strict conditions. Turn up on the wrong day and you will not get in.
2026-04-09 · Devon Local Know-HowBudleigh has no station, but Exmouth's branch line is ten minutes away and the town is small, flat and walkable.
2026-04-08 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBudleigh with a toddler — the pebbles are the problem, the estuary path and Bicton Park are the answer.
2026-04-08 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowDevon has three preserved steam railways plus the Seaton tramway. Which is best with children, which has the best views, and how to build a day around them.
2026-04-07 · Devon Local Know-HowYes — wide flat sand, a shallow incline and RNLI lifeguards in season make Bigbury one of the better swimming beaches in the South Hams.
2026-04-07 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowWoodlands near Totnes does not admit dogs. What to do with them instead on the south Devon coast, twenty minutes away.
2026-04-06 · Devon Local Know-HowLydford Gorge welcomes dogs on leads, but the terrain is steep, rocky and slate underfoot — here is what that means for a dog walk.
2026-04-06 · Devon Local Know-HowDevon farm shops with proper butchers, good cafés and something for children — the ones worth planning a stop around rather than just passing.
2026-04-05 · Devon Local Know-HowThe Milky Way does not admit dogs. Where to walk instead near Bideford, and the Hartland coast that most visitors drive straight past.
2026-04-05 · Devon Local Know-HowThe Big Sheep does not admit dogs. What to do instead in north Devon, where the dog-friendly options are unusually good.
2026-04-04 · Devon Local Know-HowSaltram welcomes dogs across its parkland and, unusually, into parts of the garden too — with water bowls, dog bins and off-lead areas.
2026-04-04 · Devon Local Know-HowHartland Abbey welcomes dogs on leads across its gardens, grounds and the walk down to the sea — guide dogs only inside the house.
2026-04-04 · Devon Local Know-HowWhich Devon beaches are actually lifeguarded in season and have facilities — and the popular ones that have neither.
2026-04-03 · Devon Local Know-HowReaching Croyde without driving — the train to Barnstaple, the bus, and honest advice about the thin off-season timetables.
2026-04-03 · Croyde Local Know-HowCroyde with a two-year-old — a short carry from car to sand, the surf to be careful of, and where to eat with a pram.
2026-04-03 · Croyde Local Know-HowPowderham is unusually generous — dogs go free and are welcome in the castle itself as well as the grounds.
2026-04-03 · Devon Local Know-HowBigbury on Sea is remote, with no station and very limited buses. Here is what is realistic.
2026-04-03 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowWoolacombe has no harbour, so proper crabbing means a short drive. Where to go instead, and the rock pools that do the job at Barricane.
2026-04-02 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowPennywell provides free dog kennels in a quiet shaded part of the top car park, so the dog can come along after all. What to bring, and the assistance dog form.
2026-04-02 · Devon Local Know-HowExmoor Zoo's dog policy is stricter than most, and worth reading before you travel. What it covers, what it excludes, and the walk on the doorstep.
2026-04-02 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth Castle welcomes dogs on leads — and the best way to arrive with one is the little ferry from the town quay.
2026-04-02 · Devon Local Know-HowBigbury is one of the best toddler beaches in Devon — an accessible ramp, flat sand, shallow water and a sea tractor ride.
2026-04-02 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowDartmouth car parks — the quay, the town and the castle road. Park once and use the boats rather than driving the narrow lanes to the castle.
2026-04-01 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowPaignton Zoo allows assistance dogs only — but its own Primley Park nature reserve nearby welcomes all dogs, free, 24 hours a day. Here is how it works.
2026-04-01 · Devon Local Know-HowTorquay harbour is the crabbing spot, with Meadfoot and Babbacombe for rock pools when the quay is too busy.
2026-03-31 · Torquay Local Know-HowKillerton is one of the most dog-friendly National Trust properties in Devon — three pawprints, 6,400 acres, and a coffee shop that welcomes dogs and muddy boots.
2026-03-31 · Devon Local Know-HowBideford has no station, but it sits on the Tarka Trail — and the bus from Barnstaple station connects it to the line.
2026-03-31 · Bideford Local Know-HowBideford with a toddler — a free park with a splash area and the cleanest sandpit around, plus the region's best soft play.
2026-03-31 · Bideford Local Know-HowDartmouth's quay is level and the boats do the work. Which parts are accessible, why the castle is not, and the beach with a boardwalk.
2026-03-30 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowTeignmouth's Back Beach and the quay at Shaldon across the river are two of the best crabbing spots in south Devon.
2026-03-30 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowDogs cannot come underground on the cave tour — but there is a woodland trail above ground, so plan for the dog before you book a slot.
2026-03-30 · Devon Local Know-HowColeton Fishacre is a three-pawprint National Trust garden — dogs welcome in the garden, the shop and the café, assistance dogs only in the house.
2026-03-30 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmouth on a budget — the cheap ferry to the castle, the free walks, and where to eat without paying quayside prices.
2026-03-29 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowGreenway welcomes dogs in the garden — Agatha Christie's holiday home above the River Dart, best reached by boat.
2026-03-29 · Devon Local Know-HowBudleigh has a paved promenade behind a pebble beach — use the promenade, and the Otter estuary path, rather than the stones.
2026-03-29 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowBudleigh on a budget — the beach, the Otter estuary walk and the sunset are free, and the cream tea is well priced.
2026-03-29 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowSidmouth has no harbour, so crabbing means rock pools at Jacob's Ladder or a short drive east to Beer.
2026-03-28 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowDartmoor Zoo does not admit dogs — but it sits on the edge of Dartmoor, where the walking is free and dogs are welcome everywhere.
2026-03-28 · Devon Local Know-HowBerry Pomeroy welcomes dogs on leads in the castle, the gift shop and the café — unusually generous for an English Heritage site.
2026-03-28 · Devon Local Know-HowWestward Ho! faces the open Atlantic — two miles of flat sand with the sun going down straight into the sea.
2026-03-28 · Westward Ho Local Know-HowTotnes is inland, so the sunset is over the Dart valley — and the castle keep is the highest point in town.
2026-03-28 · Totnes Local Know-HowBudleigh Salterton parking — the seafront, the High Street and the flat River Otter path, in a quiet town where parking is rarely a fight.
2026-03-27 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowMost of Dartmoor is not buggy country. The routes that genuinely work with wheels — forest tracks, woodland reserves and the places to avoid entirely.
2026-03-27 · Devon Local Know-HowSalcombe's estuary is made for crabbing — sheltered water, quay walls in town and calm beaches across the water. Where to go and when.
2026-03-27 · Salcombe Local Know-HowCrealy admits assistance dogs only into the theme park, but has free kennels nearby and genuinely dog-friendly accommodation on the resort.
2026-03-27 · Devon Local Know-HowSteam train from Paignton to Kingswear, ferry across to Dartmouth, and back — the classic Devon day out, and it works start to finish with a dog.
2026-03-27 · Devon Local Know-HowDogs are welcome across Castle Drogo's gardens and grounds. The Hunter's Path up from Fingle Bridge is the walk worth doing with one.
2026-03-26 · Devon Local Know-HowDartmoor's popular car parks are full by mid-morning in season. Where to go instead, what they cost, and why you should always carry coins.
2026-03-25 · Devon Local Know-HowIlfracombe harbour is one of the best crabbing spots in north Devon. Where to sit, when to go, and the cove to try when the quay is busy.
2026-03-25 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowBuckland Abbey welcomes dogs in the grounds and woodland walks — Francis Drake's house on the edge of Dartmoor, with the moor a few minutes away.
2026-03-25 · Devon Local Know-HowYes — Babbacombe Model Village welcomes dogs across most of its site, with the indoor sections the exception.
2026-03-25 · Devon Local Know-HowBigbury has an accessible ramp onto wide flat sand — one of the easiest beach arrivals in the South Hams.
2026-03-25 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowPaignton faces east across Tor Bay, so it is a sunrise town. Where the evening light still works, and where to go for a real sunset.
2026-03-25 · Paignton Local Know-HowLynton faces north, so the sunset is along the coast to the west — and the Valley of Rocks has the best western view.
2026-03-25 · Lynton and Lynmouth Local Know-HowBigbury on a budget — walk to Burgh Island free at low tide, or pay two pounds for the sea tractor. The beach costs nothing.
2026-03-24 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowKingsbridge is on an estuary, not the sea — but Bigbury and Bolberry Down, twenty minutes away, have the best sunsets in the South Hams.
2026-03-24 · Kingsbridge Local Know-HowCroyde car parks compared — the village fields, Downend and Baggy Point, what they cost and which fills first on a summer morning.
2026-03-23 · Croyde Local Know-HowExmouth's marina and estuary give you sheltered crabbing water, with two miles of flat beach behind you when patience runs out.
2026-03-23 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBideford sits on the Tarka Trail — thirty miles of flat, paved, traffic-free path that genuinely works with wheels.
2026-03-23 · Bideford Local Know-HowDawlish faces east, so the sunset is behind you — but the evening light on the red cliffs and the sea wall is worth staying for.
2026-03-23 · Dawlish Local Know-HowBigbury on Sea parking pays by app where the phone signal is poor. Bring cash, or use the lower car park with its cash ticket machine.
2026-03-22 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowDartmouth's quay and Embankment are proper crabbing ground, with boats coming and going and everything you need a minute away.
2026-03-22 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowBideford on a budget — a free park with a splash area, a free trail, and a cheaper coffee than anywhere else in north Devon.
2026-03-22 · Bideford Local Know-HowBideford car parks — the quay, Victoria Park and the Tarka Trail. A working market town, so parking is far easier than the coastal villages.
2026-03-21 · Bideford Local Know-HowWhich parts of Croyde actually work with a buggy or wheelchair — the beach approach, the low route at Baggy Point, and the beaches to avoid.
2026-03-21 · Croyde Local Know-HowWoolacombe faces due west, which makes it one of the best sunset beaches in England. Where to stand, and the headland that beats the beach.
2026-03-21 · Woolacombe Local Know-HowBudleigh's western beach faces west and is the best sunset spot in town — it fills with paddleboarders on warm evenings.
2026-03-21 · Budleigh Salterton Local Know-HowCroyde has no quay, so crabbing means rock pools or a short drive. The best pools locally, and where to find a proper wall to fish from.
2026-03-20 · Croyde Local Know-HowTorquay faces east across Tor Bay, so it is a sunrise town more than a sunset one. Where the evening light actually works.
2026-03-20 · Torquay Local Know-HowBigbury faces west, with Burgh Island in front — the best sunsets in the South Hams.
2026-03-20 · Bigbury on Sea Local Know-HowBideford's quay faces east, so drive ten minutes for a real sunset — Instow and Westward Ho! both face the right way.
2026-03-20 · Bideford Local Know-HowA full day in Croyde for under £50 — the free walk, the beach, and where to eat without paying seafront prices.
2026-03-19 · Croyde Local Know-HowTeignmouth's seafront faces east, but the Back Beach looks west up the estuary — which is where the sunset is.
2026-03-19 · Teignmouth Local Know-HowBeer faces south-east, so the sun sets behind Beer Head — but the light on the white chalk cliffs is the reason to stay.
2026-03-19 · Beer Local Know-HowBarnstaple is inland, but the Taw estuary runs west from the town — and the coast with the best sunsets in Devon is fifteen minutes away.
2026-03-19 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowBrixham is a working fishing port, which makes it the most interesting place in Devon to crab from a quay. Where to sit and what else to do.
2026-03-18 · Brixham Local Know-HowAppledore looks across the estuary to Instow — and the best sunset seat is on the other side of the water.
2026-03-18 · Appledore Local Know-HowBeer has no station, but buses along the east Devon coast reach it, and the village and undercliff are best on foot.
2026-03-18 · Beer Local Know-HowClovelly is privately owned with an entrance charge. What the ticket includes, the Land Rover back up the hill, and the free alternatives nearby.
2026-03-17 · Devon Local Know-HowSidmouth faces south, so the sunset happens over the western cliffs. Connaught Gardens and the Peak Hill side are where to stand.
2026-03-17 · Sidmouth Local Know-HowBeer with a toddler — fishing boats being winched up the beach are the attraction. The caves are too long for this age.
2026-03-17 · Beer Local Know-HowBrixham car parks — the harbour is tight year-round, Berry Head is free to enter, and St Mary's Bay has free parking but over a hundred steps down.
2026-03-16 · Brixham Local Know-HowBrixham without driving — the bus from Paignton, the ferry across the bay, and a town where walking is better than parking anyway.
2026-03-16 · Brixham Local Know-HowSalcombe's estuary faces south, so the best sunsets are up the water or out west at Hope Cove and Bolberry Down.
2026-03-16 · Salcombe Local Know-HowBrixham with a two-year-old — the flat breakwater walk, the working harbour that entertains for free, and the coves to avoid entirely.
2026-03-15 · Brixham Local Know-HowIlfracombe faces north, so the sunset is along the coast rather than in front of you. Where to stand to catch it properly.
2026-03-15 · Ilfracombe Local Know-HowBeer is a steep village with a shingle beach. Where to go instead — and the bistro up on the headland with easy parking.
2026-03-15 · Beer Local Know-HowBarnstaple is the end of the Tarka Line from Exeter and the start of the Tarka Trail — the best car-free base in north Devon.
2026-03-15 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowBarnstaple with a toddler — a free museum with taxidermy, a covered market, a flat trail for naps and a country pub with a play area.
2026-03-15 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowBrixham's breakwater is one of the best accessible walks in Devon — flat, level and half a mile out to a lighthouse. Where else works, and where the steps beat you.
2026-03-14 · Brixham Local Know-HowExmouth's estuary faces west, which gives it a genuine sunset over water — and a floating restaurant moored in the middle of it.
2026-03-14 · Exmouth Local Know-HowBeer on a budget — the beach, the fishing boats and the chalk undercliff are free; the caves are the one thing worth paying for.
2026-03-14 · Beer Local Know-HowDartmouth's river mouth faces east, so the sunset is upriver and inland. Where to stand for it, and the beach worth the drive.
2026-03-13 · Dartmouth Local Know-HowBarnstaple is where the Tarka Trail starts — plus a covered Victorian market and a medieval bridge now free of through traffic.
2026-03-13 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowAppledore has no station, but the bus from Bideford and a seasonal ferry across to Instow make it workable.
2026-03-13 · Appledore Local Know-HowBeer parking — the village car park above the beach, easy parking at Beer Head without the steep walk down, and the caves a mile inland.
2026-03-12 · Beer Local Know-HowBarnstaple car parks, plus the Tarka Line from Exeter — which starts at the Tarka Trail and makes the parking question optional.
2026-03-12 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowBrixham is the best-value town on this coast. The free harbour, the free headland, the free breakwater — and where to eat fish without paying restaurant prices.
2026-03-12 · Brixham Local Know-HowCroyde faces west and has a clifftop bar built for exactly this. Downend, Putsborough and the Baggy Point option.
2026-03-12 · Croyde Local Know-HowBarnstaple on a budget — a free museum, a free Victorian market hall and the start of a free thirty-mile trail.
2026-03-12 · Barnstaple Local Know-HowAppledore with a toddler — a quay full of boats, a ferry ride across the water, and a sandy beach at Instow.
2026-03-12 · Appledore Local Know-HowAppledore's streets are extremely narrow with limited parking. Use the car park at the top and walk down to the quay — here is why it matters.
2026-03-11 · Appledore Local Know-HowBrixham's harbour looks west across Tor Bay, which gives it the best sunsets in Torbay. The breakwater, the harbour and Berry Head.
2026-03-11 · Brixham Local Know-HowAppledore's streets are narrow and steep. The quay is the flat ground — and Instow across the water is easier still.
2026-03-11 · Appledore Local Know-HowAppledore on a budget — the quay, the galleries and the estuary are free, and the pubs are priced like pubs.
2026-03-11 · Appledore Local Know-HowLundy Island sits eleven miles off north Devon. How the sailings work from Ilfracombe and Bideford, what a day there involves, and who it suits.
2026-03-10 · Devon