Quiet Romantic Day Trips in Devon Away From the Crowds

Short answer: Take the ferry to Sunny Cove at Salcombe, walk the Valley of Rocks at Lynton, or find Weston Beach at Sidmouth, which is empty when everywhere else is packed. Book the River Exe Café at Exmouth or Verse at Kingsbridge for the meal.

The quiet beaches

Sunny Cove on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe estuary is the pick — small, flat, sheltered, with easy water access and a wooded path linking it to the neighbouring coves. It is quiet by convention as much as by geography; reviewers note that loud music is not the done thing there. Take the foot ferry rather than driving round.

Weston Beach at Sidmouth is the genuinely empty one. Half a mile of beach reached by a twenty to thirty minute walk down from the clifftop, steep in places, no facilities. One visitor described arriving on a bank holiday to find it near deserted while every other beach was packed.

Lee Bay near Ilfracombe is a secluded rocky bay reached through fields or on the coast path, with excellent rock pools and hardly anyone there. Man Sands near Brixham is quieter still and harder to reach.

The walks

The Valley of Rocks at Lynton is the highest-rated walk in this guide — a dry valley of dramatic rock formations with wild goats and sea views, and an easy level path if you do not want a hike. Morte Point at Woolacombe has seals below it for much of the year. Bolberry Down near Salcombe has clifftop paths and routes down to Soar Mill Cove.

The gardens

Overbecks above Salcombe is subtropical and Japanese-influenced with one of the best estuary views in Devon — closed Fridays and Saturdays, and the parking is very limited. Stone Lane Gardens near Chagford is a birch and alder collection with a summer sculpture trail, and reviewers describe seeing barely ten people in an afternoon.

Bicton Park near Budleigh Salterton is bigger and busier but has enough acreage to lose the crowds in.

The meal

• River Exe Café, Exmouth — a floating restaurant reached by water taxi. Book weeks ahead.
• Verse, Kingsbridge — the only place in this guide with a perfect rating. Evenings Wed-Sat.
• The Old Bank, Lynton — small sharing plates, the best food in either Lynton or Lynmouth.
• Crab Shed, Salcombe — whole crab looking out over the creek. Book for the longer sitting.
• The Cornish Arms, Tavistock — near-Michelin cooking at pub prices.

And the timing

Go out of season if you can. Devon between October and March is a different county — the same coast, the same walks, a fraction of the people, and most of the good pubs still open.