It’s hard to say no to beaches and bank holidays. A weekend in Devon is a chance to see secretive coves, historic streets and pretty sunsets – and all you need is a couple of days and a car.
As with Cornwall, it’s well worth downloading an offline navigation app on your phone before you go, because you can kiss goodbye to satellite and phone signal in rural Devon. As a knock on effect, you’ll often need coins for parking, because pay by phone apps won’t work.
Day 1 of your Devon weekend itinerary
Burgh Island is your first stop. But before you even consider going, Google the tide times and make sure you get there over the high tide. For me in April, this meant arriving around 7am or crossing in the late evening.
Why?
Because there’s a unique way of getting to this island, and it really kicks arse. When the tide’s low you just walk across the sandy causeway to Burgh Island and it makes a great, sandy beach. But at high tide you get to ride in a super quirky sea tractor, built in the 1960s and one-of-a-kind. Plus, there’s still plenty of beach that you can wriggle your toes in.
How can you guarantee catching the sea tractor to Burgh Island?
The sea tractor belongs to the Burgh Island Hotel and it’s really intended you their guests. Non guests can ride along for £2 each, but only if the tractor is going anyway.
To be completely sure of a ride, book a table in the hotel’s restaurant or plan to have a few drinks in their pub during the evening.
What can you do on Burgh Island?
The beach en-route is glorious for toe dipping, kite flying and sandcastle building.
Once you’re on the island, take the steep footpath beside the hotel.
Yes, it’s closed to the public, but you’ll get great photos. And it’s an Art Deco hotel, which featured in the Hercule Poirot episode Evil Under the Sun – #livingmyvintagelife.
Walk immediately towards the west on what is actually the South West Coastal Path (bring good shoes, it’s not for the high-heeled) and stop a while at each of the islands many inlets. Birds nest in craggy coves, purple flowers dot this cliff edge and it’s SO PEACEFUL.
Where can I have a great Devon cream tea?
Don’t let your belly tempt you into the beach side shop with its ice creams, the prices there are a bit of a shock. Make for the car and navigate a few winding lanes (about 30 minutes, you need to take these roads slowly) to reach Avon Mill Garden Centre.
Mouthwatering, isn’t it? And very reasonably priced. There are spots in the shade or sun for you to sit and scoff scones layered with lots of jam and clotted cream.
Scones are really filling, you might want to only order one each.
What’s a great picnicking spot on Dartmoor?
By now the heat of the sun is dying away and it’s time for a change of pace. And it’d be criminal to leave without seeing the wilds of Dartmoor National Park.
It’s known for three things – rugged tors (rock formations), adorably cute wild Dartmoor ponies and that creepy Conan Doyle story inspired by the Hound Tor – the Hound of the Baskervilles.
Pack up some food from the nearest shop and aim for Bel Tor, which is an easy and pretty walk with free parking close by. My sat-nav found the spot using ‘Bel Tor car park’ and there’s a free gravelled area for parking. We saw campervans pitching for the night there too.
Open and beautiful, it’s the perfect nook for a picnic. Get there around 7pm in summer to be in time for a lovely sunset.
What’s an easy walk to see one of Dartmoor’s tors?
From the car park, you reach this stretch of velvety green between two intriguing tors (one left and one right). Neither is a steep slope and you can’t get lost, because your beginning and destination are always both in view.
It’ll take you a maximum of 20 minutes to either one and has to be a great way of getting the Dartmoor experience before diving into a full hike. Or am I just unfit?
Day 2 of your Devon weekend itinerary
You’ve had a fair bit of country, so now it’s time to see the city on your final day. Plymouth is a historic harbour city beside the Tamar Valley, known for its boating, iconic red and white lighthouse and being somewhere in Devon where you can get great signal! Listen out for the gentle buzz of the local accents, they’re lovely.
Set your sat-nav for a few of the cheapest car parks in Plymouth (North Quay Edge, Charles Cross) or take a bus, the city is really well connected.
The best attractions cluster around the waterfront and the harbour is where it’s at.
Where to eat in Plymouth?
Have a full English at Boston Tea Party and you won’t be disappointed. It’s a huge plate full of eggs, toast, baked beans, mushrooms and hash browns and tastes really fresh.
This should keep you going for a good few hours, and you can top it up with the pretty Alfresco Cafe Milano on the waterside. You can’t miss it, it’s set in a retro tram! Have a coffee and a pastry to fuel your day.
What is there to do along Plymouth Harbour?
Plymouth is great for a full day out or at least a good 3-4 hours.
Start with the Barbican – an old time area once popular with sailors and centring around the few streets just above the marina.
Dawdle around those narrow streets and dip into pretty fudge shops, cafes and cosy pubs. If you’re curious, you might want to get your palm read in Gypsy Acora’s highly unusual palmistry centre, just metres from the water. Although I’d be hard pushed to say the reading was accurate, it’s a lot of fun musing on the future and taking in their curtain swathed, candle flickering interior.
Time flies by in Plymouth, between moseying in the shops and having a generous ice cream at Pilgrims Ice Cream (opposite the water too, aim to try a bit outside of 11-2 on sunny days when the queue is at its longest).
Once you pack up, drop me a comment and let me know what flavour of ice cream you tried in Devon!
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Brekkie in a tram? 0o. I’m up for it.