19th Apr 2019

Family Staycations in South Devon

Creating lasting memories, sharing special times with loved ones or enjoying your first holiday as a family, South Devon is the ideal choice for any family staycation.

With a great range of attractions to visit, beaches to enjoy and natural landscapes to explore, the county is bursting with fun filled day out ideas. To get your planning started for your family staycation in South Devon have a read below for some inspiration.

Family Friendly Attractions

An attraction is an ideal place to head for great facilities and activities which will keep the whole family entertained.

There’s a wide range of adventure parks to choose from in South Devon, near Dartmouth you’ll find Woodlands Family Theme Park and just on the edge of Dartmoor is River Dart County Park, while to the east of Exeter, Crealy Theme Park and Resort is waiting to welcome you. At these great parks you can enjoy soft play areas, slides and rides that all ages will enjoy.

But if your little ones are in to nature and the animal kingdom, there’s plenty of animal based attractions to visit. For a farmyard adventure head to Pennywell Farm in Buckfastleigh or World of Country Life in Exmouth. You’ll also find two great zoo based attractions in South Devon; Paignton Zoo and Livings Coasts in Torquay where you and your family can discover animals from all over the world. Another great animal attraction to add to your list of places to visit is Becky Falls where you can enjoy wonderful woodland walks as well as meet some furry friends.

If your ideal family staycation involves horses and donkeys then there are some great attractions here in South Devon to fill the equine hole in your holiday plans. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary near Totnes, The Miniature Pony Centre at Moretonhampstead and The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth all offer great fun filled days out with activities suitable for the whole family.

To make sure you and your family see as much of South Devon as possible during your family staycation, take a trip on some of the great transport attractions this region has on offer. Take a boat trip along the regions stunning coastline with Stuart Line Cruises operating out of Exmouth. Or hop aboard a steam train and take a trip on the heritage line from Buckfastleigh to Totnes with the South Devon Railway. Whilst in East Devon, Seaton Tramway is one of the best ways to explore the Axe Estuary and Seaton Wetlands.

For a family day out which offers something a little different, head to Babbacombe Model Village where you can explore the miniature world and model scenes depicting English life over 6 decades. Or take a walk back in time at Torquay's Dinosaur World where you’ll find amazing life-size and scaled dinosaurs, learn about their lives and discover incredible fossils.

If you’re finding it hard to decide where to visit then Devon’s Top Attractions are here to help. Made up of over 40 of the regions best days out, planning a trip to any of these quality assured attractions will guarantee to keep everyone entertained.

To see all the family friendly attractions in South Devon, please click here.

Beach Days Out

To many people family holidays are synonymous with beach breaks, long lazy days by the shore, sand castle building competitions and splashing about in the waves. Here in South Devon we have a spectacular array of beaches for you to choose from making sure all your beach needs are met.

From sheltered coves and rockpooling paradises to long stretches of golden sand surrounded by family friendly facilities, you’ll find beaches perfect for fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast, beach games or learning a new watersport along our picturesque coastline.

So whatever type of beach break your family is after you’ll find the perfect beach waiting to be discovered on the South Devon coast.

Find out our favourite family friendly beaches in South Devon here and find out more about our top 10 beaches in South Devon here.

Explore Nature

A family holiday to South Devon isn’t all about beaches and sandy days out. The region is covered with some of the most beautiful countryside, moorland and protected environments. Across the landscape you’ll find three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, East Devon, South Devon and the Blackdown Hills and in the heart of the region sits the stunning Dartmoor National Park.

Filled with rolling hills, forests, river valleys, tors, footpaths and ancient landmarks they provide a never ending backdrop for family adventures and exciting days out during any family staycation in South Devon.

To find out more about the spectacular nature reserves, parks and protected landscapes in South Devon click here.

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