Sustainable and Affordable Travel in South Devon: A Guide for Conscious Tourists

South Devon is a place with rolling hills, charming towns and a pace of life that makes it a beautiful getaway — where you can spend your days lying on the sand, hiking along the rugged cliffs and winding down in a pretty village. But what are the best ways to explore without costing the Earth, in more ways than one?

A sustainable, budget-friendly trip is well within reach — and rich in rewards. Thoughtful choices will help you experience the best of South Devon with minimal impact on nature and even save you money.

Plan Ahead and Stay Local

A well-planned holiday will save you the headache and the pennies. South Devon offers plenty of options to stay in places that consider the environment, from sweet country B&Bs to eco-lodges that run on renewable energy. Not only are these affordable, but you’ll also be supporting the local businesses around.

Searching for places to stay that promote environmentally friendly practices (like local sourcing or recycling programmes) will help you tick off the “making sustainable choices” checklist.

Explore South Devon on Foot or by Bike

Foot travel and pedal power are the cheapest ways to take in the stunning vistas of South Devon. From the dramatic cliff drops of the South West Coast Path to the whispering woods of Dartmoor National Park, there’s a landscape to soothe every soul.

When in doubt, book a bike or head out on foot — a lot of the terrain is suitable for beginners. Besides being light on the purse, it gives you a chance to get close to nature.

If you are venturing further afield, you’re in safe hands to take to South Devon’s public transport system.

Indulge in Local Food and Markets

South Devon is big on food fresh from the field — or the sea. There’s nothing quite like eating a fresh catch of the day or finding hand-picked goodies at a farmer’s market.

Try to book farm-to-table dining experiences or purchase some local produce and create your own picnic. Make sure you use reusable bags and Tupperware and you’ll be saving yourself some pennies as well as being environmentally friendly.

Travelling by Rail: A Scenic and Cost-Effective Choice

There’s a reason why trains are one of the most popular ways of travelling greenly and in style: you’ll most likely be treated to incredible views of the coast and countryside whizzing by.

To save a little money, stick to getting cheaper train tickets. If you want to keep rail travel as eco-friendly as possible, don’t worry. There are still loads of ways to save money on train tickets. For instance, you can split your train tickets across a longer journey and make great savings in the process. Many companies exist solely to offer this service — use them and get the most out of your train travel without wrecking your bank account.

Because carriages use power generated from greener sources, train travel also releases fewer emissions. As such, it presents one of the simplest ways to balance the cost and carbon impact of your journey.

Adopt Simple Sustainable Practices

It’s not quite as effective as the other tips on this list. However, we can all do our bit — and every little helps. Take your own water when you use a train service and stop using single-use plastics. Remember to throw any other rubbish away responsibly too.

If you know that you’ll need to travel in a particularly car-heavy area, it pays to take the time to offset your journey. Work with an accredited body and you can decrease the carbon footprint of your South Devon exploration. In doing so, you’ll help us keep our beautiful region beautiful for future generations. In the grand scheme of things, this one’s not going to save a whole lot of money. But this tiny bit of effort could add up to a whole lot for South Devon and the wider UK environment.

Make Your Visit Matter

With so many options for things to do and see, South Devon is ideal for sustainable-cum-affordable tourism. Make the most of a great day out without the guilt — or the worry. Think ahead, tread lightly in hoping that you get to see the best of South Devon soon.