10 outdoor activities in Devon to entertain the children in the school holidays
There are countless outdoor activities for children in this corner of West Devon. We are constantly amazed how many different activities our visiting families find, no two holidays are ever the same. These are some of our favourites :-
- Climb to Brentor, or one of numerous beautiful and accessible tors within Dartmoor National Park, many are very accessible for families with small children. Try a spot of letter boxing while you are there, take a map and a small notebook use grid references to locate small boxes which are hidden on Dartmoor – you will be delighted to find they have treasure in them ! happy hunting !
- Take a boat trip, kayak or canoe on one of the beautiful rivers in the area. The river Tamar is probably the most navigable by boat, try hiring a canadian canoe at Canoe Tamar for a very memorable trip.
- Try some wild swimming in a Dartmoor stream – lots of lovely plunge pools and even a leat or two to float along, whiling away a wonderful summers day. Collect a picnic from the farm shop on the way to keep energy levels topped up.
- Eat Fish and Chips on the beach at Sunset. The north cornwall coast has some lovely little towns which sell excellent fish and chips, and they taste even better if you eat them in the fresh air, so why not stay on the beach and enjoy them at their best. We like Bude or Crackington Haven where the sunsets are spectacular.
- Take a pony ride on the high moors near to Tavistock. there are excellent well behaved ponies at Cholwell riding stables at Mary Tavy who are happy to take children right out onto the moor for an unforgettable equestrian experience.
- Watch the stars come out in a dark night sky in one of the least light polluted areas of the country, test your knowledge of the galaxy, and why not do it from the comfort and warmth of a hot tub !
- Head to the tree canopy for a spot of Tree Surfing, tens of meters above the ground will give you a completely new perspective on the world, safety is a key factor here but with secure fittings you can push your adrenalin levels with no danger.
- Visit a farm and feed a lamb by the bottle and collect eggs straight from the hens – what better way to get close to these beautiful animals.
- Go body boarding or surfing in pristine waters at nearby coastlines. For the best surf, head north, secluded sandy beaches, small coastal hamlets with cafe’s make a very special day out.
- Get on your bike ! with numerous cycle paths around, cycling can be a wonderfully safe family activity, try the Granite way near Okehampton, The Camel trail from Wadebridge to Padstow, Drakes way which goes from Tavistock to Plymouth, all have beautifully flat trails for easy cycling.