Devon
United Kingdom
- Countryside
- Pastures, parks and promenades
- Country life
- Cream tea by the sea
Devon is the stuff of childhood dreams. Sun-kissed beaches and quiet little coves hark back to a time when all you needed for a day of unbridled pleasure was a bucket and spade, acres of silver sand and the promise of an ice-cream before bed.
Today, surf’s up for a new generation of coastal devotees, keen to rediscover rural delights without abandoning urban expectations. And not just on the beach, either: Dartmoor, in all its ruggedly spartan glory, provides the county with a dramatic, windswept heart (perfect for walking, riding and cycling) that’s serviced by a swathe of picturesque villages. Gastronomically, Devon punches well above its weight, with clotted-cream teas and a rich pantry of home-grown produce – all readily proffered by an ever-spreading spate of fine new restaurants keen to capitalise on the fact that, on every level, Devon delivers.
Pictured: Hotel Endsleigh
Boutique hotels in Devon
Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and best boutique hotels in Devon
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Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights Devon's best attractions, from amazing views to surfing spots – there are plenty of gentle pursuits to tempt you.
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Eating, drinking & dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Devon. All you have to do is make sure you've packed your favourite threads…
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Smith Maps
Here is the map of Devon; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
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Road trip
A tale of two moors, this route brings you among classic motoring roads and the southwest’s most beautiful countryside. From the remote Somerset coast to Stone Age scenery on Exmoor and rugged Dartmoor, it’s the wilder side of English beauty.
moreLocal knowledge
- Taxis
- Even at train stations, it can be hard to find a cab, so book your pick-ups ahead – or ask your hotel to do it for you. Plymouth Taxis (+44 (0)1752 606060) operates a licensed fleet of wheelchair-friendly London cabs with uniformed drivers. Tavistock has several local cab companies; try Jay Cars (+44 (0)7860 298808).
- Tipping culture
- About 10–15 per cent is appreciated.
- Packing tips
- If you’ve got one, a wetsuit is handy for taking the initial edge off the bracing English Channel waters, whether you’re surfing the waves or just swimming. There are plenty of restaurants to dress up for, but remember to take some good walking boots, too: general outdoorsy gear is likely to serve you well on forays into the National Park.
- Recommended reads
- Read Arthur Conan Doyle’s spine-chiller The Hound of the Baskervilles then head for Dartmoor and see if you don’t get a bit scared... Poet Alice Oswald’s award-winning Dart creates a rich narrative around the Devon river. Agatha Christie’s page-turning whodunnit Evil Under the Sun is set in a Noël Coward-esque hotel, based on Burgh Island.
- Regional specialities
- Don’t come expecting to count calories: you’re in clotted cream’s heartland. With a cream tea on every menu, settle all jam-or-dairy-on-first arguments with the trivial knowledge that, in Devon, the white stuff goes on first (it’s the other way round across the border in Cornwall). The relatively warm climate is ideal for growing grapes, and Devon’s cup runneth over with vineyards, some dating back to Roman times: embark your own Sideways-style wine-tasting trail. Go to www.discoverdevon.com to download a map and suggested itineraries. Local fish and seafood is also excellent; and don’
- Currency
- Pound sterling.
- Dialing codes
- Country code for the UK: +44.
- Do go/don't go
- Think twice about the seaside resorts during school holidays unless you really really love kids.
