Luxury and boutique hotels in Devon

When to go

Think twice about the seaside resorts during school holidays unless you really <I>really</I> love kids.

Getting there

• Planes

  Your best bet in these parts is Exeter Airport: FlyBe (www.flybe.com) flies there from London, Manchester and Jersey.

• Trains

  There are regular trains from London Paddington to Exeter and Plymouth with First Great Western (www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk); journeys take just over three hours. Virgin Trains (www.virgintrains.co.uk) also connects Plymouth to London, as well as other regional hubs such as Newcastle, Leeds and Glasgow.

• Automobiles

  Drive from the London orbital to Exeter in under four hours (traffic permitting) on the A303. The M5 connects Devon to the north via Bristol (90 minutes) and Birmingham (three hours). A car is invaluable once there, for pootling along the coast or country‑lane cruising.

• Taxis

  Even at train stations, it can be hard to find a cab, so book your pick‑ups ahead. Plymouth Taxis (+44 (0)1752 606060) is a licensed fleet of wheelchair‑friendly London cabs. In Tavistock, try Jay Cars (+44 (0)7860 298808).