Devon Coastal Towns
Devon offers a wide and varied choice of Coastal towns and villages to visit and experience. At one extreme there is Torquay, the jewel in the crown of the English Riviera with its long established credentials as a large seaside resort. At the other is the charming and welcoming Shaldon which describes itself as a drinking village with a fishing problem.
30 minutes from our Dartmoor Holiday Cottage
Teignmouth
Packed full of family friendly activities. Teignmouth has a fantastic large play park on the promenade, a classic pier with all the usual amusements, a skateboard park, crazy golf and miles of golden sand. It also offers water sports and boating trips, mackerel fishing is the favourite with our family. You can also take a short ride to Shaldon on Britains oldest passenger ferry service dating back to 1296.
Shaldon
Just across the river from Teignmouth, lies Shaldon, a charming and very pretty small town offering independent boutique shopping with lots of seaside café’s, pubs and even a tiny zoo. It has 2 beaches, one which is accessed through a ‘secret tunnel’ which was originally used by smugglers adding some excitement for our younger guests. Shaldon is one of our favourite days out.
40 minutes from our Dartmoor Holiday Cottage
Dawlish
Dawlish is a classic seaside town with all the usual attractions and amusements. It centres around an area known as the Lawn which has a small river running through it and unusually is home to black swans. Although Dawlish has it’s own long sandy beach, just to the east of the town is Dawlish Warren with a very long sandy beach complete with sand dunes and a nature reserve.
Torquay
Heart of the English Riviera with popular and varied beaches, palm trees, Thatcher’s Rock, a long splendid promenade and pier, from which to fish. Torquay is full of varied and interesting history: a medieval monastery, the haunted Spanish Barn where the 397 captured sailors from the Spanish Armada were kept, the birth place of Agatha Christie etc.
Torquay offers a great varied day out with many Visitor Attractions such as Prehistoric Caves, Miniature Buildings, there’s even Dinosaurs.
Topsham
Full of history and fascinating architecture dating back to the days when Topsham was a bustling merchant town – look out for the Dutch gabled house down by the quay, built in the 17th century for one of the country’s wealthiest merchants. Take advantage of a free 90 minute walking talk, every Wednesday and Saturday during spring and summer.
There are also numerous independent shops selling everything from handmade gifts to beautifully designed furniture. If you like a rummage around antique shops you will find plenty here to keep you busy, not least the warehouse by the quay which spreads over several floors.
50 minutes from our Dartmoor Holiday Cottage
Brixham
Quaint small fishing town where life centre’s around the harbour. It boasts a large fishing fleet and a bustling fish market supporting it.
Perfect for an afternoon of crabbing off the quay, enjoying an ice cream (or two!) and finishing off with a visit aboard the Golden Hind.
Plymouth
Probably most famous for Plymouth Hoe, where Sir Francis Drake insisted on finishing his game of bowls before defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Hoe gives spectacular views across the Sound and is home to the Royal Citadel, an impressive 17th century fortress. It also hosts Armed Forces Day and the British Firework Championships.
Although Plymouth has a modern shopping centre, the original harbour area “The Barbican” is full of charm and history with cobbled streets and old buildings. This is where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail. Today, this old port now thrives with many shops, galleries, restaurants and bars.
1 hour from our Dartmoor Holiday Cottage
Dartmouth
Pretty medieval town with a strong maritime history and home to the Britannia Royal Naval College. With its picturesque setting and fine shops, restaurants and sailing facilities it’s an ideal destination for a great day out. The annual Dartmouth Regatta is the highlight of the annual Dartmouth week and features a range of racing events.
Salcombe
Situated close to the mouth of Kingsbridge estuary, Salcombe is full of yachts and fabulous shops.
It’s a great place to take to the water by hiring either sailing or motor boats. There’s also a small ferry to East Portlemouth on the other side of the estuary, which will transport you to some of Devon’s most fabulous beaches.
Coastal Towns a bit further away and into Cornwall
Beer
Like most of Devon’s coastal villages, Beer has a long history of fishing which is still very much alive today.
On the beach you will find a colourful array of small fishing boats. Not only will you find fresh fish and Beer crab for sale, but you can also catch your own by indulging in a mackerel fishing trip.
Beer was also a popular base for smugglers. It was the birthplace and home of the notorious Jack Rattenbury who earnt the nickname “Rob Roy of the West”. After 30 years at sea, Jack hung up his smuggler shoes for a different fortune – he wrote a book entitled “Memoirs of a Smuggler”.
Bude
Bude is primarily a tourist town but isn’t overly commercialised and benefits from a quirky feel. It is in a lovely location at the mouth of the River Neet flowing into the Atlantic Ocean making it a great place to learn to surf.
Unusually it has a Sea Pool at Summerleaze beach which is free to use. At 91m by 45m it is impressively large.
Boscastle
Picturesque fishing village which is unusually built around an inlet harbour between 2 dramatic headlands which, to me, look like a pair of dragons. It is also home to a Witches Museum which you have to admit is a rather unique tourist attraction.
Sadly it was a tragic and devastating flash flood in 2004 that put Boscastle well and truly on the Tourist map.
Tintagel
Famous for King Arthur, Tintagel is just 4 miles on from Boscastle making it easy to visit both on the same day trip from our dartmoor holiday cottage.
Although Tintagel Castle is the main attraction, make sure you visit the Old Post Office too. It is such a fascinating medieval building full of delight.
Port Isaac
When visiting Boscastle and Tintagel, we always push on to the picturesque Port Isaac. Cobbled streets, breath taking views, lively atmosphere and some great places to eat but most of all it’s famous for being the location of the popular TV series Doc Martin.
Looe
Built on the sides of a river joined by a bridge, Looe is a great starting point for a day out along the south cornish coast. Although it is a town with a long tradition of fishing and boat building, it has also been a popular tourist destination since Victorian times.
East Looe benefits from a lovely beach so it’s easy to spend the day there however the coastal path to Polperro makes a fantastic walk.
Polperro
Polperro has probably the most picturesque and charming harbour areas in Cornwall. Approaching the village via the coastal path from Looe is simply stunning. Once in the village the vibe is lovely with some great pubs and places to eat.
Fowey
A very popular port town in South Cornwall famous for being the home of Daphne du Maurier and probably some of the most expensive properties in Cornwall. Whilst walking around Fowey you’ll see many beautiful homes varying from classic fisherman’s cottages and Victorian villas to millionaire class mansions.
As well as having a beautiful waterfront, Fowey also offers a great selection of independent, boutique shops and galleries. As you would expect with a tourist town, there is ample choice for places to eat or rest your feet whilst enjoying a coffee and watching the bustling world go by.
Other Devon Towns worth visiting
Exeter
Vibrant capital of Devon with interesting history dating back to the Roman era. Exeter’s 2,000 year old history can be explored at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
The city centre is surrounded by the City Walls within which you’ll find Elizabethan houses, a gothic cathedral, catacombs and underground passages.
Tavistock
Really attractive and busy market town with fine Victorian architecture and some unique green stone buildings built from local Hurdwick Stone. Tavistock has UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
Tavistock gives a different shopping experience. There are lots of independent shops and cafes along with a Farmers market and a Pannier market.
Totnes
Pretty Devon town with a bohemian feel and a castle. Great for shopping, eating and drinking. During summer season local people and traders dress up in costume every Tuesday morning and hold an Elizabethan market.
Now explore nearby Devon Beaches
