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Powderham Castle , built in 1391, is the ancestral home of the 18th
Earl of Devon. The Castle, which withstood the ravages of the Civil
Wars, lies in the beautiful setting of an ancient deer park
alongside the River Exe, on its' 4000 acre estate. Embellished in
the 18th century, the Rococo plasterwork is amongst the finest in
England. The Castle is open to the public from Easter to October
each year and welcomes thousands of visitors.
Killerton House, close to Exeter in Devon, is owned by the National
Trust, and its' large gardens were originally laid out in the 18th
century. For children there's a quiz trail, and if you get tired you
can choose between the restaurant and the tea-room.
Buckfast Abbey is a living Benedictine Monastery by the River Dart,
with a magnificent Abbey church set in tranquil gardens, with three
unusual shops. Book in advance for guided tours with the monks.
Buckfast Butterflies and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary offers a great,
enjoyable, educational experience. Wander around the butterfly farm
and see new butterflies emerge in tropical surroundings.
Why not pay a visit to the Shaldon Wildlife Trust, a breeding centre
for endangered species, concentrating on small animals and birds.
For a fantastic journey around the coastline go to Living Coasts ,
from loud loveable penguins to cute furry seals to colourful
puffins, they're all at home here. Focusing on the conservation of
coastal and marine life around the globe, Living Coasts is a unique,
aquatic visitor attraction.
The Hedgehog Hospital and Wildlife Garden Centre at Prickly Ball
farm is a very busy hedgehog hospital and wildlife centre. You get a
real chance to meet, touch and learn about the hedgehogs. You be
"hands on" or just watch some treatments, with talks running
throughout the day.
Paignton Zoo is one of the West Country's leading visitor
attractions, with the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of
animals in its 75 acre setting, a real chance to learn about the
world's endangered species and their habitats. As well as the zoo
itself there are botanical gardens and all the usual amenities
making for a great day out.
The Miniature Pony Centre near Moretonhampstead has donkeys, pygmy
goats, pigs, wildfowl, and of course miniature ponies! With both
indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds, the children's farm, craft
gallery and shops it makes for a great day out.
Becky Falls Woodland Park is high on Dartmoor and provides some of
the most scenic and enjoyable walks in the south west, as well as
lots of family fun year round.
Canonteign Falls, in the beautiful Teign Valley area of Dartmoor, is
England’s highest waterfalls. The falls descend 220ft (67m) almost
vertically, before running on through rock formations and ancient
woodlands, then cascading into the tranquil lakes below. Canonteign
Falls offers a spectacular day out for all the family with walks and
quiz trails, a wetland nature reserve, plus all the usual
necessities for a great day.
Plantworld brings the gardens of the world together, displaying
trees and plants from a wide variety of countries. There is also a
plant centre with rare and unusual plants.
The Cardew Teapottery, on the edge of Dartmoor, set in 10 acres of
woodland, lakes and waterfalls, is an unusual place to visit for all
the family. You can watch the skilled pottery workers handcraft
their world famous teapots or perhaps have a go at painting your own
- you can be sure to go home with a very special original
masterpiece. Take as long as you like as studio time is free,
excellent for a rainy day.
The South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, is a steam operated
country branch line, running along the side of the River Dart
between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. This historic steam locomotive's 7
mile journey will take you through beautiful Devon scenery and is
well worth a ride.
Pennywell Farm and Activity Park is a fantastic family day out with
a wealth of things to do and see. Be it the Bird of Prey centre, the
Farm animals, Pony centre , Puppet shows, Go-Karts or Mini Diggers
you won't have a moment to waste!
Quaywest at Goodrington Sands in Paignton is a must for waterbabies
of all ages! With the children's fun pool, the Submarine Playzone,
the Devil's Drop, the Toon Town pool, the Kamikaze and the Screamer,
there will hardly be time to get in the actual swimming pool! But if
you tire of the water, you can try your hand on the Go-karts or
Crazy Golf. Open May to Sept.
Woodlands has a great combination of indoor and outdoor attractions
set in 60 acres, with all weather fun guaranteed in their massive
indoor venture centres. Don't miss the falconry display or the
animal zone!
Rain or shine, Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay is a well worth a
visit.
The Rainbow Fun House is a great place for kids to explore. There
are flumes and slides and even a race track! Adults are welcome to
join in the fun but if you can't keep up you can relax in the cafe.
At Crealy Adventure Park in Exeter you can discover six great realms
including Action Realm, Adventure Realm and Natural Realm. There are
also six excting rides and over 200 animals to visit. Special events
include Saints Days - for example on St Anthony's day all Anthonys
get in free (but don't forget your ID)!!!
World of Country Life in Exmouth is packed with family fun! Giant
slides, ball ponds, quad bikes and trampolines are just a few of the
exciting things you can experience there. But don't miss out on a
pirate adventure or forget to visit the pets corner where you could
walk a pygmy goat!
For a different kind of day out, why not try Sorley Tunnels in
Kingsbridge? Face your fears and try to make it through the disused
railway tunnel in Scary World, or just play on the beach in Sand
World. With six other worlds to explore, there should be something
for everyone!
Stuart Line Cruises offer a range of boat trips along the calm River
Exe. You can enjoy the spectacular views of Lympstone, Starcross,
Topsham and Powderham Castle and if you're lucky you may see some
seals! For special occasions, why not go on a Firework Cruise
complete with disco, BBQ and bar.
Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford takes you through motoring history,
with Britain's most spectacular collection of historic cars from
around the world.
Kents Cavern in Torquay, one of the most important Palaeolithic
caves in Northern Europe, has the oldest recognisable human dwelling
in Britain. It holds beautiful and spectacular geological formations
and significant prehistoric finds, some of which are over 700,000
years old.
If you're a wine connoisseur, why not visit the Lime Bay Winery, sited in
the lovely Axe Valley, the heart of Devon's countryside. Established
in 1992, originally brewing traditional ciders, they have since
diversified local wines and have a shop sited within the winery.
Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, Bicton Park
Botanical Gardens is set in East Devon's beautiful Otter Valley,
between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England's Jurassic
Coast World Heritage Site. For a scenic ride around the park,
there's the Bicton Woodland Railway which is a treat for children
and grown-ups alike.
If you are a horse lover the Miniature Pony and Animal Farm is a
great place to visit. You can see the horses being groomed and fed
but it's not just horses that you'll find! There are fish, birds,
pigs, cows and many more!
For any shop-a-holics, why not take a trip to Trago Mills in
Newton Abbot? Trago Mills offers the biggest range of discounted
goods in the West Country. Set in 100 acres of rolling countryside
it has it's own lakeside miniature steam railway as well as some
great children's rides, including Dune buggies, Trawlers Boats and
Supakarts.
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