Exmouth Beach
This idyllic beach is one of Britain's favourites. Two miles of sand are backed by a buzzing promenade of shops, restaurants, and pubs. Dive into the array of watersports and activities on offer, including jet skiing, donkey rides, and swing boats – in short, everything you require for the perfect beach bum getaway.
A la Ronde
The National Trust protects this eclectic 18th-century house for good reason: with 16 sides, it comes complete with incredible interior decor including a collection of nearly 25,000 shells and a feather frieze plucked from native game birds and chickens. Lucinda Lambton described it as having 'a magical strangeness that one might dream of only as a child'.
Exe Estuary
Lapwings and redshanks inhabit these verdant grazing marshes flanking the historical city of Exeter. Make sure to listen for the uncommon Cetti’s Warblers. In winter, during floods and high tide, thousands of waterbirds flock to the site.
The Maer Ground
There are few things more British than cricket. The Maer Ground dates back to 1874, when the first recorded match here saw Devon take on Will-O'-the-Wisp. It remains one of the most exquisite spots in all of England – watch the white-clad players shuffling about on the green while you sip a cool beverage.
Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve
500 acres of sand dunes, mudflats, and grassland are inhabited by over 600 species of flowering plants and protected wildlife. Each autumn, 23,000 wildfowl and wading birds descend on the reserve for winter. Find out more at the visitor centre, which provides extensive information on the variety of orchids and rare animals to be discovered in the vicinity.
