At Headwater, we appreciate the sheer beauty, intrigue and charm of what can be explored right here in the UK. We love to create hand-crafted itineraries that showcase our country’s natural splendour, captivating wildlife and fascinating history, so we’re proud to have recently been awarded the British Travel Awards’ silver medal for Best Small Holiday Company to the UK in 2022.
Our wide range of walking and cycling holidays explore the wonders of the British Isles and include popular trips to places such as Northumberland and Cornwall. Another area that offers numerous delights is Devon.
If you’ve never been to this enchanting corner of southwest England, read on to discover 7 reasons to put it on your list.
It is undeniable that Devon is a walker’s paradise, and its coastal trails are particularly spectacular. Devon has an incredible five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and when exploring these fine landscapes, you’ll soon see why!
South Devon’s coastline is wild and rugged, with expansive sandy beaches, hidden coves and rolling clifftop paths. Our Walking Devon’s Coastal Highlights trip takes in some of the highlights of this stunning region. Trails hug the coastline to offer striking views of Plymouth Sound, Wembury Bay, Hope Cove and Bigbury Bay, where captivating natural attractions are interspersed with charming fishing villages and historical points of interest.
South Devon could easily claim the title for having some of the best beaches in England. The coastline runs for over 120 miles, from Plymouth to Seaton, with clear waters meeting sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and rich, green woodland. These sands can either be unspoilt and far-reaching, where the majestic crashing waves create a feeling of reverence, or quiet and secluded in bays, where you feel entirely hidden from the world when visiting out of peak season.
Our Walking South Devon’s Coastal Path provides the opportunity to discover these dramatic contrasts. It also crosses five beautiful estuaries, where you can see some of the most remote sections of the South Devon Coastal Path, with its awe-inspiring views and wonderful wildlife.
Devon is not just about its coastline, journey inland to discover the most magnificent moorlands. Dartmoor is one of the most remarkable natural landscapes in the country, known for its solitary, heather-clad moorlands, deep river valleys and abundance of flora and fauna. It is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with its wide-open spaces dotted with rising granite tors, standing stones and ancient woodlands.
Gain impressive views of the moorlands on our Contrasts of Devon Walking trip, walking from the south coast in Plymouth up towards South Brent and Buckfastleigh on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Following tracks and riverside paths, this trip provides contrasts of rolling hills and steep gorges, stunning seascapes and these immense moorlands.
Whether meandering the coastal trails or following riverside paths, there are many picture-postcard villages to explore in Devon. Discover their cobbled streets, independent delis and bakeries, traditional pubs and chocolate-box cottages, all adding to their unique character.
Hope Cove, Bigbury-on-Sea and Salcombe are just three of the pretty towns and villages visited on our Walking South Devon’s Coastal Path, where you can pause to enjoy the tasty local food while taking in the surrounding scenic views.
In a landscape as remote as Dartmoor, you can imagine its flora and fauna to be exceptional … and you’d be correct! The plethora of plants, flowers, mosses and trees provide a home for many animals and birds, from badgers, ponies and wild boars to buzzards, red kites and kestrels. Some people have even caught glimpses of wild cats. However, with many myths surrounding this region’s wildlife, the line between the mythical and the reality could be somewhat blurred.
With our Contrasts of Devon Walking trip concluding in Buckfastleigh, on the edge of Dartmoor, there is the opportunity to spend a day or two extra here to explore this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and maybe have some close encounters with its wildlife.
Scones, jam, clotted cream and a lovely cup of tea, what more do you need to refuel and rehydrate when exploring Devon’s delights? This iconic version of afternoon tea originated in the South West, as early as the 11th century, with records of a form of cream tea coming from Tavistock Abbey.
Today, you’ll find rich buttery scones topped with locally sourced clotted cream and fruit-filled jam in many establishments in Devon, from independent cafes to luxury hotels. As you pass through the waterfront towns and villages on our Walking South Devon’s Coastal Path, there are plenty of opportunities to take a seat and sample this local delicacy.
There are, of course, many other tasty Devonshire foods to try along the way, too; fish and chips, pasties (as popular in Devon as in Cornwall), ice cream or fudge made from Devonshire cream and a pint of classic West Country cider to ease it all down!
When spending the day out walking, there’s nothing better than coming back to a homely pub, restaurant or hotel to enjoy the local hospitality. Tourism is an integral part of Devon’s industry, so they certainly know how to make you feel at home. Whether staying in a picturesque fishing village, a lively waterfront town or one of its charismatic cities, you can be sure of experiencing a friendly welcome from the locals.
Devon also has a buzzing music scene, providing great entertainment for your evenings out. Plymouth, especially, is known for attracting local talent and headline acts to play in its unique live music venues. All of our three trips mentioned above begin in this Southwest city, giving you the opportunity to experience its vibrant music scene for yourself.
Devon has an immense allure, and once you’ve visited, you’ll likely want to go back for more. However, alongside these captivating Devon trips, we have many more that explore numerous amazing destinations in the UK and further afield, too. In fact, we’ve added 100 new trips in 2022, and there’s still more to come for 2023!
Please follow the link to learn more about these new hand-crafted itineraries for 2023.
