Devon (sailing, seaside resorts and tiny islands)
Devon is one of England’s largest counties, and also has one of its longest coastlines. Situated in southwest England, it’s far bigger than neighbouring Cornwall, East Devon stretching to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
One of the sunniest counties in England, the many sandy beaches give rise to lots of visitors in summer (perhaps too many, as often wealthy resorts mean locals are priced out of the market, due to mostly empty second homes).
If out walking, always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. If at the coast, read about how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
Never walk on sand dunes, to protect nesting birds, seal pups and other wildlife. Also keep dogs away, especially in breeding season.
The county is so large that it’s divided into three areas:
South Devon
This is home to the swanky sailing resorts of Salcombe and Dartmouth, plus smaller villages like Hope Cove, home to sustainable sailors and surfers. This is also the home of Torquay (nearby Cockington is thought to have inspired St Mary Mead, home to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple).
North Devon
This is a lot quieter, but still home to some nice holiday towns like Ilfracombe, and the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth (known for being home to one of England’s few remaining funicular railways). It also is home to Clovelly, one of England’s privately-owned villages.
East Devon is also much quieter, home to Exmouth (the county’s oldest seaside resort).
Let’s Visit Three Tiny Devon Islands!
If out walking, always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. If at the coast, read about how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
Never walk on sand dunes, to protect nesting birds, seal pups and other wildlife. Also keep dogs away, especially in breeding season.
Burgh Island can be walked to at low tide, and has a sea tractor at high tide. Agatha Christie use to write her novels, when staying at the Art Deco hotel.
Lundy Island (12 miles off the coast in the Bristol Channel) is a National Trust reserve, a haven for grey seals, kittiwakes, razorbills and the migrating hoopoe bird. You’ll also find pygmy shrews, Soay sheep (originally from Scotland, they have curly horns) and semi-feral ponies (who aside from vet care and hoof-trimming) are left alone.
Grew Mew Stone is a rocky island, previously a prison but now a bird sanctuary. In 1744, ‘Hermit Samuel’ chose to be sentenced here for 7 years for a minor crime, rather than being sent to Australia.
He liked it so much, he married and raised three children, even offering boat trips from Wembury beach. But his dual life as a smuggler caught him out, and he had to leave the island. Apparently nobody has lived there since!
Exmouth (Devon’s Oldest Seaside Resort)
East Devon is home of the pretty town of Sidmouth (beloved by Sir John Betjeman) along with Budleigh Salteron (name after its history of salt) and Exmouth (the oldest seaside resort in Devon).
Here you’ll find A La Ronde, a 16-sided house, built in the 18th century by two spinster cousins, who were inspired after a grand tour of Europe. Owned by the National Trust, the surrounding orchard is home to old Devon varieties of apple, plum and medlar trees.
It also has a hay meadow full of butterflies and crickets. And a ha-ha lawn (a type of sunken fence popular in 18th century gardens).
Secrets of a Devon Wood (a nature diary)
Secrets of a Devon Wood is a treat for the senses, with exact replicas of illustrations that the artist makes of discoveries she finds in the wood behind her Devon home.
Jo Brown began keeping her nature diary because ‘thing of such magnitude deserve respect and understanding, and deserve to be remembered’.
Use with eco-friendly drawing pencils or natural vegan watercolour paints.
In enchanting and minute detail, she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumblebee or a native bluebell. And notes facts on physiology and life history.
This book is a hymn to the beauty of the natural world, and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it. A book that will stay with you.
These beautifully illustrated notes are not polished essays, but real-time records to capture the first-hand wonder that the author feels when spotting beetles, fungi or ferns, in her own patch of woodland.
These drawings are straight from Jo’s personal sketchbook. Plants, feathers, and insects sit alongside handwritten notes. There is as much detail on a simple leaf, as a fox or owl.
The idea is to encourage anyone with a notebook to slow down, and look at the ground beneath their feet, to discover nature on the doorstep.
You’ll also learn a lot. Latin names beside common ones. And you’ll learn when certain species bloom. Learning about mosses to wildlife feels like a gentle chat, not a lecture.
Discover how one wood changes with the seasons, as Jo visits the same patch day after day, spotting small shifts that many people miss.
Brown’s work celebrates local nature rather than far-flung destinations. She shows Devon’s woodlands as places full of hidden drama and beauty.
This focus speaks to anyone in England who wants to connect with their own local patch, no matter how ordinary it seems at first glance. The result: more people feel encouraged to protect and appreciate neighbourhood wild spaces.
Readers of all ages see how to start their own journals—even without fancy art supplies or years of training.
Devon Hideaways (rent a holiday cottage)
There are many holiday cottage companies nationwide, and most let you filter for pet-friendly, child-friendly, disabled-friendly and more (by the sea, small or large properties).
Although they are quite expensive for one or two, for large families or groups, they work out affordable, as you can hire a big place and just pay per property, rather than per person. And discover some of our lovely places to stay, rather than go abroad.
Devon Hideaways offers cosy self-catering cottages that give you a base to do exactly that. Think snug living rooms, proper kitchens, and beds that promise a deep sleep after a day outdoors. These rentals suit families, couples and solo travellers who want privacy and freedom without losing comfort.
East Devon is home to quaint seaside towns like Sidmouth (which has its own little team of ‘plastic warriors’ to keep the town litter-free). Also find two of England’s smallest national parks: Exmoor and Dartmoor (both known for ponies).
Two cities (elegant Exeter & maritime Plymouth (on the border with Cornwall). And quirky Totnes (the world’s first Transition Town).
Why Rent a Holiday Cottage?
Often it’s nice to rent a self-catering accommodation for holidays, so you can then do ‘one big shop’ and not have to worry about living on expensive take-out and restaurant meals, during your holiday break!
Many holiday homes rent dog-friendly properties (you may wish to search for properties with enclosed gardens). If you are taking dogs on holiday, read our posts on:
- Following the Countryside Code
- Keeping Dogs Safe by the Seaside
- Finding Dog-Friendly Places
- How to give muddy dogs a bath!
- Pet-Safety Tips for Christmas
If you rent out holiday cottages, read about pet-friendly gardens to know plants to avoid for visitors with dogs. Also avoid facing indoor plants to outdoor gardens, to prevent birds flying into windows.
