West Devon encompasses gorgeous market towns surrounded by lush farming land and dramatic Dartmoor views. Home to the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it has a rich mining heritage globally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From farmland to moorland to forest, discover a legacy of pioneering communities in our charming towns and villages.
Situated in one of the most beautiful locations imaginable, the South Hams is a haven. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over 60 miles of stunning coast and countryside, there is nowhere quite like it. Rolling hills give way to picturesque coastlines, dotted with ancient woodlands, thriving towns and picture-postcard villages. Each one plays a vital role in shaping our future and driving our economy.
Devon has a range of events from sailing regattas to music and literary festivals. As a farming community there are agricultural shows such as the well-known Devon County Show, as well as many smaller local shows. Both South Hams and West Devon include the stunning and world-renowned Dartmoor National Park with its wild roaming ponies. Dartmoor is also famous for its annual classic cycle race and is the location of an annual schools’ hiking competition, called ‘Ten Tors’.
If you’re interested in heritage and culture, there are plenty of National Trust and English Heritage properties right on the doorstep. Dotted between them are chocolate-box thatched cottages and historic buildings in our towns and villages. Tavistock is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich mining history or perhaps quirky independent Totnes is more your vibe. Whichever appeals, there is certainly plenty to see and visit.
With rail links to Totnes and Okehampton, great road routes and regional airports, it’s never been easier to get to Devon. Trains run frequently from national destinations, as do national coach lines.
Find out more at Visit South Devon and Visit West Devon.
Every day is a learning day! Did you know that Devon offers an abundance of quality Ofsted-rated schools and colleges, while many secondary schools also offer sixth form education too?
There is also a good selection of grammar schools, alternative settings, along with schools and settings for children with additional needs. So be assured that there is a wide range of quality education available for your children, from early years’ childcare and nursery settings all the way up to universities.
For further education, Exeter University is on the doorstep, which is part of the prestigious Russell Group, while the impressive University of Plymouth, which excels in research, sits to the south on the border with Cornwall.
The nearby cities of Plymouth, with the renowned Hoe and Barbican, and Exeter with its beautiful cathedral, are filled with larger department stores and a wide variety of fantastic shops, theatres, music venues and restaurants.
‘The English Riviera’ of Torbay is also not too far away or pop over the Tamar Bridge and Cornwall is packed with fun-filled sandy beach-going activities. If you like surfing, this is the place to go. Surf’s up!
Top tip: Clotted cream always goes first before the jam on your cream tea. So, we'd advise you don't come back into the county after visiting Cornwall with any of that 'jam first' nonsense.
