Top 5 Things to Do in Devon

Stressful morning! Woke up to news of a water shortage. It turns out that there’s a burst water pipe in a field near me and most villages in my area are sans water. It really makes me realise how much I take even the simplest things, like having water when you need it, for granted. Moments like this one are a wake-up call!
Anyway, Mondays are stressful enough without me going on about water supply problems. Moving onto something far more pleasant in my opinion, which is a look back at my time in Devon. Inspired by Abbey Louisa Rose’s brilliant post summing up her time in Sorrento, I thought I’d attempt my own version. Devon is a beautiful county, and there’s so much to see and do there, so I’m only going to be able to cover a fraction of what you could put on your Devon bucket list. I’ve tried to group activities into days out, so you can make the most of your time there.
Greenway/Dartmouth 
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, then Devon is the place for you. Her childhood home, Greenway, is now owned by the National Trust and open to visitors. As an NT member myself, I have visited various properties over the years. Whilst they are all splendid, they can seem a bit repetitive once you’ve visited a few. All the historical information is interesting at the time, but when there are lots of names of Earls and Dukes that have little meaning to you, the facts fail to stay in my head! Greenway was different though, as I knew who Agatha Christie was, so the visit made more of an impact. I haven’t read any Agatha Christie books (shameful I know), but I have watched my fair share of Poirot and Miss Marple episodes over the years. Seeing the original ITV script of Dead Man’s Folly signed by David Suchet was pretty cool!

What made the Greenway trip extra special was how we got there. We did a boat trip from Dartmouth up the River Dart, which made for an all-round lovely day out, as after visiting Greenway, we came back and explored the bustling town. Lots of shops and cafes to be enjoyed!
Bigbury-on-Sea/ Bantham/ Thurlestone

Continuing along the South coast, we come to a collection of places worthy of a visit, and more Agatha Christie. Burgh Island is an absolute gem and Agatha Christie stayed at the hotel there, which is accessible via a sandbank at low tide from Bigbury-on-Sea. There’s an art-deco vibe for sure. Being impatient, we decided to be the first ones on the island, and waded through the sea, narrowly avoiding getting wet shorts! Once on Burgh Island, there’s a small walk you can do, which takes you past the hotel and its tennis court, and over a beautiful cliff path.

After exploring the island, I’d recommend heading back onto the beach, either the one at Bigbury-on-Sea, or at nearby Bantham. Both have beautiful stretches of sand, and glorious still water, ideal for swimming. What makes swimming here even better, are the surroundings. I really felt like my mental health improved, what with the crystal-clear water and stunning cliffs.
Whilst you’re in this area, you must go to The Village Inn in Thurlestone. Best burger ever! I would’ve taken photos, but I was very hungry at the time!
Clovelly

In a world of ever developing technology, Clovelly is a unique place which shows life does not revolve around cars, smartphones, and the latest social media trend. This quaint fishing village pays homage to its roots. No cars are allowed in Clovelly, you have to park at the top of the village next to the visitor centre. Instead, goods are transported down the steep cobble streets on wooden sledges. Donkeys were also used to transport supplies, but now, they are only used for children’s donkey rides. Even though the Clovelly is privately-owned, there’s certainly a community feel. Flowers cover the village everywhere you look, and there are quaint chocolate box cottages lining the streets, some of which hold shops, cafes, and small exhibitions.

Morte Point/North Coast Beaches
If you’re into coastal hikes, then Morte Point needs to be experienced. I won’t lie, this walk killed me. It was a hot day and with lots of ups and downs, what was at first an opportunity to admire the views, soon became a struggle. Don’t let this put you off though, it’s no secret that I hate exercise, so I’m sure you would do better than me! Anyway, it was worth it for the spectacular views, and it’s a great spot for seals. We saw at least 3!

When you reach Morte Point, you are met the lovely sight of Woolacombe Bay, a popular surfing and bodyboarding beach. Your afternoon is sorted. After a morning hike, what better way to cool off than going in the sea. There are plenty of beaches like Woolacombe which offer bodyboarding opportunities, such as Croyde and Saunton Sands.
Sea Glass

My mum and I have caught the sea glass collecting bug big time! Ironic as we live in Leicester which is nowhere near the sea. It all started off a few years ago back in the Isle of Wight. The coast there is the perfect location for sea glass, being situated on The Solent, which is a main thoroughfare for ships. Since then, we have not stopped. Any time that we go to the coast, there is always an allocated sea glass hunting slot. The majority of the holiday in Devon proved to have little success, but the last few days on the north coast of Devon, Combe Martin beach was amazing! In just two trips, we gathered a whole ice cream tub full of sea glass. It’s safe to say our collection is expanding at quite a rate!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my post on all things Devon! My next post will be on Wednesday with the Sunshine Blogger Award!
Megan x