Why visit Devon?
The coast
Devon is the only English county to have two distinct coastlines. The sheltered southern side is home to a cluster of seaside towns along the English Riviera and the western end of the Jurassic Coast, while the more exposed, hillier north is a draw for surfers and hard-core hikers.
Dartmoor and Exmoor
Striding away from the sea, there are also ample trails in both of Devon’s national parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor. Both are exceptionally scenic wildlife havens that are home to semi-wild ponies, but that’s about as far as the similarities go.
Exmoor is a patchwork of woodlands, hills and cliffs – learn more about this diverse landscape at the national park centre located in Lynmouth.
Dartmoor, in contrast, is a much wilder destination, with dozens of tors to conquer and Bronze age ruins to scout out at remote spots like Drewsteignton and Yelverton.
Plymouth and Exeter
Don’t feel like you have to shy away from big cities, either – both Exeter and Plymouth make for great days out, so somewhere nearby would make a handy base for mixing Devon city breaks with beach days or country walks.
Pitch up near Plymouth and combine Devon breaks with day trips to Cornwall
Top Devon attractions
Looking for sites near some of the best things to do in Devon? Choose between:
- Staying near Exeter and discovering its magnificent medieval cathedral
- Riding the cliff railway in Babbacombe, Torquay and visiting local landmarks at its model village
- Getting up close and personal with wild animals at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park near Totnes
- Taking the kids for animal-inspired days out at The Big Sheep adventure park near Bideford
- Capturing the imagination of young and old at the model village and gardens near Babbacombe
- Being adventerous and taking to the water to try your hand at coasteering, paddleboarding or kayaking with Active Escape in North Devon.
- Alternatively, if travelling with young children and your dogs Devon with Kids, offer 100's of other great ideas on what to do during your stay
Unexplored Devon
Wild camping on Dartmoor
You can legally camp on Dartmoor, making it one of the few places in England where you can experience this brilliantly bracing alternative to traditional outdoor breaks without falling foul of the authorities.
Check out our guide on the do’s and don’ts of wild camping before you rush off to buy your first tent, though, as there’s a lot to consider.
For example, you can’t have open flames out on the moors, so have a look at our Devon sites that allow fires if cracking open the kindling is key to your holiday plans.
Looking for a middle ground between Devon holiday parks and bivouacking under the stars? Our selection of Devon farm sites could be the way forward.
The quiet interior
Looking for something off the beaten track? Don’t confine yourself to the coast or the national parks – splendid though these places are, Devon’s quiet interior also has excellent options for guests on the hunt for peaceful stays.
A site in the vicinity of Barnstaple and the traffic-free Tarka Trail, for instance, opens up days of riverside cycling in search of otters along flat waymarked paths. Green-fingered sorts, meanwhile, may like somewhere well-located for wanders around gorgeous RHS Rosemoor Gardens.
Near-zero light pollution
England’s third-largest county has four designated dark sky reserves in all – the two national parks plus Trinity Hill Local Nature Reserve and Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve. Looking for a romantic getaway under the stars or to have a go at astrophotography? Check out our guide to dark skies and stargazing.
Here’s how
Ready to start your Devon adventure?
Start by finding the site that’s right for you. Popular options include:
· Devon pitches with electricity
· Devon destinations near the beach
Use the tick-box filters on the left to explore a wider range of options based on themes, facilities and nearby leisure activities.
Yet to find your ideal pitch? Explore the best campsites in Devon as voted by the Pitchup team or look slightly further afield at other nearby destinations in South West England like Cornwall and Somerset.
