Higher Hareston

Kids with you? It’s off to Pennywell Farm (25 minutes’ drive) then, for a full day of goat milking, ferret racing, deer feeding and tractor rides. Be sure to say hello to the Pennywell Miniature pigs, the alpacas, stately Highland cows and cuddly lambs (in spring), or try your hand at grooming the heavy horses. Dartmoor Zoo (20 minutes) is another sure bet for the kids, where you can watch the big cats feeding and hear keeper talks. Nothing beats the beach for lazy summer days, so load up the kids in the car and head on down to the sand-and-pebble strand at Wembury (15 minutes), known for its clean water for swimming and decent waves for surfing. Also close by is sandy Mothecombe (20 minutes), an often-nigh-deserted stretch with excellent rock-pooling potential for the kids or plenty of rocky nook and crannies for romantic picnics à deux. If you’d like to learn something about Devon’s maritime heritage, the National Marine Aquarium and The Mayflower Museum are only 25 minutes away in Plymouth – and if you should hit a rainy day, you can catch a blockbuster film at Cineworld Cinema Plymouth.