Maple Meadow Camping

When going to the beach heads up the to-do list, South Devon has plenty of options. If you prefer seclusion, Wonwell Beach (10 minutes’ drive) on the River Erne estuary, is often nigh-deserted, while Mothecombe Beach provides a crescent of sand and plenty of rock pools for kids to splash around in. For surfing and kayak rentals – and food trucks to stave off hunger attacks – Bantham Beach (both 20 minutes) is the place to be. The spit of sand at Bigbury-on-Sea (15 minutes) promises safe swimming for families, as well as sea tractor trips to Burgh Island at low tide. Once there, pay a visit to the Pilchard Inn, a former smuggling pub, or take afternoon tea in the renowned art-deco Burgh Island Hotel. To explore inland, Ivybridge (15 minutes) is the gateway to hiking routes and bike rides leading up to rocky tors in Dartmoor National Park. You can also visit the National Trust-owned Buckland Abbey (40 minutes), one-time residence of Sir Francis Drake and now home of formal Tudor-era gardens, a tithe barn, café and souvenir shops.