Yarde Orchard Café

The Yarde Orchard Café has access to both the north and south coasts of Devon, so whether you're after surf and sand at Westward Ho! (30 minutes' drive) or a visit to the western end of the Jurassic Coast (roughly an hour) you won't find it hard to organise a fab day out at the beach. Cornwall's coast is also doable for the day, with Bude's beaches and saltwater lido around 40 minutes away by road. Turning inland, the Tarka Trail beckons with its miles of wild scenery, as does nearby RHS Garden Rosemoor (10 minutes), home to a dazzling array of plants in an expansive 100-acre setting. Castle Drogo (50 minutes) over on the edge of Dartmoor is also well worth a visit for its mock medieval turrets, croquet lawns and elegantly landscaped grounds. If any of the above is somewhat over the little ones' heads, take them to family-friendly Devon attractions like The Big Sheep adventure park (30 minutes), or to the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre (20 minutes) for steam trains and snacks followed by a run-around at Chudleigh Fort next door.