Free Days Out

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We know how expensive it can be to keep everyone entertained on holiday. There is so much to do for free in South Devon from your base at Beeson Farm, whether its days out on the moor, playing on the beach or exploring the local landmarks.

Check out our top 10 things to do for free in South Devon for inspiration

  1. Start Point Lighthouse. Talk a walk along the coastpath to see the Lighthouse, with beautiful views over the Start Bay coastline, on a clear day you can see as far as Dorset!  Take a picnic and head down to Mattiscombe beach and stop off at Pear Tree Point to see the seals playing and basking on the rocks.
  2. Crabbing from the quay in Kingsbridge or Salcombe. Guests are welcome to borrow buckets and crab lines from us.
  3. Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum is free for under 16s
  4. Slapton Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West and a SSSI. Download a walking trail and explore the reedbeds, marshes, woods and raised walkways over the lake.
  5. Dartmoor National Park. Explore the beauty of the moor, from rugged Tors to babbling brooks there are 368 miles to explore and makes an easy day trip from Beeson Farm. Here are some easy walks on Dartmoor to try with kids.
  6. Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, is a working Benedictine Monastery. Pack a picnic and enjoy a peaceful walk around the lawns and meandering paths of the formal gardens.
  7. The House of Marbles – This small attraction is home to some fascinating marble runs that will keep kids entertained and watch demonstrations of glass blowing. Outside there’s a garden with games and a play area
  8. The Box is an interactive arts and heritage museum in the heart of Plymouth. with interactive exhibits, digital displays there is plenty to wow your kids and is perfect for a rainy day.
  9.  Beaches, beaches and more beaches…with so many beaches on our doorstep you could explore a different location every day!

 

Year of the Coast

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2023 is the Year of the Coast, celebrating Englands coastline, and here in South Devon we have some of the most spectacular coastline in the UK.

Throughout the year there is always something new to see and do, from blustery beach walks in winter to the sun soaked days and turquoise, crystal clear sea of the summer. The South Devon coastline has beautiful estuaries, rolling hills, hidden bays and amazing seafood, making us a must-visit destination for all seasons.

Here are our top 5 things to do on the South Devon coast.

  1. Visit the local waterfront towns.

The town of Dartmouth was once a bustling port, with ships sailing off for the Crusades in the 12th Century, the arrival of the Mayflower and Pilgrim fathers in 1620 through to its role in WW2 preparations. These days, Dartmouth is host to the annual regatta in August, Dartmouth Food Festival in October and home to an array of independent shops, eateries and galleries. 

Salcombe, once a notorious haunt of pirates and smugglers made its name in the 1800s for its “fruit clippers”, which raced to bring exotic foreign fruits back to England.   Salcombe today is known for its beautiful scenery, as well as being a centre for sailing, making it a great base for messing about on boats (boat hire available in town), though if you prefer to stay on dry land you might want to pay a visit to the Salcombe Gin distillery or Salcombe chocolate factory instead!

2. Explore the Coastpath

The South West Coastpath runs for 630 miles in total, 125 of which take in the South Devon coast, offering walks ranging from the easy to the challenging.  The South Devon section of the coastpath boasts some of the most spectacular landscape, seascape, climate and vegetation to be found anywhere in the UK and a wonderful array of wildlife from whales, dolphins, seals to the rare Cirl Bunting.  Take a circular walk using the https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walk-coast-path/south-west-coast-path-national-trail/day-walks/explore-south-devon-project/

  1. Try Delicious Local Seafood

The South West’s biggest fishing port is in Brixham and our local area has a very active fishing industry, still bringing in the catch of the day.

Our local pub, The Cricket Inn at Beesands, is supplied by Beesands fishermen who have specialized in lobster, crab and hand dived Beesands scallops for generations. Visitors to South Devon will find excellent local seafood and shellfish on the menu of the local pubs, but guests may also like to buy local seafood to cook back in their holiday cottage. We can recommend “Catch of the Day” in Kingsbridge, Mark Lobb in Dartmouth and of course Britannia Shellfish at Beesands.

  1. Watersports

South Devon has a well deserved reputation as a watersports destination, with something to suit all ages and abilities. From paddleboarding to surfing and sailing, being on the water is a way to really get South Devon under your skin.

Paddleboarding is one of the most relaxing ways to explore the coastline or estuary and there is an excellent local hire/tuition at Salcombe Watersports in East Portlemouth.

Bantham and Bigbury on Sea are among the most popular spots in South Devon for surfing. With near perfect conditions all year round it is ideal for beginners and the RNLI have lifeguards on the beach during the busier, summer months.

Salcombe is the home of sailing in Devon, with sailing lessons and hire available from Salcombe Dinghy Sailing as well as boat hire from Whitestrand boat hire.

 

  1. Landmarks and Buildings

South Devon has a some beautiful historical buildings that are open to the public.

Start Point Lighthouse has guided boats along the English Channel for over 150 years and in our opinion, the walk to Start Point Lighthouse and around the headland is one of the best coastal walks in South Devon.

Since 1863, The Naval College in Dartmouth has been training Naval Officers from all over the world. Public Tours are available on most Mondays and Wednesdays from February through to November.

Dartmouth castle has watched over the entrance to the Dart Estuary and guarded the harbour town for over 600 years. It has stunning views out to sea and up the estuary and is a great family day out.

Burgh Island is an iconic South Devon landmark, accessible on foot at low tide by a strip of sand or by sea tractor when the tide comes in. With links to Agatha Christie, smugglers and pirates the island is well worth exploring, and the famous Art Deco hotel is open to non residents. Make sure to also visit The Pilchard Inn on the island, one of Devons oldest pubs which has been serving drinks since 1336.

If you are planning a UK holiday this year we hope that this has given you some inspiration of things to do in South Devon while you spend 2023 by the sea!

Love Your Pet Day 2023

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What better way to treat your pet on National Love Your Pet day (Feb 20th) than to take them on holiday with you!

Dogs are welcome in 5 of our South Devon holiday cottages. The local beaches and pubs are all dog friendly, meaning your pooch can go everywhere you do. Within 3 minutes you can be down at Beesands for a run on the beach or a pint at the pub.

The coastpath is within easy access from Beeson Farm, with stunning walks towards Start Point Lighthouse via Hallsands. Dogs will also love the sandy beaches at Mattiscombe, Lannacombe and Prawle.  Or, you might choose to head towards Slapton Sands- a 3 mile long beach, taking in Beesands and Torcross on the way.

The Trap House has an enclosed garden and a cosy log fire to settle down in after a long day exploring the beautiful South Hams.

Contact us to book.

The Teenagers Guide to South Devon

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If, like us, you have a family of pre-teens or teenagers you’ll know that it can be a challenge to keep everyone entertained on a family holiday or short break.

Teens are never too old to spend time with the family and a family holiday to South Devon is a place where teens can escape social pressures, where exams and school work can temporarily be forgotten, and where new experiences can give them an opportunity to reconnect with their inner child and play again.

It probably goes without saying that teenagers need good  WiFi while they are away, which can be a challenge in rural areas. All our cottages at Beeson Farm have great broadband so your teen can be connected, talk to their friends and post on their socials. However, in South Devon there are also plenty of things to do that will keep teens off their phones and active outside.

As well as a selection of board games in the cottages we have a games room with table tennis and table football, as well as a badminton net and football goal to keep them entertained after a day out at the beach.

Here are our tried and tested local recommendations by our teens (age 12, 15 and 16)  of things to do  while enjoying family time together at Beeson Farm.

Be in or on the water!

Our teenagers love nothing more than being in or on the water all year round. The local beaches are excellent for swimming, snorkelling and body boarding…all free family fun, apart from buying the ice creams and cold drinks!

 

 

Salcombe watersports

Salcombe watersports is a family run business who provide unforgettable watersports experiences in the stunning salcombe harbour. Either hire a SUP, kayak, or book a lesson. We booked their giant SUP for 7 of our family (aged 12-22) and had an amazing time making memories together.

Surf lessons

Bantham Surf Academy offers lessons and courses for all skill levels, even absolute beginners,  A great opportunity to learn a new skill, catch some waves and grow in confidence against the beautiful backdrop of Bantham beach.

Outside Devon  

Outside Devon is a relatively new multi use space near Kingsbridge and Bantham. Cafe with cool vibes, a skate bowl and ceramics studio this is a perfect stop off on the way back from the beach, or check out their programme of workshops and events.

Salcombe Sea and Shore Rib tours

Salcombe Sea and Shore offer skippered RIB rides from salcombe and is a high octane and memorable way of seeing our beautiful coastline.

Coasteering

Salcombe is a great place for coasteering, exploring hidden caves, channels and beaches- with plenty of  jumping!

Tunes on the Sands

Tunes on the Sands is a 3 day music festival set on the beautiful beach at Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth, Sam Ryder is headlining this year on the 22nd July, along with Stereo MCs, this is a family festival suitable for all ages.

Watch the seals

Head to Start Point for some seal watching, or a swim at Mattiscombe Sands where seals often pop up to say hello, a truly breathtaking and memorable experience no matter how old you are.

 

We hope these give you some ideas of things to do with your tweens and teens.  A holiday at Beeson Farm is a great base for making some family memories together and we look forward to welcoming you!

Book Direct

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We strongly believe in the “book direct” model, so you won’t find us on any online travel agent (OTA) sites. We only accept direct bookings, so when you book a stay at Beeson Farm you can be confident that you:
💙Get the best price available
💙Save money with no hidden fees to pay
💙support an independent business and know that money is being invested back into the local area
💙Benefit from our local knowledge of tried and tested recommendations of places to go/visit/eat
💙 Be confident that we have over 20 years experience hosting guests at our family run business
💙direct, quick and efficient customer service
💙 benefit from flexible arrangements, where possible