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Wet Weather Days

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Even though the sun always seems to shine on South Devon and our instagram feed might be full of pictures of sun, sea and sand, the rain does fall in South Devon!! But dont worry, there is plenty to do for all ages on a wet weather day.

Heres a few suggestions for what to do on a wet weather day!

  1. South Devon Steam Railway runs from Buckfastleigh to Totnes alongside the River Dart, through some of Devons most beautiful countryside. Tie a trip on the railway in with a visit to Buckfast Abbey (a heritage bus service runs on some days between the two) or a trip to Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies, adjacent to Buckfastleigh station (you can buy joint tickets for both attractions)
  2. National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth is likely to be busy on wet days but is home of the Ocean Conservation Trust and the largest aquarium in the UK. Tie in with a visit to the historic city of Plymouth, which also has an excellent museum at The Box- a museum and gallery, that has free admission.
  3. Woodlands Theme Adventure Park near Dartmouth is great for children that need to let off some steam! A massive indoor soft play, rides, a falconry and zoo will keep children of all ages entertained and if the weather clears there are adventure playgrounds, water rides and woodlands to explore outside too.
  4. Kents Cavern, Paignton, people have been visiting Kents Cavern since the Stone Age!  It is a rich treasure trove of archaeology and one of the most important Stone Age sites in Britain.
  5. Local Towns and Museums in Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Salcombe are worth exploring on a wet day. Visit the local history or RNLI museums, go bargain hunting in the charity and antique shops or shelter from the rain in one of many independent cafes or restaurants.

There are also local National Trust and English Heritage properties to visit, the historic cities of Plymouth or Exeter to explore and cinemas in both Kingsbridge and Dartmouth.

Dont forget we have childrens wellies available to borrow in the games room, in case you decide to go out and embrace the weather, watch the waves or jump in some puddles before settling down in a cafe, pub or back in your cosy cottage!

Afternoon Tea

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An indulgent afternoon tea is surely a must do when visiting the West Country!

There is evidence to suggest a version of the cream tea existed at Tavistock Abbey in the 11th century, where the monks ate bread with jam and cream. Over the years this developed into the traditional cream tea, which came into its own in the 1850s after the railways led to a booming West Country tourist trade. Local tearooms, hotels and cafes served up cream teas for travellers seeking relaxation and a touch of indulgence.

Weve compiled a list of places to partake in this very British custom, but please, remember to do it the Devonshire way- cream first and jam on top!

Valley View Cafe, Aune Valley, Loddiswell

As the name suggests, the cafe has lovely views over Aune Valley, and has won multiple awards including Taste of the West, Good Food Awards and Visit Devon Tourism Awards, With seating inside or outside on the terrace, this is an ideal spot for families, and even has a childrens play area. Their menu covers  breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Prices from £30

Calancombe Vineyard, Nr Modbury

Wander around the vineyard before stopping for an indulgent afternoon tea,  accompanied by a glass of Calancombe Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018 Sparkling wine. Check their website to book online. Prices from £35

Burgh Island

For a memorable and unique afternoon tea experience head over to the iconic Burgh Island hotel, with its famous 1920s Art Deco interior and gorgeous ocean views. If the tide is out you can walk across the beach from Bigbury-On-Sea, or if tide is in, their sea tractor will carry you over the waters to ensure you arrive for your afternoon in style! Prices from £55 per person

Cream Tea Options:

East Soar Walkers Hut

A home made, rustic afternoon tea, served from the  Walkers’ Hut at the East Soar Outdoor Experience and paid for at the honesty box- so make sure you bring cash.  Situated next to the South West Coast Path, the farm has resident animals for you to meet including sheep and donkeys, as well as a play area for children. Fuel up with scones and cakes before exploring the coastline or heading down to Soar Mill Cove. Check their website to make sure they are open as they during a few weekends in the summer they are closed to host wedding receptions.

The Billy Can, Torcross

The Billy Can is a popular café and retro sweet shop nestled between Slapton Ley and the beach. Serving a delicious range of sandwiches and cakes

The Winking Prawn, Salcombe

Situated beside the beach at North Sands, Salcombe, this lovely beach cafe has an extensive menu of food and drink and indoor and outdoor seating.

Avon Mill Garden Centre

Just the other side of Kingsbridge, Avon Mill is a lovely garden centre with shops, galleries and a wonderful cafe serving delicious cream teas- highly recommended by our guests this Easter!

Stokeley Farm Shop

Why not buy the components of an afternoon tea from the local farmshop and eat back in your cottage or take down to the beach?!

Easter in South Devon

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With Easter heralding the start of Spring, we believe Easter is about getting outside with the family and having fun together after those cold winter days indoors!

We will keep updating with local events so watch this space, but read on for our list of things to do this Easter whilst on holiday at Beeson Farm.

Pennywell Farm https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/ will be running their annual Easter Egg-stravaganza from the 1st April to 10th April. Pennywell is always an egg-stra special day out for families who will love feeding the animals, meeting the miniature pigs and going on the rides.   https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/easter-eggstravaganza

The Church House Inn at Stokenham (a few minutes drive from Beeson Farm)are hosting a free Sea Shanty Easter Event on the 8th April. With live music, traditional sea shanties, a bouncy castle, face painting, BBQ and pirate themed treasure hunt this sounds like a brilliant day out! Check their facebook page for details. https://www.churchhouseinnstokenham.co.uk/

South Devon Railway are running 3 family fun weekends, offering excellent value for money. Tickets include a ride on the Steam Train along the River Dart, free entry to the Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterfly sanctuaries, free entry to Totnes Rare Breeds Farm, face painting, childrens entertainment, vintage bus rides and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt! https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/visit-us/whats-on/family-fun-weekend/

Totnes Spring Festival on the 13th April is a free day out for the family with live music, street food, childrens entertainment (including bouncy castle and free crafts) and much more. https://www.visittotnes.co.uk/whats-on/totnes-spring-festival/

The Easter Bunny will be visiting Woodlands Theme Park near Dartmouth from Saturday April 1st to Sunday April 9th. Make your way through the rabbit warren into Bunny’s Easter Grotto featuring amazing Easter themed rooms and meet the Easter Bunny then go thrill seeking on their egg-streme rides!! A day ticket will let you explore all the usual rides and soft play, and woodland areas as well. https://www.woodlandspark.com/

 

Pop over the River Dart to Greenway House (Agatha Christies home) and explore their beautiful grounds while taking part in their Easter Egg Hunt. The trail takes place between 24 March – 30 April, from 10.30am to 5pm, with last entry at 3.30pm.  Prices are £3 per trail (usual admission prices apply) which includes an Easter trail sheet, pencil, bunny ears and chocolate egg. There are fun games along the trail including welly wanging and wheelbarrow racing! https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/greenway

Heron Valley Orchards  are hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in their beautiful grounds.  Grab a sheet from the bar and lead your little ones on an adventure through the orchard to win a chocolatey prize. The hunt can be done anytime between 9am and 5pm and can be taken at your own pace. The cafe will be open serving delicious lunches. https://www.heronvalley.co.uk/products/easter-egg-hunt

We have special offers and reduced rates available in the The Stables, Linhay or Trap House with weekly stays from just £480 per week. Check out our ‘Cottages’ page or contact us to book.

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!

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

Christmas breaks

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With blustery beach walks, cosy award winning local pubs, farmshops with quality local ingredients and scenery that will stay in your memory forever, Christmas couldnt be a better time to visit!

The Trap house and Linhay are both available for Christmas and New Year (we can offer flexible arrival/departure dates) and sleep 4 in each. Via a hidden internal door the 2 cottages can even be interconnected to make one large cottage suitable for up to 8 guests and dogs are welcome!

With log fires and large living rooms, there is plenty of space to hang up your stockings and to put your presents under the tree!

This Christmas we can give our guests the gift of peace, quiet and relaxation if you book a stay with us!

Electric car charging point

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We now have an electric car charging point for our guests to use, which we think will be particularly welcome as there are limited charging points locally (at the moment Totnes is our nearest public charging point)
We are always striving to operate as a business that is environmentally friendly and are pleased that we can now offer our guests a charging point for electric vehicles which is powered off our solar array in the orchard.
Please get in touch if you are bringing an electric vehicle and would like more details.

End of Summer Escapes

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The end of August and beginning of September are a perfect time of year to visit South Devon! Mild temperatures, quiet beaches, stunning clifftop walks, seal spotting and beautiful waterfront towns to explore….

An ideal time of year for couples who want to explore the local area, or families with young children who arent tied down to term time holidays.

With prices from just £320 a week (special offer) you can embrace all that South Devon has to offer!

A warm welcome awaits you…