5 reasons to visit South Devon

We recently had the chance to explore South Devon, a destination that has been on our radar for a while and I wanted to see why it's such a great place for a family weekend away and in all honesty we were really spoilt for choice in terms of family friendly things to see and do. As we only had three nights in the area we wanted to make the most of our time without it being too much and thats really something one has to bare in mind when travelling with young children, you need to go at a slightly slower pace. We also wanted to explore as much of the outdoors as possible take in all that Devonshire countryside and coastline. I can safely say that South Devon is a great option for a quick getaway and here are 5 reasons why you should consider it for your next weekend break. 

1. Powderham Castle

Powderham Castle was around a 10 minute drive from our apartment at Cofton Holidays and was one of the first places we decided to check out as it had come highly recommended. Both of my boys are fascinated with Knights and Castle so they were naturally excited to explore Powderham. The estate has a really fascinating history as it's been in the same family for hundreds of years and was involved in both the War of the Roses and the Civil War. What is a real highlight about the Powderham is the Victorian Walled Garden and Petting Farm with a large Wooden fort and zipline where the kids had an absolute blast. They also really enjoyed spying deers in the deer park and tucking into warm scones and Devon cream in The Courtenay Cafe

2. Torquay & Living Coasts

There is a reason why Torquay is nicknamed the English Riviera and while I thought we would enjoy a walk along the quay it wasn't until we were there that I really understood why so many people love flock to this part of the UK. The quay is a hive of coffee shops overlooking yachts and fishing boats and stunning coastline and it's a must-visit town in Devon. We also popped into Living Coasts which is part of Whitley Wildlife conservation trust and has a focus on education around seabirds and coastal wildlife which my kids found fascinating especially the small tidal estuary and mangrove swamp. The Cafe at Living Coasts is also a great spot for something to eat as it sits on the edge of Torquay harbour and offers some fantastic panoramic views from the large outdoor terrace. 

3. Dawlish Warren

Dawlish Warren found just north east of Dawlish, is a great spot for families as it has a long blue flag beach, sand dunes, nature reserve and there are also amusements which are not really our thing but still make for a long of fun by the seaside. What we liked most about spending time at Dawlish Warren was the free-range fun on offer for the kids, to go rock pooling and running in and out of the waves before indulging in the tradition that is ice-cream at the seaside. 

4. Killerton National Trust 

When we are exploring somewhere new we always have a quick check to see if there is a National Trust property nearby and not to just put our membership to good use but also because we have yet to be disappointed by any we have visited so far and Killerton is no exception. Killerton is an 18th Century Manor home set in a stunning estate with lots of natural play areas, tree swings, a bear hut and ice house as well as acres and acres of forest to explore. There is also a beautiful bistro-style reasturant, Killerton Kitchen which cooks up special seasonal dishes daily and looks over pretty gardens where kids can run free. 

5. Cofton Holidays 

You may have already red my review of our stay in one of the stylish apartments at Cofton Holidays but what you might not know is that they do day passes for holiday makers to have access to their fantastic facilitates such as their two outdoor pools! It's so rare to be able to swim outdoors in the UK so this was a huge hit with my kids and you could easily spend a whole day sitting around the pool just soaking it all in. You can also say hello to the local donkeys or zipline in the forest play park and if it's raining you can take advantage of the indoor play park and swimming pool.  

Thanks to Cofton Holidays and Visit South Devon for inviting us to explore this beautiful part of the UK.