Main blog image: © Haldon Forest - image credit Simon Stuart-Miller

With staycations proving a popular choice for many families, a Devon holiday gives you everything you need for the ultimate break – without ‘breaking’ the bank.

Whether you’re hankering after the classic British seaside, keen to seek out wildlife and adventure, or simply want to enjoy some of the finest coastal walks in Britain; you’ll find an abundance of fantastic free family days out in Devon.

Check out our ideas for some free days out and plan your perfect Devon stay without skimping on enjoyment!

Walk Free

With four Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a dual coastline and two glorious National Parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor, there is a fantastic array of places to stretch your limbs - without costing an arm and a leg!

Whether your preference is a casual stroll along the beach, a hardy hike across the moors or an awe-inspiring coastal walk on the famed South West Coast Path, the picturesque landscapes truly showcase the best of the British coast and countryside.

For a free walk in the city, try one of Exeter's Red Coat Guided Tours, a must on any visit to Exeter.

You can also enjoy 3,500 acres of breathtaking woodland at Haldon Forest Park where children are encouraged to build dens, climb trees and seek out wildlife. Or experience 180 miles of traffic-free walking and cycling paths on the Tarka Trail, the former Barnstaple to Bideford railway line.

Creature Comforts

© The Donkey Sanctuary

Visit the donkeys at Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary and immerse yourself in all things donkey! The sanctuary houses over 2,000 donkeys and provides a safe haven for any donkey that has been mistreated or lost its home. Their soft lovable nature and the warm atmosphere attract over 350,000 visitors every year. It’s free to visit and open all year. The work of the sanctuary depends on donations and visitors can also sponsor donkeys - so you can make a friend for life!

If you’re keen to seek out wildlife, the delightful Lower Otter Valley SSSI may be just the ticket. Little’uns especially love spotting the dragonflies and kingfishers, moths and butterflies, frogs and fish, ducks and waders along the river.

On Exmoor, families love the Tarr Steps Woodland National Nature Reserve, home to a wide variety of wildlife, from otters to red deer and even the rare barbastelle bat. Not to mention the Exmoor ponies and the stunning coastline at the Valley of the Rocks where wild goats have made the valley famous (they even have their own Facebook page!)

In North Devon, the coastal and marine life is amongst the richest in the country. You may be lucky enough to spot harbour porpoises, grey seals and sunfish.

Beautiful beaches

Enjoy a good old-fashioned day at the seaside with buckets and spades and ice creams – without ‘shelling out’. East Devon’s breath-taking World Heritage Jurassic Coastline spans 185 million years of geological history. It includes such impressive sights as the Hooken Cliffs landslip near Branscombe and offers a wealth of family-friendly beaches including Sidmouth and Exmouth, home to a two-mile sandy beach.

The famous wonderful sandy beaches at Saunton Sands, Westward Ho!, Croyde Bay and Woolacombe are located in North Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A cliff-top walk to Baggy Point is a highlight for many, and Saunton Sands, a three-mile stretch of beach, backed by one of the largest sand dune systems in Britain, is not to be missed.

Devon’s beaches are perfect for a day of family fun - rummage in the rockpools, catch a few crabs and splash in the surf.

Sense the past

RAMM © Andrew Abbott CC2.0

If your brood are curious about the world around them, why not embark on a journey of discovery at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter and Barnstaple Museum in North Devon - for free. Open all year round, discover an array of collections ranging from natural history, world cultures and events to antiquities and art.

A fossil hunter’s paradise, the 185 million year old coastal stretch from East Devon to Dorset was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in UK, it was voted the 5th greatest natural wonder in Britain.

On Exmoor, explore the stunning landscapes that inspired the well-known verses of English Romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth and Robert Southey. You can follow in their footsteps along the Coleridge Way, a spectacular 50-mile walking trail traversing the Exmoor.

Exmoor also provided the inspiration for R D Blackmore’s novel Lorna Doone, a 17th-century tale of murder, kidnap, robbery and love. At Malmsmead you can take a lovely walk up Doone Valley, reputedly the haunt of the real-life Doones. Other Doone spots include the church at Oare, Dunkery Beacon, Porlock, the Valley of the Rocks and Dulverton.

Our Devon Holiday Cottages

Top to bottom L to R: Tawstock Castle, North Devon; Burrows, East Devon; West Hollowcombe Cottages, Exmoor; Elliotts House, East Devon

For a truly memorable Devon holiday, take a look at our fantastic holiday cottages in the county. The beautiful surroundings can be explored safe in the knowledge you will be coming back to a wonderful home from home to truly relax and wind down in.