5 Perfect Days in Devon: Your Ultimate Itinerary for Coastal Adventures & Hidden Gems
It's funny how exploring your own backyard often takes a backseat to international travel. Growing up in Buckinghamshire, UK, most of our family holidays were spent abroad, which is understandable given how easily we could hop over to other parts of Europe. But it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic that I began to truly appreciate the value of ‘staycations.’ I found myself spending weekends discovering the breathtaking landscapes of the Peak District, Lake District, Scotland, and Wales.
One place that has always held a special place in my heart is South Devon. My grandparents lived in Newton Ferrers, and every summer—and often throughout the year—we would spend weeks there with them. My grandad, an avid sailor, would take us out on his boat to explore hidden coves or go fishing, while my grandma would stay behind, baking delicious treats for our return. After losing both grandparents in 2007, we hadn't been back since my grandad's funeral—until last week.
This year, as I turned 30 and my mum turned 60, we felt it was the perfect time to revisit those cherished memories. We spent five incredible days exploring South Devon, with a brief detour to North Devon on our way home. If you're planning a visit, here’s a glimpse into everything we experienced during our nostalgic journey.
Contents:
Homemade scone with raspberry jam and clotted cream
Day 1: The Journey to South Devon
The journey from Buckinghamshire to South Devon took about five hours, which was expected for a Monday during the school holidays. Upon arrival, we checked into our charming Airbnb nestled in the heart of Newton Ferrers, offering stunning views of the River Yealm. Eager to stretch our legs, we set out to explore the village and see what had changed over the past 17 years—and to our delight, the answer was almost nothing! The same quaint post office still sat halfway down the hill, and the bustling pub remained a lively gathering spot at the bottom. It was refreshing to see the village preserved as it once was, free from modern developments.
Colourful boats at the Newton Ferrers slipway
View of the River Yealm from our Airbnb
Newton Ferrers pontoon
We wandered along the riverside, retracing our steps to the familiar pontoon where we used to board my grandad’s boat. We sat by the water, watching boats come and go, and marveled at how little had changed—except for the fact that the water taxi now ran on electricity instead of a motor.
Our exploration continued as we followed a scenic public footpath through the woods up to Court Road. We found ourselves debating whether to knock on the door of our grandparents' old home. From the outside, it was clear the house had been updated, but we couldn’t help but wonder just how much it had changed inside. Ultimately, we decided against it, opting instead to head back to our cozy Airbnb for a home-cooked meal and an early night, ready to embark on a full day of exploration the next day.
Day 2: Hiking Noss Mayo
Noss Mayo is the charming village that sits across from Newton Ferrers, separated by the tranquil Newton Creek. The two villages are usually connected by ‘The Voss,’ a raised man-made path that crosses the creek at low tide. Unfortunately, the tide wasn’t low enough during our visit, so we embarked on a scenic 25-minute walk around the creek to reach Noss Mayo. Once there, we strolled through the village and set off through the surrounding woodland, making our way to Cellar Beach—a spot our grandad took us to many times as children.
Cows on the South West Coast Path
Wideslip, where the South West Coast Path meets Noss Mayo
South West Coast Path, Noss Mayo
Fish, chips and curry sauce!
After leaving Noss Mayo, we reached ‘Wide Slip,’ a landing where water taxis from Warren Point drop passengers, marking the spot where we joined the famous South West Coast Path (SWCP). Having read Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path—the inspiring true story of a couple walking the SWCP as a journey of self-discovery—I was thrilled to walk a part of this iconic trail. In fact, this would become a bit of a theme for the week as we explored various sections of the SWCP, sparking ideas for a future adventure!
At Cellar Beach, my mum and I couldn’t resist a quick dip in the sea. Though the water was much cooler than what I’m used to in Australia, it was a refreshing experience. Instead of retracing our steps, we decided to continue along the SWCP to Saddle Cove. From there, we turned off towards Warren Car Park and looped back to Noss Mayo for a delicious lunch at The Ship Inn. Along the way, we enjoyed breathtaking coastal views and even encountered a few cows grazing with the ocean as their backdrop.
After lunch, we made our way back to Newton Ferrers, only to find that the tide was still too high to cross The Voss. We rewarded ourselves with homemade scones topped with raspberry jam and clotted cream—a must in this part of England. In the evening, we indulged in fish and chips, a classic seaside treat, before heading to bed with sore legs and full bellies, ready for another day of exploration.
North Sands Beach, Salcombe
Day 3: Salcombe
The next day, we hopped back in the car and set off for Salcombe, a picturesque seaside town about a 45-minute drive from Newton Ferrers. I highly recommend parking at the Bonfire Hill Long Stay Carpark and using the convenient park-and-ride service. The walk into town from there is a scenic 15-minute downhill stroll, but be prepared for the uphill trek back. If you prefer, there's a shuttle bus—if you can find the pickup spot!
Our day in Salcombe began with a leisurely exploration of the charming shops along Fore Street, followed by a delicious coffee from The Pantry Coffee House. Energized, we set off on a walk along Cliff Road, taking in the stunning coastal views as we passed by the historic Salcombe Castle. Our walk led us to the beautiful South Sands and North Sands beaches, where we once again joined a stretch of the iconic South West Coast Path (SWCP), adding another segment to our journey along this famous trail. We paused at a bench overlooking South Sands Beach, watching the unique Sea Tractor ferry visitors between the beach and the ferry—a quirky and memorable sight.
A pint of prawns at the Winking Prawn, Salcombe
Afterward, we made our way to North Sands Beach for lunch at the renowned Winking Prawn. We indulged in a pint of fresh prawns, a warm goat’s cheese salad, and some perfectly grilled mackerel—the food was outstanding and offered great value.
Post-lunch, we slowly meandered back to town, pausing to watch the excitement of regatta week unfold on the water. The regatta, a lively event featuring boat and yacht races, brought a vibrant energy to the harbor. Once back in town, we did a bit more shopping before treating ourselves to ice cream from the Harbour Café. Though we couldn’t locate the park-and-ride bus stop, the uphill walk was made sweeter with ice cream in hand.
Later, we headed back to Noss Mayo to meet up with my brother’s university friend, who lives locally. Once again, the tides were against us, so we had to walk the long way around the creek. This time, we opted for dinner at The Swan Inn, where we were pleasantly surprised by an impromptu performance from a local sea shanty group—a wonderful taste of the area’s rich maritime culture. It was a long, adventure-filled day, leaving us with plenty of new memories as we headed to bed, content and happy.
Day 4: Saltram House, Plymptom & a cosy evening
Rainy day at Saltram House
On Day 4, we planned to unwind with a relaxing beach day at Mothercombe Beach, a beloved spot from our childhood. However, in true British fashion, the weather had other plans. With rain putting a damper on our beach outing, we decided to visit Saltram House instead, eager to try their tearoom.
Saltram House, a stunning estate managed by the National Trust, charges an entry fee of £15.40 per person for access to the house and gardens. Unbeknownst to us, this fee applied even if we only wanted to visit the tearoom, meaning my brother and I faced a cost of £30.80 just to enjoy a cream tea (my mum is a National Trust member). We decided to skip the tearoom and instead explore the picturesque grounds. Fortunately, the rain had stopped, allowing us to enjoy the Riverside Walk—a scenic one-hour stroll that proved to be a delightful alternative.
Still craving that quintessential cream tea experience, we headed to the nearby town of Plympton in search of a cozy café. Unfortunately, our hopes were dashed when we discovered that the only place offering cream teas was fully booked. We settled for a nearby café with less-than-ideal views of the local Iceland supermarket. Spotting a pasty shop across the road, we grabbed a few to take back home—though my pasty had an unfortunate encounter with the floor before I could even get out the door. Embarrassed, but undeterred, I still ate it.
Feeling like the day hadn’t quite gone our way, we returned to our Airbnb. The day before, we had visited Ben’s Farm Shop, a local gem, and stocked up on a variety of delicious goodies meant for our beach picnic. Instead, we enjoyed them for dinner, indulging in a savory spinach and onion tart, local salami, and other tasty treats. Despite the unexpected twists, the day ended on a satisfying note with good food and a cozy evening in.
Day 5: A detour to North Devon
We started our last day bright and early, ensuring we were packed and checked out of our accommodation by 10 a.m. After a quick coffee stop at The Green, the local deli and coffee house, we began the scenic two-hour drive to Lynmouth and Lynton. With my mum’s cousin living in Barnstaple and his wife running a shop in Lynmouth, we decided to pay them a visit and spend a few hours exploring this picturesque part of North Devon.
We parked in Lynton and took the steep ‘zig-zag’ path down to Lynmouth. The breathtaking views along the descent were spectacular, and to our delight, we realized we were once again on the South West Coast Path (SWCP). Each step along this iconic trail further fueled my growing ambition to tackle it next year.
Once in Lynmouth, we caught up with family over a leisurely sandwich, but our day quickly took an exciting turn when a family friend surprised us with a Sea Safari tour. The tour whisked us along North Devon’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, where we were lucky enough to spot seals, porpoises, and an array of seabirds. It was a spontaneous and thrilling way to wrap up our trip, leaving us with unforgettable memories.
View of Lynmouth from Lynton
View of Lynmouth from the Cliff Railway
View of the North Devon coast from the Sea Safari
Instead of hiking back up, we opted for the historic Cliff Railway to return to Lynton. This incredible feat of engineering is the highest and steepest water-powered railway in the world, and for just £3.50 per person, it was a much more enjoyable—and scenic—alternative to walking! The views during the ride were absolutely stunning and provided a perfect finale to our time in Devon.
As we embarked on the five-hour journey back home, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this trip down memory lane. Revisiting an area filled with such fond childhood memories and spending time with family brought back moments I hadn’t thought about in years. If you’re planning a trip to Devon, be sure to include these spots in your itinerary. And if you’ve tackled the SWCP yourself, I’d love to hear any tips and advice—who knows, I might be sharing my own experience on the trail in a blog post this time next year!
HEY, I’M LOZ!
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This is an insight into the life of a girl who likes to get lost. I write about all things travel and the outdoors. If you like my content please subscribe and if you really like it, please buy me a coffee so I can continue making content for you!