Father of three Stephen Hocking shares his experience of some of the many many adventures his family have enjoyed from their home in Sandford.
Take a break in our unique corner of Devon and you will find yourself about half-way between two coasts famed both for their beauty and their tourist attractions. We are close to Dartmoor, 40 minutes from Exmoor and less than half an hour from the ancient city of Exeter, so you are unlikely to run out of things to do but let’s start closer to home.
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After a long journey, starting local makes sense. If you are close to a village shop, pop in. As well as the essentials, they are brim-full of local produce and most have maps, guides and information leaflets. Many village shops also serve coffee so pick one up and start planning that adventure. It could start with a walk round the village. Look out for thatched cottages with walls of traditional cob (a mix of subsoil, straw and water).
Venture into Crediton and there’s lot more to explore: our Museum, a spectacular church and lots of independent shops. For a rainy day read, try our three bookshops on the high street. Once Read is full of used book bargains with a good children’s section. The Bookery is our community bookshop with an inspiring choice of new books for every age. Step into Adams Hardware and you will find shelves of toys between the gardening and cleaning products – it can be a lifesaver! The Leisure Centre has a large pool plus a smaller one for the little ones.
Time for bigger adventures? Dartmoor certainly delivers. My kids were spellbound just seeing the famous ponies wandering over the moor and loved climbing the tors. Fingle Bridge and Castle Drogo are also among the highlights but any trip on the moors needs planning – the right maps and the right clothing so make use of their website and the very helpful visitor centres.
Set in our lush countryside, farms shops make a good place for a break. Drakes Farm has a café, a sandpit and animals to feed, while at Thornes you can pick your own fruit in season, drop into the cowbarn and take a break in the café. Drive on towards Tiverton and you will come to the picturesque village of Bickleigh where the former Victorian station is now the Devon Railway Centre, with train rides, model funfair and village and indoor play areas.
There is more train interest in Tiverton where the museum houses the Tivvy Bumper - a 1932 steam loco along with displays of how life used to be in Mid Devon. Visit Mid Devon is a good site for finding out more about what the area offers. Five minutes further on is Tiverton Castle where the guides make a point of ensuring that children get juicy bits of the castle’s history. Tiverton Canal is an adventure in itself. The high point is a trip on a horse-drawn narrow boat. Beyond Tiverton there’s many more adventures to be had. If you fancy a trip to Exmoor, head for Dulverton Tourist Information Centre where knowledgeable staff can help you plan your visit.
Crediton has its own slice of railway history too. The Brunel designed station looks as it did a century ago. Take a train to Exeter (get off at Central) for a trip to the RAMM – an award-winning museum with a bit of everything including an ancient Egyptian mummy – the Underground Passages and much more. You can also travel on for a seaside trip to Exmouth where the beach is a 10-minute walk from the station – unless you stop for an ice-cream!
In the other direction, trains take the Tarka Line north but stop short of the coast at Barnstable. The train ride itself can be quite an adventure too as the line weaves through remote countryside and tiny stations. Soon there will also be a regular service to Okehampton. Okehampton Station is an attraction in its own right with heritage train rides, shop and buffet. It’s also another gateway to Dartmoor. The mighty ruined castle is certainly worth visiting and there’s Museum of Dartmoor Life and a large park with original Edwardian gardens, plus café and large play area.
Last but never least is Crealy, the theme park south of Exeter. Not quite in the Florida class but enough rides and other activities to keep the children busy all day. After that I recommend a peaceful day in the country. Check out our walks and bike rides all of which are an adventure too.
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