🌊 Hello Devon Connoisseurs,

Why my Torquay chips cost £28

Driving home from a business meeting last week I stopped on Torquay seafront to buy chips and enjoy the surreal, misty evening atmosphere.

It was after 6pm, there were few cars or people around, and I wasn’t going to be long…

I listened to the fishermen’s banter, admired the joggers for their energy and had fun protecting my dinner from dive-bombing seagulls.

I couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes, but sure enough on my return there was the parking attendant printing the ticket.

I pleaded for leniency, but too late, he said. He had seen my car parked without a ticket for 7 whole minutes and charges are 24/7.

So my shoddy risk assessment meant £3 chips became £28 chips.

Oh well, I’m going to savour the memory of that evening even more.

Top tips for surfing in Devon this summer

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, trying for the first time or just an occasional surfer, you’ll find tuition and equipment hire on both coasts.

The best places in the south are Bantham, with a consistent swell, Bigbury on Sea, which has decent waves dependent on tides and Wembury, which can hold 10 foot swells.

Top spots in the north include Croyde, with close to perfect conditions and arguably the most popular. Putsborough and Woolacombe are similar, with loads of space. Saunton Sands is good for beginners.

You can surf all year round if you can bear the cold, and the warmest time is July to September.

Read Visit Devon’s guide to the best locations, safe surfing and surfing etiquette here

Where you can take part in beaver fever this summer

Beavers now live on the rivers Otter, Tamar, Taw and Exe, with family groups throughout the whole length of the Otter and some of its tributaries.

The Otter, where they were first reintroduced, is the best place to see them and has lots of footpaths close to the riverbank.

Beavers are regularly spotted around Otterton village, with activity often highest to the south of the village, although not guaranteed.

Walk the riverbank to spot them or join an organised walk. Devon Wildlife Trust and Devon Beaver Tours run bookable beaver walks during the summer months.

Brixham sailing trawler Provident comes home for regatta

The Brixham Heritage Sailing Regatta has a special significance this year because of the return of Provident, built in the fishing town in 1924.

Following a refit in Scotland, the old girl joins a celebration of vessels from a bygone era, including 2 square riggers, TS Royalist and Phoenix.

Boats will be arriving on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May ahead of the racing programme starting at 12.30pm on Sunday 26th and providing colourful viewing.

Starting with sailing trawlers and other large vessels at 12.45pm, staggered racing proceeds with working boats and pilot cutters, luggers, junks and small working boats, gaff and Bermudan riggers.

Prorgramme and more details here

Be part of the salvation of endangered traditional crafts

Craft Festival Bovey Tracey features more than 200 of the finest makers from all corners of the UK, chosen for quality and originality.

Visitors can watch craft demos and films, join adult workshops and talks and enjoy music and feasting.

Highlighting crafts at risk of dying out, demos include wallpaper making, willow furniture making, lithography and fairground painting.

There’s a free programme for children encouraging creative experimentation.

Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June, Mill Marsh Park TQ13 9AL

Tickets: Adult £10 (£9 concessions) in advance online. Accompanied U18s free.

Risk taking in landscape: the philosophy of Wildside Garden

From a blank 4-acre canvas 20 years ago to today described as “exciting, magnificent” by Gardens Illustrated, there’s nothing quite like Wildside.

June: Massed perennials, especially dieramas. July: Massed perennials including agapanthus, campanulas, lilies. August: agapanthus, crocosmias, watsonias. September: Michaelmas daisies, grasses, chrysanthemums.

Keith Wiley, the owner and creator, believes natural landscapes can and should inspire gardeners to loosen the “strait-jacket” of established horticultural practices and express their creative potential.

Open 11am to 5pm on on selected dates throughout the summer.

Adult £12.50, child 5-16 £5. Pay on entry. Green Lane, Buckland Monachorum, Devon PL20 7NP

Devon Curiosities #6: Speke's Mill Mouth waterfall

One of Devon’s best walks, with a spectacular reward at the end, is the hike to Speke’s Mill Mouth waterfall.

Tucked away in a cove on the dramatic North Devon coast, it’s a short walk to get here from Hartland Quay.

The waterfall falls 157 feet down three stages before running off into the ocean. One of the best in England?

If you go at low tide there’s more to see of the coastline and its dramatic beach rock formations.

Full instructions from The Crave Traveller

Listings

🌊 North Devon 

MAY

Sat 18th

FESTIVAL | 🎪 Pigstock 2024 | The BIG Sheep, Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5AP | Adult tickets 27.50, child £17.50

Sun 26th

BIKING | 🏍️ Bideford Bike Show | The Quay EX39 2HW | Bikes £3, visitors free

SPORT | 🥊 Superstars of Wrestling | Combe Martin Village Hall EX34 0HR | Tickets £11.55

Fri 31st 

BOAT TRIP | ⛴️ The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer | Ilfracombe Pier EX34 9EQ | Adult tickets £49, children £24.50 | Other dates also available

JUNE

Sun 2nd

NATURE | 🚶‍♀️ South West Coast Path Walk | Barnstaple Train Station EX31 2AU | Tickets £20

RECYCLE | ♻️ South Molton Flea Market | South Molton Pannier Market EX36 3AB | Free entry

Sun 9th

COMMUNITY | 🥘 The Big Lunch - A street party in the heart of Ilfracombe | Fore Street EX34 9ED

Sun 16th

DAY OUT | 💦 Bideford Water Festival 2024 | The Quay EX39 2EY | Free

JULY

Sun 7th

GO KARTING | 🏁 Bideford Soapbox Derby | Bideford Pannier Market EX39 2DR | Free

Fri 19th to Sat 20th

SEA FESTIVAL | 🚤 Lynmouth Regatta & Maritime Festival | Lynmouth Harbour, EX35 6EQ

Sat 27th

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐴 Mid Devon Show | Knighthayes, Chettiscombe, Tiverton EX16 7RG | Tickets: adult £18, U15 free

🐬 South Devon

MAY

Thurs 16th to Sat 18th

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐑 Devon County Show | Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Online tickets adult £23, child £8 (free on Saturday)

Fri 17th to Sun 19th

TUNES | 🎸 Dart Music Festival | 100 folk, rock, jazz and classical bands and acts in 20 venues around Dartmouth | Free

Sat 25th

FESTIVAL | 🎈 Devonshire Balloon and Music Festival | Exeter Racecourse EX6 7XS | Adult tickets £10.84, child £7.59

Sat 25th to Fri 31st

NATURE | 🍃 English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Festival | Multiple events happening across the Geopark | See the events and book here

JUNE

Sat 1st

MUSIC | 🎶 South Devon Big Band performing at Budleigh Salterton | The Public Hall, Station Road EX9 6RJ | Tickets £12.50

Fri 7th to Sun 9th

FAIR | 🪡 Craft Festival | Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AL | Adult tickets £10, U18s free

Thu 13th to Sun 16th

MUSIC | 🎤 Summer Sessions | Plymouth Hoe PL1 2PJ | Tickets

Sat 15th

FAIR | 🍺 Exeter Independent Market | Exeter Cathedral EX1 1HS | Free

Sat 15th to Sun 16th

CAR ENTHUSIASTS | 🚗 Plymouth Motor Show 2024 | Horsham Playing Fields, Staddiscombe PL9 0DF | £5 entry per person

Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd June

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐮Axe Vale Show | Trafalgar Way, Axminster EX13 5RJ | Tickets: adult £12, child 5-16 £1. Free parking

JULY

Sat 6th

ADVENTURE | ⛺️ Roar n’ Snore | Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth PL7 5DG | Adult tickets £89, child £55

Fri 12th to Sun 14th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎙️ Tunes on the Sands | Mill Lane, Stoke Fleming, Dartmouth TQ6 0QZ | Tickets from £32

🏆️ Win Devon prizes

We find Devon prize competitions so you don’t have to.

Closing dates in brackets. Terms and conditions apply, see individual websites for details.

You could win:

NEW! 1 of 3 family days out (2 adults, 2 children) to Devon’s top attractions at any time in 2024 (no closing date given)

🐺 A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children to see unusual animals at Exmoor Zoo (no date given)

⛺️ A 2-night stay in a Brixham glamping pod. (27th May)

🍓 A luxury afternoon tea for 2 in a Totnes delicatessen (30th May)

NEW!  🍷 A meal worth £100 at The Point, Exmouth (2nd June)

NEW!  A 3-night pitch at an award-winning Dartmoor touring park. (12th June)

Got a competition? Let us know

That’s all for this week, but…

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team