Hello Devon Lovers,

Had a lovely time at Overbecks, Salcombe, for Mum’s birthday.

Pink giant magnolias bursting out, bananas and succulents raring to go, and the birds tweeting like crazy.

There's an air of expectation at this magnificent garden: the lawns neatly clipped, the borders mulched, all ready for the explosion of Spring.

And the views of the estuary are sublime.

More pictures on the Go Devon! Instagram account.

Now on with this week’s selection of exciting and interesting things to do in Devon.

Celebrate the dark and glorious moor

A new festival exploring the nature, landscape and culture of Dartmoor is centred in Ashburton on the Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th May.

The Dartmoor Tors Festival is a collection of walks, talks, exhibitions and performances.

Among the highlights:

• Beltan Border: The Dark Side of Folk. A conversation with and performance by, Dartmoor’s wildest (and possibly scariest) Morris group (see above).

• A concert by the moor’s award-winning folk singer Seth Lakeman, playing from his latest album The Granite Way.

• Zines, Trinkets, Objects. A 3-hour crafting workshop, exhibition and walk.

• Walks led by “Dartmoor Paul” Rendell, including Ten Tors in 4 hours in East Dartmoor and strolls to Down Tor Stone row and Merrivale Stone Row.

• A drawing walk with artist Kay Pearson in Haytor Quarries.

VENUES: Ashburton Arts Centre and Field System. Individually ticketed events. Full programme here

Another chance to see Black Sabbath: The Ballet

Tickets sold out fast for last year’s one night performance: this time around there are 3 nights at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal. Likely to be a sell out again.

Created by director Carlos Acosta and the Birmingham Rouyal Ballet, this is the first heavy metal ballet mixing rock music with classical dance, and tracing the story of the band.

REVIEWS: Widely praised for successfully mixing two seemingly incompatible art forms. A "glorious, engaging and warm-hearted" endeavor, said The Guardian, with "irresistible oomph" said The Independent.

• Critics say voiceovers from band members Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi add realism, and the show has a ritualistic atmosphere created by dancers in black.

Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th October. Tickets: from £20

Devon’s hidden gardens revealed

Large formal gardens impress and wow, but there’s something equally rewarding about looking round someone’s private heaven.

Opportunities to see Devon gardens start properly at the end of March when scores start opening, including whole villages who co-ordinate their openings.

WHERE: 88 gardens across the county through the National Open Garden Scheme on specific days and by arrangement. Gems like Andrew’s Corner, Belstone (West Dartmoor), Chevithorne Barton (Tiverton) and Upper Gorwell House (Barnstaple), are hardly ever open, so now’s your chance.

• Hidden village gardens in Yelverton, Bere Ferrers and Rattery | Mothecombe House, Flete Gardens (St Lukes Open Gardens, 10 events, 6 open by appointment).

MONEY FACTS: Last year the NGS scheme raised £3.5m for charity nationwide. St Lukes has done well, raising £590,000 over 15 years in Devon alone.

A night out for fans of “The Ferret” and “Bully Boy”

Talking of events selling out fast, I’ve noticed that darts tickets for the Westpoint Centre, Exeter, fly out. Promoters have also done well in Bournemouth. Now they’re testing the market in Plymouth.

HEADLINERS: 2023 World Champion Michael “Bully Boy” Smith, Welsh favourite Jonny “The Ferret” Clayton, Aussie legend Damon “The Heat” Heta and Devon star Ryan “Heavy Metal” Searle.

• Also featuring a special guest, Terry “The Bull” Jenkins and Canadian Jeff “The Silencer” Smith.

Great names, eh?

The Devon Darts Showdown, Saturday 23rd August, Plymouth Pavilions. Tickets: from £57.50

Support those saving lives at sea

The fishing village of Appledore is planning a fun waterfront day as it celebrates 200 years of the RNLI and raises funds with a special Lifeboat Day.

Watch demonstrations, board lifeboats, explore the station and meet the crews.

ON DISPLAY: All weather lifeboat Mollie Hunt and Jane Hannah Macdonald lll, which served from 1910 till 1922.

FOOD & DRINK: BBQ, trade and craft stalls.

MUSIC: The Appledore Band performs.

Sunday 4th May. Appledore Quay and Lifeboat Station. More details.

🚀 Advertise your Devon brand

Boost your business by reaching an engaged, fast-growing audience of Devon leisure and events lovers. See the features list for opportunities aligning with your brand.

Devon Curiosities #49: The Golden Hind

Brixham’s most famous landmark has been in place for 50 years and still intrigues visitors.

The Golden Hind is a full-sized replica (one of two in the UK) of the ship Sir Francis Drake sailed around the world in 1577.

It’s the star of a new Channel 5 TV series with James May this year called The Great Explorers.

The Golden Hind is open during the holiday season, and this year there are 3 live concerts on board during Brixham Pirate Festival from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th May.

NOTE: Not to be confused with the 1973 replica Golden Hinde docked by London Bridge and Borough Market.

Adult £7, child £5, over 65 £5

Member poll

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

MARCH

Fri 14th

REGGAE MUSIC | 🎤 The Barefoot Bandits | The Palladium Club, Bideford | Tickets £13.20

Sat 15th

WILD FOOD COURSE | 🌳 Bulworthy Forest Foraging | Bideford | Adult tickets £55, U16s £27.50

CRAFT WORKSHOP | 🎨 Batik and Tie Dye | The Burton at Bideford, Bideford | Tickets £33.22

FOLK MUSIC | 🎤 Mad Dog Mcrea | St. Marys Hall, Appledore | Tickets £21

Sun 16th

OPEN GARDENS | 🌼 Daffodil Day | Hartland Abbey and Gardens, Bideford | Adult tickets £10, U16s £1

Wed 19th

NATURE TALK | 🎙️ Pine martens in Exmoor with Devon Wildlife Trust Field Officer Ali North | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton | Tickets £5

See 51 more North Devon events

🐬 South Devon

MARCH

Sun 16th

LEGO FESTIVAL | 🧱 Plymouth Brick Festival | Plymouth Life Centre | Tickets £13

Sun 16th (to Sun 27th Apr)

SEA EXHIBITION | 🌎 Planet Ocean | The BOX, Plymouth | Free

Wed 19th

CLASSICAL MUSIC | 🎻 Maxim Calver and the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra | Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth | Adult tickets £17.60, children £5.50

Thu 20th (to Wed 30th Apr)

GARDEN | 🌷 Festival of Blossom at Coleton Fishacre | Coleton Fishacre, Dartmouth | Free

Sat 22nd

CHORAL MUSIC | 🎵 University of Plymouth Choral Society Spring Concert | Minster Church of St. Andrew, Plymouth | Adult tickets £16, U18s £6

COMEDY | 😆 Jason Manford - A Manford All Seasons | Princess Theatre, Torquay | Tickets £39.61

See 66 more South Devon events 

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🍇 A vineyard tour for two and a bottle of sparkling wine at family-owned Huxbear Vineyard in the Teign Valley (31st Mar)

NEW!  🍾 A 2-night luxury stay at the Gara Rock resort near Kingsbridge (15th Mar)

NEW!  ⛺️ A week of family camping at The Big Sheep in North Devon (16th Mar)

NEW! 🧖‍♀️ A luxurious spa and dining experience for up to 4 people during Mother’s Day weekend including champagne afternoon tea and spa treatments (23rd Mar)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A family ticket to drive diggers and dump trucks at Diggerland (23rd Mar)

🐮 2 × 1-day tickets to the Devon County Show in May (24th Mar)

🥧 £150 of your choice of Devon-made pies, pasties and sausage rolls delivered to your door (30th Mar)

NEW!  🏰 A 2-night self-catering stay at Watermouth Castle in 2025 with unlimited entry to the theme park (31st Mar)

🍷 Dinner, bed and breakfast for 2 at The Collective, Woolsery in North Devon (31 Mar)

⛳️ A 3-night break for up to 6 people at the Golden Coast Leisure Park in North Devon, including golf and tennis (31st Mar)

🐰 An Easter family day out to one of Devon’s top attractions with bus transport included. EX or TQ postcodes only. (31st Mar)

♨️ A 2-night stay for 2 at Ilsington Country House Hotel and Spa, Newton Abbot (31st Mar)

 🪙 A “golden ticket” with free entry for 4 people to more than 30 Devon attractions, worth £1,500, for 12 months from date of issue (31st Mar)

🛏️ A 3-night stay in a 2-bedroom lodge at The Mole Resort, North Devon (1st Apr)

♨️ A 2-night lodge stay for 4 people, including private hot tub, also at The Mole Resort, worth over £250 (1st Apr)

🌳 2 VIP tickets to Toby Buckland’s Garden Festival in Exeter worth £200. (3rd Apr)

🎉 1 of 4 free 2025 Devon holidays at either River Dart Country Park, Cofton Holidays, Woodlands Grove or Crealy Theme Park (30th Apr)

NEW!  🐻 A 1-night stay for 2 at The Bearslake Inn, West Dartmoor, including a three‑course meal and a breakfast hamper (31st May)

New member? Catch up here

😂 Comedy and offbeat shows 2025 (2)

🚚 The prettiest tough guys in the West

🌞 The oldest daffodils in Devon

😂 Comedy and offbeat shows 2025

That’s all for this week, but don’t forget to check out the Flotsam Prints partner promotion* for Mother’s Day gift ideas, and claim 20% off with the discount code GODEVON.

Thanks for being a member.

All ideas, feedback and suggestions are very welcome. Email me.

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team