👋 Hi Devon Afficionados,

Welcome to Go Devon!, a weekly newsletter with fun, interesting and unique things to do in Devon. Thanks for being here!

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A man who can ride two horses at once

The top arena act at the Devon County Show this year is Ben Atkinson and his magnificent troupe of horses.

The Atkinson family provide some of the most highly skilled horses and riders for TV, film and photo shoots, and Ben has been Roman riding (riding two at once) since he was 11.

He’ll be performing every day at the show.

Other highlights include scurry racing, in which a pair of ponies race a carriage around a course of cones, around 2,000 livestock and rare breeds, the largest food fair in Devon and vintage tractors and steam engines.

On Saturday, when kids go free, watch a morning and afternoon performance by Jamie Squibb and his freestyle motorcycle stunt team.

As we know, Ooh, Devon is a place on earth. (Video). Ha ha.

Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th May, Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, EX5 1DJ

Early bird tickets. Adult £20, over 60 £18, carer / child £7.50

Birdwatching from a hide on wheels

Bird lovers recorded 60 species on the last birdwatching trip aboard the Seaton Tramway in the wetlands of the Axe Valley.

Among the rarities was a European wryneck, the first seen in 4 years, kingfishers, skylarks, meadow pipits, linnets, siskins and goldfinches.

2 hour birdwatching trips run regularly throughout the spring and summer through Seaton Marshes and Colyford Common, departing from Seaton station.

The tram provides access to areas otherwise difficult to reach. The first one of the year is this Saturday 23rd March.

Tickets £16.95

A place to have fun and get VERY muddy

30 obstacles, unlimited mud!

An award-winning mud-fest of an attraction, the Bear Trail is a mud obstacle course for all ages set on a 10-acre site.

Scramble over bear nets, zoom down a zip wire and tumble through the tunnels. Tackle the assault course as many times as you like.

Rash vests, layers and puddle suits are all welcome. Wear anything you are happy to get muddy.

Top tips: bring a towel, change of clothes and dry shoes. There are hot indoor showers and private individual changing rooms.

Open from Friday 29th March at weekends and daily during school holidays.

Westcott, Cullompton EX15 1RZ

Tickets Individual £9.95, family from £41.95

How shipwreck imposters exploited 19th century goodwill

Beggars knew something about marketing back in the day, and plenty had success impersonating shipwreck victims.

Shipwreck imposters were enough of a thing that philanthropic groups such as the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society were concerned about threat to benevolence and charity.

Hear more about these bold beggars and their lucrative “dodge” at an expert talk at Plymouth University on Tuesday 23rd April.

Dr Cathryn Pearce’s presentation takes place from 7pm to 8.30pm at the Lecture Theatre, Roland Levinsky Building PL4 8AA

​Tickets £6

BBC garden expert Frances Tophill shows us how to design personal paradise

Frances will be leading a 1-day garden design course for the home gardener at Widecombe in the Moor on Saturday 6th April.

The idea is to bring along an idea for a project, whether an allotment, balcony, yard or garden, and Frances will support you to consider practical, sustainable and functional ideas.

Hopefully all your questions can be answered and you can leave with confidence to bring a space to life.

Frances, who regularly appears on the Gardener’s World TV programme, is a botanically trained and experienced grower, with a love for growing purposefully.

Bring a packed lunch and water bottle. There are bathroom facilities and teas/coffees will be available on site.

10am to 4pm. Southcombe Barn, Widecombe TQ13 7TU

Tickets £157.80

Live boxing, up close and personal

Growing interest in mixed martial arts and cage fighting can’t be doing any harm to the traditional sport of boxing.

You can watch 5 hours of live bouts in Plymouth on the evening of Saturday 6th April.

The Rising in the South West promotion promises an explosive fight card of promising local boxers looking for that career-defining win.

Plymouth Life Centre, 40 Mayflower Drive PL2 3DG

Tickets £33.22

Listings

🌊 North Devon 

MARCH

Sat 23rd

TALK | 🎤 An evening with Spurs legends Steve Perryman and Ossie Ardiles | The Cedars Inn Hotel, Bickington, Barnstaple EX31 2HE | Tickets £20-£35

Fri 29th

SURFING | 🎬 Groundswell: The Other Side of Fear | Inide the world of top surfers. Scott Cinemas, Boutport Street, Barnstaple EX31 1SR | Tickets £9

APRIL

Sat 6th

MARKET | 🌽 Eat Festival | Try some of the West Country’s best food and drink | Bideford Quayside EX39 2EY | Free

CHARITY | ⚓️ RNLI Appledore Race Night | St Mary’s Church, Appledore EX39 1RL | Tickets £6.13

Sun 7th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🌼 Spring Family Rave | Crafts, games and more! | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets £5

Sun 14th and Sun 21st

NATURE | 💐 Immerse yourself in the spring bluebells at Hartland Abbey | Stoke, Bideford EX39 6DT | Adult entry £10, Child (5-15) £1

Wed 24th

BALLET | 🩰 Royal Opera House screening of Swan Lake | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £14

Fri 26th

MUSIC | 🎙️ The Sensational 60s Experience | Music nostalgia | Queens Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £33

MAY

Sat 11th

CHARITY | 🚶80s themed Nightwalk for North Devon Hospice | Barnstaple Rugby Club EX31 1JH | Adult tickets £21.92, children (11-17) £11.26

Sun 12th

FOOD | 🍄 Foraging course | Bulworthy Forest Lodges, Bideford EX39 4PU | Adult tickets £60, U16s £30

🐬 South Devon

MARCH

Tue 26th

CRAFT | 🌷 Easter Wreath Workshop with Emma’s Flowers | The Woolwell Centre, Darklake Lane, Plymouth PL6 7TR | Tickets £45

APRIL

Mon 1st

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Easter Eggcase Hunt | Explore the shore of Langdon beach whilst looking for marine treasures | Wembury Marine Centre, Church Rd PL9 0HP | Family ticket £5.94

Mon 1st to Sun 21st

ART | 📷 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition | Seaton Tramway, Harbour Road EX12 2WD | Adult tickets £6.80, U16s free

Sat 6th

CHARITY | 🚶Men’s Day Out in support of St Luke’s Hospice | Plymouth Albion, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4NE | Registration £35

Sun 7th

FAIR | 🥙 Food and Craft Market | Royal William Yard, Plymouth PL1 3RP | Free

Thu 18th

MUSIC | 🎻 Candlelight Concert | Vivaldi’s Four Seasons performed by the London Concertante | Exeter Cathedral, EX1 1HS | Tickets from £22.38

Sun 28th 

ANIMALS | 🐑 Feed lambs and meet the new calves and piglets this spring | Martinsfield Farm, Exeter EX5 3JH | Adult tickets £5, children free.

MAY

Fri 3rd to Sun 5th

MUSIC | 🎶 Mad Dog Mcrea | Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St EX4 3LS | Tickets £19.50

Thu 16th to Sat 18th

FAIR | 🎪 Devon County Show | Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Adult tickets £20, U16s £7.50

Sat 25th

CHALLENGE | 🏃‍♀️ The Langstone Fell Race | Peter Tavy Village Hall PL19 9NN | Adult registration £10, children £4

🏆️ 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:

A 3-three-night stay in an eco-conscious luxury lodge, with up to 6 guests, and a welcome hamper on arrival, worth £800 (27 Mar)

🍺 A fabulous Salcombe Brewery Company “Pub in a Box” (31 Mar)

🪙 £250 worth of vouchers towards a Devon break (31 Mar)

🛌 A bumper Dartmouth leisure package including B & B for 2, private sauna and paddleboarding (1 April)

New!  💪 2 tickets to the Magic Men show at Exmouth Pavilion on 3rd May (2 April)

New!  🚢 A family ticket for a Dartmouth to Totnes river cruise (2 April)

👪️ 1 of 4 amazing 2024 family park holidays (30 April)

New!  🏡 An escape to a newly refurbished cottage in South Devon (10 May)

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

Can we ask a favour? Please forward this email to ONE friend today and please tell them to subscribe here so they can keep up with Devon events and competitions.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team.