🌷 Hello Devon Lovers,

Welcome to the 45th issue of Go Devon!, a weekly newsletter with fun, interesting and unique things to do in Devon. Thanks for being here!

⛺️ Spring is here and festival organisers are announcing dates and line-ups. Watch out for our guide to the biggest and best Devon music festivals soon.

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Take Mum to see daffodils and more at Hartland Abbey

Mother’s Day meets Daffodil Day on Sunday March 10th.

Bring family, friends and dogs to Hartland Abbey at a reduced admission price to see a collection of historic daffodils, some planted 150 years ago.

Not just daffodils though. This is the first chance to see camellias, hellebores, early spring bulbs, mimosas, scented clematis armandii, wild primroses and violets before Hartland Abbey opens for the season in Easter week.

The orchard, normally closed, will be open for viewing the daffodils.

Dogs are allowed off lead and there are plenty of walks around the estate which has been the setting to film and TV productions including Sense and Sensibility and Rebecca.

Hartland, Stoke, Bideford EX39 6DT

11am-4pm. Adults £9, Children (5-15) £1, U5 free. Entry to the house £4 (open 12pm-3pm)

Celebrate the passion and fire of Andalucian flamenco

See passion, fire and lightning fast footwork in a new touring show celebrating the birthplace of flamenco.

The Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company is at the Exeter Corn Exchange next month with Andalucia, a music and dance production (video) supported by a chamber orchestra.

It’s a musical representation of the 8 regions that make up the Andalucia region in southern Spain, each with a distinct take on what makes flamenco.

Sunday 10th March, 7.30pm. Market Street, Exeter, EX1 1BW. Tickets £32

An evening with Spurs legends Perryman and Ardiles

Support for your footballl team knows no boundaries, but who knew there is a North Devon Spurs Supporters Club?

The Tottenham enclave around Barnstaple are opening their doors to all for a rare visit by 2 of the team’s legends on Saturday 23rd March.

Steve Perryman, an MBE, known for his 854 first-team appearances, and Ossie Ardiles, World Cup winner celebrated for his midfield and goal-scoring mastery (video), will provide unique insights into their careers and more recent health challenges.

The event includes a raffle of Tottenham memorabilia and will raise funds for heart health awareness and the Devon Air Ambulance.

7pm to 11pm. The Cedars Inn Hotel, Bickington, Barnstaple EX31 2HE

Tickets £20-£35

A free day out to mark 200 years of saving lives at sea

Clamber and explore on 4 working lifeboats and watch live sea rescue demonstrations at the Royal William Yard, Plymouth.

Plymouth had one of the country’s first lifeboats in 1803, many years before the formation of RNLI in 1824.

Now in its 200th year, the national sea rescue service is running a free open day of celebrations including sea shanties and a lifeboat and rescue helicopter procession in front of The Hoe.

The event will raise money to help the work of the RNLI and its 238 lifeboat stations and 242 lifeguard monitored beaches.

The venue’s monthly food and craft market will also be on. A free bus shuttle service runs from the city centre.

10am to 3pm. Sunday 3rd March

No, they don’t get as big as this at Woolacombe

Here’s one for the surfing dudes among you.

Big waves call for a big screen and Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear* is lined up for a local showing in Barnstaple.

The documentary takes an in-depth look at a big wave season through the eyes of top surfers including Nic Von Rupp, Kai Lenny and pioneering female surfer Bianca Valenti.

They all push past fear and find out what is on the other side as they tackle monstrous waves in locations from Nazare in Portugal, Jaws and Pipeline in Hawaii and Mavericks in Northern California.

7pm-10pm. Friday 29th March. Scott Cinemas, Boutport Street EX31 1SR

Tickets £9

*Also available on the major streaming platforms

Who’d want to mess with Big D? Find out at Axminster Guildhall

Big and scary challenge belt holder Big D will be bashing opponents around the ring on a night of professional wrestling in Axminster.

Watch 6 contests on Saturday 30th March with a championship bout, tag and ladies fights.

Fun for all the family with stars including Violet Nyte, Kenny Mantra, Ruby Manitoba, Toby St John and Nadia Sapphire.

More on the Ring Wrestling Stars here.

Axminster Guildhall, 5 West Street, Axminster EX13 5NX

Tickets Adults £10, concessions £8

Listings

🌊 North Devon 

MARCH

Fri 1st to Sat 2nd

THEATRE | 🧙‍♀️ Wizard of Oz | The Landmark, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £15

Wed 13th to Thu 14th

FILM | 🎥 Poor Things | Oscar nominated movie with Emma Stone | The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington EX38 8HQ | Tickets £7.50

Sat 23rd

WILDLIFE | 🪴 The Alpine Garden Society Show | RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | General admission fee for non members, free entry to members

Sun 24th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Beach Clean Up | Westward Ho! Slipway, Bideford EX39 1LL | Free

Mon 25th

ENVIRONMENT | 🐟 Saving Our Wild Isles | A film highlighting the work being done to protect out planet | Barnstaple Library EX31 1EL | Free

Wed 27th

CHALLENGE | 🔥 Fire Walk for Amber - a charity that works with young people experiencing homelessness and unemployment | Ashley Court, Chawleigh EX18 7EX | Entry £33.22

Sun 31st to Tue 2nd Apr

AMUSEMENT | 🏰 Inflatable Theme Park | Rock Park, Barnstaple EX32 9AQ | Adult entry free, children £8

APRIL

Mon 1st to Sun 7th

HOLIDAY | 🐣 Meet the Easter Bunny | The Milky Way Adventure Park, Bideford EX39 5RY | Regular park entry fees apply, with an £2.95 per child to visit the Easter Grotto

Fri 12th

MUSIC | 🎙️ Freddie Mercury Tribute act | Cedars Inn, Barnstaple EX31 2HE | Tickets £15

Tue 30th

WILDLIFE | 🌸 Grow your own cut flowers workshop | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD | Tickets £50

🐬 South Devon

FEBRUARY

Wed 28th

FILM | 🎬 Banff Mountain Film Festival | Exeter Corn Exchange EX1 1BW | Adult tickets £18, U16s and over 60s £16

MARCH

Sat 2nd to Sun 3rd

CRAFT | 👛 Make a bag with Dartmoor Leather | Dartmoor Leather studio, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8QA | Tickets £245

Thu 7th

MUSIC | 🎤 Ozric Tentacles and Gong | Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place EX4 3LS | Tickets from £25

Thu 14th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎪 Circus of Horrors - Dr Haze’s Cabaret of Curiosities | Plymouth Pavilions PL1 3LF | Tickets from £20

Sat 23rd

CHALLENGE | 🏃‍♀️ Race With No Name | 50km run across Dartmoor | Trenchford Reservoir TQ13 9NZ | Entry £49

Fri 29th to Mon 1st Apr

ECO GETAWAY | 🧘‍♀️ Ecstatic Dance Easter Retreat | Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter EX6 7QQ | Tickets £425

APRIL

Mon 1st to Wed 17th

FAMILY | 🐣 Easter Egglow at Kents Cavern | How many illuminating eggs can you spot throughout your tour of the caves? | Torquay TQ1 2JF | Adult tickets £16, U16s £14

Sun 14th

CHALLENGE | 🚴‍♀️ Haldon Heroic Gravel Races | Exeter Race Course, Kennford EX6 7XS | Entry from £33

Sun 21st

OUTDOORS | 🐕 The Great British Dog Walk | Canonteign Falls, Christow EX6 7RH | Tickets £12

🏆️ Win Devon prizes

🍸️ A 7-night luxury lodge stay for 4 people in South Devon (Tomorrow)

A one-night stay and breakfast for 2 at the Bedford Hotel, Tavistock (29 Feb)

🍷 A mid-week lunch including wine for 2 at a classy Honiton restaurant (29 Feb)

🏨 A 2-night luxury stay at boutique hotel Gara Rock, near Salcombe (7 Mar)

💕 A romantic stay for 2 with dinner, bed and breakfast in Lynmouth, worth £250 (10 Mar)

🌊 A 3-night weekend stay for 4 in a cabin on The Flete Estate and paddleboarding on a private beach, plus 2 other holidays. (11 Mar)

New! 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)

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

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

🥐 A 3-night getaway for a family of four in a cozy 2-bedroom lodge and a free food hamper at The Mole Resort. (no closing date given)

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 to keep up with Devon events.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team