🌞 Hi Devon Fans,

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

Enjoy the essence of heavenly Devon

To have a fun day out and truly experience Devon’s rural life, visit one of the 13 farming and agricultural shows this summer.

There’s a rich mixture of everything countryside from rare cattle, steam tractors, flying quad bikes, organic burgers, spinning wheels and chrysanthemum displays.

Here are dates, locations, costs and vibes for 6 shows in May, June and July. Look out for the rest in 2 weeks time.

1. Devon County Show: Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th May

First out of the stable is the prize heifer of them all, the Devon County Show.

You’ll see the largest food fair in Devon, plus just about everything else that makes a top county show, including vintage tractors and steam engines plus 2,000 livestock and rare breeds.

The top arena act is Ben Atkinson and his magnificent troupe of horses.

Online tickets: Adult £20, child £7.50 (free on Saturday).

Clyst St Mary, Exeter. Use postcode EX5 1DJ then follow signs. Free parking.

2. Axe Vale Show: Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June

This is where falconry displays meet majorettes, BMX stunts and gymnastics, raising money for local charities.

Unusually, Axe Vale has a toys and hobbies marquee, with gypsy caravans, patchwork quilts, model fairground and Royal Navy warships.

Tickets online: Adult £12, child 5-16 £1. Free parking.

Trafalgar Way, Axminster EX13 5RJ

3. Mid Devon Show, Tiverton: Saturday 27th July

The running of the hounds is a tradition but Mid Devon also offers an eclectic list of draws including giant tortoises, classic buses, a music festival and tug of war contests.

Art and flower competitions have pride of place and traditional crafts in danger of dying out are promoted.

Online tickets: Adult £18, U15 free.

Knightshayes, Chettiscombe, Tiverton EX16 7RG

4. Totnes & District Show: Sunday 28th July

Live lamb shearing competitions pull the crowds at this South Devon gathering which has been a fixture for more than 100 years.

And if you’re looking for more adrenalin fuelled duelling watch tractors battle it out in a 100m pulling competition across a muddly field.

Tickets online: Adult £15, child 4-15 £2.50, family £35

Great Court Farm, Berry Pomeroy TQ9 6LE

5. Woolsery Show, Bideford: Monday 29th July

Magnificently turned out heavy horses take centre stage at North Devon’s more intimate agricultural event that still provides what you’d expect like handicraft, cookery and horticulure contests.

And if you’re in the area don’t miss the chance to visit the nearby historic village of Clovelly.

Tickets: Adult £10, child U16 £2.50

6. Yealmpton Show: Wednesday 31st July

Classic cars, vintage motorcycles and Land Rovers are on the festival agenda as well as flowers, ponies, sheep, goats, dogs, homecraft and handicrafts.

The Grand Parade is the highlight, a chance for the winning exhibitors to show off their animals.

In the Countryside marquee you will find a collection of attractions from marine wildlife and owls to butterflies, bees and stick insects.

Kitley Lawns, Yealmpton, Plymouth PL8 2NN

Tickets. Adult £13, child 5-16 £4, child U5 free. Free parking.

Devon Curiosities #4: Finch Foundry

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of last working water powered forge in the country.

At it’s peak Finch Foundry produced 400 tools a day for agriculture and mining, with massive hammers and giant metal shears driven by 3 working water wheels.

The foundry was formed by William Finch in 1814 and run by several generations of the family. They specialised in edge tools like scythes, hoes, cutters and shovels.

Still in business until 1960 when the roof collapsed, the forge is now maintained in working order by The National Trust (video).

Entry. Adult £9, child £5.50, family £22.50.

Sticklepath, Okehampton EX20 2NW

Listings

🌊 North Devon 

APRIL

Sat 27th

CRAFT | 🧼 Beginner soap making course | Unit 7, Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Bideford EX39 3DX | Tickets £60

MAY

Sun 5th

CELEBRATING SUMMER | ☀️ Jack in the Green festivities | Ilfracombe EX34 | Free

EXERCISE AND WELLBEING | 🧘‍♀️ Park Yoga | Rock Park, Barnstaple EX32 9AQ | Free

Tue 14th

GARDENING | 🐝 Planting for Pollinators Workshop | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD | Tickets £25

Sat 18th

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

Fri 24th to Mon 27th 

FOOD AND DRINK | 🍻 Ilfracombe Beer Festival 2024 | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ |

Sun 26th

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

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Beach Clean Up | Mill Rock, Woolacombe EX34 7HL | Free

JUNE

Sun 16th

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

Sun 30th

CHALLENGE | 🏃 North Devon Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km race | The Green, Esplanade, Woolacombe EX34 7DJ | Registration 

🐬 South Devon

APRIL

Sat 27th

DAY OUT | 🍃 Green Man Spring Festival | Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AW | Free

MAY

Wed 1st

MAY DAY | ☀️ Dance on Dartmoor at sunrise with Dartmoor Border Morris | 5.15am, car park below Leedon Tor on the B3212 | Free

Sat 4th to Sun 19th

EXPLORE | 🚶 English Riviera Walking Festival | 20 guided walks around Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Book here

Sat 11th

FUN AND GAMES | 🧩 Cheesy Bingo Party | Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter EX1 1BW | Tickets £16.50

Tue 14th

CAR SHOW | 🚘 Quay Side Classics | A chance to meet fellow classic car owners and enthusiasts | Kingsbridge TQ7 | Free

Fri 17th

TALK | 🎙️ John Lydon, (Johnny Rotten) : I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right | Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter EX1 1BW | Tickets from £34

Sat 18th to Sun 19th

DAY OUT | ⛵️ Plymouth Pirate Weekend 2024 | Barbican PL1 2LS | Free

Tue 28th

EXERCISE AND WELLBEING | 🧘‍♀️ Yoga in the Caves | Kents Cavern, Torquay TQ1 2JF | Tickets £11

Fri 31st to Sun 2nd June

FOOD AND DRINK | 🌯 20th Anniversary of Plymouth Flavour Fest | Amanda Way PL1 2AA | Free

JUNE

Sat 1st

ADVENTURE | 🏃‍♀️ Dartmoor Prison Break 2024 | HMP Dartmoor, Tavistock Road, Princetown PL20 6RR | Entry £38.62

🏆️ 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!  🐑 4 VIP tickets for a Pennywell Farm day out in South Devon (Instagram). (No date given)

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

🏇 2 four-day tickets to the Bicton International Horse Trials, a food hamper and free camping pass on 23-26 May (Today, 25th April)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 1 of 4 amazing 2024 family park holidays (30th April)

🇪🇹 Tickets to one of 2 rum and reggae festivals and £40 drinks vouchers (30th April)

🌊 A 2-night stay at the luxury Gara Rock resort (1st May)

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

 🍷 A one‑night stay for two in a boutique North Devon venue and pub, a three‑course dinner for two and a farm tour worth a total of £375. (15th May)

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

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With Devon love,

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