🌞 Hello Devon Fun Lovers,

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Enjoy miles of glorious Devon cycle trails

The Tarka Trail in North Devon is the jewel in the crown of a series of mostly flat, easily accessible and family-friendly trails in the county.

The traffic-free 32 mile route between Braunton and Meeth has stunning views across the Taw and Torridge estuaries with many picnic spots, cafes and pubs.

Other cycling gems include The Exe Estuary Trail connecting Exmouth, Dawlish Warren and Exeter Quay, Drake’s Trail, linking Plymouth and Tavistock, and The Granite Way between Okehampton and Lydford.

For free trail map downloads and information such as refreshment stops and toilets visit Devon County Council’s excellent Travel Devon website.

Tales of the Land, Songs of the Sea

Learn about Exeter’s maritime history through stories, songs and photographs.

In 1700, the port and its canal was one of most important in the country. Today, a shadow of it’s former self, it lives on mainly through living history talks at the The Custom House.

Led by experienced guide and maritime expert Jon Bell, the Tales of the Land, Songs of the Sea talk is a lively introduction to the topic.

Tickets are free but registration is required.

2pm to 4pm, Sunday 8th September. Exeter Custom House, 46 The Quay, EX2 4AN

Grow your love of wine, far beyond the bottle

They must be doing something right at Alder Vineyard as the Okehampton visitor attraction has won a clutch of 2024 awards.

The place is not just about growing grapes and making wine, it’s the wine-tasting, food and tours that bring in the gongs.

The business has come a long way in the 10 years since farmers Mike and Sarah Hodgetts decided to take their family farm in a new direction with wine-making at the foot of Dartmoor.

Alder Vineyard won Best Cafe in Devon, Small Visitor Attraction of the Year, and Winner of Winners at the 2024 Devon Tourism Awards.

Vineyard tours and wine-tasting April to October £15. Sunset winemakers tour including supper £39.95 (next one is Saturday 7th September). Bookings.

Alder Vineyard, Lewdown, Okehampton EX20 4PJ

An evening with Sir Geoff Hurst: 1966’s last man standing

Now 82, the last surviving member of the World Cup winning football team says this speaking tour will be his last.

As a result An Evening with Sir Geoff Hurst will have that added poignancy as he discusses the glory of England’s only World Cup win and the contrasts between that age and modern football.

There will be amusing anecdotes about his West Ham and England career with his friend and agent Terry Baker asking the questions.

The second half will be a question-and-answer session with the audience.

7.30pm, Thursday 3rd October.

Tickets: £32.50 to £68.

Exeter Northcutt Theatre EX4 4QB

Kingsbridge Show: Saturday 7th September

If you didn’t catch one of Devon’s country shows this year there’s still a chance fo grab one of the the last in Kingsbridge next month.

Kingsbridge plans to entertain with Paul Hannam’s quad bike stunts, Pony Club Games and the ever popular terrier racing.

New for 2024 is the Scarecrow Competition, open to schools and childrens’ groups, with the traditional parades of livestock and hounds and

The Country Scene marquee includes childrens’ pets competitions for rabbits, guinea pigs a spinners and weavers group.

Tickets: Adult £15, child 11-16 £5, child U11 free.

Devon Curiosities #22: Lydford Gorge

The deepest river gorge in the South West, Lydford has the 30m high Whitelady Waterfall and the swirling Devil’s Cauldron among its natural curiosities.

Walking trails take you through a rare temperate rainforest with steep mossy river banks and unusual rock formations.

There are some great picture opportunities with platforms and bridges over the water, a hide to watch birds feeding, and an orchard and meadow area for picnics.

Adult £11, child £5.50, family £27.50.

Near Tavistock EX20 4BH

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

AUGUST

Fri 30th to Sun 1st Sept

FESTIVAL | 🎙️ Sheb Fest | Allacott Farm, Beaworthy EX21 5TF | Adult tickets £76, U18s £61

SEPTEMBER

Sat 7th

WALK | 🥾 RNLI Clovelly to Appledore Walk 2024 | 13 years and older only | Clovelly Visitors Centre, Bideford EX39 5TA | Tickets £14.79

Fri 13th to Sun 15th

MUSIC | 🎤 Woodpecker Weekender 2024 | Live music event with sustainability at its heart | Wild Woods Bar, South Molton EX36 4RR | Tickets £71.13

Sat 14th

ANNIVERSARY | 🥂 Celebrate 200 years of the RNLI at their North Devon Coast Bicentenary Dinner | The Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple EX31 1LE | Tickets £59.21

FILM | 🍿 Outdoor Cinema screening of The Greatest Showman | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Free

Sat 14th to Sun 29th

NATURE | 🥾 Mid Devon Walking Festival | A variety of walks throughout the beautiful mid Devon countryside | Prices vary per event | Find locations and prices for each event here

Sat 21st to Sun 22nd

ART & CRAFT | 🎨 CREATED Contemporary and Heritage Crafts Festival | The BIG Sheep, Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5AP | Tickets from £11

OCTOBER

Sat 5th

FILM | 🎦 Ocean Film Festival World Tour | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £16.50

Fri 25th

HALLOWEEN | 🎃 Hallowed Samhain celebration - A Pagan tradition | St Anne’s Art and Community Centre, Barnstaple EX31 1SX | Tickets £35

Sun 27th

REUSE | ♻️ Tiverton Salvage Fair | Tiverton Pannier Market, Tiverton EX16 6NH | Free

🐬 South Devon

SEPTEMBER

Fri 6th

MUSIC | 🎶 Big Noise Chorus presents ‘Wonderful World’ - A night full of joyous pop songs | Princess Theatre, Torquay TQ2 5EZ | Tickets from £20

Fri 6th to Sun 8th

BOATING | 🚤 UIM Power Boat World Championship Finals | Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, Plymouth PL9 9SJ | Free

LOVE | 🏳️‍🌈 Torbay Pride 2024 | Torre Abbey Meadows, Torquay TQ2 5DG | Free

Tue 10th

COUNTRY FAIR | 🏘️ Widecombe Fair | Widecombe-in-the-moor TQ13 7TT | Adult tickets £10, U16s free

Sat 14th to Sun 29th

NATURE | 🥾 Mid Devon Walking Festival | A variety of walks throughout the beautiful mid Devon countryside | Prices vary per event | Find locations and prices for each event here

Sun 15th

FILM | 🎥 Outdoor Cinema screening of Back to the Future | Saltram House, Plymouth PL7 1UH | Tickets from £16.98

MUSIC | 🎸 Voodoo Room - A night of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream | Exmouth Pavilion, Exmouth, EX8 2AZ | Tickets from £23.50

Sat 21st

DRINK | 🥃 Dartmoor Whiskey Tasting Experience | Dartmoor Whiskey Distillery, Newton Abbott TQ13 9EG | Tickets £20 | Other dates available

OCTOBER

Sat 12th and Sun 13th

GAMING | 🖥️ Comic Con and Gaming Festival | Westpoint Arena, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Adult tickets £13.76, U14s £9.54

Sat 19th

SPORT | 🤼 REACH Wrestling Supershow | Plymouth Life Centre, Plymouth PL2 3DG | Tickets from £12

🏆️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 midweek getaway for two adults for a 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom lodge near Lynmouth. (No closing date given)

🏠️ A 3-night family cottage holiday with hot tub near Exmoor, worth £550. (No closing date given)

🛏️ A 2-night bed and breakfast break at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton (Tomorrow, 30th Aug)

⛳️ A 2-night golf break including bed and breakfast at The Dartmouth Hotel, championship golf course and spa (This Saturday, 31st Aug)

🍸️ A canned cocktail bundle worth £80 (31st Aug)

🍏 A Devon food adventure bundle: thatched inn stay, cider tour, £135 bakery voucher, distillery tour, flapjack box (31st Aug)

🍷 An unforgettable 3-night gastro stay in Lynmouth, worth £1,350 (1st Sep)

🫖 Afternoon tea for 2 at Lympstone Manor, Exmouth (17th Sep)

🛏️ An overnight stay with dinner at a dreamy Salcombe coastal hotel plus a local brewery tour (30th Sep)

🪙 A £500 voucher for a South Devon holiday park holiday (17th Oct)

NEW!  👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 A 2-night stay for up to 16 family and friends at a Devon farmhouse (31st Jan 2025)

That’s all for this week, but…

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team