New this week: The first of a series of Devon Done Properly — occasional mini-guides for ideal days out in the UK’s most interesting county.

Don’t expect the obvious — I’m hand-picking unusual and surprising options, unexpected experiences and, of course, always with refreshments on hand.

The first is on my doorstep: a scenic road trip around the South Hams, ending with a flourish that won’t come as a surprise!

Yours in Devon,

P.S. New readers can download the free Devon Food & Drink Events guide here

Devon Done Properly #1: The South Hams cream tea run

This short circular tour is a 35 minute drive from Plymouth (50 minutes from Exeter) and feels like a mini-holiday. It’s one of many Devon sweet spots.

First stop: Avon Mill Garden Centre at Loddiswell.

Not just a garden centre, this tucked away leisure magnet also has tastefully restored farm buildings, shops and galleries.

The centrepiece is the airy, metal and glass atrium that ties them all together and where we had cappucinos after a happy hour of browsing.

Only a few miles onwards to Kingsbridge for our egg sandwiches and tea as we picnicked watching egrets on the river and checked out books and postcards in the charity shops.

Final stop: The Cottage Hotel at Hope Cove and the rare combination of the biggest scones ever — extra cream, jam and tea at no charge — plus traditional service standards and free parking.

The sun was out and on the balcony we viewed the sleepy village and beaches, dreamed of summer, and did very little else.

You won’t find this at Ascot

The Dartmoor sporting season gets underway on Saturday at the spectator-friendly Cherrybrook racecourse near Tavistock.

The starting gun for the first point-to-point is 1.30pm, heralding a fun, country day out.

The course has bookies, a bar and BBQ to keep you fed, watered and entertained between races.

Cherrybrook’s undulating left handed course with a slight incline before the winning post provides great viewing.

The going is said to be good to soft. Race course Facebook page

Saturday 4th April. Tavistock PL19 0LA

New artisan market at Watermouth Castle

The people behind the Ilfracombe Market launch their new venture on Saturday — the Watermouth Castle Artisan Market.

It’s a curated showcase of around 30 premium artisan stalls, each promised to represent exceptional quality, creativity and craftsmanship.

• Local produce, speciality foods, craft designers and makers.

10am to 4pm, Saturday 4th April, Watermouth Castle (no admission). Website

A little piece of Holland

60 varieties of tulips planted neatly in sections on the edge of nowhere. It’s the largest tulip patch in South West England.

The Strawberry Fields Tulip Festival at Lifton, west of Okehampton, is in full bloom right now.

4 acres of 500,000 blooming bulbs to see in one go. The promo video is worth a look to see the scale.

Open daily, you have just over 2 weeks to pay a visit before everything is gone. Last tickets are for Sunday 18th April. Get them here

Gardens not usually open to the public

Some hidden and rarely seen Devon gardens start opening their gates on Sunday.

The first is Gnaton Hall, Yealmpton: 5 acres of woodland walks with daffodils, camelias and magnolias, open to the public as part of the St Luke’s Open Garden scheme.

Over the summer you can choose from country houses Lewtrenchard, Flete and Mothecombe, or some the many private village gardens open in Horrabridge, Mary Tavy and Bere Alston.

Adult entry is £6 for every garden (U16s free). You can make a pleasant relaxing day as most of the gardens offer refreshments and plant sales.

To see all the locations and timings, visit the website

🌼 MEMBER POLL

Last week’s result

Bach or Byronic, what’s your music thing?

• Classicist 22%

• Romantic Rebel 12%

• Live Music Regular 22%

• Smooth Operator 0%

• Story Seeker 22%

• Good Times 22%

harepath selected Classicist and wrote: “Brought up by a Bach fan who had studied at the Toronto Conservatory during the Depression.”

laura selected Good Times and said: “Very hard to choose just one as different moods require different types of music. Though 80s pop is played the most in our household. ”

Stephen selected Romantic Rebel and commented: “The romantic, rebellious Devon. Twilight's lugubrious light darkening over Dartmoor; the passion of the roaring sea beating down on jagged rocks; the drama of ripening storm clouds billowing overhead. And all to the final movement of Beethoven's fourth piano concerto, reaching its almighty apogee at maximum volume. ”

UNSCRAMBLE

Here are the answers to last month’s competition.

Well done all of you who got them right.

C O M B I F L A R E = ILFRACOMBE

W O N D E R I N G T E S T = DREWSTEIGNTON

T I M E N O U G H T = TEIGNMOUTH

D O C T R I N E = CREDITON

The winner of the bottle of Exeter Gin is Jenny H from Crediton. Congratulations Jenny, your prize is on it’s way!

Devon Curiosities #101: Winsford Cottage Hospital, Beaworthy

An old hospital tucked away in West Devon was used for nearly 100 years — from the First World War to the early days of the NHS.

The wards at Winsford Cottage Hospital face the sun and recovering children could look out of the window and see passing steam trains.

But this isn’t a museum. Up to 6 people can stay in the pretty Arts & Crafts style building restored to it’s original condiion by The Landmark Trust.

On 4th and 5th July you can step inside for free as part of their open days and see the hearts, birds and trees motifs worked into the fabric of the building everywhere.

Walk around and get a feel for a special piece of architecture designed with exquisite style and care — with a caring purpose.

Donations welcome. Landmark Trust Open Days

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

🌳 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🏎️ A 3-night Taste of Devon road trip for 2 exploring the Devon coast from Sidmouth to Salcombe staying at Harbour Hotels with breakfast, dinner and a spa treatment, worth more than £1,600 (19th Apr)

🎷 2 weekend passes for the 2026 Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival (5th Apr)

NEW!  👩 A £50 skincare gift card from Devon-based Luxe Luna (9th Apr)

NEW!  🦭 A 2 night stay for 2 people in May at The Carlton Hotel, Ilfracombe, including dinner and Sunday lunch, a paint and sip evening and camera workshop, worth over £550 (14th Apr)

NEW!  🍏 1 of 3 Sandford Orchard hampers, each with 4 bottles of fruit flavoured ciders, chocolate bars and an all important glass (19th Apr)

NEW!  ☕️ A 3-month Owens Organic coffee subscription and an AeroPress coffee maker worth over £100, plus 2 £25 runner-up coffee vouchers (30th Apr)

🍷 A 4-course chef's table experience for 2 with matching drinks at The View Restaurant, Exeter (30th May)

NEW!  🌊 A short break worth £920 in a spacious lodge at the Riviera Bay Coastal Retreat, Brixham (31st May)

🏰 A 2-night stay for 4 at Watermouth Castle, including a 3-day castle pass and use of swimming pool (31st May)

Did you win something? Let me know

New member? Catch up here

🏺 BBC Antiques Roadshow coming to Devon

🌊 🐴 Exeter: Where surf meets turf

🍅 Devon Food & Drink Events 2026 

⚓️ The mystery of the captain’s chamber pot

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being a member.

NEXT ISSUE Lunch on a pirate ship

Andy, Esme and Lara