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The Festival of the Iberian Horse

Not just about horses, this is a celebration of the culture of Spain and Portugal.

During the day you can watch flamenco workshops and displays, dressage and handling, showjumping and outdoor demonstrations of Iberian cooking.

In the evening, an epic equestrian theatre is created with an incredible light and sound show as beautiful and talented horses and riders perform a range of disciplines.

The opening spectacular begins with Rebeca Ortega, one of Spain's most famous flamenco dancers, leading into a series of interwoven equine acts.

Thursday 29th August to Sunday 1st September. Westpoint Centre, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DJ

Tickets: Daytime from £8, evening shows from £35.

Days of salty fun at Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta

Fiercely competitive, exciting and fun to watch, the Dartmouth Royal Regatta is spectacular sport in a glorious setting.

Rowing (video, scroll down) and sailing are the core, with local and pilot gig competitions and yachts, keelboats and dinghies buzzing around the harbour and estuary mouth.

Activity is not just on the water: there are fun, silly and competitive onshore events such as a waiters and waitresses race, barrel rolling and an “international trolley grand prix”.

At the top of town the swimming gala is back, and there are circus skills workshops and magicians and dog show.

The regatta rounds off with the Grand Finale fireworks. Details.

Wednesday 28th August to Saturday 31st August 2024.

South Devon snorkel and extreme rockpool safaris

Snorkel safaris are for those who have snorkelled before or are confident swimming in the sea. They take place at Mount Batten, Plymouth, a rocky shore with kelp meadows and rock pools.

You get a recap of the basics of using snorkel equipment (provided) before heading out to see blennies, jellyfish, eels and oystercatchers.

Snorkel Safaris are every Sunday from 10.30am to 12pm in July, August and on 7th September. Details here.

Adult 17+ £25, child (12-16) £22.50

🦀 An Extreme Rockpool Safari on foot takes place at Wembury Beach during a spring low tide at 10.30am to 12pm on Friday 23rd August.

Tickets: Adults and accompanied children £8.61 per person. Collecting tubs provided, chargeable parking.

Down to earth advice from a national gardening treasure

Join Monty Don in Exeter as he shares his passion for gardens and the unique role they play in human inspiration and wellbeing.

Monty has been making gardening TV for more than 30 years, the last 13 his own garden Longmeadow, in Herefordshire.

In his latest tour he shares tales from his career in gardening, details of his favourite gardens and reveals how he fell in love with the natural world.

Monty shares the gardening practices he considers to be the most useful and important, and the magical impact of the changing of the seasons.

Here’s a short glimpse (video) of the show.

The evening show is sold out, but matinee tickets are still available from £30.

Saturday 23rd November. Exeter Great Hall, Stocker Rd EX4 4PY

Celebrating 50 years of Squeeze-ing

Yes, it’s 50 years since Squeeze was formed.

The English rock band that made it big during the 1970s New Wave period are celebrating with a UK tour coming to Plymouth Pavilions.

Their singles "Cool for Cats", "Up the Junction", and "Labelled with Love" were top-ten chart hits and the audience has been promised performances from their impressive back catalogue.

Most of the material was written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook who remain as guitarists and vocalists in the band, despite its multiple break-ups and come-backs.

Here’s their breakthrough hit “Take Me I’m Yours” (video) with a cigar-toting Jules Holland (no longer in the band).

Sunday 3rd November. Tickets from £44.70

Devon Curiosities #16: Crazywell Pool

If you’re into legends, Crazywell Pool (great name eh?) on Dartmoor is for you.

A 30 minute walk north of Burrator Reservoir, weird stories abound for this remote pond including:

The water level goes up and down with the Plymouth tides (in fact there’s a hidden spring that keeps the level stable).

If you gaze into the pool on Midsummer Eve a face staring back at you will be the next person to die in the parish.

The pool sings or whispers the name of the person about to die.

In the Middle Ages it was haunted by the Witch of Sheepstor.

The pool is bottomless (in fact it was drained in 1844 and proved to be about 5 metres at one end and slightly less at the other).

As there are no natural lakes on Dartmoor, the pool was more than likely formed by tin mine workings.

Spooky folklore apart, it’s a lovely sheltered if slightly eerie spot to swim where you can usually guarantee little if any company, and you may have to break the ice in winter.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊North Devon

JULY

Fri 19th to Sun 21st

FOOD & DRINK | 🌯Devon Street Food Festival | Braunton Recreational Ground EX33 2HA | Free

Thu 25th to Fri 26th

FAMILY FUN | 🏰 Barnstaple’s Inflatable Theme Park 2024 | Rock Park EX32 9AQ | Adult entry free, children £8

Sun 28th

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

AUGUST

Sun 11th

MOTORING | 🚗 The North Devon Festival of Transport 2024 | Victoria Park, Bideford EX39 2QQ | Entry £5 per person

Sun 18th

WILDLIFE | 🐚 Summer Rockpool Rambles | Combesgate Beach, Woolacombe EX34 7EB | Tickets £5 | Other alternative dates from July to September

Sun 25th

CARNIVAL | 🎉Ilfracombe Carnival | Procession starts at Hillsborough Car Park EX34 9QN | Free

Fri 30th to Sun 1st Sept

MUSIC | 🎤 On the Road Music Festival | Saunton Road, Braunton EX33 1HG | Adult tickets from £30, U18s tickets from £10

Sat 31st

ROWING | 🚣‍♀️ Clovelly Gig Regatta | Clovelly Harbour, Bideford EX39 5TF

SEPTEMBER

Sun 1st

007 | 🍸 The James Bond Concert Spectacular | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £32.50

Fri 13th to Sun 22nd

LITERATURE | 📕 Appledore Book Festival | Events across a variety of locations in Appledore EX39 | Tickets on sale from 27th July | Look at the line up here.

🐬South Devon

JULY

Fri 19th to Sun 21st

MUSIC & ARTS | 🪩Exmouth Festival | EX8 1DG | Free

MUSIC & ARTS | 🎨Princetown Arts Festival | PL20 6QF | Free

Sat 27th

COMMUNITY | 🧺Picnic in the Park | Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9NB | Free

AUGUST

Fri 2nd

MUSIC TRIBUTE | 🎤 Ed Sheeran Experience | Steel Brew, Royal William Yard, Plymouth PL1 3DG | Tickets £22.38

Fri 2nd to Sun 4th

TRAINS | 🚂 Torbay Steam Fair | Kennels Showfields, Churston Ferrers, Brixham TQ5 0JT | Adult tickets £12.50, U17s £5

Sat 3rd

FUN DAY OUT | 🥂 Party on the Patio | China Blue, Totnes TQ9 5JR | Adult entry £2.50, U12s free

Wed 7th

TALK | 🗣️ Joe Pasquale: The New Normal | Palace Theatre, Paignton TQ3 3HF | Tickets £25

Thu 8th to Sun 11th

FARMING | 🐕 English National Sheepdog Trials 2024 | Moorlands Farm, Princetown PL20 6SA | Adults £10, U16s free

Sat 17th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🔥 Fire Fest | Fire walking, animal talks and a performance from Mad Dog Mcrea | Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth PL7 5DG | Tickets from £20

SEPTEMBER

Wed 4th to Sun 8th

THEATRE | 🎭 SIX the Musical | Theatre Royal, Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £45

🏆️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-night stay at the Mole Resort, Umberleigh in a 2-bed lodge for 4 people (23rd Jul)

☀️ A 2-night stay for 2 at Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Salcombe worth £865 (28th Jul)

NEW! 🌊 A luxurious 2-night break at a Devon coastal hotel (29th Jul)

🏰 A 2-night stay in Watermouth Castle – with unlimited entry to the theme park (30th Jul)

🍸️ Win a Thunderflower distillery tour and tasting for two (31st Jul)

⛳️ Lunch plus fitness and swim membership for 2 at Exeter Golf & Country Club (31st Jul)

NEW! 🍾 A luxury 2-night stay at Thurlestone Hotel, South Devon (5th Aug)

🎣 A 2-night stay at a Venn Lakes lodge with private hot tub and fishing included for experienced anglers (6th Aug)

🫧 A luxury summer spa retreat at Boringdon Hall, Plymouth (19th Aug)

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

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

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

Got a competition? Let us know

That’s all for this week, but…

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team