🍓 Hello Cream and Jam Fans!

You can’t beat a summer stroll along the South West Coast Path looking at the bluest of blue seas and with a breeze to keep you cool.

There was a stunning view around every headland as we ambled along the Woolacombe to Ilfracombe stretch on Saturday.

Halfway along a small herd of seals showed up, people were out on fishing trips, and a pair of cool orange inflatables spent all day shooting up and down the coastline.

Everyone on board seemed to be having a good time and either whooping or waving (see below). Perfect!

The weekend was an ideal way to pick up more new ideas for cool things to do and pass on to you in Go Devon!

Shout out to the staff at the superb and welcoming Ocean Backpackers hostel in Ilfracombe. Great value for money and free tea and coffee! Recommended.

Seals, Dolphins & Smugglers' Caves: Explore The Coast With Ilfracombe Sea Safari

See the outstanding natural beauty of the North Devon coast with 20 knots of wind in your hair, and, if you’re lucky, see seals and dolphins.

llfracombe Sea Safari’s powerful boats are safe and stable, which means you’re less likely to be seasick, and you’ll enjoy padded seats for extra comfort.

Choose from a 1.5 hour sunset safari to the seals and lighthouse (a nice end to the day) a 2 hour dolphin safari, or a 2.5 hour version taking in smugglers’ caves.

Or if you’re looking for more sights there’s a trip to Watermouth Castle, Combe Martin Bay, Greater Hangman Hill and The Valley of the Rocks, Lynton.

Prices from £24.50 (adult) and £17.50 (child). Dogs welcome too.

Sir Rod and Boy George at Home Park, 24 June

You have to hand it to him, still getting up on stage at 78.

Who knows how but rock legend Sir Rod Stewart will be on again at Home Park, Plymouth on 24th June, 7 years after his last appearance in the city.

It’s a 4.30pm start, so not too late a finish for a septuagenarian.

The support act is Boy George (a youthful 61) with his Culture Club so you’ll hear some nostalgia from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Tickets available from £61.60

Cook-To-Go: Whip Up Mouthwatering Chinese, Indian, and Mexican Delights in No Time!

Learn skills to make sushi, canapes or pasta at home on a half-day course at Ashburton Cookery School.

Or if you’re looking for convenience try the afternoon Cook-To-Go Classes for easy ways to produce Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Morrocan.

The award-winning family business has been running courses for 25 years and enrols 5,000 students a year.

If you want to go deeper into the culinary arts, how about a longer, more intensive residential course over 5 days, covering beginners, intermediate and advanced levels as well as patisserie.

A half-day sushi course is £99. Old Exeter Road, Ashburton TQ13 7LG

Rock Hunter’s Dream: A Day-Long Geology Trip Along The South Devon Coast

There aren’t many ways to see 185 million years of change in one place.

On a seaborne day trip is probably the most relaxing.

The South Devon coastline has such a variety and age of rock types it’s a geologist’s dream. For ordinary folk it’s a day out with a difference.

So if you want to understand your sedimentary and igneous rock formations, a trip aboard the Pride of Exmouth is the answer.

You’ll be in the knowledgeable presence of geology expert and on-board commentator Dr Richard Scrivener formerly of the British Geological Society.

Stuart Line Cruises in Exmouth run just two of these 6.5-hour trips a year.

The next one is on 18th September. 10.30am to 5pm. £25 per person. Book here.

If the weather’s bad don’t worry, refunds or new dates are issued.

Enjoy 150 Miles of Safe Cycle Paths From 3 to 30 Miles Long

Cycling in Devon means whizzing through wonderful scenery on amazing routes, through unspoilt villages and wild moorlands.

Whether its coast or country, moorland or canal, out and back or loop, there’s an abundance of family-friendly routes to suit all moods.

Nearly all cycle paths are suitable for families and novice cyclists because they are usually (but not always!) relatively flat, often on the routes of disused railway lines.

Choose from many including the Tarka Trail in North Devon, the Exe Estuary Trail, or the Scadson Woods Bike Park, a purpose-built mountain bike trail near Paignton.

If you don't have your own bikes, no problem, you can hire them. Some rental companies offer accessible adapted cycles.

The Demon Dentist, or What Happens When You Find Something Odd Under Your Pillow

Join Alfie and Gabz investigate the strange events happening in their home town in the stage version of David Walliams’ book The Demon Dentist.

Children are leaving their teeth for the tooth fairy and waking up to find odd things under their pillows.

The pair are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery – but no-one could have dreamt what they’ll discover when they come face to face with the demon dentist herself!

Don’t miss this tale from the same producers of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy stories, both nominated for an Olivier Award.

Theatre Royal Plymouth, 5th to 8th July. Tickets £13-£25.

Listings

North Devon

JUNE

Friday 16th and Saturday 17th

FOOD & MUSIC | 🎉 Moorhayes Summer Festival | Live music, children's entertainment, food and beer tent | Moorhayes Community Centre Lea Road, Tiverton EX16 6SU. Tickets £4.50

Saturday 17th to Sunday 18th

BEACH SOCCER | ️⚽️ Devon Beach Soccer Championships, part of Ocean Fest. Why Not Enter A Team? | U7 to U16 | Croyde Beach, Croyde EX33 1NZ | 10am

Sunday 18th

FAMILY FUN | 🛒 Bideford Soapbox Derby | Homemade racing carts career down streets hitting obstacles and mostly fail to avoid crashing | Bideford Quay EX39 2EY | 12pm

Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th

PERFORMING ARTS | 🎭 Barnstaple Fringe Theatre Fest offers comedy, drama, street-theatre, dance, music and magic at low prices: between £4 and £8, or free. The list of shows is here.

Thursday 29th

LIVE MUSIC | 🎺 Motown Soul & Disco Party. Dance the night away at RHS Garden Rosemoor with a whole evening of Motown | 5pm to 11pm | Great Torrington EX38 8PH | Tickets. Members £15, non-members £20.

South Devon

JUNE

Until Sunday 11th

FAMILY FUN | 🦖 Dinosaurs in the Park | Last chance to see life-sized and life-like prehistoric reptiles | Central Park, Cottage Field, Plymouth PL2 3DG | Tickets from £7.20 per person. Under 3s free!

Until Sunday 18th

THEATRE | 🎭 Charlie & The Chocolate Factory | Stage show combining memorable songs from the original 1970s film with new music | Theatre Royal, Plymouth | PL1 2TR | Tickets from £40.

Saturday 10th

LIVE MUSIC | 🎸 Plymstock Tribute Festival | Plymstock Albion Oaks, Wembury Road, Staddiscombe, Plymouth PL9 0DF | 2pm | Tickets Adult £26.40. Child U18 £11.

Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th

DOG FESTIVAL | 🐶 Woofstock, all things doggie | Powderham Castle, Powderham Estate, Exeter EX6 8JQ | Day, weekend, family and camping tickets.

Friday 16th to Sunday 18th

OPEN GARDEN | 🌳 Wildside | Rugged and colourful planting | Adult £10, Child £5. Pay on entry, no booking. Wildside, Green Lane, Buckland Monachorum PL20 7NP | Other dates here.

FOOD FESTIVAL | Exeter Foodies | Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1LU Learn more here. 

Saturday 17th

TRIBUTE MUSIC | 👑 Freddie & Queen Experience | Palace Theatre, Paignton | 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Tickets £18.

Friday 23rd to Saturday 24th

CLASSIC CARS | 🚘 Dawlish American Car Show | From 6.30pm Friday 23rd until 4.30pm Sunday 25th June. Entrance fee: Adult £10, child £5

Saturday 24th

MILITARY SHOW | 🪖 Plymouth Armed Forces Day with bands, parades, live music and free evening concert | Plymouth Hoe | 10am

Wednesday 28th

OUTDOOR THEATRE | 🎭 Romeo & Juliet | The Chamberlain’s Men, all male cast | 7pm | The Private Garden, Dartington Hall, Totnes TQ9 6EL | Tickets Adult £20. Child £12.

JULY

Saturday 1st

COMIC THEATRE | 🎭 Outdoor production of The Wave “the most bonkers performance” with laughter and singing | Mothecombe House, Holbeton Plymouth PL8 1LB | 7pm to 8pm | Tickets £10-£40.

Sunday 2nd

MILITARY MUSIC | 🎺 The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth | Theatre Royal, Plymouth | PL1 2TR Tickets £20

Want your event listed? Email us.

Monday 10th

LIVE COMEDY | Comedian and Radio 4 star Andy Hamilton | The Quad Theatre, Marjon University | 7.30pm | Tickets £22.

More fun Devon-based activities for everyone next week.

With love, cream and jam (in that order).

Enjoy the amazing weather!

🌊 Andy and the Go Devon! team