Hello Devon Lovers!

If there’s one thing that sums up Devon it’s the cream tea - a hot, refreshing cup of sparkling nectar with scones, cream and jam (in that order).

So having walked past it on my recent walk from Combe Martin to Ilfracombe (sadly there was no time to stop) I had to feature the award-winning Hele Corn Mill tea room in this issue.

I think it could easily lay claim to be the best in the county (or even the country?).

Now, I’ve not surveyed all the competition and I may be being unfair on other amazing tea rooms, but the evidence is pretty strong as you can see from the story below.

What’s your favourite Devon tea room, and what makes it special? I’d love to know. Just hit reply to tell me.

Is This The Best Tea Room In Devon?

There are OK tea rooms, good tea rooms, and multi award-winning tea rooms.

Step forward Hele Corn Mill, near Ilfracombe, which has won Devon Life magazine’s Best Devon Tearoom no less than 4 times.

Owners Kathy and David Jones are so successful at giving customers the ultimate tea and scone experience they aren’t allowed to enter any more.

The love they put into the experience has obviously seen off the competition.

Adding to the authenticity is the fact many of the cakes are made using flour ground from their restored 16th century watermill.

As well as traditional Devon cream teas, they serve Devon Splits (a soft sweet roll) and for a novel twist Thunder and Lightning: scones and cream with golden syrup or black treacle.

You can enjoy your indulgence in the tea room, a cute little potting shed or the mill tea garden with a view of a waterwheel. Idyllic!

But plan your visit as the owners have got the work life balance right and are not open most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Watermouth Road, Hele, North Devon EX34 9QY. Open 11am to 5pm. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday every week until the autumn.

Who’s Playing Motown In The Roses?

If you hear “War, What Is It Good For” booming out from the gardens at RHS Rosemoor at the end of June, don’t worry you’re not hearing things.

It’ll be the Edwin Starr band rattling the rose petals at the garden’s Motown Soul & Disco Party.

Famed for its roses, the Rosemoor spotlight that night will be on Edwin’s brother Angelo (Edwin died in 2003) who leads the band through their most famous tracks, including, hopefully, the iconic Vietnam protest song.

Thursday 29th June | 5pm to 11pm | RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington EX38 8PH | Tickets. Members £15, non-members £20.

Take A Leap Of Faith: Jump From A 40ft tree!

You’ve heard of surfing, but what about tree surfing? Bring your head for heights as you’ll be flying around on zip wires and Tarzan swings from ropes 20m up in the trees.

Tree Surfers’ high rope trails near Tavistock are fun for all age groups and open for families, teams, groups and birthday parties.

Try the Big Zip, an extended zip line experience, or the Leap of Faith, an innovative 40ft free fall that puts your stomach in your mouth before landing you gently on the forest floor.

For ages 4 to 12 there’s tree surfing on a smaller scale, a supervised junior treetop adventure and rope bridges, zip lines, walkways and obstacles.

Tree surfers is in the Tamar Valley at Woodlands, Gulworthy, near Tavistock, Devon PL19 8JE.

A 60-minute adventure is £16 per person.

Unexpected Artwork In A Woodland Setting

Lose yourself in an ancient woodland and stumble across unexpected sculptures around every corner.

The sculpture exhibition at Broomhill Park has been active for over 25 years and has about 150 pieces.

The gallery owners support contemporary artists: celebrating traditional and modern crafts, engineering and thinking.

Most of the artwork is available for sale and there’s a cafe and restaurant on site too.

Open Monday to Sunday, 10am to sunset. £5 for visitors. Free for wheelchair users, carers and children under 4. Dogs welcome.

Broomhill Estate, Muddiford Road, Barnstaple EX31 4EX

10 of Devon’s Most Beautiful Beaches

1. Dartmouth Castle Cove – South Devon

2. Barricane Beach, Woolacombe – North Devon

3. The Valley of the Rocks, Lynton – North Devon

4. Salcombe – South Devon

5. Thurlestone Beach – South Devon

6. White Pebble Beach, Ilfracombe – North Devon

7. Babbacombe Beach – South Devon

8. Broadsands Bay – South Devon

9. Prawle Point – South Devon

10. Mattiscombe Beach – South Devon

The coast is calling…see pictures and read more about these stunning beaches.

Wave Goodbye To Your Sanity With This Bonkers Outdoor Show

If you’re averse to getting wet or showered with coloured paint, get a seat at the back for this bonkers production of The Wave on Saturday 1st July.

Here’s the plot.

The ship, Wave Goodbye to Your Sanity, has been lost at sea for weeks, or maybe even years?

Crewed by three buffoonish, broken, musical playing sailors, they need your help on a journey of incredible highs and lows as they battle against the stormy seas.

Brought alive through sea shanties, drums, guitars, harpsichords, and song this is immersive entertainment for the whole family, even if you don’t get wet.

Shows are at 2pm and 7pm. Bring your own chairs or picnic blankets.

Walled Garden, Mothecombe House, Holbeton, Plymouth PL8 1LB. Tickets Adult £12. Child £10.

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

Sunday 18th (Father’s Day)

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.

South Devon

JUNE

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.

Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th

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

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 Festival | Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1LU Learn more.

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

LIVE MUSIC | Rod Stewart, supported by Boy George | Home Park, Plymouth | Tickets from £61.60

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

Sunday 2nd

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

Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th

THEATRE | 🦷️The Demon Dentist by David Walliams | Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets £13-£25.

Monday 10th

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

SEPTEMBER

Monday 18th

GEOLOGY | ⛏ Day Trip with Stuart Line Cruises. 6.5 hour seaborne tour of South Devon’s coastal geology | Exmouth | 10.30am to 5pm. £25 per person.

More next week.

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

🌊 Andy and the Go Devon! team

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