You can celebrate Devon’s afternoon favourite anytime but there’s no better time than National Cream Tea Day on Friday 27th June.

In honour of the day we present the unscientific but heartfelt Go Devon! selection of the top places to enjoy one in Devon.

This random but quality list comes from personal experience or outstanding and recent online reviews.

Many are open only during the May to September season and some only on selected days (the owners have a life too!) so check the websites and book to avoid disappointment.

P.S. Don’t forget. There’s only one way to eat scones, whatever they say in Cornwall.

Our best places for a summer cream tea

Tea on the Green, Westward Ho!: The size of the portions, the sea view and “loads of cream” are why fans love this place.

All scones are baked on the premises and cream teas come in Hollywood star named offerings such as The Hepburn, The Sinatra and The Grant.

• A Reddit reviewer said: “Do not get distracted by the other cakes, they are a clever and beautiful ruse to stop you from eating the best cream tea in North Devon!”

Docton Mill Tearoom, Hartland: Multiple award winning tea room (North Devon Food & Drink Awards and Devon County Show) set on the garden terrace of the mill, serving all locally sourced food and high quality cream teas.

• Visitors comment on the beautiful and peaceful gardens (extra charge). A good place for tea after a walk to the nearby Speke’s Mill waterfall.

Hele Cornmill & Tearoom, Ilfracombe: Won Devon Life magazine’s Best Devon Tearoom 4 times and is not allowed to enter any more.

Many of the cakes use flour ground in the restored 16th century watermill, and you can eat in the tea room, mill garden or potting shed.

• 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.

Fremington Quay Cafe, Barnstaple: A hard to beat location on the Tarka Trail section of the SW Coast Path, with views of the River Taw.

Expect a wide ranging menu including generously proportioned and good value cream teas.

• “Huge pots of clotted cream and jam, it was incredible. The staff were lovely and nothing troubled them. We loved it that much we returned 2 days later.” Trip Advisor review.

The Primrose Tearooms, Lustleigh:  A thatched tearooms in the centre of the village offering the “full China service” inside and a takeaway option with recyclable packaging for the garden. Dog friendly.

• A reviewer said: “A choice of jam with the cream tea which is really unusual. Loved the strawberry rhubarb & vanilla.”

Angels Tea Rooms, Babbacombe: On the downs overlooking Torbay. Lots of scone flavours including white chocolate, tea in cute pots with real tea leaves, and sandwiches with super thick fresh bread.

• Reviewers say there is a traditional and quaint atmosphere, “like stepping back into your Nan’s tea room.” Huge portion sizes with the Angelic Tea particularly large: “I don’t think I have ever seen anyone eat everything.”

The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove: With their fluffy great scones and generous refills of cream, jam and tea, the Cottage Hotel came to the rescue when I needed a cream tea for a family outing in March.

• “The hotel up the road does the best cream tea in Devon,” said the girl in the Hope Cove pub, and she may be right. There is a gorgeous lounge overlooking the sea and traditional, attentive service.

Someday Something, Sidmouth: “With a reputation for the best scones in the West, we take our cream teas seriously.” So say the owners, and reviews back them up.

Scones are baked fresh, on the premises, every day and visitors say the venue is just as a tea room should be, cosy with friendly staff and dog friendly."

• “Fresh, warm scones with plenty of clotted cream and jam. Big enough pot of tea that we got cups each out of the pot. Good value for money,” said a Google reviewer.

Devon Curiosities #62: Okehampton Castle

Once a palatial home, now a picturesque rocky ruin. The remains of Okehampton Castle provide an afternoon of exploring on a ridge above the West Okement river.

In the 14th century, Hugh Courtenay developed a large palace on the site.

Like many castles and monasteries, Okehampton fell foul of Henry VIII’s greed and tantrums and was later abandoned. Later its picturesque ruins became an inspiration for Turner and other Romantic painters.

There are great views from the keep, along with plenty of wildlife to see, a riverside picnic area and woodland walks.

Visit on a guided tour on selected days. More details here

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

🐬 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: ✈️ 3 pairs of flight tickets from Exeter Airport with KLM, Ryanair or Blue Islands airlines including to Spain or Jersey (15th Jun)

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🌊 A 3-night stay in a Wembury cabin for up to 6 people and 2 dogs, a few minutes from the beach and the SW Coast Path (17th Jun)

🌟 A mid-week 1-night rejuvenation break for 2 at the 5-star Boringdon Hall, including breakfast, spa treatment and dinner (19th Jun)

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NEW!  🦙 An alpaca experience at Compton Pool Farm near Torquay for 4 people including a Devonshire cream tea (30th Jun)

NEW!  ♨️ An afternoon tea and spa visit for 2 at the Ilsington Country House Hotel and Spa on Dartmoor. (30th Jun)

🐔 A 2-night full-board farm stay for 2 with 4 course dinner and breakfast, snacks throughout the day and a programme of onsite activities (30th Jun)

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🏰 A 2-night stay for 2 at the 5-star Bovey Castle, including a Land Rover Defender tour, a free activity of your choice, dinner and 2 breakfasts (24th Jul)

🍎 A summer bundle of BBQ, cooler and 4 cases of Devon Red or Red Zero Cider. Plus 50 runners-up win a case of cider (25th Aug)

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NEW!  🐕️ A 4-night break in an East Devon cottage with its own dog friendly enclosed garden and views across open countryside (30th Sep)

❓️ Have you won a prize from a link you found here? Let me know.

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🍺 The 700-year-old beer ritual still alive in Devon

⛵️ Plymouth’s new boat festival

🍀 Revenge of the Ottery pixies

🌈 Cherry Poppin and the pride of Torbay 

That’s all for this week.

Thanks for being a member.

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team