Today I’m bringing you boats, rowing (watching not doing), colour chaos, outdoor theatre and classic cars — a fairly good test of what gets you out and about.

What most makes you think: “Yes, I’d go to that”?

Answer in the Member Poll below.

Yours in Devon,

P.S. A couple of events I just found out about.

There’s a free choir concert with visiting French singers at Whimple Church near Exeter on Saturday.

Guided walks to see the mysterious nightjar are planned for Haldon Forest, Exeter and Trinity Hill, Axminster soon. (Be quick, they are popular)

Whether you’re a fully-fledged sailor or just boat-curious, Plymouth’s Boat Fest on Saturday is well worth a visit.

You can just look at boats or watch things happen: there’s a flare demonstration at 10.30, a drill by the RNLI’s powerful Severn class lifeboat at 11.30 and dinghy capsize recovery demos in the afternoon.

The Johanna Lucretia 96ft sailing yacht has a “Crab Cam” showing what’s happening on the seabed. Tech firms are showing off the latest in unmanned, autonomous and efoiling vessels.

10am to 5pm, Plymouth Yacht Haven, Mount Batten. Tickets (free, but must be reserved in advance). No parking on site, so take your chances in the nearby paying car parks or come on the Mount Batten Ferry from Sutton Harbour.

🐶 Dogs welcome, though not necessarily on the boats.

This is a day out that could involve nothing more than sitting and watching others do all the hard work.

There probably isn’t a more dramatic sight than racing teams battling it out over the 1,000 metres between the 2 bridges of the River Torridge.

The rival Reds and Blues teams from Bideford will be taking on teams from across the West of England.

Saturday 20th June. Get yourself a seat on Bideford Quay to enjoy Bideford Rowing Regatta. Racing starts at 9am.

This event in Exeter next week is your permission to have fun and end up looking like a walking painting accident.

Rainbow Colour Clash takes over Northernhay Gardens in Exeter turning it into a messy, powder-filled colour course aimed at all ages.

You walk, jog or skip your way around the gardens, passing through colour stations where bright powder is thrown into the air, covering you in the stuff.

11am to 12.30pm, Saturday 27th June 2026. Tickets: £3.50

This daft Gilbert and Sullivan comedy is coming to 3 Devon settings in July: Killerton near Exeter (see Devon Curiosities #112 below), The Garden House near Yelverton, and Arlington Court near Barnstaple.

As I’ve said before, outdoor theatre is as good as the inside variety, but the added pleasure is the setting. In all 3 cases it’s the lawns and gardens of grand houses.

Bring a picnic, wine, chairs and waterproofs. Umbrellas are less welcome because they can block the view.

The shows runs for about 2 hours, including an interval.

Tickets: £19-£22

One of the biggest classic motor shows in Devon, the Totnes Classic, is on next Saturday with a display of 250 head-turning sets of wheels.

Live music supports the browsing, chatting and reminiscing over buses, lorries, cars and motorbikes in a free show, raising money for local charities and Ukraine.

Erin Gifford’s solo vocals start at 11am followed by acoustic duo Zoe & Greg, covers act A Little Mischief, and classic rock outfit The Middle.

11am to 4pm, Sunday 28th June. Staverton Playing Field, near Totnes. Free parking and a shuttle service to the showground. 🐶 Dogs welcome on leads. More info

Where do you buy most of your fresh food?

sandyann selected farm shops & local producers and said: “I buy organic whenever possible”

claire selected supermarket, commenting: “Would love to support farm shops and local producers more but my budget doesn't stretch to cover their higher prices.”

A black bear called Tom was kept at Killerton House and you can visit the hut where he used to live.

As country houses go Killerton is full of surprises.

It feels more like a lived-in family home than a museum. There’s the story that one of owners used to feed a tame pheasant through the breakfast-room window.

Upstairs is the National Trust’s collection of 20,000 fashion items, some going back 400 years.

Outside you can follow the path to find the thatched summerhouse where Tom lived, and explore woods and orchards in 6,400 acres.

Then there is the ghost house, what’s left of the abandoned beginnings of a much larger mansion behind the existing one.

And there’s outdoor theatre in July (see above). Website

FEATURED: 🍷 A tour of the vines and winery and Devon tea for 2 at Wellhayes Vineyard, Tiverton (30th Jun)

NEW! 🏖 A low season short break for 6 people in 2026 at Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park (30th Jun)

🏰 A 2 night self-catering stay at Watermouth Castle, North Devon, and free entry to the theme park and dog-friendly gardens (30th Jun)

NEW! 🍏 A 4-night stay for 2 people in Orchard Cabin glamping pod at Cofton Holidays resort near Exeter (3rd Jul)

♨ A 4-night stay for 4 people in a Cofton Holidays luxury cottage near Exeter with hot tub, dinner and swimming pool access (5th Jul)

NEW! 🍷 A 2-course dinner for 2 at ISCA restaurant, Exeter (10th Jul)

NEW! 🎫 A £1,000 holiday voucher to spend at Ladram Bay Holiday Park (13th Jul)

NEW! 🎫 A £600 voucher to spend at the farm-to-table retreat Glebe House near Colyton (2nd Aug)

NEW! 🫒 A 2-night stay for 2 with dinner at the award-winning Millbrook Inn, Kingsbridge, plus a foodie hamper (13th Sep)

Did you win something? Let me know

🔔 Teignmouth Folk Festival

🐶 Your invite to doggie heaven

🛳 Paddle steamer trips to Lundy Island

🌳 Fabulous food and glorious gardens

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

NEXT ISSUE Open gardens in July

Andy, Esme and Lara