One of the easiest and prettiest walks in South Dartmoor follows the course of the Devonport Leat.

Easy because as a water course you know there generally aren’t going to be any steep bits and navigation is simple.

We followed the water from the modern day end point at Burrator Reservoir to one of the upstream sources, the River Meavy, and enjoyed a moonlit camp near Black Tor.

BIT OF HISTORY: The leat was built in the 1790s to send water to Plymouth Dock (later renamed Devonport). Even today some of the water is used for drinking purposes, including filling our kettle for hot chocolate.

Start at the Burrator Quarry car park here, pick up the leat (labelled on Google Maps) and head north from the nearby pumping station.

P.S. I’ve just been informed that the date of the firing of Disappearing Moncrieff Gun at Crownhill Fort, Plymouth is 12th June (6pm to 8pm). Tickets are only £5 but they are limited and sell fast!

Revenge of the Ottery pixies

It’s a great story and a wonderful excuse for an authentic Devon pageant.

Hundreds of Ottery St Mary children dress up to re-enact an ancient legend in an increasingly popular summer event.

THE TALE: Pixies once occupied the village in significant numbers, but were forced out by the arrival of humans and the building of the church. According to the village website, the noise of the church bells was a final straw they could not bear.

• The pixies tried everything to stop them as they believed that every time a the bells rang a pixie died. So on one midsummer's day in 1454 they invaded the town, captured the bell ringers and imprisoned them in a cave by the river, still known to this day as Pixie's Parlour.

• Luckily, they escaped but the drama is commemorated each year as the “Pixies Revenge”.

Celebrations start early afternoon on Saturday 21st June with a fete and entertainment. The re-enactment is at 6.30pm followed by a BBQ and bar. More details.

180 performances, 55 productions and you

The 19th annual Fringe TheatreFest in Barnstaple is 4 days of value for money comedy, drama, street-theatre, dance, children's theatre, music and magic.

With so many shows it’s hard to pick, but I like the sound of the absurd dark comedy from Bad Things (above), Tatty Bogle (folk tales) and Jack & Jordan Cosmic Twegheads (no idea what they are about, but what a great name!).

LOW PRICES: The festival prides itself on affordable access. Tickets are £4 to £8 in most venues and free (donations welcome) in outside and less formal spaces.

View the lineup here. Tickets go on sale on Sunday 1st June.

The festival runs from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th June.

Who knew they grew drinkable tea on Dartmoor?

More Ashburton than Assam, but the flavour is there.

The pioneers at Dartmoor Estate Tea took a risk but swear by the nurturing effect of the local acidic soil and pure moorland water on their tea bushes.

GUIDED TOUR: Book a 1.5 hour guided tour of the plantation and micro-factory, hear founders Jo and Kathryn Harper’s story, and learn how tea is grown and processed.

Afterwards you can buy a Devon cuppa in the tea house or choose from selected local and overseas tea from small plantations.

Furzeleigh Farm, Ashburton. Tours £20. Book here.

Borodin, Mozart and Saint Saens by the North Devon Sinfonia

Close your eyes and get whisked away to St Petersburg with probably Borodin’s most popular work, the Prince Igor Overture. Listen

OTHER PIECES: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21 (everyone knows this one: listen) which is the theme tune to the Swedish film Elvira Madigan, and the basis for the melody in Neil Diamond’s Song Sung Blue.

• Ben Lee Orchestral Dance (I couldn’t easily find out anything about this) and the Saint Saens Symphony No.3, unusual for having 2 pipe organ movements.

Start time: 7:30pm, Saturday 21st, June, St Michael and All Angels Church, Torrington.

Tickets £12. U18 free

Devon Curiosities #59: Jacka Bakery

There’s no proof Jacka Bakery supplied ships biscuits to the Mayflower, but its ovens were fired up when the Pilgrim Fathers departed Plymouth, so it’s a fair bet they did.

It would have been a lucrative order!

HISTORY: No one challenges the building’s claim to be the oldest commercial bakery in the UK, as records show bread-making on the Southside Street site as far back as 1596.

It’s a delight to stand outside munching on a sweet bun and thinking of all the historical figures since Drake doing exactly the same.

My photograph shows empty shelves at the end of the day, which proves that the current owners are getting it right. The sour dough is widely recommended.

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

North Devon events May to October

🐬 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🎣 A 3-night stay at the tranquil countryide retreat of Lakeview Manor, Honiton, with a hot tub and surrounded by fresh country air (29th May)

NEW!  🍺 A BBQ bundle comprising a £100 voucher from Devon Hampers, a portable barbecue worth £99, and a 12-pack of Devon Rock Craft Lager from Bays Brewery (25th May)

🍾 A luxury 2-night stay for 2 in the magnificent Royal York and Faulkner Hotel in Sidmouth, with a bottle of prosecco on arrival, full English breakfast each morning, a 4-course table d’hote dinner each evening and a 90-minute exclusive session in the hotel’s stunning spa with hydrotherapy pool, steam cabin and sauna (30th May)

🍸️ A bundle of 12 of Bar Buoy’s new ready-to-drink canned cocktails including Espresso Martini and Pineapple Daiquiri (31st May)

🐟️ A 1-night short break in Exeter including travel, B & B at the Rougemont Hotel, a £100 fish restaurant voucher, plus tours of Exeter Gin and the city’s underground passages (31st May)

🏄️ A 3-night coastal escape for 4 people in a 2-bedroom apartment at Byron Woolacombe, including use of indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym (31st May)

♨️ A lodge break with hot tub at Lady's Mile Holiday Park, Dawlish, for up to 6 people, including pets, with entertainment and access to the swimming pool (3rd Jun)

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

NEW!  🌊 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)

🏰 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)

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

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🌈 Cherry Poppin and the pride of Torbay 

🐴 The hunt for the Earl of Rone

🌲 Why is a man covered in leaves parading through Ilfracombe?

🎸 No Glastonbury tickets? Try these top Devon alternatives

That’s all for this week.

Thanks for being a member.

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team