👋 Hello Devon Fans,

Welcome to the 44th issue of Go Devon!, a weekly newsletter with fun, interesting and unique things to do in Devon. Thanks for joining us!

🤞 Feeling lucky? There are 10 free Devon break prize competitions in this issue.

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Ex-footballer Hannah Wants to play at Argyle

Plymouth’s first electronic dance and music festival is happening on Saturday 25th May at Home Park.

Argyle Alive has lined up an impressive roster of some of the biggest dance DJs including (videos) Ben Nicky, Solardo and Hannah Wants (who used to be a professional footballer).

They’ll be providing an afternoon and evening of house music, dance and electronic vibes.

The main stage is supported by a second stage “takeover” in the undercover concourse of the Devonport End.

Tunes start at 12 noon and the party goes on until 11pm.

Promoters are keen for the event to succeed and have kept entry level tickets to £39.50 with a payment scheme also available.

Join up to 300 riders in the Haldon Heroic Gravel Races

How about an exhilarating bike race (video) on 50 miles of forest tracks and country lanes?

The Haldon Heroic Gravel Sportive is a cross-country ride on Sunday 14th April along the best gravel trails in the Haldon Forest near Exeter.

You don’t have to do the long route though, as there are Medio (34 mile) and Micro (17 mile) races, marshalled and with feeding stations.

Entry buys you chip timing and GPS tracking, an event T-shirt and medal for all finishers, a finish line beer, free parking, toilets, and a recovery service.

A previous rider summed up their experience: “Challenging route, stunning views, amazing flapjacks.”

Starts are from 8am. Exeter Race Course, Kennford EX6 7XS

Entries £33-£43

Brave the flames and raise money for Amber

How to walk along a 20ft lane of hot embers and not get burned feet, that is the question.

Apparently it’s all about timing. Top tip? Don’t dawdle.

Youth charity Amber is looking for people who want to overcome their understandable fears that stepping on hot coals is not a good idea.

With experts on hand to train participants in “learn or burn”, an exciting night of personal challenges awaits.

Entry is £30 and fire walkers should aim to raise £150 in sponsorship for Amber's work with young people facing homelessness, long term unemployment and mental ill health.

Family and friends are free to come and watch.

6pm, Wednesday 27th March. Ashley Court, Chawleigh near Chulmleigh EX18 7EX

Witness thrilling extreme adventure up on the big screen

Exeter Corn Exchange is showing a new collection of short adventure films featuring thrill-seeking climbers, paddlers and skiiers.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival comprises 2 different film nights: Wednesday 28th February and Thursday 16th May.

Each night shows 6 films taking you into the extreme worlds of mountain biking, tandem cross-country skiing, rock-climbing, base jumping and arctic skiing. Watch trailer.

If you don’t want to get out and tackle an outdoor challenge after this, there’s something wrong with you. (OK, maybe not the mountain tightrope).

Doors 6.45pm for 7.30pm both days. Tickets. Adult £18. U16s and over 60s £16.

See the dark, harsh reality of lock-up in Britain’s most remote prison

Dartmoor Prison: rough stone cells, hard labour and tough discipline.

At least that’s how it used to be.

You can see what life was like for prisoners from 1850 until the present day at the fascinating Dartmoor Prison Museum, now open for the 2024 season.

Over two floors in the former prison dairy, it tells the story of 200+ years of lock-up for French and American prisoners of war, conscientious objectors and convicts.

See the darker side of prison life with displays of secretly fashioned weapons and items to help escapes, and the apparatus of discipline, including floggings.

HMP Dartmoor, Princetown PL20 6R. Entry £4 adults, £3 U18s.

Create a useful and beautiful work of art from leather

There’s a huge amount of fine, detailed work that goes into making a hand-stitched leather bag, yet surprisingly you can make one yourself on a 2-day intensive course.

Dartmoor Leather teaches traditional leathercraft skills with designs inspired by nature and the moor.

Founder Will Harvey leads the course that covers leather and its uses, essential tools, designing and creating a pattern for a bag, selecting and cutting, stitch marking and saddle stitching.

There are a maximum of 4 students per course so you will receive plenty of individual attention.

The next bag-making course takes place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd March. A regular foundation course in leather skills for beginners is also available. Courses are £245.

Dartmoor Leather studio, Lower Pinmoor Farm, Moretonhampstead TQ13 8QA

Listings

🌊 North Devon

FEBRUARY

Fri 9th and Sat 17th

WILDLIFE | 🌼 Country garden opening | Higher Cherubeer, Dolton, Winkleigh EX19 8PP | Adult tickets £5, children free

Sat 10th to Sun 18th

GARDENING | 🌷 World on your Windowsill | Half-term garden-based activities for all the family | RHS Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | General admission fee

Sun 25th

FOOD AND DRINK | 🌯 South Molton Festival of Food and Drink | South Molton Pannier Market EX36 3AB | Free

MARCH

Fri 1st to Sat 2nd

THEATRE | 🧙‍♀️ Wizard of Oz | The Landmark, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £15

Sat 2nd

FOOD AND DRINK | 🥬 Ilfracombe Farmers Market | Get your hands on some local chutneys, baked goods and crafts | The Lantern, Ilfracombe EX34 9NH | Free

Wed 13th to Thu 14th

FILM | 🎥 Poor Things | Oscar nominated movie with Emma Stone | The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington EX38 8HQ | Tickets £7.50

Sun 24th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Beach Clean Up | Westward Ho! Slipway, Bideford EX39 1LL | Free

Sat 30th

THEATRE | 🎭 The Hound of the Baskervilles | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets £26

Sun 31st to Tue 2nd Apr

AMUSEMENT | 🏰 Inflatable Theme Park | Rock Park, Barnstaple EX32 9AQ | Adult entry free, children £8

APRIL

Fri 12th

MUSIC | 🎙️ Freddie Mercury Tribute act | Cedars Inn, Barnstaple EX31 2HE | Tickets £15

🐬 South Devon

FEBRUARY

Tue 20th

LITERATURE | 📖 Creative Writing Workshop | Exeter Library, Castle Street EX4 3PQ | Free

Sat 24th

ADVENTURE | 🥾 Down Tor and Hingston Hill Stone Circle Full Moon Walk | Norsworthy Bridge, Yelverton PL20 6PE | Tickets £25

MARCH

Thu 7th

MUSIC | 🎤 Ozric Tentacles and Gong | Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place EX4 3LS | Tickets from £25

Sat 9th

DRINK | 🍸 The Gin To My Tonic Festival | Gin, rum and vodka at Exeter Cathedral | EX1 1HS | Tickets from £17.50

Thu 14th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎪 Circus of Horrors - Dr Haze’s Cabaret of Curiosities | Plymouth Pavilions PL1 3LF | Tickets from £20

Fri 15th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎤 The Non-Psychic “Psychic” Show | Lympstone Village Hall, Exmouth EX8 5JY | Tickets £10.50

Sat 16th

MUSIC | 🎶 Verdi’s Requiem with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Exeter Philharmonic Choir | Exeter Cathedral EX1 1HS | Tickets £5-£15

Sat 23rd

CHALLENGE | 🏃‍♀️ Race With No Name | 50km run across Dartmoor | Trenchford Reservoir TQ13 9NZ | Entry £49

Fri 29th to Mon 1st Apr

ECO GETAWAY | 🧘‍♀️ Ecstatic Dance Easter Retreat | Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter EX6 7QQ | Tickets £425

APRIL

Thu 18th to Sat 20th

FESTIVAL | 🍺 Maltingsfest 2024 | Over 280 craft beers, ales and ciders from some of the South West’s finest brewers | Osborne Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4AA | Entry from £5

🏆️ Win Devon Prizes

New!  👼 A Sunday lunch for 2 at The Angel, Dartmouth (21 Feb)

🍸️ A 7-night luxury lodge stay for 4 people in South Devon (23 Feb)

New! A one-night stay and breakfast for 2 at the Bedford Hotel, Tavistock (29 Feb)

🍷 A mid-week lunch including wine for 2 at a classy Honiton restaurant (29 Feb)

New!  🏨 A 2-night luxury stay at boutique hotel Gara Rock, near Salcombe (7 Mar)

New!  💕 A romantic stay for 2 with dinner, bed and breakfast in Lynmouth, worth £250 (10 Mar)

🌊 A 3-night weekend stay for 4 in a cabin on The Flete Estate and paddleboarding on a private beach, plus 2 other holidays. (11 Mar)

🪙 £250 worth of vouchers towards a Devon break (31 Mar)

New!  👪️ 1 of 4 amazing 2024 family park holidays (30 April)

🥐 A 3-night getaway for a family of four in a cozy 2-bedroom lodge and a free food hamper at The Mole Resort. (no closing date given)

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

Can we ask a favour? Please forward this email to ONE friend today and please tell them to subscribe here to keep up with Devon events.

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team.