⛱️ Happy Devon Holidays!

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The most famous fair in England?

Uncle Tom Cobley makes an appearance every year at this event riding a grey mare in tribute to the verse that made Widecombe Fair famous.

The beautiful village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor lies between green fields and high, moorland hills in a sheltered valley on the East side of Dartmoor.

The fair has all the traditional elements of sheep, cattle and horse competitions, a lumberjack show, tug of war and the Dartmoor Hill Pony Display Team.

The Uncle Tom Cobley story dates from the 1800s and was about a man, Tom Pearce, whose grey mare died after he supposedly lent it to several friends, including Uncle Tom, to travel to the fair.

Then mainly a livestock market, these days it’s a snapshot of Devon country life with emphasis on raising money for good causes and providing an opportunity for farmers to compare the size of their tractors.

Advance adult tickets £10. On the day £12, U16s free.

9am until late. Tuesday 10th September. TQ13 7TT

The Zutons headline at Shebfest

Established in 2015, Sheb Fest claims to be North Devon’s biggest music festival, rounding off the summer with a family friendly offering attracting around 3,000 annually.

With music on 2 stages on a working beef farm, it’s a laid-back event with this year’s highlights including The Zutons, Ibiza Anthems, Louis and Five.

See video from previous festivals here (scroll down).

All the fun takes place between 3pm Friday August 30th and 1am on Sunday 1st September, with camping and caravanning options.

Allacott Farm, Shebbear, Beaworthy EX21 5TF. Tickets for both days, adult £76, U18 £61.

See beautiful otters in Buckfastleigh

See amazing otters up close and get a butterfly bonus.

The Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary is designed to provide ideal conditions to see and enjoy otters, which are now common in England and Wales having been close to extinct in the 1960s.

Best time to view is during feeding times at 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm.

You can walk along the nearby River Dart, where there are regular sightings of these delightful but shy mammals.

The site also houses Buckfastleigh Butterflies, a humid butterfly house, where you can admire rare species such as the central American Glasswing and the Scarlet Mormon from South East Asia.

Tickets. Adults £11.95, seniors £10.95, children 3-15 £8.95.

The Station, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0DZ

Surf’s up for Sidmouth bank holiday regatta

Watch an exciting surf lifesaving skills competition, sailing and gig races and the annual firework display at the Sidmouth Regatta on 24th and 25th August.

This year the focus is on developing local events as sadly the traditional airshow featuring the Red Arrows air display team is not on as they are performing in the US.

Nevertheless, there will be guaranteed fun and entertainment with racing against the backdrop of the dramatic cliffs and the picturesque Lyme Bay.

On Friday there is a nature treasure hunt and teddy bear’s picnic at Knowle Gardens.

On Saturday see the street theatre with the Sidmouth Giants and the Sidmouth Steppers, and later, Otter Border Morris dancers. More information.

See a model village lit up at night

Miniature town and landscape attraction Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens is lit up with thousands of tiny lights on selected summer evenings.

Every Tuesday and Thursday until September 12th, special fire and lighting effects create an enchanting atmosphere.

Enjoy a daylight visit first, experiencing details of the models. Then go around again after dusk for a completely different vibe.

Allow up to 3 hours. To enjoy the lights at their best, stay until the last hour of opening when it gets fully dark.

Tickets. Adult £18.95, senior £17.95, child £15.95

Hampton Avenue, Babbacombe TQ1 3LA

Devon Curiosities #20: The Exeter Catacombs

Grab a rare underground tour of where the rich got buried, but you may have to share the experience with the bats.

Built beneath Exeter’s city walls, the catacombs were meant to house at least 1,400 corpses of those who wanted a superior burial.

There are bricked-in coffins in individual vaults on each side of a long, central passage, but the catacombs are also remarkable for their elaborate Egyptian style entrances.

You can walk around the outside of this weird graveyard anytime but you’ll need an official guide (Tuesdays at 2pm between April and September) to actually see inside the passages.

The resting place was not a commercial success with many spaces remaining empty due to the high cost. During the Second World War the passages were used as bomb shelters.

Redcoat Tours say visits are only possible subject to bat activity.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

AUGUST

Thu 22nd

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐐 Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Show | The Showfield, Pyworthy EX22 7JP | Adult tickets £14, U16s £5, family £40

Fri 23rd

DISCO | 🪩 Silent Dance Party in the Woods | Wild Woods Bar, South Molton EX36 4RR | Tickets £20

Fri 23rd to Sun 25th

THEATRE | 🦖 Dinosaur World Live | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £17

Fri 30th to Sun 1st Sept

MUSIC | 🎤 On the Road Music Festival | Saunton Road, Braunton EX33 1HG | Adult tickets from £30, U18s tickets from £10

SEPTEMBER

Sat 7th

ART TALK | 🖼️ The Da Vinci Michelangelo Experience | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £29.50

Sat 7th

WALK | 🥾 RNLI Clovelly to Appledore Walk 2024 | 13 years and older only | Clovelly Visitors Centre, Bideford EX39 5TA | Tickets £14.79

Sun 8th

CHALLENGE | 🏊 Bideford Triathlon 2024 | The Quay, Bideford EX39 2EY | Register here

FISH FESTIVAL | 🦀 Lobster and Crab Feast 2024 | Clovelly Harbour, Bideford EX39 5TF

Fri 13th to Sun 15th

MUSIC | 🎤 Woodpecker Weekender 2024 | Live music event with sustainability at its heart | Wild Woods Bar, South Molton EX36 4RR | Tickets £71.13

Sat 21st to Sun 22nd

ART & CRAFT | 🎨 CREATED Contemporary and Heritage Crafts Festival | The BIG Sheep, Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5AP | Tickets from £11

🐬 South Devon

AUGUST

Wed 14th and Thu 15th

FIREWORKS | 🎆 British Firework Championships | Plymouth Hoe PL1 2PJ | Free

Thu 15th

COUNTRY SHOW | 🦆 Chagford Show | Dogmarsh Fields, Mill End TQ13 8JN | Adult tickets £15, U17s £5

Mon 19th

DRINK | 🍷 VINOYASA Wine Tasting | Jenkins Quay, Bantham | Tickets £39

Mon 26th

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐑 Lustleigh Village Show | Kelly Farm TQ13 9SW | Adult tickets £10, U14s £4, family £25

Thu 29th to Sun 1st Sept

ENTERTAINMENT | 🐎 Festival of the Iberian Horse | Westpoint Centre, Clyst St Mary, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Daytime tickets from £8, evening shows from £35

Fri 30th

OUTDOOR FUN | 💦 The Mammoth Slip and Slide | Greendale Farm Shop, Exeter EX5 2JU | Tickets £13.50 per person per hour | Other dates available throughout August

SEPTEMBER

Tue 3rd

WATER SPORT | 🛶 Kingsbridge Sunrise Paddleboard Tour | Kingsbridge Slipway, Kingsbridge TQ7 1JD | Tickets £55

Sat 7th

COUNTRY SHOW | 🦙 Kingsbridge Show | Borough Farm TQ9 7QP | Adult tickets £12.50, U17s £3

Sun 8th

MOTORING | 🚗 Saltram Rotary Classic Car Show | Lyneham Estate, Yealmpton PL8 2LG | Adult tickets £5, U16s free

Sun 15th

FILM | 🎥 Outdoor Cinema screening of Back to the Future | Saltram House, Plymouth PL7 1UH | Tickets from £16.98

🏆️Win Devon prizes

We find Devon prize competitions so you don’t have to.

Closing dates in brackets. Terms and conditions apply, see individual websites for details.

You could win:

🌊 A midweek getaway for two adults for a 3-night stay in a 1-bedroom lodge near Lynmouth. (No closing date given)

🏠️ A 3-night family cottage holiday with hot tub near Exmoor, worth £550. (No closing date given)

🌺 A prize bundle from Dartington Crystal including a tour ticket for 2 adults, 2 tickets to paint your own glass, and a handmade floral vase. (No closing date given)

NEW!  🫖 A Classic Pimm's Cream Tea Hamper from Devon Cream Teas (18th Aug)

NEW!  ☕️ An afternoon tea for 2 at Boringdon Hall, Plymouth (18th Aug)

🫧 A luxury summer spa retreat at Boringdon Hall, Plymouth (19th Aug)

NEW!  🍺 A Madgull Lemon Lager beer bundle worth £50 (27th Aug)

NEW!  🍖 A Summer Feast collection of traditional meats: rump steaks, chicken breasts and pork loin chops from Devon Delights (27th Aug)

🛏️ A 2-night bed and breakfast break at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton (30th Aug)

🍸️ A canned cocktail bundle worth £80 (31st Aug)

🍏 A Devon food adventure bundle: thatched inn stay, cider tour, £135 bakery voucher, distillery tour, flapjack box (31st Aug)

NEW!  🍷 An unforgettable 3-night gastro stay in Lynmouth, worth £1350 (1st Sep)

🛏️ An overnight stay with dinner at a dreamy Salcombe coastal hotel plus a local brewery tour (30th Sep)

That’s all for this week, but…

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team