Wondering what to do in glorious south Devon? Where do we begin?!
Canoeing: How about with a canoeing trip up the RiverDart? You can hire a canoe from us, pack a picnic and head up river for a sunny afternoon. Keep an eye out for salmon, kingfishers – and once we had a family of otters right on the river bank outside our house.
Exclusive use of a canoe (seats 1 or 2), paddles and buoyancy aids £40 for long weekend or £60 for a week. If you’d like to join a group, check out Totnes Canoe Club.
Walking: We’re a 20-minute drive from the heart of Dartmoor, one of the most beautiful parts of Great Britain. There’s an excellent information on Dartmoor walks on The Ramblers’ site and more inspiration on the Dartmoor national parks site.
Birdwatching: There are RSPB reserves at Aylesbeare Common, Chapel Wood, Exe Estuary, Slapton Ley. But you won’t need to go far for stunning birdlife – a lot of it happens right on the doorstep!
Cycling: Devon is superb and sometimes challenging cycling territory, and there are plenty of cycle paths to chose from starting from outside the house. Ask us about bike hire.
Sailing: Paignton, Brixham,Torquay, Salcombe or Dartmouth are all nearby sailing centres.
The Arts: If the arts is your thing, Totnes is spoilt for choice all year round. In the summer there’s the Dartington International Summer School throughout August. In September there’s the two-week Totnes Festival packed with local talent. There’s the Ways With Words literary festival in July, and the Schumacher College offers regular talks on environmental or economic issues. And if you need more stimulation, the charming Barn cinema has films on every night. Totnes is famous for its alternative culture, so you’ll find a new world of treatments, therapies and great places for fresh, organic food. Riverford Farm is just down the road from us, and don’t forget the Dartington Cider Press Centre too, just twenty minutes walk from us.
Plan your stay at Totnes Tourist Information. And if you have any recommendations, feel free to add them here.
Four blissful days in Devon
We’ve compiled a dream itinerary for four days in Totnes, just to give you a taste!
Friday: We wake up with a swim in the river, then truly deserve our breakfast of organic muesli which we eat on the riverbank, listening to the birdsong. Later we walk into town for the Friday market, loads of good second-hand clothes, antiques, fresh bread (of a unusual kind!), organic and good food stalls. And there’s usually someone busking, so the atmosphere is vibrant! Have lunch at one of the numerous cafes or resturants. Cycle up to Dartington in the afternoon and relax in the beautiful gardens of Dartington estate, followed by a drink in The White Hart… which inevitably will end up staying for dinner!
Saturday: Get the steam train to Buckfastleigh and visit the butterfly farm and otter sanctuary, then walk to Buckfast Abbey for a visit and lunch. Get the train back, walk to Little Riverside and relax while gazing at the river. In the evening take a canoe down the river, make a fire, cook sausges, chat, sing, laugh until dark and paddle home. If the weather isn’t so good go into town to find some live music or a dance performance at The Ariel centre.
Sunday: After a long relaxed breakfast watching and listening to the bird life, head off for a day of walking on Dartmoor. The park authority runs events and guided walks year round.
Monday: For the last day, have an early breakfast and get the boat down to Dartmouth. Wander the interesting individual shops and art galleries. If you’re lucky you may have booked a table at The New Angel! Return to Totnes for a chill out session in a flotation tank for an hour at the Acturus Centre.
This is just a suggestion to give you some idea of what you can do in and around the area.
