Devon is renowned for a range of amazing attractions - from its spectacular coastlines and beautiful beaches to its medieval towns and charming seaside villages. Our diverse home has lots to see, with an array of landmarks and sights to visit, making it a popular holiday destination.
To help those wanting to visit less well-known spots, local experts from Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays have shared five hidden gems and under-rated attractions that visitors must visit in Devon.
Now is the perfect time to start thinking about the marvellous gardens and attractions to visit that are right on our doorstep.
Spanning nearly 300 years of gardening history Bicton Park is home to formal gardens and greenhouses, including the magnificent Palm House that pre dates Kew’s by 20 years. You can find and learn about many rare and endangered species, collected from around the world.
Apart from the fabulous gardens, it’s also a fun-filled place for little ones as there are excellent indoor and outdoor play areas and their very own Bicton Woodland Railway.
A beautiful natural attraction located in the heart of Devon, Canonteign Falls is home to the South West’s highest waterfall. If you want to go for a peaceful walk, it’s the perfect location to venture past the waterfalls and lakes, or through the fern gardens and woodlands.
Through the woods, you’ll emerge to the sight of the 70 metre waterfall before continuing your climb up through the Secret Garden. The climb takes around half an hour but it is steep and strenuous. Plenty of resting places are provided, and there’s a lot to see and do on the way up.
The falls are re-opening on Monday, March 18.
Pecorama is a tourist attraction on the hillside above the village of Beer. A family favourite for many Pecorama is a great spot to visit with children or grandchildren. The tourist attraction includes many displays of model railways, a large outside play area, gardens, and a shop – as well as the Beer Heights Light Railway where a fleet of steam locomotives pull passenger-carrying trains on a mile-long route through the grounds.
The website says: "Hidden somewhere on the site is the Secret Garden, a place separated from the main attraction and ideal for peace and tranquillity. It is partially walled and contains herbaceous borders; quite a different planting regime to the rest of the garden, where traditional but popular annuals rule the day."
It will be opening again on March 26.
⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice ⚠️
Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays says: "A family-run distillery, located in the very heart of Sidmouth town, Sidmouth Gin School is hosted in The Dairy Shop - where we source our lovely welcome hampers. It makes for a great day out and experience, as whilst there you can learn all things gin and make your own to take home."
A small and friendly zoo, Axe Valley Wildlife Park is perfect for a day out for the whole family who have a love of animals. It’s also a great spot for taking younger children, as they can get up close with the animals by getting involved with various activities and animal handling sessions.
The website says: "Our small zoo is an excellent day out for families and we pride ourselves on being child-friendly! We believe that any age group will love our animals, however, we are primarily aimed at families with children under 12 years of age.
"Come visit us and get involved with our daily activities such as guinea pig fishing, talks and enrichment sessions and a morning and afternoon handling session."
Pre booking tickets is not necessary, you can purchase tickets at the gate.
Try DevonLive Premium for FREE without intrusive ads and brilliant new features
No intrusive adverts, pop-ups or distractions! Just our brilliant content presented in the best way possible.
Get your free one-month trial by visiting the 'Premium' tab on the DevonLive app now (auto renews annually at £19.99).
If you haven't got it already, get started by downloading our app here on iPhone or here on Android. If you already have the app but can't see the 'Premium' section, you'll need to check for the latest update. More info here.
