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Wet Weather Days

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Even though the sun always seems to shine on South Devon and our instagram feed might be full of pictures of sun, sea and sand, the rain does fall in South Devon!! But dont worry, there is plenty to do for all ages on a wet weather day.

Heres a few suggestions for what to do on a wet weather day!

  1. South Devon Steam Railway runs from Buckfastleigh to Totnes alongside the River Dart, through some of Devons most beautiful countryside. Tie a trip on the railway in with a visit to Buckfast Abbey (a heritage bus service runs on some days between the two) or a trip to Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies, adjacent to Buckfastleigh station (you can buy joint tickets for both attractions)
  2. National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth is likely to be busy on wet days but is home of the Ocean Conservation Trust and the largest aquarium in the UK. Tie in with a visit to the historic city of Plymouth, which also has an excellent museum at The Box- a museum and gallery, that has free admission.
  3. Woodlands Theme Adventure Park near Dartmouth is great for children that need to let off some steam! A massive indoor soft play, rides, a falconry and zoo will keep children of all ages entertained and if the weather clears there are adventure playgrounds, water rides and woodlands to explore outside too.
  4. Kents Cavern, Paignton, people have been visiting Kents Cavern since the Stone Age!  It is a rich treasure trove of archaeology and one of the most important Stone Age sites in Britain.
  5. Local Towns and Museums in Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Salcombe are worth exploring on a wet day. Visit the local history or RNLI museums, go bargain hunting in the charity and antique shops or shelter from the rain in one of many independent cafes or restaurants.

There are also local National Trust and English Heritage properties to visit, the historic cities of Plymouth or Exeter to explore and cinemas in both Kingsbridge and Dartmouth.

Dont forget we have childrens wellies available to borrow in the games room, in case you decide to go out and embrace the weather, watch the waves or jump in some puddles before settling down in a cafe, pub or back in your cosy cottage!

Afternoon Tea

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An indulgent afternoon tea is surely a must do when visiting the West Country!

There is evidence to suggest a version of the cream tea existed at Tavistock Abbey in the 11th century, where the monks ate bread with jam and cream. Over the years this developed into the traditional cream tea, which came into its own in the 1850s after the railways led to a booming West Country tourist trade. Local tearooms, hotels and cafes served up cream teas for travellers seeking relaxation and a touch of indulgence.

Weve compiled a list of places to partake in this very British custom, but please, remember to do it the Devonshire way- cream first and jam on top!

Valley View Cafe, Aune Valley, Loddiswell

As the name suggests, the cafe has lovely views over Aune Valley, and has won multiple awards including Taste of the West, Good Food Awards and Visit Devon Tourism Awards, With seating inside or outside on the terrace, this is an ideal spot for families, and even has a childrens play area. Their menu covers  breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Prices from £30

Calancombe Vineyard, Nr Modbury

Wander around the vineyard before stopping for an indulgent afternoon tea,  accompanied by a glass of Calancombe Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018 Sparkling wine. Check their website to book online. Prices from £35

Burgh Island

For a memorable and unique afternoon tea experience head over to the iconic Burgh Island hotel, with its famous 1920s Art Deco interior and gorgeous ocean views. If the tide is out you can walk across the beach from Bigbury-On-Sea, or if tide is in, their sea tractor will carry you over the waters to ensure you arrive for your afternoon in style! Prices from £55 per person

Cream Tea Options:

East Soar Walkers Hut

A home made, rustic afternoon tea, served from the  Walkers’ Hut at the East Soar Outdoor Experience and paid for at the honesty box- so make sure you bring cash.  Situated next to the South West Coast Path, the farm has resident animals for you to meet including sheep and donkeys, as well as a play area for children. Fuel up with scones and cakes before exploring the coastline or heading down to Soar Mill Cove. Check their website to make sure they are open as they during a few weekends in the summer they are closed to host wedding receptions.

The Billy Can, Torcross

The Billy Can is a popular café and retro sweet shop nestled between Slapton Ley and the beach. Serving a delicious range of sandwiches and cakes

The Winking Prawn, Salcombe

Situated beside the beach at North Sands, Salcombe, this lovely beach cafe has an extensive menu of food and drink and indoor and outdoor seating.

Avon Mill Garden Centre

Just the other side of Kingsbridge, Avon Mill is a lovely garden centre with shops, galleries and a wonderful cafe serving delicious cream teas- highly recommended by our guests this Easter!

Stokeley Farm Shop

Why not buy the components of an afternoon tea from the local farmshop and eat back in your cottage or take down to the beach?!

Easter in South Devon

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With Easter heralding the start of Spring, we believe Easter is about getting outside with the family and having fun together after those cold winter days indoors!

We will keep updating with local events so watch this space, but read on for our list of things to do this Easter whilst on holiday at Beeson Farm.

Pennywell Farm https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/ will be running their annual Easter Egg-stravaganza from the 1st April to 10th April. Pennywell is always an egg-stra special day out for families who will love feeding the animals, meeting the miniature pigs and going on the rides.   https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/easter-eggstravaganza

The Church House Inn at Stokenham (a few minutes drive from Beeson Farm)are hosting a free Sea Shanty Easter Event on the 8th April. With live music, traditional sea shanties, a bouncy castle, face painting, BBQ and pirate themed treasure hunt this sounds like a brilliant day out! Check their facebook page for details. https://www.churchhouseinnstokenham.co.uk/

South Devon Railway are running 3 family fun weekends, offering excellent value for money. Tickets include a ride on the Steam Train along the River Dart, free entry to the Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterfly sanctuaries, free entry to Totnes Rare Breeds Farm, face painting, childrens entertainment, vintage bus rides and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt! https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/visit-us/whats-on/family-fun-weekend/

Totnes Spring Festival on the 13th April is a free day out for the family with live music, street food, childrens entertainment (including bouncy castle and free crafts) and much more. https://www.visittotnes.co.uk/whats-on/totnes-spring-festival/

The Easter Bunny will be visiting Woodlands Theme Park near Dartmouth from Saturday April 1st to Sunday April 9th. Make your way through the rabbit warren into Bunny’s Easter Grotto featuring amazing Easter themed rooms and meet the Easter Bunny then go thrill seeking on their egg-streme rides!! A day ticket will let you explore all the usual rides and soft play, and woodland areas as well. https://www.woodlandspark.com/

 

Pop over the River Dart to Greenway House (Agatha Christies home) and explore their beautiful grounds while taking part in their Easter Egg Hunt. The trail takes place between 24 March – 30 April, from 10.30am to 5pm, with last entry at 3.30pm.  Prices are £3 per trail (usual admission prices apply) which includes an Easter trail sheet, pencil, bunny ears and chocolate egg. There are fun games along the trail including welly wanging and wheelbarrow racing! https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/greenway

Heron Valley Orchards  are hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in their beautiful grounds.  Grab a sheet from the bar and lead your little ones on an adventure through the orchard to win a chocolatey prize. The hunt can be done anytime between 9am and 5pm and can be taken at your own pace. The cafe will be open serving delicious lunches. https://www.heronvalley.co.uk/products/easter-egg-hunt

We have special offers and reduced rates available in the The Stables, Linhay or Trap House with weekly stays from just £480 per week. Check out our ‘Cottages’ page or contact us to book.

Love Your Pet Day 2023

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What better way to treat your pet on National Love Your Pet day (Feb 20th) than to take them on holiday with you!

Dogs are welcome in 5 of our South Devon holiday cottages. The local beaches and pubs are all dog friendly, meaning your pooch can go everywhere you do. Within 3 minutes you can be down at Beesands for a run on the beach or a pint at the pub.

The coastpath is within easy access from Beeson Farm, with stunning walks towards Start Point Lighthouse via Hallsands. Dogs will also love the sandy beaches at Mattiscombe, Lannacombe and Prawle.  Or, you might choose to head towards Slapton Sands- a 3 mile long beach, taking in Beesands and Torcross on the way.

The Trap House has an enclosed garden and a cosy log fire to settle down in after a long day exploring the beautiful South Hams.

Contact us to book.

The Teenagers Guide to South Devon

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If, like us, you have a family of pre-teens or teenagers you’ll know that it can be a challenge to keep everyone entertained on a family holiday or short break.

Teens are never too old to spend time with the family and a family holiday to South Devon is a place where teens can escape social pressures, where exams and school work can temporarily be forgotten, and where new experiences can give them an opportunity to reconnect with their inner child and play again.

It probably goes without saying that teenagers need good  WiFi while they are away, which can be a challenge in rural areas. All our cottages at Beeson Farm have great broadband so your teen can be connected, talk to their friends and post on their socials. However, in South Devon there are also plenty of things to do that will keep teens off their phones and active outside.

As well as a selection of board games in the cottages we have a games room with table tennis and table football, as well as a badminton net and football goal to keep them entertained after a day out at the beach.

Here are our tried and tested local recommendations by our teens (age 12, 15 and 16)  of things to do  while enjoying family time together at Beeson Farm.

Be in or on the water!

Our teenagers love nothing more than being in or on the water all year round. The local beaches are excellent for swimming, snorkelling and body boarding…all free family fun, apart from buying the ice creams and cold drinks!

 

 

Salcombe watersports

Salcombe watersports is a family run business who provide unforgettable watersports experiences in the stunning salcombe harbour. Either hire a SUP, kayak, or book a lesson. We booked their giant SUP for 7 of our family (aged 12-22) and had an amazing time making memories together.

Surf lessons

Bantham Surf Academy offers lessons and courses for all skill levels, even absolute beginners,  A great opportunity to learn a new skill, catch some waves and grow in confidence against the beautiful backdrop of Bantham beach.

Outside Devon  

Outside Devon is a relatively new multi use space near Kingsbridge and Bantham. Cafe with cool vibes, a skate bowl and ceramics studio this is a perfect stop off on the way back from the beach, or check out their programme of workshops and events.

Salcombe Sea and Shore Rib tours

Salcombe Sea and Shore offer skippered RIB rides from salcombe and is a high octane and memorable way of seeing our beautiful coastline.

Coasteering

Salcombe is a great place for coasteering, exploring hidden caves, channels and beaches- with plenty of  jumping!

Tunes on the Sands

Tunes on the Sands is a 3 day music festival set on the beautiful beach at Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth, Sam Ryder is headlining this year on the 22nd July, along with Stereo MCs, this is a family festival suitable for all ages.

Watch the seals

Head to Start Point for some seal watching, or a swim at Mattiscombe Sands where seals often pop up to say hello, a truly breathtaking and memorable experience no matter how old you are.

 

We hope these give you some ideas of things to do with your tweens and teens.  A holiday at Beeson Farm is a great base for making some family memories together and we look forward to welcoming you!

Book Direct

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We strongly believe in the “book direct” model, so you won’t find us on any online travel agent (OTA) sites. We only accept direct bookings, so when you book a stay at Beeson Farm you can be confident that you:
💙Get the best price available
💙Save money with no hidden fees to pay
💙support an independent business and know that money is being invested back into the local area
💙Benefit from our local knowledge of tried and tested recommendations of places to go/visit/eat
💙 Be confident that we have over 20 years experience hosting guests at our family run business
💙direct, quick and efficient customer service
💙 benefit from flexible arrangements, where possible

Electric car charging point

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We now have an electric car charging point for our guests to use, which we think will be particularly welcome as there are limited charging points locally (at the moment Totnes is our nearest public charging point)
We are always striving to operate as a business that is environmentally friendly and are pleased that we can now offer our guests a charging point for electric vehicles which is powered off our solar array in the orchard.
Please get in touch if you are bringing an electric vehicle and would like more details.

End of Summer Escapes

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The end of August and beginning of September are a perfect time of year to visit South Devon! Mild temperatures, quiet beaches, stunning clifftop walks, seal spotting and beautiful waterfront towns to explore….

An ideal time of year for couples who want to explore the local area, or families with young children who arent tied down to term time holidays.

With prices from just £320 a week (special offer) you can embrace all that South Devon has to offer!

A warm welcome awaits you…

National Cream Tea Week

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Its practically an unspoken rule that on a holiday to Devon you should indulge in a traditional Cream Tea!

Of course, there is great debate about what should go first….the jam or the cream?!

In Devon there is only one way to enjoy your cream tea, and that- of course, is cream first, jam on top!

We have a wonderful selection of tea rooms, farm shops and cafes for you to choose from when going for a cream tea, here are some of our favourites:

  1. The Seabreeze Cafe, Torcross. A delightful cafe on the seafront at Torcross, we love the coastal themed interior and their generous sized scones! Enjoy your cream tea whilst listening to the sea lapping at the shore!
  2. Stokely Farm Shop Cafe. An excellent farmshop where you could buy all the ingredients to make your own – or simply enjoy sitting outside amongst the greenery and sample one of their homemade cream teas!
  3. Avon Mill Garden Centre. A lovely garden centre with excellent cafe, why not build up an appetite walking along the banks of the River Avon before filling up on a cream tea!
  4. South Allington House. A privately owned country house and campsite, enjoy a cream tea on the lawn.

Wherever you decide to have your cream tea, we hope that you savour every mouthful….and please remember the cream first!

 

A day in Kingsbridge

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Our local town of Kingsbridge, just over 6 miles from Beeson Farm, is a wonderful local hub that sits at the head of the Salcombe Estuary.

In summer children love to sit on the embankment with their crabbing lines and watch the boats come and go. The estuary is well used by boats, kayakers and paddleboarders as well as the Kingsbridge-Salcombe ferry.

Kingsbridge town is a lovely mix of independent shops, galleries, antique/vintage shops, places of worship and cafes.

Start off your day at the very top of town at the Cookworthy Museum where you can discover the history of the local area. After your visit pop across the road to the worlds smallest nightclub, housed in a telephone box!

Head down fore street stopping at the community garden on the way.  Walk under the Shambles (an old market hall on raised granite pillars dating from Elizabethan times) and you will come across the old town hall, now the towns cinema. The cinema is one of the most recognisable buildings in the town, with its distinctive clock face which has only three faces- the fourth faced the old workhouse and so wasn’t added to prevent the inmates from clock watching!

Discover the eclectic mix of shops and galleries that line Fore Street. With something for all ages from toy shops (The Trading Post and Non Such) to independent clothes shops (Posh Totti, Cocoa, Spotted, Mint Dress Agency), galleries (the Mayne Gallery, Tidal Gallery and The Art Cafe where you can paint your own pottery) and the wonderful Harbour bookshop.

Coming off the highstreet you can find many little alleyways lined with cottages – often with fascinating names such as Squeezebelly Alley. As the name suggests it is too narrow for more than one person to pass through at a time!

Pass the entrance to the estuary and hop on the miniature railway to the end of the line where you can disembark for the recreation ground (with excellent childrens playgroud) or walk on down for a drink at the Crabhsell Inn overlooking the water.

Kingsbridge has a thriving antiques scene with the Antiques and Craft Centre on Ebrington Street and the eclectic Two Rooms on Lower Union Road (a bazaar of the bizarre, full floor to ceiling with treasures and well worth a rummage!), as well as numerous charity shops.

Kingsbridge Information Centre sits on the town square and the staff are very  happy to help  with recommendations for places to eat and things to do.

No matter what the time of year there are plenty of local events in the town to choose from, incluing the regular farmers market, Kingsbridge Food and Music Festival (June), Kingsbridge Fair Week (July) Kingsbridge Show (September) and Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas (December)

Kingsbridge also has an indoor pool and sports centre.

Eating Out

Kingsbridge has something to suit all tastes and also numerous takeaways. For families we recommend eating the Art Café, the Crabshell Inn, Cool Beans Coffee shop, La Ranchera (amazing Mexican food) or the Fat Monkey.

For light lunches we can recommend Harbour House Café at the Arts and Yoga centre which has a delicious menu of vegetarian and vegan food, new arrival Fika, a Scandinavian inspired coffee house, and the Old Bakery which has a beautiful courtyard.

For a special meal head to Wild Artichokes (run by chef Jane Baxter) or Twenty Seven run by Jamie Rogers

Whatever you get up to on a day out in Kingsbridge we hope you enjoy it!