Sustainable Travel Choices to Devon’s Best Attractions.
Days out in Devon by public transport couldn’t be easier!
Devon has top class attractions right across the county that offer a fantastic family day out in a variety of locations from towns and cities to beach and moorland settings. This creates a range of challenges if you want to try and get to some of our best venues without using the car. However, despite the size of Devon, many of our favourite destinations are easier to get to without the car than you might imagine! If you look at the Visiting Us/Find Us page of all our attractions’ websites they all have options for public transport or cycle links.
Travelling around Devon by train!
Our city attractions couldn’t be easier to reach including Visit Plymouth, The Box, Visit Exeter and RAMM can all be reached by train as the main train stations are nearby. The recently re-opened Dartmoor Line has trains hourly between Okehampton, Crediton and Exeter St. Davids with the journey taking only 40 minutes. Some trains also call at Exeter Central.
Travelling around Devon by bus!
Town centre attractions such as Kents Cavern, Babbacombe Model Village, Bygones and Stuart Line Cruises are served well by bus services which run regularly into towns. Over 30 of Devon’s Top Attractions and destinations can be reached by bus. The Stagecoach Bus No: 122 open top buses operate in Torbay connecting Babbacombe, St Marychurch, Torquay Harbour and Paignton, 7 days a week. During your holiday this is a brilliant way to see the sights of Torbay from the top deck of the Golden Hop. Get a totally different perspective sitting up high and feel the fresh sea air from across the English Channel. The stunning scenic route from Paignton to Babbacombe, is a real treat for the whole family, and provides a unique view of the South Devon coastline that will be a memorable trip in your Devon holiday. The Stagecoach 92bus service goes through Totnes and stops right outside Woodlands Family Theme Park.
The No.95 Big Beach Bus runs from Exmouth train station along the seafront and through Littleham village to Devon Cliffs, stopping right outside World of Country Life. As a local person living in Dawlish, my kids and I hopped on Stagecoach’s No. 2 bus from Newton Abbot to Exeter which runs very regularly at approx. every 25 minutes along the A379. We jumped off right outside Powderham Castle for a few hours of fun before catching the bus back again with no problems at all. It’s even easier now that you can plan your journey via their website, www.stagcoachbus.com so you know when to get to the bus stop and you can even book online or pay contactless when you get on.
In North Devon, Stagecoach’s open top 21C service operates hourly between Braunton, Saunton, Croyde and Croyde Bay Ruda, and is supplemented by the 21 service to give a 30-minute frequency. North Devon is packed with great surfing beaches, quaint country villages, nature reserves and busy towns as well as some of Devon’s Top Attractions. Stagecoach’s brand new open top bus connects the county’s holiday hot spots, whilst allowing you to take in the stunning coastal scenery before visiting a variety of the county’s experiences and attractions.
Cycling Around Devon
If you prefer getting to your destination on two wheels, Devon has a network of cycle paths that you can use to get you and your family away from busy roads and out into the countryside on quiet routes that are well signposted. Maps are available at TICs and from the Devon County Council website https://www.traveldevon.info/cycle.
The Exe Estuary trail follows the Exe Estuary from Dawlish Warren through to Exeter and then on to Exmouth and you can stop off at some great locations nearby including Powderham Castle, Exeter’s RAMM and Stuart Line Cruises who are based in Exmouth. The Donkey Sanctuary sits on Route 2 of the National Cycle Network. The route between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis passes Trow Farm on Dunscombe Lane. Continue on Dunscombe Lane, crossing over the roundabout, until you reach the sanctuary’s main visitor entrance. There is a bike rack (uncovered) at the main entrance.
Drake’s Trail runs along the western edge of Dartmoor and this 21-mile walking and cycling route links Tavistock with Plymouth so you can lock up your bike and explore the city and Visit Plymouth’s many attractions.
Pennywell Farm gives all cyclists who have got to their attraction by bike a 50% discount off their ticket price!
Devon Cycle Routes – Cycling around Devon!
Devon E-Bike Hire
E-bikes have made exploring on two wheels that bit easier and there are some local companies that offer bike hire as well as sales and servicing to customers: https://e-xploredevon.co.uk
Evo Bike Hire offer E-Bike hire that is delivered to your door: [email protected]. Tel: 0333 577 5510 or 07779321815. www.evobikehire.com.
Exmouth Cycle Hire, 1a Victoria Rd, Exmouth, EX8 1DL. Tel: 01395 225656 electric-bike-store.co.uk/devon-electric-bikes.
Waterside Bike Hire, Chivenor Business Park, Braunton EX31 4AY Call: 01271 545019! www.watersidebikehire.co.uk
Devon Electric Vehicle EV Charging points
Of course, electric cars are also a sustainable and now popular way of travel. This rapidly growing technology has a network of charging stations that are continuing to extend across the county. Crealy Theme Park & Resort, The Donkey Sanctuary, Buckfast Abbey, Woodlands, Diggerland and River Dart Country Park all have electric charging points in their car parks and more attractions are planning to offer this additional service to visitors in the future.
The county of Devon and Devon’s Top Attractions are all very aware of the importance of making it as easy as possible for their visitors to travel safely around the county in the most economical and sustainable way possible and this is only likely to grow into the future.
Where can I charge my car in Devon?
If you do need to take your car and it’s electric. Find out where you can charge your car at the different attractions. See the map link below.
Devon EV location charging points 2023
