Adventures in Devon – for the not so adventurous!

Today’s guest post comes from the team at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks

Devon is one of those places that beckon the more adventurous types. In fact, the great outdoors and Devon seem to go hand in hand. If you love hanging off a cliff upside down, while spear fishing with your own hand crafted spear, then this is probably the place for you! It’s enough to put any self respecting couch potato right off their TV dinner. Thankfully, Devon is also full of great things to do for the slightly less adventurous. Here’s a list of just a few great outdoor activities in Devon that won’t leave you too breathless.

Coastal Walking

The Northern coast of Devon is a beautiful place, and walking along the coast is a pleasant and easy thing to do. It’s free, you can take it at your own pace, and you can get on and off the ride whenever you want.

Cycling

Devon is such a beautiful county, and seeing as much of it as possible whilst remaining in the great outdoors has to be a good thing. Cycling is the perfect way to see a bit more of the county, and it is again something you can do at your own pace. Check out the level and traffic free Tarka Trail in Barnstaple for a great ride and a good place to hire bikes.

Kayaking

Kayaking might sound like it is a strenuous activity, but again it depends on the pace you decide to take. You can hire Kayak’s in plenty of places in Devon, and it’s affordable too. Taking a Kayak out on the Torridge Estuary is a lovely and tranquil way to spend the afternoon.

Surfing

Surfing is good for you in so many ways. It’s fantastic cardiovascular exercise, gives you a great upper body workout and will work wonders with your soul! It’s a great sport for beginners to get to grips with quickly, and with plenty of great surfing schools in the Woolacombe bay area you will find getting up on the board an absolute breeze!

Hiking on Dartmoor

Dartmoor is a beautiful part of Devon, and all you have to do is walk over it to actively take part in an adventurous activity. The important thing to remember is that Dartmoor National Park is a very big place. Make sure you know where you are going before you set out and if in doubt, use a guide, or at the very least, a good compass and map.

Sailing

Sailing is another activity that can be as hair raising or as leisurely as you want. Devon has plenty of opportunities for sailing enthusiasts with two large expanses of coastlines, but if you are after something a little more sedate you might prefer to sail on one of the lakes of Devon. Roadford Lake is a great place to try your hand and you will find the scenery as beautiful as the sailing is exciting! There are always opportunities to find companies who will help you to learn how to sail, and you will find that it can be a very relaxing experience indeed.

Rock pooling

This is a great outdoor activity that is perfect for families. As long as you are up to a bit of ambling about on the beach and the rocks, you can help the little ones to find all sorts of aquatic oddities amongst the rocks. It’s a perfect British holiday pastime, it’s great fun for all the family, you can get your hands and feet dirty, but you don’t have to be super fit to do it.

Swimming

Swimming really is something you can do off your own steam while in Devon. Of course, you have as many indoor swimming pools as most other counties, but in the summer months, it is the sea that beckons. With beautiful beaches on both the north and south coasts, it’s hard not to take a dip in the sea in the summer time.

Go camping!

This is of course the most British of all pursuits, and whilst you don’t need to be fit or brave to partake in a spot of camping, there’s no doubt that it is normally an adventure! There are a huge number of campsites in Devon from which to choose, and whether you want the comfort of a modern caravan, the convenience of a pre-prepared tent with several rooms, or you just want to find a pitch for what you already own, you will have your pick down in Devon.

Whatever you pick out from the list, there’s no doubt that it’s very easy to have fun in Devon. You don’t have to burst a load of blood vessels, or be as fit as a fiddle to have a bit of fun outdoors either. Enter into everything with a willing mind set and you will reap the benefits.

Photos by Dartmoor Giant, Geograph, mikebrown59, northdevonfarmer,