Walking

In it's entirety, the South West Coast Path National Trail is 630 miles long, from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. You can either walk point to point or enjoy an array of circular walks. Books and maps available from the Tourist Information Centres.

The Coast Path is enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors to the South West every year. The sheer variety means that there are plenty of gentle stretches as well as dramatic headlands and steep coastal valleys where the going can be strenuous and demanding. Relaxation, challenge, tranquillity or inspiration – the choice is yours!

Take in a picturesque harbour, stride out along the exhilarating Atlantic coast or relax beside a stunning river estuary. Something for everyone - the South West Coast Path National Trail.

To find out more about walking the South West Coast Path and enjoying its scenery, wildlife, heritage, geology and culture visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southwestcoastpath Choose from over 60 walks that have been recommended by the people who know the Coast Path best - the rangers who look after it and others with expert knowledge of the things you can discover along the route.

Cycling

Totnes offers two contrasting leisure routes; or one longer route if you combine the two. Much of the route is traffic free and passes through idyllic riverside scenes past weirs, water meadow marshland and quiet woods.

If you do like rough and tough cycling challenges, then the off road tracks on Dartmoor and Haldon Forest Park are hard to beat. Both publish their own Off Road Cycling Map with all grades of ride clearly marked.

If you hadn't thought to bring your bikes on holiday, there are several places to hire them. Call into a local tourist information centre.

Cultural Trails

South Devon has 8 new Cultural Trails. Activities include walking, cycling and horse riding across beautiful countryside. Details on local trails available in our cottages.

Water Sports

Old salt or aspiring crew member, weekend jetski or competitive sailing enthusiasts; wreck divers, surfers of wind and wave or simple ankle paddler - everyone who enjoys watersport will find ideal conditions along the South Devon coast.

Dartmouth, Salcombe and Newton Ferrers enjoy international reputations as great sailing ports in famously beautiful surroundings. Although they are not large, you'll meet seaborne tourists from all corners of the globe when you stop at any of these fabled havens. If you want to join the fun, several businesses run Royal Yachting Association approved courses for aspiring sailors so you can make your holiday part of a bigger personal plan.

The breezy southwest facing beaches between Hope Cove and Mothecombe are playgrounds for wind surfers, who enjoy perfect sailboard conditions without the crowding that is characteristic of the more widely known surfing venues on the north of the peninsula. Surfers will tell you if you haven't surfed, you haven't lived, so if you're keen to have a go, try the local surf schools. Bigbury has one and there's another in Salcombe. Plenty of space for waterskiing too, with training at Teignmouth.

Diving and sub aqua is gaining in profile too, with popular dive sites at Thurlestone, Hope Cove, and Burgh Island. Training is available at Teignmouth. Wreck diving is also a popular past time, as there are dozens of shipwrecks to be discovered, with wrecks to suit all levels of diving competence. However, training is needed for this activity and can be done through a diving school in Totnes.

Golf

South Devon has more than a dozen public and private golf clubs offering a mix of 9 or 18-hole courses over varying terrain. Visitors to South Devon golf coures can usually purchase a temporary membership or 'pay as you play' with no restrictions on your golf handicap. However we recommend you contact your chosen course in advance to check availability in case any local matches are taking place and check for handicap restrictions which may apply.

Whichever you choose, all South Devon golf courses have superbly maintained greens, situated in spectacular scenery and enjoy a mild climate all year round so visit South Devon and enjoy some of the best golf in Britain! Please see below for some of our local courses.

Thurlestone Golf Club
Thurlestone
Kingsbridge
Devon
TQ7 3NZ
Tel: +44 01548 560405
Fax: +44 01548 562149

Elfordleigh Golf Club
Elfordleigh Hotel
Colebrook
Plympton
Devon
PL7 5EB
Tel: +44 01752 336428
Fax: +44 01752 334581

Staddon Heights Golf Club
Staddon Heights
Plymstock
Devon
PL9 9SP
Tel: +44 01752 402475
Fax: +44 01752 401998

Bigbury Golf Club
Nr Kingsbridge
Bigbury on Sea
Devon
TQ7 4BB
Tel: +44 01548 810557
Fax: +44 01548 810207

Dartmouth Golf and Country Club
Blackawton
Dartmouth
Devon
TQ9 7DE
Tel: +44 01803 712686
Fax: +44 01803 712628

Thurlestone Hotel
Thurlestone
Nr Kingsbridge
Devon
TQ7 3NN
Tel: 01548 560382
Fax: 01548 561069

Horse Riding

South Devon has superb facilities for anyone with equestrian interests. Dartmoor in particular is wonderful for a relaxing hack, but there's plenty of other beautiful areas with equestrian facilities, not counting the hundreds of miles of ancient bridleways that weave through glorious South Devon countryside. If you want to spice up your countryside rides with village life, try the increasingly popular pub rides offered by many of the trekking centres. Below we list some contacts.

Dartmoor Driving

Instructional carriage driving or chauffeured drives on Dartmoor.
Beginners welcome.
Day drives across Dartmoor.

The Brookings
Michelcombe
Holne
Ashburton
Devon
TQ13 7SP
Proprietor(s): Mrs Marguerite Arden
Tel: 01364 631438

Babeny Farm Stables
Novice and Experienced Riders, Ride Straight onto Dartmoor, Lessons, Livery Available.

Poundsgate
Newton Abbot
Devon
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ13 7PS
Tel: 01364631296
Mob: 07708666723

Bird Watching

A coastline riven with large estuaries and endowed with dunes, mudflats and wetlands will inevitably attract large numbers of migratory and other species of birds. South Devon affords first rate resources for ornithologists at any level of competence. At estuary mouth, has an international reputation and is under the protection of several environmental directives including qualification as a RAMSAR site and an SSSI. Here you can spot, among others, brent geese, divers, eider, grebes, skuas and dunlin. A particular spectacle around September or mid March time is the huge muster of thousands of wading birds prior to their departure to more northerly climes. Even non birdwatchers cannot fail to be impressed.

The Kingsbridge estuary offers good opportunities to view waders, with its many creeks and inlets providing feeding grounds for the little egret, curlew and whimbrel, with passing ospreys in autumn. A number of small but significant sites managed by Devon Birdwatching & Preservation Society are worth a visit, including the reedbeds at South Milton Ley, Slapto Ley, Beesands Ley and West Charleton Marsh.

At many places there are hides available to the public, particularly along the estuaries, and other facilities are available to members of the RSPB or local birdwatching clubs. For more information visit RSBP, check the local nature reserves, or call into a local TIC.

Fishing

You could be forgiven for thinking the landscape of South Devon was made for the specific entertainment of those who like to fish. The estuaries are a varied mix of saline and fresh water, typically in the Dart Estuary, and from the bank or idling in a small boat, you can confidently hope for a respectable catch - depending on when and where you fish - of flounder, cole, whiting, pollack, codling, ray, mackerel, plaice or bass.

If you get tired of fishing in the beautiful estuaries then another lifetime of fishing awaits on the beaches! There are miles of beach well away from the crowds with easy access and abundant seas. And if the beach is too tame then there are opportunities for rock fishing around Start Point, Bolt Head (very dramatic) and elsewhere.

Inland there are lakes and rivers aplenty. Dartmoor has lots to offer; both Tottiford and Trenchford lakesoffer pike fishing (a 27 pounder was landed in 2005). Kennick is a top rated premier rainbow trout fishery with angling from the banks and boats. Permits can be purchased on site. Avon Dam and Venford, also on the Moor, are popular fishing venues too.

If you want to get out to sea there's inshore and wreck fishing - especially from Dartmouth and Salcombe. And don't forget that fishing is not just for the experts - anyone can enjoy catching lunch or dinner on one of the many fishing trips offered all along the South Devon coast, and nothing is quite so special as eating barbecued mackerel that you caught an hour previously.

Lots of detail in Get Hooked ask for the book at a local Tourist Information Office - or you can telephone the Environment Agency (Fisheries) Office on 01392 316032.