Devon Travel Information

Devon is mainly known for its fascinating landscape, its fishing towns, ports towns and coast towns such as Plymouth and Exeter. A county heavy on space (2,600 square miles) and light on inhabitants (just over a million), Devon is bordered by Dorset to the east, Cornwall to the west, and Somerset to the north-east. Here you learn more about Devon, its weather or the Devonshire Cuisine.

Transport in Devon

Devon is quite a while away if you don’t happen to live in the south-west of England. Getting here is possible through a range of options, whether you’re flying, driving, or coming by train or coach (any wizards flying by broomstick will have to contact the Ministry of Magic for directions).

Flying to Devon

Travellers who wish to fly to Devon can choose between either Exeter or Plymouth airport. Exeter International Airport is the larger of the two, and caters for plenty of flights from various UK airports including Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, The Channel Islands. Exeter also serves several international flights from destinations like Amsterdam, Dublin Paris, Geneva and Salzburg as well as others. Exmouth is reachable from the Airport thanks to a bus service. You can fly to Plymouth City Airport from London Gatwick, London City, Manchester, Glasgow and many other destinations. From the airport there are regular bus services to the city centre. However, travellers with a lot of luggage should choose to take a taxi as these buses do not generally allow you to take heavy or bulky luggage on board.     

Driving to Devon

Having a holiday in Devon is all well and good. But usually the most boring part is also the most important part. Sat-Nav is great if you have it, but if you prefer navigating with a good old map then we may well be able to help you out. We know you wish you could just click your fingers and arrive in your beautiful holiday home, but it’s a little (just a little) more complicated than that. Let’s have a look.

By far the majority of tourists travel to the south-west by car and there is an extensive motorway network in Great Britain. London is connected with Wales and the West Country thanks to the M4 and is also linked to the M5 from Birmingham, The Midlands and the North of England and Scotland (M74, M6, M5) taking you as far as Exeter where the you can get to Plymouth using the A38 Dual Carriageway. Barnstaple and Bideford in North Devon are reachable via the North Devon Link Road. The A38 and the A380 just past Exeter lead to Torquay and South Devon. By car, Exeter to Plymouth is only 45 miles, whilst Exeter to Barnstaple in North Devon is 41 miles. Every location can be reached within 90 minutes.

Getting to Devon by Train

Getting to Devon by rail shouldn’t be a difficulty as there are many lines servicing the area. The best way to travel from London Paddington Station, South Wales and the Cotswold is with First Great Western. The Devon region on the Waterloo line is ran by South West Trains. Bus links from the stations are coordinated by The First Group. Holiday-makers from Europe can travel to the Devonshire region on the Eurostar to St. Pancras Station and then from Paddington Station using the First Great Western service. Travellers from London (Paddington) and Birmingham (New Street) can take Great Western Trains' fast Intercity Express, which arrives daily on a frequent basis in Plymouth. The fastest connection takes about two hours from Paddington to Exeter (St David's). Daily trains also run from Scotland. Regular connecting trains from London's Heathrow Airport are an option for getting to Exeter, but normally include a change at Reading.

Getting to Devon by Coach

Thanks to National Express, reaching Devon is rather pain-free and pleasant. They have long distance coach services from many regions of the country to many destinations on the South Devonshire coast including Brixham, Exmouth, Paignton, Plymouth and Torquay. Daily services are also run by National Express from London to Plymouth, Torquay, and Exeter. Within Devon, getting to outlying towns is not a problem due to the extensive local coach services.

Local Transport in Devon

By Bus The public transport system in Devon is absolutely top-notch, which means that you won’t struggle to get around when you feel like leaving the car at home. Thanks to the range of services you’ll be able to get anywhere your heart desires. You can choose from simply buying a single or day ticket, or save some money by purchasing a week ticket, which will allow you unrestricted travel in Devon for a discounted price. Getting to your destination is made brilliantly simple thanks to the Journey Devon website as you can plan your route out down to the very minute you wish to arrive at your destination, as well as being able to find out plenty of useful information relating to the services, including the useful Park & Ride services.

By Ferry Just because you’re holidaying in Devon doesn’t mean that you can't venture across the county border to the region’s holiday twin – Cornwall. One of the most important ferry links in Devon is the Torpoint Ferry as it creates a link across the Tamar between Plymouth in Devon and Torpoint in Cornwall. There is a payable toll depending on your vehicle, but it is reasonable and the journey is a pleasant experience.

By Train Within Devon, services from Exeter St Davids to Paignton in South Devon are run by South West Trains, as well as services from Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple in North Devon. Check out the Train Schedules.



Devon Weather

There is a mild temperate climate in Devon. Due to the Gulf Stream, the climate in the British Isles is milder than is to be expected at their latitude. Sitting on the south-west coast of England, Devon has a slightly wetter and milder climate than inland regions of the UK. This is due to its greater exposure to the prevailing south-west winds than eastern areas. From June till September you can expect the average temperature to be in the high teens and usually peaking at 20°c with warm days and cool nights. October to November is usually rainy season, so bring a pair of Wellingtons and a water-proof mac! Winter is still rainy, but not as much as the rest of the country. Sunshine starts to increase again in Spring and you can expect temperatures between 10°C and 15°C in May.



Devonshire Cuisine

Devon is the place to come to if you are looking to ensure that you taste some real quality dishes on holiday. Whether it be the fresh catch of the day or a slab of organic beef, you will find something to alight your appetite. The lush green pastures of the county offer the perfect grazing for healthy pigs and cows, which means that you can be sure of having only the healthiest portion served up on your plate. Red Devon Cattle, the traditional Devonshire cow, produce some of the most succulent meat in the country. The coastal waters also offer up a feast thanks to a multitude of sea-life and most of the time you can be guaranteed that the fish you’ve ordered was caught that very same day. Pies and pastries are just as popular in Devon as they are in Cornwall, and you will be hard-pressed to walk down a high street and not be overwhelmed by the alluring aroma wafting through bakery windows. Alongside meat and fish, you can be sure that the vegetables and fruit available at supermarkets and eateries are also naturally chemical free, thanks to the high quality of the farming.

Devonshire farmers are proud folk indeed, and with good reason: they have had a reputation for many a year now of producing some of the finest dairy produce in the land, and they are pushing the boundaries in the 21st century by offering chillies, ostrich and venison too. So we have got your main course sorted, what about dessert? Well there is no need to worry as the great tasting dairy produce in Devonshire goes a long way to making some of the best ice cream you’ve tasted in a cone. It really is a treat for the whole family when you can sit back in the sun and enjoy an ice cream in the knowledge that there are no funny additives making their way down to your stomach. And what about something to wash all of that food down? Well you will be needing a glass of wine my dear. Or beer. Or maybe even cider, a local favourite. Whatever you choose, you can rest assured that it will taste great and really add that extra special flavour to the night. Cheers!



Sports in Devon

Football is England through and through and Devon is no exception with three professional teams, based in its three most populated cities. Plymouth Argyle F.C, in the Football League Championship, are the most famous and successful team in the county, and then there is the Exeter City F.C., which plays in Football League One. The only Football League Two side are local minnow favourites Torquay United. Plymouth’s best finish was seventh in the Football League Second Division in 1987, while Torquay and Exeter have never been further than the third tier of the league. Not including Torquay United, the county’s biggest non-league club is Tiverton Town F.C. in the Southern Football League Premier Division.      

One of Devon’s favourite sports is Rugby Union. Their main two teams are Plymouth Albion and Exeter Chiefs and both of them are very good and play in the professional league. In terms of basketball, the Plymouth Raiders play in the British Basketball League and have been know to slam dunk the funk every once in a while. There is another basketball team in Devon, and no it’s not the Torquay Globetrotters, it is in fact the Tamar Valley Cannons who are also based in Plymouth. Away from ball sports, speed freaks will love the Exeter Falcons and Plymouth Devils who have been successful in the motorcycle speedway National Leagues in recent years. Back to ball sports and the four rugby league teams of Devon are Plymouth Titans, Exeter Centurions, Devon Sharks from Torquay and East Devon Eagles from Exmouth. They are all participants in the Rugby League Conference.

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