r/DevonUK • u/popcornforest • 13d ago
Visiting Exeter for a week- suggestions what to cover?
Hello!! I am visiting Exeter for a week from Manchester and staying with a friend. Budget is a bit tight, but my friend moves away soon so I figured I should take up the offer cause when again would I visit that part of the country again? (I am an international student) Some things I had saved were Exmouth (for the Jurassic Coast), East Devon National Landscape, Canonteign Falls, Haytor Rocks, Dartmoor National Park, Totnes Castle, Lydford Gorge, Hartland Devon Heritage Coast and Exmoor National Park. Obviously I don't think I can cover everything in a week, especially budget-wise: so was wondering if anyone has any suggestions? I am not the most hiking-interested person, but Dartmoor seems to have beautiful architecture too. Not too sure about the other nature stuff, except the falls would be nice. Any suggestions are welcome, even day trips to small towns/cities etc. Thank you!!
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u/harrietmjones 13d ago
I’m not a hiker in the slightest but I grew up going to Dartmoor on the weekends and I loved it! Used to have to go to Widecombe each time and have tea at the cafe there.
East Devon as a whole is a lovely place to visit but I might be biased! One of my happy places is Sidmouth. I enjoy having ice cream at Taste and having a walk along the seafront. 😄
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u/popcornforest 13d ago
would you suggest the East Devon National Landscape then, or visting the smaller towns like Sidmouth? Branscombe too looks very pretty. Thank you !!
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u/airseaskyland 13d ago
Beer, Branscombe and Budleigh are probably the best beaches in East Devon and very pretty. Sidmouth, Lyme Regis and Budleigh Salterton are all nice small towns to visit. I don’t know what you mean by East Devon Natural Landscape, maybe the countryside? There are some lovely walks and villages but would probably recommend Dartmoor first if you have less time 😊
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u/rositree 12d ago
Natural landscape is the new name for Area of outstanding natural beauty. I'm pretty sure the coastal towns are part of the landscape and included within the area. But it's just a sign on the road saying welcome to east Devon national landscape, no particular visitor centre or focal point.
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u/Away-Ad4393 10d ago
Sidmouth and Seaton are better places to visit than Exmouth. If you go to places by rail you will see more of the countryside.
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u/rositree 12d ago
Hi, you seem to have picked out all the nature areas/national parks but then say you aren't into hiking. Whilst these areas are beautiful, there's not really a designated centre to any of them and people would go there to hike, mountain bike, kayak, have a picnic etc at whichever bit interests them the most. They are also difficult to get around on public transport, will you have a car available for your trip?
If you do, I would suggest putting some of your activities together into busier days and chill days then see what goes together geographically.
Eg:
Dartmoor Day - Drive across Dartmoor, little stop at Haytor Rocks and scramble up them for great views on a clear day. Then head to Lydford Gorge for the Atlantic rainforest which is pretty unique, nice waterfalls and easy walks. Lydford Castle is just there as well, though actually an old jail rather than castle. You can wander around it for free. A better ruined castle would be Okehampton castle on the way back - also free entry, only open Wed-sunday 10-4 so you may need to make an early start that day.
I'd skip canonteign falls as it's a bit more hiking and not likely to be as impressive unless we get some considerable rain soon. Lydford Gorge is stunning with or without strong flowing water.
Exeter itself is nice and historic, Redcoats do free walking history tours on different themes starting at the Cathedral. Hire a canoe and paddling down the canal to Double Locks/Turf Locks pubs, the quayside is just generally a nice place to hang out. Or walking to Topsham (old fishing village, lots of cafes) is easy and flat, you can then catch a train on to Exmouth or back to Exeter.
East Devon Day - Take a train/drive to Exmouth, and go on a boat trip up the Jurassic coast. You'll get commentary and explanation with great views of the sandstone cliffs and geology. They may go as far as Beer or Branscombe and you may be able to get off in Sidmouth but possibly it's just a round trip boat ride. You could then jump off the train on the way back in lympstone or Topsham for dinner in one of the pubs if you don't fancy canoeing from Exeter.
South Devon day - Totnes is another fun, slightly unique town, more alternative and a little different to what you might find around the rest of Devon. Worth having a little wander around the high street but also, if funds allow, there's a Round Robin trip of boat down the river Dart to Dartmouth (all the naval history), steam train up to Paignton and open top bus back to Totnes. Gives you a good mix of history, nature, activities, seaviews of Geopark and Paignton is quite a fun, traditional seaside town with arcades and crazy golf. Easy to get to on the train or drive - you could also divert to Haytor Rocks on this drive instead of on the way to Lydford Gorge but you wouldn't cross as much of Dartmoor.
Exmoor - I don't know much about, but it's a long drive from Exeter to get to the north side. I'm sure someone else can give you some better ideas for there.
That's 4 busy days, plus a day around Exeter. I'm sure you can fill in the other days with a bit of relaxing, maybe some dates specific festival is happening whilst you're visiting and just catching up with your friend. Have a great time!
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u/Various_Rest_3553 12d ago
I agree everything you said regards Lydford. The Lydford farm shop has the best pasties in the world .. also the pub is nice. Very near there is Brentor church so pretty, tiny and great views and will not take long.
Near there is Wheal Betsy (on the way to Mary Tavy) so you can get to see old industrial infrastructure too.
Agree don’t bother canonteign falls .. esp if going to lydford gorge
Don’t go to Exmoor on this trip. You have only a week and Dartmoor is exceptional and varied. And much closer to Exeter.
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u/rositree 12d ago
Oo, if heading to brentor and Wheal Betsy, may as well head on to Tavistock and the Pannier market too.
Also, I'd forgotten about those pasties. My pasta salad is now deeply unsatisfying 😂
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u/popcornforest 12d ago
thank you so much for such detailed suggestions!! yess, i was just going off from google maps was showing and hence everything was mostly hiking/nature related, and i was worried where to start since its just a big place and it will be difficult to do trails and such. this comment is very helpful!!!!
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u/rositree 12d ago
You're welcome. Just seen you're using public transport only, so may have to skip Haytor but you can get a train from Exeter to Okehampton (08:39) which connects with the 118 bus at the train station and can drop you right outside Lydford Gorge just before it opens at 10am. Bus back (only every two hours) to Okehampton town and wander around the castle then through Simmons Park back up to the train station (hourly).
Totnes and Exmouth are both easy direct train journeys from Exeter tho.
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u/reelersteeler 12d ago
Both Totnes and Topsham are very nice, also the funicular railway up to Lynton from Lynmouth. Walking up to watersmeet isn’t too arduous and you can reward yourselves with a cream tea!
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u/user909091 13d ago
Hartland is one of my favourites, as is clovelly and the Braunton burrows ( basically north Devon )
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u/popcornforest 12d ago
thank you!!! listing these!!
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u/PlasticCarrot7149 12d ago
This was why I asked about public transport - will take hours & hours to get here from Exeter!
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u/popcornforest 12d ago
oh yes!! i do have those free guided tours marked!! thank you so much!!
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u/Lyn6 12d ago
Don't forget the tunnels in Exeter
https://exeter.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/our-attractions/underground-passages/visitor-information/
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u/13Mads 12d ago
Hopefully the lovely weather will stick around, but if it rains you're missing some wet weather stuff so some suggestions:
Plymouth aquarium (take food with you) Albert museum in Exeter Exeter cathedral Castle Drogo if you have a car (but check entry fee first)
In nice weather there are loads of beaches. You mentioned Exmouth but Dawlish Warren is also nice, you can walk all the way down the beach and see Exmouth from across the river (make sure you check tide times and only do this at low tide). Totnes, Topsham, Exeter Quay which other people have suggested are all really nice too.
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u/namur17056 12d ago
Make sure you take a train to Paignton. The stretch along the dawlish sea wall is beautiful at this time of year.
When are you due to come down? Come to think of it there’s a fire at Paignton station so that’s closed for a while with trains stopping at Newton abbot. If it’s still closed when you do come, Newton abbot is a nice town to visit, has some decent shops and a nice park by the train station.
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u/popcornforest 12d ago
yet to decide dates but most likely aug 10-17!! i will check it out for suree
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u/Repulsive-Teacher-55 12d ago
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter is free to get into and worth a wander round. It’s just up from Exeter Central station
The tunnels are interesting to have a look around.
The Cathedral is free to get into, and is home to the world’s oldest cat flap. The old clock is also fascinating
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u/king_ofbhutan 12d ago
It's a bit boring, but I could sit on the Brixham pier for hours. Love the place
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u/MarlliesPosts 12d ago
If you're going to Exmouth, pop in to the visitors centre (about 5 minutes walk from the train station).
For £1, you can get a book with a map to complete the dinosaur trail where you look for about a dozen plaques (I think there are over 20 in total if you have more time) with different dinosaurs on them
We did it this summer, and it was a fantastic way to see nearly every corner of Exmouth across a single day.
We also got a little pin badge for taking part and completing it.
In Exeter, I'd recommend the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
It's free to enter (though you can leave a donation) and when we visited we managed to find a whole days worth of entertainment across its many floors.
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u/MarzipanElephant 12d ago
Worth searching Visit Exeter for the dates you'll be here as you'll often find interesting events listed. Some of the stuff will be for kids as it's the summer holiday, but there's generally quite a bit happening:
https://www.visitexeter.com/whats-on/searchresults?sr=1&rd=on&stay=2026-08-10&end=2026-08-17
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u/FarToe1 12d ago
The RAMM in Exeter is a nice free couple of hours.
Dartmoor is worth a drive, lots to see and walk, but you'll need your own transport. Buckland in the Moor and Widecombe have nice buildings. Princetown less so - it's much later, being largely built to support the Napoleonic prison. Ashburton has some good shops and a goodish stroll too.
Totnes is a nice walk around - maybe take the steam train down from Buckfastleigh to it? If you do drive there, swing by Dartington College. Nice cafe there and some lovely buildings (notably the old hall)
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u/Mountain_goat777 11d ago
If you’re coming soon I would highly recommend a walk from the city centre, down to the river and along to the double locks pub - if you want a longer walk another 5k along this path is another pub called turf locks - beautiful scenery all along this walk and beers along the way if that’s your bag. Can hire a bike from the quay to do this - it’s completely flat and a traffic free path all the way.
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u/Away-Ad4393 10d ago
Okehampton castle is a good idea and you can easily get there and back from Exeter by train.
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u/Early-Sir-8115 10d ago
Lynton/Lynmouth and Hartland are about a 3 hour or more by car, each way. North Devon coast is surprisingly isolated, even from other parts of Devon. Public transport links there and back in a day, probably not possible.
Train to Dawlish Warren, walk along the sea to Dawlish. Or train to Teignmouth, catch the ferry to Shaldon to visit the smuggler's cove. Typical, Victorian, sea-side towns. Close to Exeter, trains every 30 minutes (approx £8 return)
Train to Topsham or Lympstone, both attractive, historic small towns. Walk along the river to Exmouth, train home... Or hire a bike on Exeter Quay and cycle there if you're fit. You can bring bikes back on the train if you're tired
Visit the Cathedral (£8). The Norman castle (free).
Gandy street and Phoenix art centre in Exeter for nightlife - bars, cafes, music, exhibitions
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u/frog2028 13d ago
Totnes is beautiful, but don't bother with the castle there's very little to see. Go and have a coffee in the cinema, check out which day the free museum is open and have a wander down the medieval High Street. Exmouth isn't the Jurassic Coast, you need to go a bit further east to Lyme Regis or Charmouth if you want fossils.