Founded in 1895, Wrangaton Golf Club is situated on the southern slopes of Dartmoor between Ivybridge and South Brent.  Today the nine hole course continues to be a rugged and raw experiences, underlined by the natural beauty of the area - the rich Devonshire countryside and the coastline and the sea 10 miles away.  It is a test of any golfer’s ability, and it is said that you never play the same hole twice.  Warm and welcoming, visitors are invited to attend with green fees starting at £22.50 for 18-holes.  Feel free to pop into the clubhouse afterwards to have a snack, drink or perhaps a traditional Sunday lunch to round off your day.

www.wrangatongolfclub.co.uk

 

A family theme park set in 90 acres of countryside in South Devon, Woodlands has a wealth of entertainment available for kids of all ages including rides, a toddler zone, a falconry centre, a sea monster zone, animal paddocks, a deer park, a chicken run, baby animals, a meerkat home and lots more to keep you entertained for a whole day. They also host a series of events that vary throughout the season from Dino Week to Peppa Pig, and for visiting groups they offer special rates and discounts. There are indoor and outdoor activities available making it perfect when the sun shines or for rainy days, and there are seasonal opening times with a range of ticket options so check the website for the latest information. 

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Simply Soulful Yoga run by Donna McCheyne offers holistic treatments, yoga classes, workshops and retreats in Salcombe & Kingsbridge. Seasonal yoga classes include Stand up Paddleboard Yoga and Beach Yoga, and treatments are available in her Kingsbridge based treatment room or your holiday cottage.  Donna  is a qualified Yoga Teacher (FRYOG), SUP instructor and Holistic Therapist. 

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Enjoy 10% off classes with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card

When in South Devon get out onto the water – or at least, that seems to be the unwritten mantra. So what you will need is the right equipment and for that you need to go to Triocean Surf Shop. South Devon's largest surf and water-sports shop located just two miles from Bantham Beach, well known as one of the premier surf spots in Devon and where, as we have mentioned, you will find some excellent tutors to get you riding waves like a pro. This is the place to buy wetsuits, surfboards, surfboard shapers, kayaks, body boards and paddle boards. See you on the water!

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Enjoy 10% off any wetsuit in store with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card

Giving you the opportunity to take canoeing to the next level with guided tours in long canoes along the beautiful River Dart, Canoe Adventures offer a variety of options and opportunities to really make the experience your own with canoe share for families, riverside picnics, ice cream, wildlife, history and fire craft to be enjoyed. You can join a tour or opt for private hire with visits to the popular Sharpham Vineyard for family celebrations, hen parties, stag dos, school trips and corporate outings.  Keep an eye on the website for scheduled trips including the Dart by Moonlight which is a complete cracker!

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Enjoy £10 off whole boat bookings with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card

 

Roughly one kilometre (20 minutes depending on your pace) from the National Trust car park at Ringmore, and with a selection of footpaths to get to it, Ayrmer Cove is a quiet secluded beach on the South West Coast Path. For anyone on holiday in South Devon it’s a peaceful place to sit and contemplate the natural scenery amongst the shingle, pebbles and rock pools, admiring the cliffs. It makes for a beautiful destination to walk to from Ringmore itself, which is a small village (population 230) with views towards the cove itself as well as Bigbury Bay – it makes for a wonderful holiday cottage destination in South Devon as well as a place to visit as part of your day. Walking to the beach allows you to discover the surrounding woodland, wildlife and history of the area – taking in old smugglers’ routes and hedgerows that have been in situ since the 1800s. It is a little tricky to get to so it’s not ideal for wheelchairs, and there aren’t any toilets or facilities at the beach itself so if you want to stay for a little while don’t forget to take snacks or a picnic if the weather is right. This is all about enjoying the environment that’s such a proud part of the National Trust – it’s everything a holiday in Devon is about, and yes, dogs are permitted all year round and will very much enjoy the walk!

Close to Kingsbridge, Challaborough Bay is a sandy beach in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that’s perfect for enjoying all the seaside activities nature can afford. At low tide the beach is ideal for visiting families to build sandcastles and explore the rock pools, while the swells and shore breaks also attract surfers and bodyboarders. There are some beautiful walks along the coast path that surrounds it, heading towards Bigbury on Sea in particular. Making it an ideal spot to spend the day, the beach has toilets, a café and a beach shop close by, although access is via steps and small paths so accessibility isn’t wheelchair friendly. There is a car park but it’s rather small, so it’s good to know that a 15-minute walk to Bigbury will see ample parking available – seasonal charges apply so remember to bring cash with you. While four legged friends are welcome in the winter, they are not allowed on the beach between May and September, so do plan their walks with that in mind. It’s a lovely spot along the coast path to bring them to, you can even beach hop from one to the next!

At the mouth of the Avon River, Bantham beach is easy to reach from Salcombe, Kingsbridge and our other favourite holiday home locations, as well as being a beautiful area to stay in its own right. The beach looks out over Bigbury Bay and offers a wonderful view of Burgh Island, which is famous for its art deco hotel of the same name that has hosted Agatha Christie and Noel Coward amongst its illustrious guests an can reach by sea tractor. Bantham beach has a popular reputation amongst both novice and advanced surfers, and as such there are lessons available from the Bantham Surfing Academy, which operates from the beach. They also offer other water sports including paddle boarding, and a day pottering up the Avon River on one of those when the tide is right, is a day well spent. When the tide is out at Bantham the sandy beach reveals rock pools and great swathes of space so you can happily set up a picnic and stay there for the whole day. If the mood strikes, why not walk along the coast path towards Thurlestone around the corner, and South Milton Sands beyond that, particularly as it’s also a popular beach for dog owners? Just keep in mind that from 1st May until 30th September restrictions apply, so look out for signposts with more information. If you’re spending the whole day on the beach it’s worth popping to the Gastrobus which is open seasonally in the car park, offering everything from freshly made baps to coffees, teas and cakes, or for a larger meal head the short walking distance to The Sloop Inn gastropub. There is plenty of parking available by Bantham, with charges from £3.50 per day, so make sure you have change on you as it’s a bit tricky to find parking otherwise. There are toilets in the car park, and from May to October from 10am until 6pm there is also lifeguard cover on the beach. All in, Bantham has something to offer everyone throughout the year and is one of many beautiful locations to spend time while you’re in South Devon.

Between Dartmouth and Slapton, Blackpool Sands is a beautiful shingle bay on the South West Coast Path, surrounded by evergreens and pine trees. It really is a treasure of a beach to visit while you’re in the area. Award-winning, the privately owned, blue flag beach boasts a sense of being in the Mediterranean on a good day in the summer, although a good jumper never goes amiss in this part of the world! You will no doubt not be surprised to hear that it is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, however it also boasts ample facilities and things to do. There are showers, toilets and disabled facilities, as well as paddle board, kayak and wetsuit hire available for those wishing to earn their visit to The Venus Beach Café, where light bites and refreshments are served. The Venus Shop also sells all the bits and pieces you might want for fun and games on the beach if you have forgotten them or are in need of extra buckets and spades. The water at Blackpool Sands is known for being clean and clear and tested by the Environment Agency, and lifeguards are on hand in the summer (July to September) so there’s every reason to pop in for a dip. However, dogs are not allowed on the beach in the high season (12th March to 30th October) so keep the walking for the cooler months. There is parking available at the beach with seasonal charges, and you can find out more information on those from the Blackpool Sands information line on 01803 771800. This beach is easy to get to and quite literally fun and games for the whole family, as well as a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year to take in the view!

A small sandy beach belonging to Thurlestone Golf Club, those who have been on regular Devon weekend breaks and holidays will have seen this beach change somewhat in recent years thanks to storm damage, but the evolving landscape merely adds to its charm. A 200-metre walk down a paved path from the golf club and its car park and you find yourself heading down a gentle slope onto the sand, with the option of enjoying the beach in its own right or walking along the coast in either direction towards Bantham or South Milton Sands. Dogs are allowed here at any time, which of course adds to the appeal for walkers, and if you fancy stopping somewhere for lunch then Thurlestone village nearby is home to a charming pub that’s cryptically named The Village Inn, which is suitable for the whole family and wonderfully cosy in the winter months. Alternatively head to the Beachhouse café at South Milton for lunches and evenings meals with a view of the sunset, or cups of tea and brownies from the Gastrobus at Bantham. It is one of the area’s quieter beaches, often acting as a place to wander past rather than one to spend the whole day on, but given its easy access and the proximity of the car park, and the golf club, it’s a delightful little spot in which to while away the afternoon.