The Oregon is an exception. Although she was holed on a reef off Thurlestone in 1890, the 810-ton vessel was refloated and on her way to Plymouth before
A tidal swimming pool lies in wait at Woody Bay
- Credit: Ian Shaw
Swimming in the ocean is one of the joys of summer in Devon and wild swimming has hugely increased in popularity recently. Enjoy our guide to the best beaches to take the plunge this summer
Best for families and swimmers, offering safe waters to swim in:
1) Woolacombe Beach, Woolacombe
Three miles of clean golden sand make this award-winning beach a great family day out. Enjoy swimming and water sports, and take a stroll along the beautiful coastal paths.
Lifeguarded daily from April to September
More information: nationaltrust.org.uk/woolacombe. Sat Nav: EX34 7DL
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It’s my second morning in the South Hams region of Devon, located between Torbay and Plymouth and bordering the Dartmoor National Park to the north.
It’s an area with a strong rural and maritime heritage, where sandy beaches rub up against rich coastal grasslands. And it’s so pretty, it’s a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Naturally beautiful it may be, but exploring on two wheels has largely lacked appeal to the average South Devon visitor, due to the relentless and often steep hills. Thankfully, e-Xplore Devon (e-xploredevon.co.uk; from £50 per bike per day) have made cycling here more accessible (and a great choice during the summer, when car parks are full and the roads are gridlocked).
Friendly Devon offered the perfect antidote to fearful and funereal London
In Devon, people don’t cover their mouths with scarves and recoil when your paths cross on a walk
Hope Cove
Credit: Getty
As we swept along the winding, coastal lanes and the bright sky opened up ahead of us, our six-year-old shouted excitedly, “I can see the sea!” The world of social distancing, self-isolation (is there any other type of isolation?) and horrifying headlines seemed to melt away.
We’ve been going to Thurlestone Rock in North Devon for the last four years now but it’s really been a saviour during the pandemic.