You’ll never be short of things to do in Mid Devon.
Mid Devon is an ideal spot for anyone coming to the county, as you’re never too far from countryside, coastlines, cultural heritage sites, museums and shopping centres .
Blackdown Hills. The Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the Devon and Somerset border, is a real hidden gem. Unspoilt by mass tourism, it is a beautiful unspoilt rural landscape of steep valleys, forest and farmland, laced with rivers and streams. The area offers excellent cycling, walking and riding and there is plenty of history to interest visitors, from the Iron Age to World War Two. The hills are dotted with pretty villages, where a warm welcome and good food are always on offer.
The Grand Western Canal Country Park meanders for 11¼ miles through beautiful countryside and quiet villages between Tiverton and the hamlet of Lowdwells.
The Canal is probably best known for the horse-drawn passenger barge Tivertonian, that has been taking passengers for trips since 1974. This living-heritage attraction is operated by the Tiverton Canal Co. and offers the opportunity to step back in time and enjoy the tranquillity of the Country Park whilst gliding along to the sound of birdsong and the horses’ hooves clopping along the towpath.
Other activities that can be enjoyed at the Country Park include walking, cycling, angling, boating and paddling.
It is also a Local Nature Reserve and County Wildlife Site and is home to a wealth of wildlife, being particularly notable for its wildflower-rich banks, its dragonflies and its Kingfishers.
For more information please visit www.devon.gov.uk/grandwesterncanal
Ten Acres Vineyard– Tour and wine tasting
Weekly guided vineyard tours with wine-tasting every Saturday at 4.30pm. The vineyard is set in beautiful Devon countryside with stunning views over to Dartmoor. An excellent memorable outing.
The tour takes you around the vineyard, and into the small winery and lasts about an hour and a half- there is a wine-tasting at the end of the tour, with at least four wines to try, including sparkling wines – their speciality.
They also offer private tours on other days, exclusively for a group. Check their website for prices and availability
www.tenacresvineyardcamping.co.uk/vineyard-winery-tours.html
Crediton is a buzzing town the whole year round; there’s always something to see and do with an active arts community embedded in the town. Nestled against the Creedy Valley, the drive from Bickleigh to Crediton is stunning with a couple of areas to pull over and take in the view along the way.
On the first and third Saturdays of every month, you will find Crediton Farmers’ Market in the town square.
Lapford is a parish and traditional rural village in the heart of the Devonshire countryside, located on a hill overlooking the river Yeo. Steeped in history, Lapford has traces back to the Iron Age being a place of worship by the Celts.
The village features a playing field with two play areas, football pitch and fenced playground. There is also a request-stop railway station on the Tarka line, which runs between Exeter and Barnstaple.
Chawleigh is a village on the south side of the Little Dart valley. With stunning views of Dartmoor and links to the Two Moors Way and Tarka Trail, as well as Eggesford Forest the area is a great place to explore on a walking holiday.
The Sculpture School is recognised as Britain’s leading centre for mastering the art of realist figurative sculpture. Our courses, led by world-renowned master sculptor, Andrew Sinclair MRSS, offer an inspiring insight into the methods and tools needed to create breathtakingly realistic figures and animals.
You can choose from a number of different options, from 1 day Taste of Sculpture workshops to 4-day courses. Situated in a purpose built studio space, all their courses are held in a sanctuary of calm respite, perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about sculpture or to just lose themselves in the inspirational tranquillity of the area.
https://thesculptureschool.co.uk/
