Salcombe, Devon

Devon Explorer: Exmoor, Dartmoor & The Coast

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

6 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £850 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Exmoor National Park

Famous for its rugged coastline, sweeping moors and iconic Exmoor ponies, Exmoor National Park is packed full of opportunities for adventure or relaxation.

Beautiful beaches

From the vast expanse of golden sand at Woolacombe to the tranquil coves at East Portlemouth, Devon is home to some truly spectacular beaches. Take a relaxing stroll on the sand or settle down at a waterside cafe and watch the waves.

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter is one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, a real gem. Discover the 900-year-old cathedral – one of England’s most beautiful medieval buildings – and the world-class Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

This small city is also packed full of independent shops and fantastic places to eat and drink.

Dartmoor National Park

With wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys, Dartmoor National Park offers a landscape quite unlike any other.

Hike to one of the lofty granite tors for sublime views, or explore mysterious standing stones and delightful, secluded villages.

Coastal scenery

With hidden coves and beautiful fishing villages, the coastline of Devon is world-famous. The iconic South West Coast Path trail runs along the entire coastline and there are countless opportunities for wonderful walks in all directions.

Maritime towns

There is a strong maritime connection here and plenty of historic harbour towns to discover, including Salcombe, Brixham and Dartmouth.

A Relaxing Road Trip in Delightful Devon

With two stunning national parks and some of Europe’s most beautiful coastal scenery, Devon is the perfect destination for a self-drive holiday.

Discover rugged Exmoor National Park and Woolcombe – regularly voted as Britain’s best beach – in North Devon, before travelling to the historic city of Exeter with its magnificent cathedral. From here, Dartmoor National Park and the English Riviera are a short hop away. End your adventure in South Devon, with its delightful villages, superb beaches and delicious cream teas.

This is a slow-paced road trip which allows you plenty of time to explore Devon’s superb attractions or simply unwind and enjoy your surroundings.

Begin your self-drive holiday with a spectacular drive through Exmoor National Park – famous for its rugged coastline, sweeping moors and iconic Exmoor ponies – before stopping to explore the quaint adjoining villages of Lynton & Lynmouth with their Victorian Cliff Railway. Continue past the awe-inspiring Valley of the Rocks to Devon’s golden northern coast where you’ll have plenty of time to relax on some of England’s finest beaches such as Woolacombe and Saunton Sands.

Travel along the west coast to Clovelly, one of Devon’s prettiest villages, and spend some time wandering the quaint, cobbled streets. From here, head inland through delightful, rural countryside to the impressive remains of the largest castle in Devon at Okehampton, then continue along the northern edge of wild Dartmoor National Park to Exeter.

Exeter is one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England – a real gem. Discover the 11th-century cathedral which is truly one of England’s most beautiful medieval buildings, and visit the world-class Royal Albert Memorial Museum. This small city is packed full of independent shops and excellent places to eat and drink. Nearby lies the popular English Riviera which enjoys more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on the British mainland.

Beautiful South Devon awaits, home to quaint fishing villages and rugged clifftops. There is a strong maritime connection here and plenty of historic gems like Greenway House to discover, the beloved holiday home of Agatha Christie and her family. Devon’s famous coastline is fringed with beautiful towns such as Salcombe, Brixham and Dartmouth, and there are countless gorgeous beaches to discover.

From South Devon, return to Bristol where your memorable self-drive tour will come to an end.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Whilst our suggested itinerary begins in Bristol, it is also available to start from many other locations including London.

Day 1: Bristol to North Devon

Arrive in Bristol where you’ll collect your hire car and travel south into Exmoor National Park, famous for its rugged coastline, sweeping moors and iconic Exmoor ponies.

If time allows, you could stop and visit tranquil Cleeve Abbey and magnificent Dunster Castle before stopping in the quaint adjoining villages of Lynton & Lynmouth with their Victorian Cliff Railway.

Continue along the coast to the fascinating Valley of the Rocks – a dramatic geological feature on the northern edge of Exmoor and an unmissable photo opportunity – before arriving in Devon’s golden north-west coast where you will spend the next two nights.
Overnight – North Devon

Day 2: North Devon Sightseeing

Today you could spend the day relaxing on some of England’s finest beaches such as Woolacombe and Saunton Sands, or travel into Exmoor National Park to hike through beautiful wooded valleys and dramatic moorland.

For an unforgettable experience, take a boat trip to Lundy Island which lies 12 miles off the coast. Although only three miles in length and half-a-mile wide, the island offers an amazingly diverse range of things to do for day-trippers, and because of its isolation the habitat for wildlife is often compared to that of Galapagos. Boats depart from both Bideford and Ilfracombe.
Overnight – North Devon

Day 3: North Devon to Exeter

Travel along the coast to Clovelly, one of Devon’s prettiest villages, and spend some time wandering the quaint, cobbled streets. From here, head inland through delightful, rural countryside to the impressive remains of the largest castle in Devon at Okehampton, then travel along the northern edge of wild Dartmoor National Park to the delightful small city of Exeter.
Overnight – Exeter area

Day 4: Exeter Sightseeing

Nearby lies the traditional seaside resorts of the English Riviera. This popular stretch of coastline enjoys more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on the British mainland.

Alternatively, explore wild Dartmoor National Park which offers wide open moorlands and deep river valleys.
Overnight – Exeter area

Day 5: Exeter to South Devon

Day 6: South Devon Sightseeing

Today you could spend some time exploring Devon’s famous coastline which is fringed with beautiful towns such as Salcombe, Brixham and Dartmouth. There are countless gorgeous beaches to relax at and historic sites to discover.
Overnight – South Devon

Day 7: South Devon to Bristol and depart

This morning you will depart South Devon and your memorable self-drive tour will come to an end.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 6 nights including traditional English breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of England with our recommended driving route
7 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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