Garden Cottage Family Guidebook
Food Scene
Literally 5 minutes walk away, lovely breakfasts with a view of the sea, great food throughout the day and brilliant evening meals you can just wander home from. Booking recommended for evening meals.
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Old Walls Vineyard
Old Walls HillLiterally 5 minutes walk away, lovely breakfasts with a view of the sea, great food throughout the day and brilliant evening meals you can just wander home from. Booking recommended for evening meals.
Really lovely, friendly cafe with absolutely stunning views of the estuary and sea. Right on the beach so the kids can play whilst you sit on your latte! Amazing breakfasts and great food all day.
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The Clipper Cafe
26 StrandReally lovely, friendly cafe with absolutely stunning views of the estuary and sea. Right on the beach so the kids can play whilst you sit on your latte! Amazing breakfasts and great food all day.
Absolutely delicious food served in traditional village pub, about a 20 minute drive away. Taxis are around £10-15. Brilliant choice of local food with a small garden at the front and carpark at the rear. Family friendly and really yum! Great for catering for intolerances.
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The Elizabethan Inn
Fore StreetAbsolutely delicious food served in traditional village pub, about a 20 minute drive away. Taxis are around £10-15. Brilliant choice of local food with a small garden at the front and carpark at the rear. Family friendly and really yum! Great for catering for intolerances.
Lovely, stylish pub / restaurant with great views of the sea and Teignmouth from its position on top of the red cliff top in Shaldon. Brilliant sandwiches and lovely roasts. Lots of seating and 5 minutes walk from Ness Cove so perfect for a pre or post beach pint.
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The Ness
Ness Drive
Lovely, stylish pub / restaurant with great views of the sea and Teignmouth from its position on top of the red cliff top in Shaldon. Brilliant sandwiches and lovely roasts. Lots of seating and 5 minutes walk from Ness Cove so perfect for a pre or post beach pint.
Cafe right on the beach at Oddicombe - at the bottom of the brilliant funicular railway. Serving lovely drinks, snacks and meals with the most amazing sea views. A really fun place to visit - why not walk down and get the funicular back up?
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Three Degrees West
Oddicombe Beach HillCafe right on the beach at Oddicombe - at the bottom of the brilliant funicular railway. Serving lovely drinks, snacks and meals with the most amazing sea views. A really fun place to visit - why not walk down and get the funicular back up?
Pub / restaurant in the most amazing location, on the banks of the river Teign. Fabulous spot for watching the incredible sunsets. There is a jetty which all the children crab off, as well as a tiny shoreline beach to throw pebbles from. Ask for a seat in the conservatory for the best
views of Bishopsteignton from the other side of the river. Food has been variable - sometimes amazing and sometimes not so. Definitely worth going for a drink and the view (and to
laugh at the water-skiers trying to do the jump right by the windows).
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The Coombe Cellars
Pub / restaurant in the most amazing location, on the banks of the river Teign. Fabulous spot for watching the incredible sunsets. There is a jetty which all the children crab off, as well as a tiny shoreline beach to throw pebbles from. Ask for a seat in the conservatory for the best
views of Bishopsteignton from the other side of the river. Food has been variable - sometimes amazing and sometimes not so. Definitely worth going for a drink and the view (and to
laugh at the water-skiers trying to do the jump right by the windows).
Drinks & Nightlife
Local village pub serving food all day. Large carpark and garden out the front for the kids to run in. 20 minutes walk from our house.
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Cockhaven Arms
Cockhaven RoadLocal village pub serving food all day. Large carpark and garden out the front for the kids to run in. 20 minutes walk from our house.
Great local pub - 10 minutes walk from our house. Super friendly, village local. Now serving food as well as the most amazing baked goodies, pies and sausage rolls. Small pub with a big heart. Great for meeting the locals!
Old Commercial Inn
Clanage StreetGreat local pub - 10 minutes walk from our house. Super friendly, village local. Now serving food as well as the most amazing baked goodies, pies and sausage rolls. Small pub with a big heart. Great for meeting the locals!
Family run brewery based on a farm approx 40 mins walk or 15 mins drive from our house. Home to an extensive range of traditional cask real ales, using not only the finest natural ingredients but also the farm’s pure spring water. Tap bar open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Often houses special events.
Red Rock Brewery
Family run brewery based on a farm approx 40 mins walk or 15 mins drive from our house. Home to an extensive range of traditional cask real ales, using not only the finest natural ingredients but also the farm’s pure spring water. Tap bar open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Often houses special events.
Fab, friendly local pub at the end of our road - a 5 min walk away. Serving food with a smile. Also shows sporting events, hosts quizzes and more.
Ring of Bells station
Fab, friendly local pub at the end of our road - a 5 min walk away. Serving food with a smile. Also shows sporting events, hosts quizzes and more.
Beaches, Parks & Nature
Brilliant local zoo, a full days worth of animal spotting and fun. Lots of outdoor play areas as well as a big indoor soft play - all included in the ticket price. The giraffe house is especially good! Plenty to do in the rain.
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Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
Totnes RoadBrilliant local zoo, a full days worth of animal spotting and fun. Lots of outdoor play areas as well as a big indoor soft play - all included in the ticket price. The giraffe house is especially good! Plenty to do in the rain.
Spectacular views across Devon from the top of Haytor Rocks - a fantastic place to visit if you only have one opportunity to visit Dartmoor. Close to carpark, ice cream van, public toilets and visitor information centre. Approximately half an hour from our house. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
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Haytor Rocks
Spectacular views across Devon from the top of Haytor Rocks - a fantastic place to visit if you only have one opportunity to visit Dartmoor. Close to carpark, ice cream van, public toilets and visitor information centre. Approximately half an hour from our house. Perfect for kids and adults alike.
Really lovely woodlands to visit for a walk along the river bank. Found on the outskirts of the small market town of Bovey Tracey, gateway to mystical Dartmoor. You can walk from the town (about one mile) or stop off as you drive to the open moor, where the next stop is the rugged crag of Haytor.
Take wellies.
Includes:
a vegetable garden, fruit garden and orchard
ice house, fish pond, grazing meadows for livestock and beehives for honey
and gardens to wander in for spiritual refreshment.
Free to enter, £2 parking (check prices before visiting). Lovely cafe with amazing food. Walking distance to Bovey Tracey, lovely town with Arts Centre and lots of independent shops and cafes.
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Parke
Really lovely woodlands to visit for a walk along the river bank. Found on the outskirts of the small market town of Bovey Tracey, gateway to mystical Dartmoor. You can walk from the town (about one mile) or stop off as you drive to the open moor, where the next stop is the rugged crag of Haytor.
Take wellies.
Includes:
a vegetable garden, fruit garden and orchard
ice house, fish pond, grazing meadows for livestock and beehives for honey
and gardens to wander in for spiritual refreshment.
Free to enter, £2 parking (check prices before visiting). Lovely cafe with amazing food. Walking distance to Bovey Tracey, lovely town with Arts Centre and lots of independent shops and cafes.
Stunning, wide sandy beach with gradually sloping sea. Great for swimming (look out for the lifeguards). Outdoor amusements like a pirate ship, go-carts and small roller coaster. Also, indoor arcades with 2p slot machines and more. Cafes selling burgers and chips, etc and public toilets. Some of the best sand in the area.
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Dawlish Warren
Warren RoadStunning, wide sandy beach with gradually sloping sea. Great for swimming (look out for the lifeguards). Outdoor amusements like a pirate ship, go-carts and small roller coaster. Also, indoor arcades with 2p slot machines and more. Cafes selling burgers and chips, etc and public toilets. Some of the best sand in the area.
Absolutely brilliant day out, on the edge of Dartmoor. Huge country park, with the River Dart running through the centre. Included in the price: fantastic outdoor adventure playground - suitable for all ages up to adult - river to paddle in, and an amazing man made lake for swimming around a large pirate ship. Lots more at an extra cost such a high ropes course, zorbing, kayaking and more. Perfect for country walks. Very cheap to get in off peak, and very reasonable on peak.
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River Dart Country Park
Absolutely brilliant day out, on the edge of Dartmoor. Huge country park, with the River Dart running through the centre. Included in the price: fantastic outdoor adventure playground - suitable for all ages up to adult - river to paddle in, and an amazing man made lake for swimming around a large pirate ship. Lots more at an extra cost such a high ropes course, zorbing, kayaking and more. Perfect for country walks. Very cheap to get in off peak, and very reasonable on peak.
If you wanted to spend the day on Dartmoor, you could visit Becky Falls - about a 30 min drive from us - a large and beautiful waterfall (https://www.beckyfalls.com). It calls itself 'the most beautiful place in Devon' and it is definitely one of them. You pay to get in and there is a cafe and some animals to see there too. You could then drive about 20 mins to climb Haytor and then finish the day with a meal in Widecombe.
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Becky Falls station
If you wanted to spend the day on Dartmoor, you could visit Becky Falls - about a 30 min drive from us - a large and beautiful waterfall (https://www.beckyfalls.com). It calls itself 'the most beautiful place in Devon' and it is definitely one of them. You pay to get in and there is a cafe and some animals to see there too. You could then drive about 20 mins to climb Haytor and then finish the day with a meal in Widecombe.
Only accessible via an original smugglers tunnel, this is a fun trip for the kids. Park in the public carpark behind the Ness pub in Shaldon and walk through the tunnel and down some pretty steep steps onto a secluded beach. The waves can be pretty rough, but it's position means it is the most glorious sun trap and the yellow light against the bright red cliffs is stunning. Next door to the tiny but fun Shaldon zoo (discounted tickets if you catch the ferry from Teignmouth) it's perfect for a day trip. 15 min drive.
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Ness Cove Beach
South West Coast PathOnly accessible via an original smugglers tunnel, this is a fun trip for the kids. Park in the public carpark behind the Ness pub in Shaldon and walk through the tunnel and down some pretty steep steps onto a secluded beach. The waves can be pretty rough, but it's position means it is the most glorious sun trap and the yellow light against the bright red cliffs is stunning. Next door to the tiny but fun Shaldon zoo (discounted tickets if you catch the ferry from Teignmouth) it's perfect for a day trip. 15 min drive.
Our favourite beach for swimming in the sea. With a car park, loos, a peak season cafe hut and a great local pub, Maidencombe is a great choice for families and everyone else too. It's a quiet, secluded, small bay between us and Torquay with a very gradually sloping sea bed, making it perfect for swimming. You can go out pretty far whilst the water is still only waist deep. Louis swam here on our wedding morning and still tries to drag me out there even when it's freezing cold! 20-25 min drive.
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Maidencombe Beach
South West Coast PathOur favourite beach for swimming in the sea. With a car park, loos, a peak season cafe hut and a great local pub, Maidencombe is a great choice for families and everyone else too. It's a quiet, secluded, small bay between us and Torquay with a very gradually sloping sea bed, making it perfect for swimming. You can go out pretty far whilst the water is still only waist deep. Louis swam here on our wedding morning and still tries to drag me out there even when it's freezing cold! 20-25 min drive.
Just over the bridge, opposite Teignmouth lies our closest beach neighbour and biggest rowing enemy: Shaldon. Connected to Teignmouth by a lovely tiny ferry costing a couple of quid, Shaldon is home to a lovely village with independent shops and great cafes. The Clipper is our favourite, it's right on the beach and serves amazing breakfasts - and The Ness, right on the top of the hill with amazing views, is another great food option. The beach is gorgeous red sand, perfect for sandcastle making. There are many festivals and events, often tag teaming with Teignmouth, throughout the year. 10-15 min drive.
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Shaldon
Just over the bridge, opposite Teignmouth lies our closest beach neighbour and biggest rowing enemy: Shaldon. Connected to Teignmouth by a lovely tiny ferry costing a couple of quid, Shaldon is home to a lovely village with independent shops and great cafes. The Clipper is our favourite, it's right on the beach and serves amazing breakfasts - and The Ness, right on the top of the hill with amazing views, is another great food option. The beach is gorgeous red sand, perfect for sandcastle making. There are many festivals and events, often tag teaming with Teignmouth, throughout the year. 10-15 min drive.
Sightseeing
Many villages lay claim to being picturesque, but the delightful Devon village of Cockington is the real deal. Take a walk back in time along Cockington’s narrow lanes, lined with thatched houses and you’ll experience a quiet charm that is quintessentially English. Everything about Cockington oozes with history – there’s a water mill, a forge and even the cricket pitch was once a medieval deer park.
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Cockington Village
Many villages lay claim to being picturesque, but the delightful Devon village of Cockington is the real deal. Take a walk back in time along Cockington’s narrow lanes, lined with thatched houses and you’ll experience a quiet charm that is quintessentially English. Everything about Cockington oozes with history – there’s a water mill, a forge and even the cricket pitch was once a medieval deer park.
Lovely town with stunning Arts Centre - The Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Lots of independent shops and cafes and a fantastic playground which is ideal for older children. Stream to paddle in and a very weird film props shop and showroom called The Jolly Roger which is open to the public and well worth a visit!
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Bovey Tracey
Lovely town with stunning Arts Centre - The Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Lots of independent shops and cafes and a fantastic playground which is ideal for older children. Stream to paddle in and a very weird film props shop and showroom called The Jolly Roger which is open to the public and well worth a visit!
Really pretty village with an extremely often photographed church and tea rooms. This time, it is on Dartmoor - an absolutely stunning, huge wilderness filled with piles of ancient rock (called Tors), wild sheep, cows and horses and the most incredible views. Home to lovely cream teas.
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Widecombe in the Moor
Really pretty village with an extremely often photographed church and tea rooms. This time, it is on Dartmoor - an absolutely stunning, huge wilderness filled with piles of ancient rock (called Tors), wild sheep, cows and horses and the most incredible views. Home to lovely cream teas.
Kents Cavern is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and one of Britain's best showcaves! On your visit you'll go back to a time when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals. As you walk through the extensive labyrinth of caverns, you'll be surrounded by 400 million year old rocks and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites.
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Mqabba Preistorika ta 'Kents Cavern
91 Ilsham RdKents Cavern is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and one of Britain's best showcaves! On your visit you'll go back to a time when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals. As you walk through the extensive labyrinth of caverns, you'll be surrounded by 400 million year old rocks and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites.
Arts & Culture
Absolutely stunning art gallery, filled with arts and crafts made by local people. Lots of see and buy, as well as a lovely cafe. Activities for kids and workshops for adults too. Lovely gifts and wonderful jewellery and art works for sale.
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Devon Guild of Craftsmen
Fore StreetAbsolutely stunning art gallery, filled with arts and crafts made by local people. Lots of see and buy, as well as a lovely cafe. Activities for kids and workshops for adults too. Lovely gifts and wonderful jewellery and art works for sale.
Wonderful, friendly museum in the heart of Exeter. Lots of things for children to enjoy, including a life-size giraffe and elephant. Lots of interesting artefacts for adults to wonder over, as well as hands on things for everyone to enjoy. Cafe also inside. Closed on Monday.
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Royal Albert Memorial Museum
Queen StreetWonderful, friendly museum in the heart of Exeter. Lots of things for children to enjoy, including a life-size giraffe and elephant. Lots of interesting artefacts for adults to wonder over, as well as hands on things for everyone to enjoy. Cafe also inside. Closed on Monday.
Absolutely fabulous little theatre, set in Exeter University. Home to brilliant plays and comedy acts. Everything we have seen here has been fabulous.
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Exeter Northcott Theatre
Stocker RoadAbsolutely fabulous little theatre, set in Exeter University. Home to brilliant plays and comedy acts. Everything we have seen here has been fabulous.
Entertainment & Activities
Cinema and theatre showing local and international films and plays. Lovely cafe with amazing sea views, open all day for drinks and great food.
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Pavilions Teignmouth
Den CrescentCinema and theatre showing local and international films and plays. Lovely cafe with amazing sea views, open all day for drinks and great food.
Indoor trampoline park - so much fun and perfect for a rainy day.
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iBounce Trampoline Park - Newton Abbot
Indoor trampoline park - so much fun and perfect for a rainy day.
Indoor skate park featuring half pipe and other things to skate, cycle or scoot up and down. Cafe inside. Small and friendly with lots of activity nights for kids.
The Lodge Indoor Skatepark
Wharf RoadIndoor skate park featuring half pipe and other things to skate, cycle or scoot up and down. Cafe inside. Small and friendly with lots of activity nights for kids.
Brilliant outdoor playground for kids of all ages, including a water play area in the summer. Free parking when off peak (check the signs).
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The Den
Brilliant outdoor playground for kids of all ages, including a water play area in the summer. Free parking when off peak (check the signs).
Bear Feet Playcentre Newton Abbot
Kingsteignton RoadIndoor soft play centre and cafe for under 12s.
Theme park approx 1 hour drive away (it's not far but the roads are windy!). Family friendly, medium sized theme park with plenty for a whole day of fun.
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Woodlands Family Theme Park
A3122Theme park approx 1 hour drive away (it's not far but the roads are windy!). Family friendly, medium sized theme park with plenty for a whole day of fun.
Crealy Adventure Park & Resort is an award winning family theme park in Devon that boasts over 60 rides and attractions, with spectacular live entertainment shows and animals galore, it's no wonder that Crealy Adventure Park & Resort is regularly voted the best day out in Devon.
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Crealy Theme Park & Resort
Sidmouth RoadCrealy Adventure Park & Resort is an award winning family theme park in Devon that boasts over 60 rides and attractions, with spectacular live entertainment shows and animals galore, it's no wonder that Crealy Adventure Park & Resort is regularly voted the best day out in Devon.
Small, local playground with play equipment for younger children. Large field perfect for football and running around.
Lawns End
Lawns EndSmall, local playground with play equipment for younger children. Large field perfect for football and running around.
Open for 55 years, this model village is one of Torquay's treasures. Both Louis and I remember going as children, and now our kids love it. Such a wonderful morning or afternoon out for all the family. You could couple it with a trip down the funicular railway with a fry up in the cafe at the top and drink in the cafe at the bottom.
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Babbacombe Model Village
Hampton AvenueOpen for 55 years, this model village is one of Torquay's treasures. Both Louis and I remember going as children, and now our kids love it. Such a wonderful morning or afternoon out for all the family. You could couple it with a trip down the funicular railway with a fry up in the cafe at the top and drink in the cafe at the bottom.
Home to all sorts of marine life including seals, penguins, otters and puffins. You can watch feeding time and learn all about our seaside friends. They have an amazingly huge tank which we love to sit opposite and watch the seals play. The smaller tanks with crabs, octopus and star fish provide hours of entertainment for everyone.
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Living Coasts
1 Beacon HillHome to all sorts of marine life including seals, penguins, otters and puffins. You can watch feeding time and learn all about our seaside friends. They have an amazingly huge tank which we love to sit opposite and watch the seals play. The smaller tanks with crabs, octopus and star fish provide hours of entertainment for everyone.
Essentials
10 minutes drive from our house or accessible via local bus. Local delivery available.
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Morrisons station
10 minutes drive from our house or accessible via local bus. Local delivery available.
Tesco petrol station, selling all the essentials. Open 6am-midnight, 7 days per week.
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Tesco Express
106 Bitton Park RdTesco petrol station, selling all the essentials. Open 6am-midnight, 7 days per week.
Large ASDA, selling clothes and food. Cafe inside, with carpark. Approx 20 minutes drive from our house.
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Asda Newton Abbot Superstore
Highweek StreetLarge ASDA, selling clothes and food. Cafe inside, with carpark. Approx 20 minutes drive from our house.
Large Tesco, selling clothes and food. Cafe inside, with carpark. Approx 20 minutes drive from our house.
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Tesco Superstore
Salterton RoadLarge Tesco, selling clothes and food. Cafe inside, with carpark. Approx 20 minutes drive from our house.
Lidl
Decent sized LIDL. Approx 20 minutes drive from our house.