Family holidays in South Hams – five essential destinations for kids

With the 'credit crunch' crushing many people's wallets into rather small and misshapen objects, more and more people are choosing to holiday within the UK rather than travel abroad. So for a change this year why not take your kids to somewhere nearer to home, such as South Hams in Devon. Amongst the rolling Devonshire hills, down winding country lanes, hides some excellent family holiday opportunities that can easily be overlooked. So if you have booked your luxury cottage, from a vendor such as Coast and Country, or even bought a tent to live in from Argos, here are few places you may consider visiting.

Hope Cove

If you want to spend time your Devon holiday on a beautiful beach then you really can't get much better than Hope Cove. Surrounded by lush green countryside it is one of the most picturesque locations in the whole of Britain, with beautiful cottages, sparkling sea and clean beaches - ideal for smaller and older children alike. Once a simple fishing village it has become a popular holiday destination for UK visitors and yet manages to maintain its sleepy charm. ‘Inner Hope', the village's heart, has a square of thatched cottages, whereas 'Outer Hope' has the village's restaurant, pub and shop. Nearby are the South Devon Coastal Paths that offer meditative walks along the cliffs, with the sea gently lapping against the shore in the background. The seas of Hope Cove are also ideal for swimming, diving and other water sports.

Pennywell Farm

If your kids get tired of sitting on a beach then there are plenty of other things to do in South Hams. One of the favourite attractions is the award-winning Pennywell Farm, which is nestled in a beautiful valley not more than 20 miles from Exeter and 12 from Plymouth. The farm is great for children of all ages but is ideal for children between 3 and 11 years. The farm is open everyday from 10.00 until 17.00 and entrance prices are very reasonable. There are all the animals that you would expect to find on a farm, from lambs to horses, as well as birds of prey such as eagles and owls. The ticket price also includes displays and shows, rides on the Go-Karts, a ride on the railway and on the quads; you can also pay a little extra for a donkey or pony ride.

Surf School

For older children, who may find a Farm boooooring, you may want to improve your Devon holiday cool factor and book them surfing lessons. There are a number of surf schools throughout Devon. The Discovery Surf School in South Hams is a typical example of the type of thing on offer, professional coaching for beginners to advanced students. Discovery Surf School's main office is in Bigbury-on-Sea, which is a beautiful place in itself, and is run by British Surfer Marin Connolly. Not only does the company provide lessons but they can also hire out all of the equipment you may need for your rip-roaring surfing adventure. The surf lessons are also not priced too badly, with a 2-hour lesson costing £35, or a 4-lesson package costing £120.

Dartmoor Zoological Park

One place that you have to take in when visiting South Hams is the breathtaking vistas of Dartmoor. Not only is the moor itself amazing but there is also the Dartmoor Zoological Park that you can visit. This park contains lion, tigers and bears as well as creepy crawlies such as spiders. Set in around 30 acres it also houses restaurants and picnic areas so that you really make a day of it. Tickets are less than a tenner and well worth it.

Trains, boats and buses

Perhaps the ultimate Devon holiday adventure for children and adults alike is the 'Round Robin' trip from Paignton to Dartmouth via Totnes. The first leg of the journey is by steam engine through superb scenery and breath taking seascapes to Kingswear. It's then a ferry crossing to Dartmouth, where you can have a look at this beautiful port town. Next you get a leisurely cruise down the River Dart to the historic town of Totnes and finally get a bus back to Paignton. It really is a great trip, and you can get off at any point to spend more time in the town that catches your eye. Alternatively you can do the whole trip in reverse if it's easier for you.

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