Devon by Motorhome

Devon is the only English county with two separate coastlines, and that single fact explains why it is such an outstanding motorhome destination. The north coast faces the Atlantic - big surf, dramatic cliffs, wide sandy beaches. The south coast is the English Riviera - sheltered harbours, red sandstone, palm trees, and a climate mild enough for subtropical gardens. Between them, Dartmoor rises to over 600 metres of granite wilderness. You could spend a week on each and still not see it all. About four and a half hours from our depot, making it a trip of at least a week. Combine it with Cornwall for the ultimate south-west tour.

Dartmoor

The wild heart of Devon. A vast moorland plateau dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age stone circles, and the wild ponies that Dartmoor is famous for. Haytor is the most popular tor - easy to reach, panoramic views, and a good introduction to the moor. Hound Tor nearby has a ruined medieval village at its base and an atmosphere that Conan Doyle used as inspiration for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Widecombe-in-the-Moor sits in a sheltered valley with a village green, a fine church tower, and an excellent village shop.

The Dartmoor towns of Tavistock (pannier market on Fridays, excellent food), Ashburton (antique shops and delis), and Moretonhampstead are good for supplies. Princetown, the highest town on the moor at 1,400 feet, has the Dartmoor Prison Museum and the Plume of Feathers pub.

River swimming is one of the great Devon experiences. The Dart at Spitchwick Common is the most popular spot - a wide, deep pool surrounded by ancient woodland with flat rocks for lying on. Sharrah Pool higher up the Dart is quieter and more dramatic. The Erme at Ivybridge and the Teign near Chagford have good swimming holes too. The water is cold but the settings are extraordinary.

Important: Dartmoor's wild camping rights apply only to backpack tent camping in designated areas, not to motorhomes. You need a proper campsite pitch. Also, some Dartmoor roads are unsuitable for larger motorhomes - narrow lanes, small bridges, and steep gradients. Dartmoor National Park publishes a Coach Driver and Motorhome Guide map showing which roads to use. Download it before you go rather than trusting the satnav, which will happily send a 6 berth down a single-track lane over a medieval bridge.

The North Coast

Croyde, Woolacombe, and Saunton Sands are the surfing beaches - consistently rated among the best in the UK and genuinely beautiful even if you never touch a board. Woolacombe is three miles of sand backed by dunes. Saunton is even longer and less crowded. Croyde village has a buzzy surf culture with good pubs and cafes.

Clovelly is a privately owned fishing village that tumbles down a steep cobbled street to a tiny harbour. No cars are permitted inside - you walk down (or take the Land Rover back up). Unusual and charming.

Ilfracombe has been reinvented around Damien Hirst's Verity sculpture and a growing restaurant scene. The harbour is the launch point for Lundy Island boat trips - a car-free island with puffins, seals, and a pub. Further east, Lynmouth and Lynton sit in a dramatic wooded valley where Exmoor meets the sea. The cliff railway between them, powered by water balance, has run since 1890.

The South Coast

Salcombe sits on a deep estuary surrounded by National Trust coastline and is one of the most beautiful sailing towns in England. Dartmouth has a medieval castle, a steam railway along the coast to Paignton, and the Britannia Royal Naval College watching over the harbour. Brixham retains the character of a working fishing port - the quayside fish market sells the freshest catch in Devon and the fish and chips are outstanding.

Totnes is Devon's alternative town - independent shops, organic food, and the Riverford Field Kitchen serving farm-to-table meals. Sidmouth and Beer further east are quieter, more traditional seaside with red sandstone cliffs and the Jurassic Coast beginning at the Devon-Dorset border.

The South West Coast Path runs the entire length of both Devon coastlines. You do not have to walk all 130 Devon miles - pick sections and use the motorhome as a base. The stretch from Prawle Point to Salcombe is outstanding. The Valley of Rocks near Lynton is dramatic. Berry Head above Brixham has nesting seabirds and views across Torbay.

Cream Teas and Food

The Devon cream tea rule: cream first, then jam. Cornwall does it the other way round and they are wrong (or right, depending on which county you are in). Either way, you need a cream tea from a proper tearoom - not a chain. The scones should be warm, the cream should be clotted, and the jam should be strawberry.

Beyond cream teas, Devon's food scene is strong. Brixham fish, Ashburton delis, Tavistock pannier market, Dartmouth restaurants, Totnes organic producers. Cider from Sandford Orchards or Healeys. Ice cream from Salcombe Dairy. Cooking fresh Brixham fish in the motorhome is one of the best meals you will have anywhere.

Campsites

Stowford Farm Meadows near Combe Martin is one of the largest in the region - over 700 pitches across 500 acres of North Devon countryside, indoor pool, horse riding. Woodlands Grove near Dartmouth is five-star with free entry to the adjacent family theme park. Lady's Mile near Dawlish sits between the two coasts with serviced hardstanding, indoor and outdoor pools, open year-round. Langstone Manor near Tavistock sits in a wooded valley on the edge of Dartmoor with direct moorland access.

Roads

The M5 and A38 are the main arteries and handle any motorhome. The A361 (North Devon Link Road) to Barnstaple is fine for all sizes. Once you leave the main roads, Devon's lanes are narrow - high banks, blind bends, tractors. Similar to Cornwall but the lanes are slightly wider on average. The 2 berth handles everything. The 4 berth manages most routes. The 6 berth should stick to the main roads and plan campsite access carefully.

On Dartmoor specifically, download the National Park's motorhome route map. Your satnav does not know which bridges are too narrow or which lanes are too steep. Trust the map over the screen.

When to Visit

May and June for wildflowers on the coast path and Dartmoor. July and August for the best beach weather but the busiest roads - the A361 to north Devon queues badly on summer Saturdays. September is warm, quieter, and the sea is at its warmest after a summer of heating. October for autumn colours on Dartmoor. Winter for dramatic storms on the north coast and a genuinely mild south coast - Devon rarely freezes.

Devon pairs naturally with Cornwall to the west and Dorset to the east. Add the Cotswolds on the way home for a three-week south-west circuit. A long weekend covers either the north coast or the south coast. A week covers both plus Dartmoor. A fortnight lets you combine with Cornwall.

Dogs are welcome on many Devon beaches year-round or outside summer restrictions (check individually). Dartmoor is excellent for dog walking. Browse our fleet and check our packing checklist. Bring walking boots, swimwear for the river pools, and your own bedding. We do not provide duvets or towels.