Devon

Devon is the only English county with two separate coastlines, and that geographical fact tells you much about the variety it offers motorhome travellers. The north coast faces the Atlantic, with dramatic cliffs, powerful surf, and wide sandy beaches. The south coast — the English Riviera and beyond — is gentler, with sheltered harbours, red sandstone cliffs, and a mild climate that supports palm trees and subtropical gardens. Between them, the granite wilderness of Dartmoor rises to over 600 metres, offering some of the wildest landscape in southern England. The drive from our Pontefract depot takes around five hours via the M1 and M5, and every mile of it is worthwhile.

The journey south follows the M1 to the M42, then the M5 through the Midlands and Somerset. As you pass Taunton and the Somerset Levels give way to the red earth of Devon, the character of the countryside changes noticeably. The hills steepen, the hedgerows grow taller, and the lanes narrow — all signs that you are entering a landscape shaped by a different geology and a different pace of life.

Dartmoor National Park is Devon's dramatic centrepiece. This vast moorland plateau, dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age stone circles, and wild ponies, has an atmosphere that is at once beautiful and forbidding. Haytor and Hound Tor are perhaps the most famous of the granite outcrops, offering easy walks with panoramic views. Widecombe-in-the-Moor, made famous by the folk song about Uncle Tom Cobley, sits in a sheltered valley beneath high moorland and has a village green, a fine church, and an excellent village shop.

The Dartmoor towns of Tavistock, Okehampton, and Ashburton provide services and supplies for motorhome travellers, while campsites on the moor itself — such as those at Princetown and near Postbridge — offer a more immersive experience. Wild camping is permitted on some parts of Dartmoor, making it one of the few places in England where you can park your motorhome and sleep under genuinely dark skies, though you should check the current regulations carefully.

The north Devon coast stretches from the surfing beaches of Croyde and Woolacombe — consistently rated among the best in the UK — to the dramatic cliffs around Hartland Point and Clovelly. Clovelly is a privately owned fishing village that tumbles down a steep cobbled street to a tiny harbour, with no cars permitted inside the village. The coast path through this section is among the most demanding and most rewarding walking in the South West.

Ilfracombe, the largest resort on the north Devon coast, has been reinvented around Damien Hirst's Verity sculpture — a 20-metre bronze figure that dominates the harbour entrance — and a growing restaurant scene centred on the harbour area. The town makes a good base for exploring the Exmoor coastline to the east, where the high cliffs and wooded valleys around Lynmouth and Lynton are among the most atmospheric in the country. The cliff railway connecting the two villages, powered by water balance, has been running since 1890.

The south Devon coast offers a completely different character. Salcombe, set on a deep estuary surrounded by National Trust-owned countryside, is one of the most beautiful sailing towns in England. The beaches around the estuary mouth — North Sands, South Sands, and Mill Bay — are sheltered and family-friendly. Dartmouth, further east along the coast, has a medieval castle guarding the harbour entrance and a naval college that has trained officers since 1863. The steam railway from Dartmouth to Paignton follows the coast through tunnels and along cliff edges, offering views that rival any railway journey in the country.

Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham form the English Riviera, a stretch of coast blessed with a mild climate and south-facing aspect. Torquay has grand Victorian hotels and a marina, while Brixham retains the character of a working fishing port — its market on the quayside sells the freshest catch you will find anywhere in Devon. The Berry Head Nature Reserve above Brixham offers cliff-top walking with views across Torbay and the chance to see rare greater horseshoe bats in the limestone caves below.

Devon's food culture is central to the motorhome experience. Cream teas — with the cream going on first, as any Devonian will insist — are an essential indulgence. But beyond the cream teas, Devon produces outstanding cheese, cider, and seafood. The Riverford Field Kitchen near Totnes serves organic meals using produce from the surrounding farm, and the towns of Totnes and Tavistock have vibrant food markets that celebrate local producers.

Motorhome campsites across Devon are numerous and well-equipped. Stowford Farm Meadows near Combe Martin on the north coast is one of the largest in the region. Woodlands Grove near Dartmouth offers a south coast base. Lady's Mile Holiday Park near Dawlish sits on the coast between the two shores. All provide full facilities for motorhomes including electric hook-ups, waste points, and laundry services.