Britain · TOURS IN DEVON
Good tours in Devon fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 13 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Join Torquay Watersports for a fast, one-hour RIB ride from The Pavilion in Torquay. Guides such as Greg, Glen, and John combine local stories with a search for seals, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds. Expect a lifejacket, open-water spray, changing speed, and a small group of up to 12 people.
“Saw plenty of dolphins and other sea life I Would highly recommend. The boat was fast and fun and guide was amazing”
Follow Agatha Christie’s Torquay from the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre with guide Graham Kerr. Over about 2.5 hours, you’ll walk the seafront past The Pavilion, Princess Pier, Torre Abbey, her bust, and memorial seat while hearing stories, seeing historic photos, and learning how Torquay shaped the world’s most famous crime writer.
“Wonderful experience with tour guide Graham who seems to know just about everything about Agatha C! Great storyteller👍”
Join Coastal Adventures Ltd for a 2.5-hour coasteering session near Ilfracombe, Croyde or Hele Bay. You will swim through gullies, scramble along cliff bases, explore caves and choose from jumps of different heights. Guides including Zac, Jess, Alex and Matt provide wetsuits, helmets, footwear and buoyancy aids.
“We recently went coastering in Ilfracombe as a family group (ages 12 to 48), and it was an unforgettable experience! We were a bit apprehensive at the start, not knowing exactly what to expect, but the team immediately made us feel comfortable and at ease.”
Join Torquay Watersports at Torquay Marina for a fast 30-minute RIB ride around Torbay. You’ll see coves, caves, islands, bays, and coastal sights near Meadfoot and London Bridge, with commentary, wildlife spotting, sharp turns, and high-speed runs. Lifejackets and a safety briefing are included. Minimum age is 10 or 11, with a 25-inch inside leg requirement.
“We were near Torquay visiting friend for the weekend, as it was my husbands birthday i decided to book the Raptor RIB ride for us and our 2 adult children. It was absolutely fantastic and far exceeded my expectations. The speed and thrill (with slightly scary bits) combined with the confidence, safety a professionalism of the crew was a perfect mix. To see my adult kids (24 & 26) laugh like small children again was priceless! All the staff, from check in to the Captain were friendly a welcoming. A special shout to Rue who was brilliant and i am sure she will have a fantastic first season!”
Meet guide Ziggy at The Thatched Tavern in Maidencombe for a 2.5-hour coasteering trip along Torquay’s UNESCO Geopark. You’ll wear a wetsuit and safety gear, then boulder, climb, jump, explore sea caves, and hear tales of pirates, smugglers, geology, and local ghosts. Coffee or tea is included.
“Really fun afternoon of coasteering celebrating our son’s 13th birthday. Great mix of jumps, climbs and challenges, sprinkled with some interesting stories and geology chat. We all loved it and will definitely be back for more - thanks Ziggy!”
Join guide Kieran from Oddicombe Beach for a three-hour tandem kayak trip along the English Riviera. Paddle through sea caves, look for seals and birds, learn about Devon’s geology, search for fossils, taste a wild marine herb, and toast marshmallows on a secluded beach.
“Well worth it. Really good 3 hours and a great experience for the whole family. Got to sea some seals. The caves were great and the knowledge of the guide was exceptional.”
Meet your skipper at Torquay Marina for a private one-hour RIB trip along the Devon coast. You may spot dolphins, porpoises, seals, or sea lions while passing caves, Berry Head, secluded bays, and striking geology. Skipper Max has been praised for making the ride informative and lively.
“The caves The Dolphins The sea lions The whole journey was interesting and full of vibes from our Captain”
Leave Torquay Marina on a 90-minute RIB ride for Meadfoot, London Bridge, Berry Head, Thatcher Rock, and Babbacombe. A skipper handles the boat while you watch for dolphins, porpoise, seals, and seabirds. The small boat carries no more than 12 people, with lifejackets supplied. Expect coastal facts, rock formations, and a brisk burst of speed.
“Exciting, good fun, informative - we both want to do this again. Guide knew exactly where to find dolphins, plus a bit of a history lesson on rocks, cave and certain buildings around coast”
Join Mark from Devon History Tours for a small-group walk through Ilfracombe’s oldest streets and harbour. Starting outside the George & Dragon, the route visits eight story stops, including historic inns, the Britannia Hotel area, and the quay. Expect ghost tales, poltergeist reports, old photographs, shipwreck history, and a gentle walking pace.
“Would throughly recommend this event. Thanks to Mark, he made the evening with his knowledge and enthusiasm.”
At The Gin Nest in Torquay, Paul guides you through gin styles, distillation, and botanicals before you create a personal recipe with a traditional copper pot still. Choose your botanicals, design a label, bottle your gin, and enjoy wine or gin as you work. The two-hour class is in English and welcomes up to 16 people.
“Really enjoyed this afternoon in a relaxing environment. Tested our creativity but we all came away with something tasty and had excellent, attentive service and instruction from Paul. It is worth not driving so you can sample the delicious G&Ts during the session. Looking to book again later in the year and invent a whole new flavour profile!”
Spend about 2.5 hours at Arty Boat in Exmouth, choosing and painting a wooden duck or ceramic piece with help from a local host. Your booking covers studio time, materials, a hot or cold drink, and cake. The item costs extra, usually £12 to £35, and you take it home the same day.
“The cost of the wooden duck was more than advised on the chat when I enquired. However we had a great time”
Meet Graham at 2:30 pm in Torquay for a two-hour Fawlty Towers walk along the English Riviera. Hear how John Cleese and Connie Booth found the idea for the show, learn what became of its characters, inspect the infamous signposts, and act out scenes from the 12 original episodes. Groups are limited to 14 people.
“Graham, the distant cousin of Basil, gives a unique interactive tour of Torquay seafront with jokes so bad they’re funny and lots of facts about Torquay’s most famous fictional hotelier. Come prepared to act out some of the most famous scenes from the 12 original episodes .”
Spend about eight hours exploring Dartmoor in a private Land Rover Discovery with Nigel from Devon&Moor. You’ll visit Ashburton, Princetown, Foggintor Quarry, and Haytor Vale, with local stories, wildlife stops, bottled water, binoculars, parking, and hotel pickup within set areas.
“I highly recommend this tour company for anyone going anywhere in Southwest England! We had an absolutely lovely day with Nigel and loved our tour of Dartmoor. From start (when he picked us up from our Airbnb) to finish (when he dropped us off again—what service!), the tour was perfectly planned, with enough time at each stop to get to learn the history and see all the beautiful sites, while still keeping things moving along so we could maximize our time and get the most of the day. Nigel went out of his way to make the tour fun for all us, quickly learning what aspects of the tour we…”
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