Go Devon

05/07/2025

One of Devon’s craziest, madcap bonkers events takes place on Sunday. And it’s free!

If you can, get yourself along to Bideford to watch the Soapbox Derby.

It’s a glorious celebration of community spirit run entirely by volunteers and a traditional spectacle rarely matched in these days of “health and safety”.

Locals have been constructing homemade vehicles to brave the steep hill, chicanes obstacles and “wipe out corner” since 1953. Last year there were 45 entries.

If you attend, consider donating to help local charities and help keep this piece of authentic Devon fun going for years to come.

10am to 4pm. Sunday 6th July

This is from Go Devon! newsletter. Subscribe to keep up with Devon leisure events you might not have heard about.

14/05/2025

It’s 1971. I’m standing on the water’s edge and I’m scared.

I’m about to make my first proper sea swim out to the Tinside raft.

My Dad is there encouraging me, but nothing is making all that seaweed and the deep black mass of liquid seem any more inviting.

My stomach is tight, but I plunge in.

After the cold shock and my first few tentative strokes, the fear is replaced by childish joy.

I get faster and more confident, the haven of the raft getting ever closer.

Before I know it, I’m there, climbing out into the sunshine and tingling all over.

My Dad lifts my arm above my head like a boxing champion and gives three big hoorays.

“Well done! You did it, Andrew!”

I felt 10ft tall.

It’s one of my strongest memories and I can’t go to The Hoe without remembering that proud bright day when I was 8.

Partly because of that experience, but for many other reasons too, I’m emotionally invested in Plymouth Sound.

A lot has changed since then.

The rafts went, then they came back. Someone proposed demolishing the Lido, then it was saved, and is now refurbished again.

We have National Marine Park status highlighting the rich diversity of life from sea grass to dolphins.

We show off our amazing harbour to cruise ships from around the world.

People are actively encouraged to get on and in the water for physical and mental health and wellbeing.

But there’s an eerie, sickly silence about something that hasn’t changed and may have even got worse.

What I didn’t know back in 1971 is that many thousands of tons of untreated sewage gets dumped into these waters each and every year.

In 2024, there were 127 spillage incidents in the Plymouth Sound and Plym Estuary. That’s an average of one every 3 days.

I swim regularly at Tinside and Firestone Bay, taking my chances, or so it feels.

It’s always in the back of my mind. Once you know something, you can’t unknow it.

Yet we never hear anything about what is to be done.

On Saturday 17th May, Surfers Against Sewage will be protesting at the lack of action (and highlighting again the lack of public debate) in a mass gathering at Tinside. Similar events are taking place nationwide.

If you want those in charge of protecting Plymouth Sound to make some noise too, show your support by liking and commenting on this post. Thanks.

Picture: The location of my first sea swim in 1971 and the swimming rafts today.

27/04/2025

Strange happenings on Dartmoor this Thursday at 5am…

At first all you can see are their fairy lights twinkling in the darkness.

Then as the sun rises, members of the Dartmoor Border Morris emerge from the mist like weird ghosts, with feathers, ribbons and face paint.

[This is from Go Devon! a free email newsletter with unusual and interesting things to do in Devon. Subscribe today, it’s free! www.go-devon.com]

This ancient celebration of May Day takes place in a car park in the middle of the moor with accordians, fiddles and wooden sticks as the sun tries to rise over South Hessary Tor.

The dancing welcomes in the summer and brings good luck to communities, it’s fun to watch, and you can join in if you want.

This Thursday 1st May get there before sunrise, which is 5.51am.

The car park is below Leeden Tor on the B3212 Yelverton to Princetown Road.

26/04/2025

The South West Coast Path doesn’t fix itself.

From Porlock Weir to Lynton I saw the aftermath of Storm Darragh, and the incredible effort that has gone into putting things right.

Fallen trees were everywhere, and I saw thousands of tons of sprawling timber. Chainsaws had been hard at work clearing the path.

Landslips had taken out whole sections. In places, the trail had simply disappeared, sliding away down the incline.

Diversions were in place, with new signs, fences, even freshly cut steps carved into the hillside.

Dozens of new oak signposts had been installed — each one commissioned, engraved and put in just the right place.

This kind of undertaking isn’t just conservation, it’s a full on repair and refurbishment job.

After 13.5 miles I was tired, but even more in awe of the graft that made my walk possible.

We owe the landowners and volunteers who do this work a huge thank you.

They are not just preserving a unique asset, they are making Devon and the South West more walkable with all the associated health and economic benefits.

I just renewed my South West Coast Path Association membership.

Have you ever walked any of the path?

Got a favourite stretch?

Ever considered becoming a SWCPA member?

West Coast Path Association

23/04/2025

“Stand back!” came the call, as everyone jostled for the best view.

The anticipation built as the artilleryman cleared the barrel, packed the charge, wadding and “cannonball”, and his assistant blew the whistle.

[This is from Go Devon! a free weekly newsletter of unusual and interesting things to do in Devon. Subscribe today, it’s free! www.go-devon.com]

We put our hands over our ears, then came the “flash in the pan” as the powder ignited and fire spurted from the barrel with a loud crack.

With a touch of comedy, a rolled up piece of corrugated cardboard that was pretending to be the cannonball landed smouldering, 20 yards away.

It was a perfect finale for a fun and fascinating 2-hour tour of Crownhill Fort in Plymouth, probably the best preserved Victorian fortress in the country. And it only cost £5.

If you like military history, tunnels and big guns, including the rare Moncrieff Disappearing Gun which will be fired this summer, watch the website for dates. Tickets sell fast.

09/04/2025

Before you book a Devon music festival, read this.

This summer’s June and July festival line-up has everything. You’ll find symphonies in church halls, ska anthems shaking a rugby ground and barefoot folk in wildflower fields (will you be one of them?)

They don’t follow a formula and range from polished to homespun, high-brow to full-throttle. Some come with yoga mats and bug hunts. Others offer beer, burgers, and sunburn.

The beauty of Devon’s music festivals is that there’s something for everyone. Which one (s) will you attend?

Check them out in Go Devon! newsletter, out tomorrow (Thursday) and every Thursday, for the best low down on Devon events.

Fun, informative and free. Guaranteed no spam.

26/03/2025

🎶 Devon’s 2025 music festival season starts here!

We’ve got the lineups, formats, vibes, no fluff or flim-flam, just the essentials you need all in one place.

🎪 From beachside beats to folk in flower meadows, Go Devon! gives you the lowdown in 2 minutes or less.

Special festival edition drops Thursday. It’s free.

👉 www.go-devon.com/subscribe

25/03/2025

🎶 Devon’s 2025 Music Festival Season Starts Here!

Ready to lock in your best summer yet?

We’ve got the dates, lineups, formats, vibes – no fluff, no faff – just the intel you need.

🎪 From beachside beats to folk in flower meadows, Go Devon! gives you the lowdown in 2 minutes or less.

First festival edition drops Thursday. It’s free.

👉 www.go-devon.com/subscribe

20/03/2025

Salcombe was closed, but we needed a cream tea. On the road home we decided to try Hope Cove. Nothing doing in the otherwise excellent Hope & Anchor but they had good advice.

“The hotel up the road does the best cream tea in Devon,” said the girl behind the bar.

And she may be right. The charming Cottage Hotel came up trumps. Gorgeous lounge overlooking the sea, bend over backwards service and the exact cream tea we were craving.

Fluffy great scones and generous refills of cream, jam and tea. And only £8.50 a head. Definitely a best in Devon contender.

Cottage Hotel: https://hopecove.com/

[This is from Go Devon! newsletter, bringing you the best and most interesting leisure events and things to do in Devon, every Thursday free in your email inbox.

https://www.go-devon.com/subscribe

15/03/2025

People laughed when I said I was starting a Devon events newsletter.

“There’s too much information out there already,” they said.

Turns out back in April 2023 I WAS crazy to do it, but not for that reason.

Shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with Long Covid, which explained why I hadn’t been feeling so great for ages. (I don't look so great in the picture!)

Not great timing for starting a new business.

I didn’t have much energy for work, or anything really, and all I could manage was to get the weekly newsletter out. Nothing left in the tank for sales or business development.

Since Christmas, Long Covid has (at last) all but gone. How I don’t really know, perhaps pummelled into submission by patience and aggressive resting?

(If you are still fighting this noxious disease, keep going, things can get better.)

At last I can start working on the business now instead of just in the business.

This week subscriber numbers passed 2,000 and my passion project feels like it is out of nappies.

14/03/2025

So what's the buzz about pine martens?

Until recently I didn’t know what a pine marten is, let alone know that they were making a comeback.

The latest developments are happening on Exmoor.

(This is from Go Devon! my weekly leisure and events newsletter. Join 2,105 Devon lovers and sign-up using the link below)

The Devon pine marten comeback started in Dartmoor and they are now quietly being reintroduced into Exmoor.

Before recently these cat-sized, shy and curious tree climbers (think large squirrel) havn’t been seen in Devon for more than 100 years.

Last year 15 from Scotland were released in secret locations.

WHERE CAN I SEE THEM? Pine martens live in woodlands. There have been sightings on Haldon Ridge near Exeter and in the Teign Valley. At this stage of their reintroduction seeing one is rare.

Learn more about pine martens at a Devon Wildlife Trust talk at Quince Honey Farm, South Molton.

6.30pm, Wednesday 19th March. Tickets: £5

go-devon.com

Picture credit: Caroline Legge

13/03/2025

Had a lovely day out at Overbecks, Salcombe, for Mum’s birthday.

Giant magnolias giving it their all, bananas and succulents raring to go, and the birds tweeting like crazy.

There's an air of expectation at this magnificent garden: the lawns neatly clipped, the borders mulched, all ready for the explosion of Spring. And the views of the estuary are sublime.