6 fun family days out in Devon

Devon is the biggest county in the South West and has plenty to offer families, including animal attractions, adventure activities and natural wonders. Here we pick 6 of the best family days out in Devon that will ensure you get the most fun out of your holiday.

1. The Donkey Sanctuary

The Donkey Sanctuary is a wonderful charity that does a fantastic job of looking after over 500 donkeys in need of a kind home. The sanctuary’s headquarters at Slade House Farm near Sidmouth is open to the public who are encouraged to pet and give as much fuss to the donkeys as possible. You can see these friendly creatures enjoying life in a wonderful environment and meet the strong dedicated team who keep the donkeys happy and comfortable.

Both children and adults will love being able to get up close to the donkeys who roam about freely. There is a good gift shop and a restaurant on site. The sanctuary is free to enter and is open all year, there are also some cycle routes running nearby the site if you fancy a bike ride while you are in the area.

2. Kents Cavern

Kents Cavern near Torquay is one of the UK’s best cave systems. Visitors can explore the extensive pathways in this underground wonder where human remains have been found dating back 40,000 years. A guided tour of the cave takes in some amazing geological features including impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

There is plenty on offer for kids to enjoy like the Stone Age Woodland Trial, tribal face painting and other interactive cave art area - you can even leave your handprint on the walls of these ancient caves. There is also a Fun Dig, where kids can occupy themselves searching for shark’s teeth and other treasures. The site has a good gift shop, a restaurant and some nice gardens, so it’s an ideal place adults to relax while the kids have fun. Entry is £8.95 for adults and £8.25 for children.

3. Babbacombe Model Village

Babbacombe Model Village is a highly unusual and surprisingly popular family attraction. This model village represents scenes from the last 5 decades of British life and culture all in miniature form. Kids will adore the fascinating little scenes and adults will love taking a nostalgic walk through the village as they witness the brilliantly typical British humour on display.

The model village is set in 4 beautiful acres of gardens full of streams and waterfalls. It is well worth returning to the village after nightfall when it is truly magical viewing the village with all the tiny lights switched on. Kids will love seeing the birds of prey displays and driving miniature cars too. There a great tearoom serving hot and cold food and a gift shop. A family ticket is around £32 but you can save online by booking in advance and be aware that there are indoor attractions indoors in case the heavens open.

4. Woodland Adventure Park

The Woodlands Family Theme Park near Dartmouth is something of a Devonshire family institution and will delight kids (and adults) of all ages. Open for most of the year, there is a huge amount to do here. There are a number of ‘zones’ each with their own unique rides and attractions suitable for both teenagers and younger children, including the ‘Sea Monster Zone’, ‘Ninja Zone’ and ‘Action Zone’. There is also a ‘Toddlers Zone’ for the much younger ones which includes a fun paddling pool and a ball pit. There is also a ‘Zoo-Farm’ on site where kids can get up close to farm animals such as piglets and rabbits as well as falconry displays, a cool reptile house and even ferret racing.

Don't worry if it is raining, there is a huge indoor play area home to a circus train, a mini Ferris wheel and over 50 exciting slides, making the park suitable for all weather conditions. It is impossible to get bored here! There are a number of places to get food including delicious paninis and ice creams. Tickets for both adults and children cost £7.15 and much younger children go free – if you book online you save 20%.

5. The Ultimate Adventure Centre

The Ultimate Adventure Centre in Bideford is the perfect place for families who are looking for something active and outdoorsy. The centre offers activities such as coasteering, surfing, kayaking, climbing and a high ropes assault course suitable for adults and children over 8 years old.

The centre offers family activity packages that get every family member involved for a fraction of the standard individual price - a superb way to spend some quality family time together. The friendly and competent staff are determined to make sure you have a great day and will provide reassurance for visitors of all abilities. This is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and keep the teenagers entertained. Don’t miss out on water zorbing - walking on water without getting wet, it’s the latest craze and kids will love it!

6. Exmoor Zoo

Exmoor Zoo located near Exmoor National Park is a wonderful place to spend the day as a family. The zoo has plenty of exotic animals to see, including penguins, meerkats and lemurs as well as a number of lesser known animals such as tapirs and singing dogs. This unique zoo is ever-expanding with new baby animals being born and new exhibitions being added all the time. Look out for the up and coming ‘Beast of Exmoor’ exhibition where you’ll see the rare black leopard.

Visitors can listen to talks about the animals, be a zoo keeper for a day, watch the animals being fed and take part in various events held throughout the year. The zoo is committed to providing fun and educational experiences for kids where they can learn about the animals and plants via interactive workshops. Adult entry tickets are around £11 and children around £8, the zoo is open all year round.

Devon is a fantastic place to enjoy brilliant days out suitable for every member of the family. If you reach the end of this list, another great place to visit and ideal for a rainy day is Watermouth Castle in IIfracombe, where families can enjoy exploring the dungeons, a maze and beautiful gardens. You could also visit the Milky Way Adventure Park in Bideford where kids of all ages will love the variety of thrilling rides, bird displays and live entertainment shows. The list of fun family days out in Devon is endless!