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Devon: Exeter, Dartmoor, Plymouth & the English Riviera: 6-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
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The 6-day version for June: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 5-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go.
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6
days
225 km
distance
9.1 h
driving
26
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- ~16.2 hours of daylight in June — the plan keeps days inside a realistic window.
- Dartmoor's tors dry out for walkers, Salcombe's estuary turns Mediterranean-blue, and the crab boats land daily — June before the school holidays is the sweet spot.
- Light day: day 5 has one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill it — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Exeter
- Transit
- 0h30
- Finish
- ~18:00
- Temperature
- 11.3°C–17.5°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 16.2h
09:00
Exeter public cathedral-quays-and-city circuit visitexeter.com map ↗
Use Exeter’s public cathedral close, historic lanes and quayside; cathedral or museum interiors, underground passages, Met Office access, sports and performances remain separate.
240 min · Exeter · Public streets, paths and viewpoints; confirm current parking, opening and access before travel
13:10
Visit the 900-year-old guest wing, furnished as a 1602 family home.
50 min · Exeter · Free
open: Sun 13:00-16:00
14:10
15:10
Admire the Gothic architecture and the longest unbroken stone roof beam in the world.
50 min · Exeter · Adult £8.50, senior/student £6, child free
16:10
Browse the exhibits in this museum and art gallery.
50 min · Exeter · Free
open: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00
17:10
Stroll the grounds and see the remaining Norman structures of this event venue.
50 min · Exeter
Overnight here
e.g. Globe Backpackers · Premier Inn Exeter Central St Davids
Day 2 Dartmoor
- Transit
- 2h38
- Finish
- ~17:25
- Temperature
- 11.3°C–17.5°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 16.2h
10:10
Dartmoor public Haytor-and-Postbridge landscape circuit dartmoor.gov.uk map ↗
Use official car parks and a weather-suitable bounded Haytor/Postbridge landscape circuit; slow for roaming animals, avoid satnav shortcuts, and do not assume a long hike, house, wildlife sighting or off-road access.
240 min · Dartmoor · Public streets, paths and viewpoints; confirm current parking, opening and access before travel
14:40
16:35
Day 3 Plymouth
- Transit
- 1h40
- Finish
- ~17:25
- Temperature
- 11.3°C–17.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~11
- Daylight
- 16.2h
10:25
Plymouth public Hoe-Barbican-and-Mayflower circuit visitplymouth.co.uk map ↗
Use Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and Mayflower Steps as a public waterfront heritage circuit; towers, military sites, houses, museums, aquarium, distillery, railway and boats remain separate.
240 min · Plymouth · Public streets, paths and viewpoints; confirm current parking, opening and access before travel
14:35
Discover diverse collections including natural history, pottery, and rotating special exhibitions.
50 min · Plymouth · Free
open: Tue-Fri 10AM-5:30PM; Sat and Bank Holiday Mondays 10AM-5PM
15:35
See the resilient church that stood amid the ruins of the blitzed city centre.
50 min · Plymouth
16:35
Admire the UK's only surviving Baroque Ark, two storeys high, with stunning stained-glass windows.
50 min · Plymouth
Overnight here
e.g. Copthorne Hotel · Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Day 4 Around Plymouth
- Transit
- 0h50
- Finish
- ~16:45
- Temperature
- 11.3°C–17.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~11
- Daylight
- 16.2h
09:00
Take in waterfront views and historic legends from this iconic park.
50 min · Plymouth
10:00
11:40
12:40
Explore Britain's largest aquarium and its diverse marine life.
50 min · Plymouth · Adult [16+]: £22.50, Child [3-15] £11.25, Child [under 3]: free, Senior [60+] £20.50 (as of Dec 2023)
13:40
Wander through a former naval provisioning yard in Stonehouse.
50 min · Plymouth · Admission free
14:55
Explore this well-preserved fort with an impressive collection of cannons and disappearing guns.
50 min · Plymouth
15:45
Cap'n Jasper's capn-jaspers.co.uk map ↗
Indulge in world-famous fine food at this Barbican eatery.
60 min · Plymouth
open: 8AM-11PM
Overnight here
e.g. Copthorne Hotel · Crowne Plaza Plymouth
Day 5 Salcombe & South Hams
- Transit
- 1h28
- Finish
- ~15:00
- Temperature
- 13.4°C–15.5°C
- Rainy days
- ~9
- Daylight
- 16.2h
10:30
Salcombe public harbour-and-estuary circuit southhams.gov.uk map ↗
Use lawful parking and a bounded public harbour, town and estuary-view circuit; ferries, boats, Overbeck’s seasonal garden, coast-path stages and swimming remain separate.
210 min · Salcombe & South Hams · Public streets, paths and viewpoints; confirm current parking, opening and access before travel
14:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 6 Torquay & Babbacombe
- Transit
- 2h01
- Finish
- ~17:40
- Temperature
- 11.3°C–17.5°C
- Rainy days
- ~10
- Daylight
- 16.2h
10:40
English Riviera public Torquay-and-Babbacombe coast circuit englishriviera.co.uk map ↗
Use Torquay harbour and a condition-suitable public Babbacombe Downs/coast circuit; caves, model village, railway, abbey, museums, theatres, wheel and beach access remain separate.
240 min · Torquay & Babbacombe · Public streets, paths and viewpoints; confirm current parking, opening and access before travel
14:50
Discover fascinating exhibits ranging from Victorian relics to the world of Agatha Christie.
50 min · Torquay & Babbacombe
open: Daily 10AM-4PM
15:50
Explore a subterranean wonderland once home to early man for 700,000 years.
50 min · Torquay & Babbacombe · Adult or senior £21.50, child (3–15 years) £17.50
open: Daily from 10AM
16:50
Visit a historic Premonstratensian monastery founded in 1196.
50 min · Torquay & Babbacombe
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.