I have compiled this list of October half term days out in Devon on a budget because I mostly find that the list of days out and activities I come across in other publications usually involve fairly expensive family tickets and often busy tourist hotspots that we just don’t enjoy.
We look for days out that provide us with wholesome fun that won’t break the bank. We’re a family of 6 so we like to keep it cheap, not complicated, and fun, and days like these have often been our favourite days out!
Therefore this list of October half term days out in Devon on a budget guide is made up of places you can visit for free / cheaply / utilise memberships, plus I have included some of our favourite coastal areas and beaches. We mostly try and take picnics with us, extra snacks, and sometimes squeeze two of these nearby places to make a full day.
If you’re looking for pumpkin patches and pumpkin-picking events, then please head to this post
10 best pumpkin picking patches in Devon
Exeter and South Devon
Brixham Harbour and Berry Head Walk
Brixham Marina Car Park
Head to Brixham Harbour located on the southern side of Tor Bay which boasts one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK, plus a thriving fish market to support it.
Over 100 fishing boats land and sell their catch at the local fish market on the quayside. A visitor viewing platform is strategically placed so visitors can watch the busy comings and goings of the fishing fleet, made up of large beam trawlers and the smaller day boats.
We spotted a bottle-nosed dolphin called Dolly, near the small lighthouse at the end of the harbour wall. Extend your visit and walk to Berry Head a National Nature Reserve. This stunning headland, with its iconic lighthouse and Napoleonic Fort, is surrounded by water on three sides and offers exceptional views across Torbay and beyond.
Cockington Village and Country Park
Torquay TQ2 6XA
Cockington Country Park is a beautiful mix of picturesque well-ordered garden landscapes, open parkland, rural countryside and substantial woodland. Tucked amongst this 450-acre country park are three, pretty ornamental lakes, a historic Manor House with craft centre and studios, a chocolate box village, delightful thatched cottages and a quaint 11th-century church. Lovely for a historic wander!
Take part in the daily sculpture trail Inspired by this year’s theme of ‘pirates and the deep sea’, the trail features over 30 different sculptures created by 24 local artists and sculptors. Pick up a free trail map in the Manor house from 10.30-4.30pm.
Pay and display car parks at the village centre (take cash)
Haldon Forest
Bullers Hill, Kennford, Exeter EX6 7XR Open 7am-9pm
My kids love to ride their bikes on the various trails. There is also something fun instore for little ones this year as the Gruffalo turns 25! Follow the interactive trail around Haldon Forest Park to help find the missing party items to give the Gruffalo a birthday to remember. Search for balloons, pine cones, apples and the Gruffalo himself, and complete fun activities and rubbings as you go along. Pick up your pack for just £4 from the Info pod, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure.
House of Marbles
The Old Pottery, Pottery Rd, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9DS
A fun way to spend an hour. Take a visit, to the House of Marbles (free to enter) to discover all about glass blowing, marble making, and giant marble runs, and pick and mix your own marbles with pocket money.
The Box
The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AX. Open 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday
Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive with a 2022 European Museum of the Year Special Commendation. This half term they are running a digital ocean school with Surfers Against Sewage on the 26th of October. Halloween spooky tricks and treats on the 31st of October and finally a silent disco on the 1st of November.
RAMM in Exeter
Royal Albert Memorial, Museum & Art Gallery, Queen St, Exeter, EX4 3RX – see website for opening times
Entry to RAMM is free.
Explore fascinating exhibitions and modern amenities at Exeter’s world-class museum. Discover Devon and Exeter’s rich history and global connections, be delighted by colourful animals, birds, and insects, step into a world of innovative contemporary art, and travel the globe in their World Cultures galleries.
This half term, take part in workshops such as; Felt Dartmoor pony making, Mossy and Woody miniature den making, dressing up on Halloween and a Night at the museum event. Please see their website for more details on how to book these workshops.
To keep little ones entertained you can also follow the museum trails, immerse their experience with a sound journey (headphones provided) and/or pick up a free Beastie Bag from one of the museum receptions. Events running through half term such as making a magical lantern, dressing up and metalcraft sessions. Please see their website for activity details and prices.
Hound Tor
A real blow the cobwebs away walk up to Hound Tor and the medieval village. Great views, lots of scrambling over rocks and fun geocaching to be had. Find out more about walking Hound Tor and Haytor here.
Beaches in South Devon
Even though we’re heading into the cooler months, it is still a great time of year to blow away the cobwebs with a walk and play on the beach.
Here are our recommendations for South Devon beaches to enjoy your October half term days out in Devon:
Mill Bay beach, Bigbury on Sea and Bantham.
NT Buckland Abbey
Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EY Open 10am-5pm
19 October – 3 November, daily 10-4
Baby Dragons have hatched and are taking over Buckland Abbey. They’ve made their first hoards using objects found at Buckland, can you help track them down and discover some dragon secrets along the way? You can also cosy up with an autumnal read in the Book Nook. Storytelling will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays throughout the trail.
26 and 27 October, 10am-5pm
Celebrate a bountiful harvest at Buckland Abbey. The Garden team have been working hard and grown squashes and pumpkins galore! They’ll be showing off, their hard work as part of a beautiful autumnal display in the Great Barn. Join in the celebrations, with classic family games such as sack racing and apple and spoon races. Help us create beautiful leaf bunting or take part in some autumnal crafts.
There will be seasonal treats in the café and delicious cider & mead tastings in the shop.
Admission charges apply. Free entry for National Trust members.
NT Saltram
Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 1UH Open 10am 4.15pm.
Magic and Myths – October Half-Term Trail
Saturday 19 October – Sunday 3 November 2024
Dress in your spookiest outfit and collect all the spells and charms around the garden to complete your spell book. Start your visit by heading to the wand shop at the Welcome Centre, or feel free to bring your own wand. Collect your spell book trail sheet and make your way around the garden, casting spells and collecting charms in your book to complete your magical training. Around the garden, you’ll have the chance to practice casting your charms in our ‘Spell Casting Area.’ Join in some fun spooky games like broomstick racing and spell dodging.
Wild Wednesday – October Half Term
23 and 30 October 2024
Join us at the forest school for some Autumnal crafts such as making tree boggarts and then finishing it off with toasting marshmallows over the fire pit. Booking is essential for these activities, head to their website for details. Activities cost £4 per child. No booking is required for accompanying adults. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Not suitable for under 5s.
Admission charges apply to enter the garden. NT members are free. The trail sheet is free. Car park charges apply. NT members park for free.
NT Lydford Gorge
Slink and slither around the orchard this autumn to find the slugs and snails on this family-friendly trail.
This is a free, paperless trail starting at the Devil’s Cauldron entrance. Running daily, between 10am and 3pm, from Friday 27 September to Sunday 3 November.
NT Castle Drogo
Join this October half-term for a tour around the gardens featuring local myths and legends, before showing off your magical flourishes with magic tricks inside the castle! Running 10am-5pm
Normal admission applies.
Mid & East Devon
Wildwood
Ottery St Mary EX11 1LU
An admission fee applies with Wildwood but we feel compared to other wildlife/farm parks that it’s really fairly priced. If you’re local a reasonable membership is also something to think about.
This is definitely one of our go-to days out when the weather is mixed and those days when being home might involve a bit of refereeing! The distraction from seeing the animals and the play equipment dotted around the park provides us with a dose of fresh air and sanity! The animal talks are well worth hanging around for, we found out loads of interesting facts about the Wolves.
This half term take part in a pumpkin trail (priced £3), a step back in time with Saxon activities, a scare maze and a haunting Halloween evening event. (booking essential), Learn ancient crafts, experience life as a Saxon, and immerse yourself in the rich history that shaped this land.
The Donkey Sanctuary
Slade House Farm, Weston, Sidmouth EX10 0NU Open 9am-5pm
We love visiting the donkey sanctuary as they have a roomy cafe with a view, serving a wide range of food, snacks, and drinks for when we fancy a break from making a picnic. They have a fun ‘Trick or Trot’ trail around the sanctuary (pick up a sheet for a small fee in the gift shop), a play park, donkey talks, and plenty of space to walk around and visit numerous donkey sheds. It’s the kind of outing that helps fill a day where you can get out for a few hours to keep sane!
Top tip the cafe is pretty good and well worth having lunch if your budget allows it. Head to the Gift Shop to pick up a trail sheet and you’re ready to uncover the sanctuary’s wildlife.
Seaton Wetlands
Turn left into Seaton Cemetery, and continue through to the Seaton Wetlands car park. The nearest postcode is EX12 2SP.
There are plenty of fun play prompts around the nature reserve. Their Autumn trail runs from 25th October to 4th November (£3 to participate). The walk is flat and accessible but no dogs are allowed on the reserve. The island hide was popular with our kids for bird and duck spotting, as the views are wonderfully peaceful and we ate lunch alone in there! Seaton tramway has a stop at the reserve if you wish to extend your day out further. There is also a small on-site cafeand toilet.
Beaches in East Devon
East Devon- a walk along the promenade at Budleigh Slaterton followed by a skate at the skate park and/or exploring the new walkway along the river otter. Make sure you bring binoculars to look out for the local Beaver colony. Grab a snack or ice cream from one of the beachside cafes.
Jacobs Ladder end of Sidmouth has a mix of sand and pebbles.
Beer and Branscombe Beach are also a favourite of ours. Beer is a pretty fishing village and Branscombe is perfect if you want to enjoy the beach and have a cafe close by. If you have older children you can walk a loop of the coastal path and reward yourselves with snacks at either spot!
NT Half Term Fun at Knightshayes
Knightshayes, Bolham, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 7R
Enter the House and find that not everything is always as it seems as you discover optical illusions of the Victorian era on the ground floor of the house.
Venture into the gardens, to experience the magical tales of Devon folklore; find the headless horseman’s horse, or follow the mysterious footprints that have appeared in the woodland.
The House is open 11am – 4pm and the Gardens are open 10am – 5pm, 26 October – 3 November.
North Devon
Clovelly Visitor Centre
Clovelly, Devon EX39 5TA
Clovelly Village admission charges apply but I have included this as a budget day out, as we feel it’s really fairly priced, plus there is enough to explore to make this a whole day out. If you’re staying nearby you can return for free within 7 days. We visited in autumn when it was quieter as I can imagine it does get busier in the summer months. It’s a fascinating fishing village perched on a 400ft cliff that takes you back in time. We found there was plenty to see and do for the day from exploring the harbour, and the cobbled streets, seeing a waterfall to meeting the donkeys to arts and crafts activities.
Ilfracombe Aquarium
Ilfracombe harbour EX34 9EQ
A small but jam-packed seaside aquarium!. Explore the aquarium as it journeys from the source of an Exmoor stream downriver to the lake, pond, estuary, rockpool, harbour, coast, and out to the marine reserve at Lundy. The guides were very informative and we all really enjoyed the experience for a fraction of the cost of a large city aquarium!
Lynton & Lymouth Cliff Railway
Open 10am-6pm Tickets £3.50 per adult £2.20 per child and £1.00 for dogs
This multi-award winning and famous Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway opened in 1890 and is the highest and the steepest totally water-powered railway in the world! This historic funicular Cliff Railway is a silver award winner in Devon’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2020 and holds the Green Tourism ‘Gold’ award for sustainable tourism & several heritage and transport awards. The Cliff Railway is in the heart of Exmoor National Park and connects the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth providing stunning coastal views that will be the highlight of any visit. This working heritage railway is grade II listed, the UK’s only fully water-powered railway and one of just three examples left in the World!
There are public car parks and street parking in both Lynton and Lynmouth. Lynmouth has significantly less parking and gets busy in peak seasons. It’s much better to park in Lynton and use us as the most beautiful park-and-ride option in the UK to reach the village of Lynmouth below. Lynton Car Parks are at Bottom Meadow, Cross Street and the Valley of the Rocks. Lynmouth Car Parks are at Upper & Lower Lyndale, The Esplanade and Watersmeet.
NT Arlington Court
Arlington, near Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4LP
Pick up a free trail sheet from visitor reception and head out to explore the grounds and gardens spotting scarecrows, which have been made by our local schools, staff and volunteers, as you go. Normal admission applies.
Beaches in North Devon
North Devon – A refreshing walk along Woolacombe, discovering rock pools or exploring the dunes and beach at Saunton Sands with a hot chocolate or ice cream from the beach cafe.
We hope you’ve found our list of October half term days out in Devon 2024 on a budget helpful to planning a day out or two. We would love to hear from you if you visit any of these places or have other helpful budget days out to recommend to us!
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