I have compiled this list of May 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 May 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.
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!
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. They’re running a pawsome event on Tuesday 28th from 10:00am to 3:30pm.
Join with your four-legged family members to celebrate all things dog! Explore exciting stalls, have a go at activities, and try your paw in our charity dog show. Make a day of it with an exhilarating walk around the forest packed with sounds and sniffs to discover. Finish your day with a stop at the Ridge Cafe to refuel for the trip home.
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. They’re running free drop-in sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during half term. Head down to enjoy a creative activity inspired by the beautiful South Asian miniature paintings on display in the galleries. Decorate your own frame using repeated pattern block prints and colourful hand painting. Embellish your frame with gold paint details and take it home to surround a treasured image.
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.
To keep little ones entertained you can 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.
SPITCHWICK
A fantastic place for cooling off in the river. Take a picnic and make the most of a wonderful River Dart setting.
Spitchwick Newton Abbot TQ13 7NT
Crabbing Spots
In South Devon; Brixham harbour, Salcombe – Kingsbridge Estuary, Dartmouth harbour, and the dam at Stoke Gabriel are good crabbing spots.
Lidos in South Devon
Exeter and South Devon have a great choice of Lidos to visit.
Topsham Pool A firm favourite with our kids! This heated pool makes it a safe bet for an outing on most days in the summer. They run a fun inflatable session so check out their timetable for more details.
Buckfastleigh Outdoor Pool and Skatepark – what a perfect combination for tweens and teens!
Moretonhampstead – edge of Dartmoor
Kingsteignton Outdoor Pool – Newton Abbot
Chudleigh Swimming Pool – Newton Abbot
Shaolstone Seawater Pool – Brixham
Ashburton Pool – Newton Abbot
Beaches in South Devon
South Devon – Mill Bay, Bigbury on Sea and Bantham are a delight in May and June for catching waves, swimming and digging in the beautiful golden sand.
NT Buckland Abbey
Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EY Open 10am-5pm
May is National Walking Month, so why not enjoy a stroll, stomp or saunter on the yellow estate walk.
On the Treelore trail, you will learn about folklore, old remedies and hints and tips related to the indigenous trees on our estate.
Pick up a trail sheet from Visitor Welcome to take part. The trail is free but normal admission applies. On the 25th and 29th May they are running some Tudor cookery sessions- see their website for more details.
NT Saltram
Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 1UH Open 10am 4.15pm Free trail but normal admission charges apply.
Take part in activities which will get your body moving and mind thinking, as you learn all about nature patterns. Walk the footpath of a snail spiral or climb through a spider’s web and discover just some of the amazing patterns in nature. They’re also holding a free family crafting session? Head to Stable 6 every day during half term (excluding Wednesday) to create your own nature patterns.
On Wednesday they’re running 4 pond dipping sessions- head to the website to book a session.
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 celebrates a week-long Bear Bonanza, filled with exciting activities a unique experiences for all ages plus a step back in time with our Saxon activities. 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 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. Combine family fun, exercise and brainpower for just £5 per trail, including a prize when you complete the trail. 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. 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.
Crabbing Spots in East Devon
A fun Devonshire childhood memory of mine has to be scrabbling over the rocks, crabbing with my bucket and line in hand. You will find some great crabbing spots across the county.
In East Devon; Axmouth Harbour and the rock pools at Seaton Hole Beach, as well as good crabbing on both sides of the River Exe, with two miles of sandy beach at Exmouth
Lidos in Mid Devon
Clyst Hydon Set in a pretty village location in Mid Devon this quintessential British pool is very much one for a warm day. This pool is a refreshingly cold dip and we really enjoyed it in the heatwave last year! Complete with a small but fun slide in the main pool and a very small pool for babies. The pool is run by village volunteers, so it is wise to check if it’s open before heading there. They also serve mugs of tea, coffee, cold drinks, and chocolate biscuits!
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 is perfect for paddle boarding and has a mix of sand and pebbles.
Beer and Branscombe Beach are also a top favourite of ours. Beer is a pretty fishing village and Branscombe is perfect if you want to enjoy the water and have a cafe close by. If you have older children you can walk a loop and reward yourselves with ice cream at either spot!
NT Fascinating Floriography: Half Term Fun at Knightshayes
Knightshayes, Bolham, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 7R
Did you know that every flower has a secret meaning? Discover how the Victorians used flowers to convey messages on this fascinating flower trail at Knightshayes.
NT Killerton Family Trail with Archaeological Dig
Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, EX5 3LE Dogs are allowed in certain parts of the parkland Free event and NT admission applies.
On weekdays at kKillerton NT meet an archaeologist who will help you unearth the secrets of a hidden house with a big story to tell. It is 1645. Armies are marching through Devon. Parliament’s roundheads are chasing the King’s cavaliers… who will you support? Follow this trail to the royalist outpost at Culombjohn. Spot clues along the way and carry out a mission to help your side. On weekdays meet an archaeologist who will help you unearth the secrets of a hidden house with a big story to tell.
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 really takes you back in time. We found that 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
Journey around the pleasure grounds and take part in 9 pollinator-themed activities, from wall ball mazes to aphid tosses and flower matching.
Learn about the wildflowers that have been sown at Arlington, as part of the North Devon grasslands project, and find out about the importance of pollinators.
Or head into the house to discover Rosalie Chichester, Arlington Court’s last resident, wildflower illustrations from over 100 years ago.
Crabbing Spots in North Devon
In North Devon; head to the rockpools of Westward Ho! or Combe Martin. Try the harbours of Appledore or Ilfracombe and you should hopefully find a nibble on the line!
Lidos in North Devon
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.
NT Watersmeet Family Fun Day
Watersmeet Road, Lynmouth, Devon, EX35 6NT
Join for a free family fun day on Tuesday 28th May between 11am – 3pm. From crafting to nature discovery, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.
Meet outside Watersmeet Café, which will be open to serve light lunches and tasty treats.
NT Woolacombe Reptile Rambles
Woolacombe, Devon, EX34 7DL (Tourist Information) Call 0344 249 1895 Suitable for over 5’s
Booking Essential
Join the rangers for a wander through the dunes, hunting for reptiles and seeking out spots where snakes & lizards like to bask, all while finding about these amazing creatures and what you can do to help protect them.
The Woolacombe dunes are home to at least 4 of our 6 native species of reptile, and we’re undertaking some fantastic management work to improve their habitat.
If the weather is adverse to the conditions needed for this reptile ramble we will cancel the day before and you will be notified by e-mail and a full refund issued.
Please note: dogs are not allowed at this event.
NT Family Fun Day Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone Farm, Malmsmead, Lynton, Devon, EX35 6NU
Join the NT for a free family fun day this May half term, between 11am – 3pm. From crafting to nature discovery, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The event begins at 11am in the garden at the front of the Buttery Café. Please park in the National Trust car park at the rear of the café, EX35 6NU
We hope that you’ve found our list of May half term days out 2024 on a budget helpful to planning a day out or two. We would love to hear of any more recommendations you may have for the half term.
I really appreciated this post! Your recommendations for budget-friendly days out in Devon during the May half-term are super helpful, especially for families trying to make the most of the holiday without overspending. The mix of outdoor activities, local attractions, and tips for keeping costs low is perfect for parents looking to plan a fun and affordable break. I also like how you’ve included a variety of activities that can appeal to different age groups, making it easy for families to find something that suits everyone. Great read and very practical for anyone planning their half-term in Devon!
I’m so glad you found this a helpful resource! I will be posting an up to date October post this week. Thank you for visiting our website x
Thank you so much!