Large Houses to Rent in Devon
RENT A BIG HOUSE IN DEVON
From the craggy cliffs of the Jurassic Coast to the windswept moorlands of Dartmoor, Devon knows how to do drama. And from the picturesque Tamar Valley to its pretty seaside coves, it knows how to do beauty. Immerse yourself in this diverse county at one of our big houses to rent in Devon. Visit pretty villages with thatched cottages and cosy tea rooms (cream first on your scones in Devon!), visit lush gardens that blossom in the mild conditions and pack your buckets and spades for Devon’s two coastlines, the rugged north and the gentle south. Explore the historic cities of Exeter and Pymouth and return to the peace and privacy of your big house to wind down. Whether you’re looking for something sleek and contemporary or homely and traditional for your party or special occasion, you’ll find the perfect property here. Browse our big houses in Devon.
Choose your Devon holiday house
WHEN TO STAY IN DEVON
Spring
Devon wakes up in the spring. Gardens, like Fursdon and RHS Rosemoor burst into bloom, theme parks like Crealy Park and Diggerland open up full time again and the seaside resorts get ready for the Easter holidaymakers. Enjoy this time of the year, when you have access to everything but you are ahead of the summer tourists. Put nature at the heart of your visit and visit the moors to see the foals of the Exmoor and Dartmoor ponies, walk among the bluebells at the Killerton Estate and feed the baby lambs at The Big Sheep
Summer
Devon in summertime means beach days. There are so many beaches, from the Jurassic Coast for fossil hunting to Woolacombe Bay for family days out and surfing, to the sandy beaches of the English Riveria, which stretches from Torquay to Brixham. Keep the children active with on the water at the River Dart Country Park or cycling through the trees at Haldon Forest Park. Don’t miss one of the many Devon festivals in the summer, from the lively Let’s Rock Exeter Festival at Powderham Castle in June to the gentler, child-friendly Goren Festival, among wild flower meadows, in July.
Autumn
Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Dartmoor, when the earthy hues of the bracken and the morning mists add atmosphere to the myths and legends inspired by the landscape. Wood burners and open fires are lit in the pubs, so long walks can be rewarded by a warm welcome with local ales and seasonal food. See the season’s changing colours at Fingle Woods, check if the autumn surf’s up at Croyde Bay, or visit one of Devon’s vineyards or cidermakers to see the harvest.
Winter
Devon is rather lovely in the winter, when you have it almost to yourselves. The Jet Stream keeps the climate milder than many other parts of the UK and the great outdoors is yours to enjoy, from the wild beauty of Dartmoor to the bracing coastal walks in the north and south of the county. Witness February’s snowdrops at Cockinton, a gem of a village on the English Riviera, and see the first wild daffodils at Dunsford Nature Reserve. If you’re staying over Christmas, head to Exeter or Plymouth for Christmas lights and pantomimes.
PLACES TO VISIT IN AND AROUND DEVON
Home to two coastlines, two moors and two cities, Devon is full of interesting places for you to visit. Add in five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (or AONBs, also known as National Landscapes), 16 rivers and the only village in Britain with an exclamation mark in its name (Westward Ho!) and you are spoilt for choice. On the south coast, visit Salcombe, a picture-perfect harbour town on the beautiful Kingsbridge estuary, or Hope Cove which sits in the South Devon National Landscape. Not forgetting the dramatic Jurassic Coast, where Sidmouth is a must for fossil hunting. Head for the drama of the north coast and visit the iconic fishing village of Clovelly or pretty Appledore, another centuries-old fishing village. Get your hiking boots on to explore wild and windswept Dartmoor or atmospheric Exmoor and make sure you put the beautiful Blackdown Hills on your itinerary. If city life appeals, visit Plymouth, Britain’s ocean city, or Exeter, a historic river city. Make time too for a mooch around some of Devon’s hidden gems inland, such as Dulverton, a lively town on the River Exe and Lustleigh, the very essence of olde-worlde Devon.
SPECIAL EXPERIENCES IN DEVON
CREALY THEME PARK
Explore over 60 rides and attractions, experience amazing entertainment and live shows, and meet the animals at Crealy, a multi-award-winning theme Park near Exeter.
RED ROCK OUTDOOR
Get out on the sea and go windsurfing, paddleboarding or kayaking. Book a family or group package or one-to-one lessons on the beautiful Devon coast.
WILDWOOD DEVON
Explore 45 acres of gardens and woodland and see some of Britain’s rarer wildlife, from brown bears and wolves to arctic foxes and red squirrels. A day for all the family.
NORTH DEVON WAKE PARK
Get up close to the thrill of the chase at this independent little racecourse. Racing from April to September and family friendly too.
NEWTON ABBOT RACECOURSE
Get up close to the thrill of the chase at this independent little racecourse. Racing from April to September and family friendly too.
TAMAR TRAILS
Explore the network of woodland and country trails, walking or biking. Enjoy some outdoor activities and soak up the views, reclaimed from Devon’s mining heritage.
NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM
Feed the turtle, scuba dive with the fishes and find out about life in the ocean at the UK’s largest aquarium in Plymouth, also home to the Ocean Conservation Trust.
THE BIG SHEEP
Make a family day of it at The Big Sheep, where you can meet the animals and enjoy the exciting rides. There’s an outdoor play area the children will love and an indoor play area for rainy days.
BABBACOMBE MODEL VILLAGE
Feel like a giant in the amazing miniature world of this Devon attraction. Get up close to hundreds of hand-crafted scenes, vehicles and people, and explore the 4-acre gardens.
DARTINGTON CRYSTAL TOUR
Learn all about the art of decorative glass making, see master craftspeople at work, and try your own hand at glass decoration, before browsing the crystal in the shop.
SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY
Jump onboard a steam train and travel through seven miles of Devon’s beautiful Dart Valley. Step back in time as you watch the guard wave their flag, hear the whistle and glimpse the white steam drifting past your window.
THE MILKY WAY ADVENTURE PARK
From Ziggy’s Blast Quest to the Cosmic Caterpillar, enjoy the thrills of this space-themed adventure park. With bird of prey displays, indoor and outdoor play areas, mini golf and more, it’s a full day of fun for all the family.
RHS ROSEMOOR
Find peace amidst 65 acres of formal gardens and woodland. Walk through themed areas, from the Rose Garden to the Cool Garden to the Potager and Cottage Garden, finding wonder in every season.
PLYMOUTH GIN DISTILLERY TOUR
Find out all about Plymouth Gin. The Classic Tour takes you behind the scenes, the Gin Connoisseur’s Tour includes a gin tasting and the Master Distillers Tour has you creating your own gin to take away with you.
KENTS CAVERN
Visit one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe. Find out what it was like to make a cave your home, explore the labyrinth of caverns in the 400 million-year-old rocks, and see spectacular stalagmites and stalactites.
POWDERHAM CASTLE
Explore the ancient castle, follow nature trails round the 150-acre estate, meet the animals in the petting zoo , discover the secret garden and climb the hill for views from Belvedere tower.
PAIGNTON ZOO
Get in touch with nature, meeting over 2,000 animals and countless amazing plants. Explore the botanical gardens, enjoy hands-on animal experiences, and be a zoo keeper for the day.
JURASSIC DISCOVERY
Walk with dinosaurs in this family-friendly attraction which brings the prehistoric era to life with its immersive exhibition and lifelike animatronic dinosaurs.
DIGGERLAND
Ride and operate real diggers, dumpers and other construction machinery. This quirky theme park offers a great day out for anyone who gets excited when they see a digger.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVON
-
Is Devon busy in the summer?
There’s no denying that Devon is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK and certainly it get busy in some of the hotspots. But there’s plenty of Devon to go round, so you can always find somewhere a little quieter. For a start, it has over 500 miles of coastline, the 3rd most of all the English counties. The trick is to walk past the busy parts of the beach and inevitably you will arrive at a quieter part. Even the most popular beaches, such as Bigbury and Croyde offer quiet spots, away from the crowds. Explore inland too – Dartmoor has 368 square miles of glorious open space, and some of the inland villages, such as Lustleigh, are among the prettiest in England. And, of course, when you stay in one of our big houses, there’s always somewhere private and peaceful to return to at the end of a busy day.
-
Is Devon worth visiting out of season?
Devon in the spring, autumn or winter is a delight. Spring and autumn are great times to visit because it’s quieter than summer but most of the attractions remain open, so you can do everything you want to without the queues. Winter is special too. Devon has a mild climate and rarely gets too cold in the winter months. If it does, there are plenty of inns and pubs with a fire in the hearth! And the beauty of the sea from a deserted beach on a January day is something everyone should experience.
-
What’s the best way to get to Devon?
From most directions, you’ll arrive in Devon via the M5. Jump off at Junction 27 for North Devon and take it to the end for South Devon. You can also get to South Devon by rail, and the train journey in Devon is worth putting your phone down for and gazing out of the window. Devon’s airport, for domestic and international flights, is Exeter airport.
-
What are the main attractions in Devon?
When you want a day away from the beach, here are some of Devon’s top attractions. If you are looking for family friendly activities, the main theme park is Crealy, near Exeter. The Milky Way Adventure Park is another good choice, as is Jurassic Discovery. Devon has some beautiful gardens, including RHS Rosemoor and Killerton House. For history, Powderham Castle stands out, and Dartmouth Castle too. Take a city trip into Exeter to see the magnificent cathedral and to Plymouth for the Mayflower Museum. If wildlife and nature are on your agenda, visit Paignton Zoo and Pennywell Farm. Scroll up the page to see more Devon attractions
-
Are there dog-friendly beaches in Devon?
Devon is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK and so, understandably, most beaches have some restrictions on dogs in the summer. However most beaches maintain dog-friendly areas. Bigbury on Sea allows dogs throughout the summer on the area to the west of the causeway to Burgh Island. Thurlestone Beach in south Devon is Dog-friendly and situated in an AONB, and dogs are allowed on the eastern half of Beer Beach all year. In the north, Wildersmouth Beach is a sand and shingle beach close to the town in Ilfracombe. It’s very dog friendly, with rocks and pools to keep the dog entertained.
-
Where can I go surfing in Devon?
On the north coast, Woolacombe is a great place to surf, with a long beach and strong waves in the autumn and winter. Further along the coast, Croyde bay is the most popular surfing beach in Devon and good for intermediate and advanced surfers. On Devon’s south coast, Sedgewell Cove is becoming increasingly popular for swimming and surfing. Bantham Bay is another popular spot, and over the estuary from Bantham, Bigbury-on-Sea has a beautiful, family-friendly beach, ideal for beginners - and it has a surf school too.
-
What is Devon famous for?
Devon is famous for being the only UK county with two coastlines, and on those coastlines, it is famous for its pretty fishing villages, family seaside resorts and sandy beaches. Devon is also the home of West Country cider, Devonshire cream teas and Ambrosia custard. With two moors, Exmoor and Dartmoor, many thatched villages, and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s celebrated as one of the most picturesque counties in the country. The Mayflower set sail to the US from Plymouth in Devon, and many other famous explorers and scientists began their journeys here too, including Sir Francis Drake, James Cook and Charles Darwin. Famous people from Devon include Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Olympic swimmer Tom Daley and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.