England · TOURS IN DEVON
The 15 best tours in Devon you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason, so start there.
Set out from The Pavilion in Torquay for a roughly one-hour RIB ride along the bay. Your skipper takes you to Thatcher Rock, Ore Stone, and local wildlife spots, with chances to see seals, dolphins, porpoises, cormorants, guillemots, and other seabirds. Guides such as Greg, Glen, and John add local stories and plenty of humor.
“Loved every minute of it and our captain was awesome. It was a nice conclusion of our stay in Torquay”
Join Graham Kerr for a relaxed, English-language walking tour through Agatha Christie’s Torquay. Follow the seafront past the Pavilion, Princess Pier, Torre Abbey, her bust, and memorial seat while hearing stories, viewing historic photos, and learning how the town shaped her life and writing. The walk begins and ends at the English Riviera Visitor Information Centre.
“Brilliant! Graham Kerr was a fantastic tour guide. Thoroughly enjoyed our 2 1/2 hour 2 1/2 mile walk around Torquay learning about Agatha Christie.”
Meet Coastal Adventures in Ilfracombe for a 2.5-hour private coasteering session along North Devon’s rocky shore. You’ll swim through gullies, scramble over cliff bases, explore caves, and choose from jumps suited to your confidence. Guides including Zac, Alex, Matt, Jess, and Andy have led sessions with clear safety briefings and steady encouragement.
“Absolutely fabulous company & team - faultless from booking through to saying farewell. The kids absolutely loved the activity and staff.”
Join Torquay Watersports at Torquay Marina for a fast, 30-minute Raptor RIB ride around Torbay. Expect sharp turns, high-speed runs, coastal views, coves, caves, and possible seal sightings. The crew provides lifejackets and a safety briefing, with space for only 12 people. Minimum age is 10 or 11, with a 25-inch inside leg requirement.
“Fantastic experience. Staff were lovely and very informative on the information given about the speed boat and the different bays. My daughter loved the feeling of going fast across the water and the donuts.”
Join Ziggy and his team near Maidencombe for a 2.5-hour coasteering trip along Torquay’s UNESCO Geopark coast. You’ll wear a wetsuit and safety gear, then boulder, climb, jump, and explore sea caves while hearing local stories about geology, pirates, smugglers, and ghosts. Kit, tea, coffee, and instruction are included.
“Cracking winter coasteering trip with Ziggy! He booked us in as a two-person trip pretty last minute; very can-do attitude. The whole experience was perfect, starting in a lovely village and going on foot from there. Wetsuits were more than a match for winter seas! We wanted big jumps and got them, but zero pressure from Ziggy, who just gave us the confidence to jump in knowing he's checked everything out already. I'd happily go back with my kids one day!”
Join guide Kieran for a three-hour tandem kayak trip from Oddicombe Beach. Paddle past rock formations, into sea caves, and toward quiet coves while learning about Devon’s geology and wildlife. You may spot seals and seabirds, search for fossils, taste a foraged marine herb, swim, and toast marshmallows over a beach fire.
“Stunning location , amazing guide who is very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended experience”
Meet skipper Max at Torquay Marina for a private one-hour RIB ride along the Devon coast. You’ll pass Berry Head, pause in areas known for dolphins and porpoises, look for seals, and explore secluded bays. The boat and skipper are reserved for your group of up to four, with lifejackets supplied.
“The caves The Dolphins The sea lions The whole journey was interesting and full of vibes from our Captain”
From Torquay Marina, skipper Jon or another Torquay Watersports captain takes you along the Devon coast in a small RIB carrying no more than 12 people. Expect Meadfoot, London Bridge, Berry Head, Thatcher Rock and Babbacombe, with coastal facts, rock formations, caves, seabirds, seals and a chance to spot dolphins or porpoises.
“We were a group of 2 adults and 2 teen children. We were lucky enough to have a sunny day for our trip although a bit windy. Our guide was excellent, very knowledgeable of the area and of the animals we encountered. We saw dolphins, a seal and lots of birds. Our guide also took us into a small cave and an inlet and explained the rock formations. The rib ride was exciting and we all had a fantastic time.”
Walk from Ilfracombe’s oldest pub to the Pier Tavern with guide Mark, hearing real accounts of poltergeists, hauntings, shipwrecks, fires, and strange encounters. The 1-hour-45-minute route uses historic photos, sounds, and local stories to bring the harbour’s darker past to life. Groups are capped at 15, and dogs on leads are welcome.
“We really enjoyed the ghost tour. Mark brought the past to life with many creepy tales from days gone by. The George and Dragon is a very old pub with lots of charm, and has many spooky stories which added to our enjoyment when we ate a good sized meal. Ilfracombe is the ideal location for some good ghost stories. Mark's perfect deliverance and atmospheric weather all added to the eerie experience.”
At The Gin Nest in Torquay, Paul guides you through gin history, styles, distillation, and botanicals before you create a one-off bottle in a traditional copper pot still. Choose your ingredients, design a label, and enjoy wine or gin during this relaxed, two-hour English-language class for up to 16 people.
“Really enjoyed this afternoon in a relaxing environment. Tested our creativity but we all came away with something tasty and had excellent, attentive service and instruction from Paul. It is worth not driving so you can sample the delicious G&Ts during the session. Looking to book again later in the year and invent a whole new flavour profile!”
Spend about 2.5 hours at Arty Boat in Exmouth painting a handcrafted wooden duck or ceramic piece. Your £10 studio booking includes guidance, materials, cake, and a hot or cold drink. Choose and pay for your item on arrival, usually £12 to £35, then take it home after it is prepared, painted, and sealed.
“The cost of the wooden duck was more than advised on the chat when I enquired. However we had a great time”
Join Graham from English Riviera Walking Tours for a two-hour Fawlty Towers walk around Torquay. Hear how John Cleese and Connie Booth found inspiration at a local hotel, learn what became of the characters, inspect the show’s famously dodgy signposts, and act out memorable scenes. The tour starts at 2:30 pm and ends near Abbey Park.
“Graham, the distant cousin of Basil, gives a unique interactive tour of Torquay seafront with jokes so bad they’re funny and lots of facts about Torquay’s most famous fictional hotelier. Come prepared to act out some of the most famous scenes from the 12 original episodes .”
Spend about eight hours exploring Dartmoor in a private Land Rover Discovery with guide Nigel. Visit Ashburton, Princetown, Foggintor Quarry, and Haytor Vale, with stories tied to Agatha Christie, local legends, Dartmoor history, and the people who shaped Devon. Pickup and drop-off are included within set areas.
“We had a wonderful day with our guide, Nigel. We experienced and discovered so much and heard so many stories. My family (young and old) really enjoyed it, and we would never have discovered all these enchanted places, natural wonders, and legends on our own. Thank you so much for this amazing tour, which we can only warmly recommend to everyone.”
Spend about 90 minutes walking from Ilfracombe’s Landmark Theatre to the harbour and St Nicholas Chapel with guide Mark. You’ll hear stories of Victorian hotels, seafaring, local ghosts, old photographs, wars, and the chapel’s unusual past as a lighthouse. The small group is capped at 15, and dogs on leads are welcome.
“An asset to the town this tour adds another dimension to your Ilfracombe experience. The History is explained in detail and with enthusiasm. Once a resort of a grandeur reminiscent of the Mediterranean Rivieras but 100 years earlier. Regular steam ships brought the rich and famous to come and stay. Today's town has undergone 2000 years of evolution since it started life as an Iron Age Hill Fort. Castles, churches and grand buildings have come and gone. It has been touched by Wars and even played a part in starting WW1 ! All the time looking out towards Wales and the Atlantic Ocean focused on what the sea will bring.”
Set out from Teignmouth at 9:00 am for a four-hour guided sea-kayak trip with Paddle Devon. You’ll learn the basics, paddle for about 90 minutes, stop at a beach for 30 minutes, then return. Guides including Nils, Nile, and Dave have helped beginners feel safe and confident. Kayak gear is included, but bring a wetsuit or clothing that can get wet.
“Amazing and well worth the money. Everyone enjoyed the experience and it didn’t matter if you hadn’t been Kayaking before”
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