Coastal daytrip from Dartmoor Park
 

We are spending a couple nights in eastern part of Dartmoor National Park in Devon, at Bovey castle. Our kids are 4, 8, and 10, and we will have a car. I am looking to take our family to the coast for half a day, lunch, etc. We will have enough museums and cathedrals in London, so we are looking for picturesque small coastal town to stroll around and show our children a less-touristy part of England. As we don't want to spend a lot of time in the car, I think within an hour would be best. Any suggestions (including lunch spots) would be greatly appreciated !

You will be in a VERY rural inland area near Moretonhampstead. The nearest bits of coast will be about an hour away.

Teignmouth and Dawlish will be the closest - about an hour each.

https://www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/ex...nmouth-p187813

https://www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/ex...awlish-p179823

Torquay will be maybe 70-75 mins.

Dawlish is definitely the closest, and would be less crowded I should think than Torquay which doesn't really fit the idea of less touristy England.

For that you would really need to head to North Cornwall or North Devon, which is a lot further than you want to go.

as JJ says, where you will be staying is about as remote as you can get so perhaps a typical english seaside resort would make a nice change!

I can't really recommend anywhere for lunch round there as I've only ever seen it from the train, but I'd have thought that fish and chips [eaten well out of the way of those nasty seagulls] would be a good bet.

Are you going into the Park? It's wonderful and I imagine your kids would love the wild horses you can get up close with. Lots of space to raom around a a couple small villages to visit.

There are indeed some lovely places on Dartmoor. One of our favourites is Belstone on the north edge of the moor; there is a great pub called the Tors and from there you can walk down into a wonderful valley and/or go up on the tops.

Another is Dartmeet, south of where you will be staying where there is a very pretty bridge over the river, woodland walks, etc. You could perhaps combine that with a trip to Dawlish.

For pure picturesque-ness, it's got to be Dartmouth - gorgeous little town, complete with a small castle (you can take a boat trip to or from the castle, which is also an easy mile walk from town.

Dartmouth is pretty much an hour from Bovey Castle, maybe a little more, but just do a Google image search for Dartmouth and you'll see how stunning it is.

Indeed Dartmouth is lovely - but no beach.

And you need to hide from the seagulls if you are eating an ice-cream or a pasty.

Thank you for all the great suggestions. This local knowledge, and the willingness to share, is why I love these forums (fori??). Thanks janisj- I had not seen that website. Those towns look very picturesque, and just what I had in mind. Annhig- the pic of Belstone, valley, and the Tors Inn on the Tors Inn website is beckoning us! Just what my wife and I want our kids to have a chance to experience. We will drive there. A nice contrast to London. And Gyhtson, thanks- Dartmouth views and the castle are beautiful ! We are set for daytrips. Thank you all. Al

Glad you like the suggestion, alfredo.

I hope that you have a great trip.