Accessible days out and activities in Devon

Family-friendly days out and activities

From charming coastal towns to sprawling countryside trails, Devon is brimming with incredible places to explore. To help you plan your perfect trip, we’ve put together a list of accessible days out and activities, including wheelchair-friendly routes, step-free attractions, and autism-friendly experiences - ensuring everyone can enjoy the county’s beauty with ease.

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, some of our properties, like Overcombe, lend themselves to accessibility thanks to their thoughtful layouts and ground floor bedrooms. Learn more about our properties with accessible features. 
 

© Left: Saltram via Instagram. Middle: Perfect Stays. Right: Dartmoor Zoo via Instagram.

Saltram 

Location: Plympton, South Devon, PL7 1UH
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, accessible toilets, induction loop, and powered mobility vehicle available.
Book tickets here

Set on the edge of Plymouth, Saltram is a stunning Georgian mansion once home to the Parker family. Inside, you’ll discover an impressive collection of art and antiques, while outside, the expansive gardens offer scenic walks and views over the Plym Estuary.

Perfect for a relaxed day out, it’s also dog-friendly with plenty of picnic spots, an on-site café serving cream teas, and a play area for little ones. Throughout the year, the estate hosts seasonal events, including Easter egg hunts and treasure trails, all of which can be adapted for access and sensory needs.

For those seeking an accessible route, the Saltram Circuit Walk is a fantastic step-free option. This 3.5 mile circular trail follows wide, well-maintained paths through woodlands and parklands, offering beautiful views of the estuary along the way. It's a gentle, mostly flat route with benches dotted along for rest stops. The trail also passes by Saltram House and the stables, making it a great way to take in the estate at a leisurely pace. 

Bigbury-on-Sea

Location: South Devon, TQ7 4AZ
Facilities: accessible parking, slipway ramp, accessible toilets, and beach wheelchair available for hire.

Home to a selection of our luxury holiday homes, Bigbury-on-Sea is loved countrywide for its sunkissed sands, gentle tides, and iconic sea tractor rides. At low tide, you can make your way over the sand to Burgh Island, famous for its Art Deco hotel and Agatha Christie connections. 

Families love rock pooling, shell collecting, and paddling, and Venus Café offers beach wheelchairs for hire. If you’re looking to explore more of South Devon’s accessible beaches, Salcombe North Sands, Salcombe South Sands, and Blackpool Sands are great alternatives, with parking and facilities close by. 

Dartmoor Zoo

Location: Dartmoor, South Devon, PL7 5DG
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, accessible toilets, and wheelchair and electric scooter hire.
Book tickets here

Dartmoor Zoo spans 33 acres and is home to an array of fascinating animals, including lions, tigers, zebras, and monkeys. An easy way to entertain little ones; they’ll love making their way through the zoo. Be sure to keep an eye out for Twix and Twirl, a couple of cheeky meerkats, ready and waiting to say hello to passersby. 

With plenty of additional experiences available to book, take the opportunity to be a junior keeper for a day or enroll in feeding sessions with the otters. 

The site can be hilly in places, but there are plenty of resting spots, a large picnic area, and a playground for children. Even better, your entry ticket provides access for the whole year. 

© Exeter Cathedral, Tarka Trail, and Paignton Zoo via Canva.

Exeter Cathedral

Location: Exeter, South Devon, EX1 1HS
Facilities: step-free access, accessible toilets, hearing loop, and free entry for carers. Accessible parking can be found nearby at Cathedral Quay and Princesshay. 
Book tickets here

Steeped in history and architectural grandeur, Exeter Cathedral offers a fascinating pitstop for those spending the day in Devon’s capital. With level access at the main entrance and an interior designed to be wheelchair-friendly, it’s easy to explore the stunning vaulted ceilings, intricate stained glass windows and medieval craftsmanship.

Following your visit, we recommend stopping by The Ivy for a relaxed lunch or heading to The Exploding Bakery for coffee and cake. Both offer step-free access and a warm welcome.

Tarka Trail

Location: North Devon
Facilities: accessible parking (Braunton), step-free routes, accessible toilets (Caen Street, Braunton), and bike and mobility scooter hire.

Following a former railway line, the Tarka Trail is one of Devon’s most scenic routes, offering 180 miles of accessible pathways through unspoiled countryside, estuaries and charming villages. The stretch between Braunton and Torrington is particularly popular for its smooth, flat surface, making it ideal for wheelchair, pushchair, and mobility scooter users. Along the way, you'll pass lush woodlands and over the River Torridge, with plenty of benches to rest and enjoy the view. Stopping in Torrington, you'll find The Old Farmhouse Tearoom, which has plenty of outdoor seating and a menu brimming with delicate homemade cakes, pastries, and sandwiches. 

There's plenty to see and do in North Devon. Here are our recommendations for day trips.

Paignton Zoo

Location: Paignton, South Devon, TQ4 7EU
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, accessible toilets, wheelchair hire, and free entry for carers.
Book tickets here

Having just celebrated its 100th birthday, Paignton Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals across 80 acres. Great for keeping the whole family entertained, this map accurately shows the best route for avoiding steep gradients and uneven surfaces. Make your way over Gibbon Island, past the apes and big cats, before finding the zebras, kangaroos, and giraffes in their spacious enclosures. The Tropical House is a must-see, showcasing a variety of exotic plants and animals in a warm environment that’s good for a sensory experience.

In addition to the wildlife, there’s also an outdoor play area, an indoor soft play zone for younger children, and themed trails designed to engage little ones. The zoo hosts various educational talks and feeding times, which are fantastic for learning more about the animals. Plus, there are accessible picnic spots and a café offering hot drinks and light bites, allowing you to relax and refuel.
 

© Left: Canva. Right: The Donkey Sanctuary via Instagram and Perfect Stays.

Plymbridge Woods

Location: Plympton, South Devon, PL7 4SR
Facilities: accessible parking and step-free routes.

For a peaceful walk through nature, Plymbridge Woods is a stunning National Trust site set between Dartmoor and the coast. The level disused railway line makes it ideal for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and bikes, with scenic woodland, picnic spots, and plenty of shady areas for summer days.

The Donkey Sanctuary

Location: Sidmouth, East Devon, EX10 0NU
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, accessible toilets, wheelchair hire, and sensory trail.
Entry is free and requires no pre-booking

Visiting the donkeys in Sidmouth is a holiday tradition for many with the site being open since the 1960s. Charity-run, this sanctuary provides a safe home for rescued donkeys and invites members of the public in to meet them and learn more about their care.

The gentle pathways allow wheelchair and pushchair users to meet the resident donkeys, and there’s even a sensory trail designed for visitors with visual impairment. 

Once you’ve met the donkeys, there’s a playpark for little ones to enjoy, dry seating areas for picnics, and an on-site café too. 

Drake’s Trail

Location: Tavistock to Plymouth, South Devon, PL20 6JB
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, and accessible toilets (Tavistock).

A 21-mile route stretching from Tavistock to Plymouth, Drake’s Trail is a fantastic, fully accessible walking and cycling route. Part of the "Miles Without Stiles" initiative, it’s a smooth and scenic trail that can be enjoyed at any pace or distance.

Highlights along the way include the Gem Bridge, offering views over the valley, and the Grenofen Tunnel, a historic railway tunnel now open for walkers and cyclists. Alternatively, you can combine a trip along Drake’s Way with a day spent at Saltram as the route winds its way through the sprawling estate gardens. 
 

© Pennywell Farm, Seaton Tramway, and National Marine Aquarium via Instagram. 

Pennywell Farm

Location: Buckfastleigh, South Devon, TQ11 0LT
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, and accessible toilets.
Book tickets here

One of Devon’s most beloved attractions, Pennywell Farm is a hands-on experience for families. Home to 150 animals, including the famous Pennywell miniature pigs, visitors can take part in bottle feeding, ferret racing, goat walking, and hedgehog meet and greets. 

Well-suited to visitors with access needs, it also features step-free routes, wide, hard-surfaced pathways, and accessible viewing areas for animal encounters, making it an enjoyable day out for everyone. Beyond the animal experiences, there's a huge adventure playground, a willow maze, and a new treetop adventure tower offering plenty of excitement. A packed calendar of events, including magical Christmas experiences, ensures there's something to enjoy year-round.

Seaton Tramway

Location: Seaton, East Devon, EX12 2WD
Facilities: accessible parking (Underfleet car park), step-free access, and wheelchair-accessible.
Book tickets here

The historic Seaton Tramway is a unique way to experience Devon’s stunning Axe Valley. Running between Seaton and Colyton, the open-top electric trams provide breath-taking views of the estuary and surrounding countryside. Step-free access and designated wheelchair spaces ensure a comfortable journey for all, and it’s dog-friendly.

Take a look at their events page, where you can find details of their themed experiences – from pirates to dinosaurs. They also offer a quiet tram experience for adults and children with additional needs who find noise and crowds challenging. 

On arrival into Colyton, the station’s café is fully accessible and serves a selection of homemade cakes and cream teas – a must while you’re in Devon!

Good to know: assistance dogs are welcome but only on the tram's lower deck for safety reasons. 

National Marine Aquarium

Location: Plymouth, South Devon, PL4 0LF
Facilities: accessible parking, step-free routes, accessible toilets, and free wheelchair use.
Book tickets here

As the UK’s largest aquarium, the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth is home to over 5,000 marine creatures, from jellyfish and stingrays to turtles and sharks. With fully accessible walkways, sensory-friendly sessions, and daily shark talks, it’s a fascinating and informative experience for all abilities and ages.

The Waves Café serves sandwiches, cakes, and whipped cream hot chocolates, making it a great place to stop and take in the views over the Barbican. This is another place where your ticket gains you entry for the whole year – perfect for those regular visitors to South Devon. 

Where to stay

Above: Overcombe in Bigbury-on-Sea.

Accessibility and transparency are important to us and we take the time to personally visit every property on our portfolio to be able to recommend the best home for your needs. For that reason, we've created an inspiration page for those with accessibility needs. 

One of our standout accessible properties is Overcombe. Set over a single level with five ground floor bedrooms and a collapsible ramp available on request, it's thoughtfully designed for comfort and ease. Perched above Bigbury-on-Sea, it boasts breath-taking ocean views and provides the perfect base for exploring the stunning South Devon coastline. 

These recommendations are provided to the best of our knowledge, but we understand that everyone’s needs are different. If you feel something might not be suitable, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on marketing@perfectstays.co.uk – we’re always happy to receive feedback and welcome your insights. 

Image credits: Saltram, Dartmoor Zoo, Pennywell Farm, Seaton Tramway, National Marine Aquarium, and The Donkey Sanctuary via Instagram. Main image, Exeter Cathedral, Tarka Trail, Paignton Zoo, Plymbridge Woods via Canva. All other images are our own.