Devon
Devon, in South West England, has two coastlines, the granite uplands of Dartmoor and thatched cob villages. One week covers a coast and a walk on the moor.
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Devon sits in South West England, with the Bristol Channel to the north, the English Channel to the south, Somerset and Dorset to the east and Cornwall to the west. The north coast has Bideford Bay, one of Britain's main surfing centres, with beaches at Woolacombe, Saunton and Croyde. The south coast has the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, with tall cliffs, and the resorts of Torquay and Paignton. Dartmoor lies wholly in Devon and has open moorland and granite tors. Exeter is the county town and Plymouth is the largest city.
The climate is cool and oceanic, with mild summers and very mild winters for the latitude. Torbay and the Brixham coast are among the sunniest parts of the UK, with over 1,800 hours of sunshine a year. Dartmoor is wet, with rainfall above 2,000 mm in parts, while the Exeter area gets around 750 mm. The South West Coast Path runs the full length of both coastlines and links the coastal towns on foot.
Devon in five
- Choose south coast, north coast or moorThe south has harbors, estuaries and warmer water; the north has big surf beaches and steep cliffs; the moor adds walking. Each needs a different base, so pick one before you book.Devon or Cornwall?
- Use Exeter as the rail hubExeter has trains to London Paddington and Waterloo, Bristol and Plymouth, plus branch lines to the coast. It is the best base if you want rail access and a cathedral city in the same place.
- Take the boat between Totnes and DartmouthRiver boats run on the Dart in season, so you can walk, sail and return by bus or train. Check the operator's timetable and last return before you set out.
- Walk part of the Jurassic Coast in East DevonThe Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2001, starts on the Devon coast near Exmouth and runs east into Dorset. Stick to marked paths, since cliffs here are unstable.Dorset
- Add Dartmoor for a day, not a weekThe moor is a short drive from Exeter or Plymouth but needs weather and map planning. Treat it as one big day, or stay in a village inn for a deeper walk.Dartmoor National Park
Neighborhoods
Plymouth
- Price band: ££
Dartmoor National Park
A high granite moor in Devon, with tors, wild ponies and boggy valleys. Go for long walks and wide views.
Things to do in Devon
See all attractions in Devon
Need to know
- Airport
- Exeter (EXT); Bristol and Newquay are alternatives
- Getting there
- Trains to Exeter from London Paddington and Waterloo
- Getting around
- A car for beaches and moor; trains and buses on main routes
- Best base
- Exeter, Dartmouth or Ilfracombe, by coast
- Time needed
- 4–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Mild, quietFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Spring bloomsAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring blooms
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Mild, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, holidaysAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, holidays
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Cold, lightsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Exeter, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Devon
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 24 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Devon
08:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°4°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Tue11°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°6°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu9°6°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri8°4°14%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Sat9°6°18%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun8°6°19%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 19%.
Updated 04:28 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Dartmoorby car from ExeterTors, ponies and open walking country, best on a clear day.Read the guide
- Dartmouthby car or river boat from TotnesA river harbor town with castle and boat trips.
- Exmoor and Lyntonby carSea cliffs and moorland on the northern edge of Devon.Read the guide
Before you go to Devon
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Rules for Devon, checked
- Many visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying, and some nationalities need a visa. Check your passport on gov.uk before you book.Source
- Declare any food, plants or animal products on arrival. Many of these are restricted, so check the rules before you pack them.Source
- Drive on the left. Many rural Devon lanes are single track, so pull into a passing place when you meet a car coming the other way.
- Dial 999 or 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Devon.
Plan around Devon
Which county fits a first West Country trip
Read the guideDartmoor National ParkTors, ponies and camping rules
Read the guideExmoor National ParkMoor and sea cliffs on the northern coast
Read the guideCornwallNext door across the Tamar
Read the guideDorsetThe Jurassic Coast continues east
Read the guideDevon & CornwallPlan the two counties as one trip
Read the guideAll of EnglandHow the west country fits a longer route
Read the guideDevon FAQ
How many days do you need in Devon?
Four days cover Exeter, a coast and a day on the moor. A week lets you add the north coast beaches or a second base, and a long weekend works on one coast with one day trip.
Is Devon better than Cornwall for a first trip?
Devon is easier by rail and has more variety, with Exeter, two coasts and Dartmoor. Cornwall has wilder cliffs and surf, but longer drives. Choose Devon for variety, Cornwall for end-of-England scenery.
Do you need a car in Devon?
A car is the easiest way to reach beaches and the moor. Exeter, Totnes, Plymouth and Barnstaple have trains, and buses cover a lot of the rest, so a car-free trip works around one or two bases.
What is the best part of Devon to stay in?
Exeter for rail and a cathedral city, Dartmouth for estuary scenery, Ilfracombe or Woolacombe for north coast beaches, and a Dartmoor village for walking. Match the base to your main activity.
When is the best time to visit Devon?
May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot, with open attractions and manageable roads. August is the busiest month, and winter is quiet, wet and good for cathedrals and walks.