Devon and Cornwall

Looking for a great holiday close to home? Sally Shalam picks the coolest places to stay and things to do in Devon and Cornwall this summer

Looking for a great holiday close to home? Sally Shalam picks the coolest places to stay and things to do in Devon and Cornwall this summer

Go West to Devon and Cornwall

If you're thinking of staying close to home for your next holiday, then Devon and Cornwall are the prefect destinations for a hassle free break. With all the charm of the great British seaside and an up-and-coming cultural scene, they're the ideal spots for some good clean fun. As well as being family favourites, there's plenty of secluded spots for luxe adult breaks, or if you want to stay true to the seaside vibes, then hiring an old-school camper van is definitely the best way to see the sites. Devon and Cornwall favourites Cloevlly and St Ives offer traditional charm, while a whole host of foody-friendly restaurants and laid-back festivals are sure to keep culture-vultures entertained. So why not visit Britain's hottest surf spot and home of the most scrumptous ice cream we have to offer - you'll be left wondering why you we leave the British isles when summer rolls around.

Go West to Devon and Cornwall

If you're thinking of staying close to home for your next holiday, then Devon and Cornwall are the prefect destinations for a hassle free break. With all the charm of the great British seaside and an up-and-coming cultural scene, they're the ideal spots for some good clean fun. As well as being family favourites, there's plenty of secluded spots for luxe adult breaks, or if you want to stay true to the seaside vibes, then hiring an old-school camper van is definitely the best way to see the sites. Devon and Cornwall favourites Cloevlly and St Ives offer traditional charm, while a whole host of foody-friendly restaurants and laid-back festivals are sure to keep culture-vultures entertained. So why not visit Britain's hottest surf spot and home of the most scrumptous ice cream we have to offer - you'll be left wondering why you we leave the British isles when summer rolls around.

Stay At... A dream beach house

Sleek, modern architecture, unbroken seascapes and seclusion, Seacombe is an open-plan hideaway near East Prawle. You can sunbathe on the terrace, swim in a nearby sandy cove and take a ferry across the Salcombe estuary for restaurants, bars and shopping. Sleeping seven, a week in high season costs £2,200.

Stay At... A castle

For a spot of romance, check into Pentillie Castle near Liskeard. A posh B&B with nine bedrooms, it has an outdoor pool and acres of grounds for wandering. Overlooking the River Tamar, it’s a reminder of how Cornwall offers beauty beyond the beach. Doubles cost from £120 with breakfast.

Stay At... An eco-cottage

Wild swimming, cycling and woodland walks are all on offer at Swallows Nest, a five-star stone barn powered by sun, wind, wood and water in east Devon’s Blackdown Hills. Sleeping four, a week costs from £650.

Stay At... A trendy inn

Luxe beach style hits south Devon at the Cary Arms, a pub with eight rooms, three cottages and spa treatments on Babbacombe Beach. In the summer, sea-facing doubles with breakfast cost from £195, or £1,550 for a week in a cottage.

Party At... Croyde

Head to Devon’s coolest surf beach for the GoldCoast Oceanfest (18-20 June; goldcoastoceanfest.co.uk). There’s live music in the arena, including headlining band The Magic Numbers, plus volleyball, skateboard workshops and an aquathon. Weekend tickets cost £35. Book early 
for camping or to stay at the listed accommodation on the website.

Party At... Port Eliot

Authors, musicians, actors, comedians and poets perform at Cornwall’s Port Eliot Literary Festival (23–25 July; porteliotfestival.com). More village fête than Glasto,  there’s cake stalls, tea in the orangery, arty discussions and live music. Last year’s line-up included Queens of Noize, author Hanif Kureishi, Biba-creator Barbara Hulanicki and The Wire’s Dominic West. Weekend tickets cost £130, including camping, or book an Airstream caravan, which sleeps up to five.

Seaside dining: Five favourite spots for eating by the sea

1. Tuck into oysters from the River Avon at The Oyster Shack at Bigbury.
2. Try Porthminster Beach Cafe in St Ives for spiced up fish and seafood beside perfect sands.
3. Hang out with the surfers in Sennen Cove on the balcony of The Beach Restaurant (thebeachrestaurant.com).
4. Eat bhajis on the beach. In summer, the tiny cafe on Barricane Beach near Woolacombe sells sandwiches by day, then takeaway curries by night. Bring a rug and dine out on the shore.
5. Desperate to escape the crowds? Pack a picnic and visit the beautiful beaches on The Lizard in Cornwall.

Get your kicks

Hire a sexy E-Type or a smiley-faced Austin Healey (cornwallclassiccarhire.co.uk), then hit the road in style. Sign up for a Surf Sistas break with Big Friday, which offers surf tuition for women. Have a go at paddle boarding – book a lesson at the Harlyn Surf School in Padstow. Get some fresh air by kayaking, mountain biking or coasteering in north Devon (h2outdoor.co.uk).

Or just kick back and relax

If you're not much of an adrenaline junky, or just want to lie back and take in the scenery from a distance, then you shouldn't miss the chance to try out the spa at Cornwall's luxury eco-hotel, The Scarlet. Its holistic, traditional approach to treatments aims to promote health as well as relaxation, so you will come away completely refreshed and revitalised. And thanks to the herbal remedies, and its cliff top, log fired hot tubs, you can indulge in a back to nature experience without having to lift a finger.

Hot Shops

Got an empty wall? Then make a beeline for Sarah and Dylan McLees Taylor’s Westcroft Gallery in Kingsand, which showcases works by local 
artists. 
Devon Posh Totti designer Amanda Burwell opens pop-up shops each 
summer selling a capsule collection of gossamer-light clothing.
Vintage rhinestone jewellery made in LA is the last thing you’d expect to find on Dartmoor, but the tiny boutique inside the Dartmoor Inn is packed with unusual finds – from vintage evening bags to retro furniture. There’s a terrific restaurant, too.

Local treats: Devon delicacies and Cornish delights you just have to try

The View at Whitsand Bay has classic French cooking, fresh Cornish produce and a stunning seascape.
Grab a crab salad, steak or surf-and-turf at trad pub The Rod and Line (01752 851323) at Tideford, Cornwall.
Chow down on a crayfish cocktail, Devon ribeye steak or lamb shank - at The Ship Inn at Noss Mayo, south Devon.
Hire a chef with a new service that dispatches staff armed with candles, canapés and foodie treats to any Cornish holiday cottage (food4myholiday.com).
Try organic ice cream from Roskilly's - or stay in a retro caravan at their farm at St Keverne near Helston (lovelanecaravans.com).