Family days out in the South West

I love the area we live in. Not only is it a place full of natural beauty, but there are some fantastic places to visit too. Here is my guide to the best family days out in the South West:

Sealife Centre, Weymouth

A great family day out, the SeaLife Centre in Weymouth has both indoor and outdoor activities. The centre has everything from penguins and giant turtles to rays and sharks. There is an underwater tank where you can get up close and personal with the sea creatures, there are plenty of feeding time displays and interactive areas and your ticket price even includes entry to the SeaLife Tower – a 53m panoramic tower which offers you an amazing view of the coastline. Well worth a visit.

Diggerland Devon

Diggerland is an outdoor attraction so one that is best saved for a sunny day. There is something for all ages, from a small soft play for the very tiny ones to ride on diggers that children can use independently or with an adult, to thrill rides for the older ones. Ride Spin Dizzy if you’re feeling brave, try the Sky Shuttle for a birds eye view of the park or try the Dig O Round and Jeep Safari. It’s definitely somewhere that has enough to keep everyone entertained all day long.

The Gruffalo Trail

Based at Haldon Forest, the Gruffalo Trail is a lovely day out. Explore the beautiful woods while hunting for Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and of course – the Gruffalo! There are fun facts and activities all the way around the trail, and it is fairly pushchair friendly too, and not too long a walk for little legs. There are plenty of picnic areas as well as a small cafe with a sandpit and play area. This is somewhere we go a lot – sometimes we walk it and sometimes we cycle. There is always something new to see.

River Dart Country Park

If you want somewhere that will occupy the whole family for the day, then River Dart Country Park is a great choice. It is based around a natural lake, which is packed with tyres, swings and a pirate ship to explore. We often take an inflatable boat along too. There are also heaps of outdoor activities such as water walkers, a climbing wall, zipwires, huge outdoor play areas and slides. You can choose to stay here too – they have a great campsite with good facilities, and it gives you plenty of time to explore everything the park has to offer.

The beach

You can’t visit the South West without going to the beach. The Jurassic coastline has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, and we visit a lot of them regularly. Some of our favourites are Exmouth and Dawlish, where you can also watch the air show in August, Saunton and Croyde which are just as beautiful in the winter as the summer, and Sandy Bay which is a real hidden gem. Don’t forget to read my guide on packing for the beach if you are heading for a day at the seaside.

Have you visited the South West? Would love to know of any other places you enjoyed during your stay. 

* This is a collaborative post. PegasusLife challenged me to come up with this list of my favourite places to visit in the South West. You can view their Shell Cove development here.*