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Rural Breaks

Exeter & Essential Devon is home to two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the East Devon AONB and the Blackdown Hills AONB, unspoilt rural landscapes of great beauty with an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna to discover.

The area also contains more than 10 Local Nature Reserves and the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast, a stretch of coastline from Exmouth in East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.

A great way to explore Exeter & Essential Devon's many miles of countryside and farmland, heathland and forest is by following one of the long distance footpaths, cycleways or bridleways criss-crossing the countryside. The East Devon Way, Exe Valley Way and South West Coast Path long distance trails allow visitors to get close to nature in the great outdoors.

Visit Haldon Forest Park near Exeter to explore 3,500 acres of dramatic forest and 25 miles of purpose built off-road walking and cycling trails.

Devon's traditional farming communities mean that many rural crafts and activities have been preserved, and visitors to the Blackdown Hills AONB can take part in activities such as dry stone walling, coppicing and sheep shearing! River Cottage in Axminster also holds special events where visitors can learn traditional foraging skills!

The largest event in Devon's calendar is the annual Devon County Show in May, when rural communities come together to celebrate the best the county has to offer.

Throughout the rest of the year farmers from across the county bring their produce to the regular farmers markets in Exeter & Essential Devon.