The hotels in Devon are some of the best in the country – from small and friendly to grand and luxurious. A bed and breakfast or guest house may be more your style; we’ve lots to choose from. You might prefer to get closer to nature on a campsite, caravan park or holiday park – or a farm holiday or glamping site or perhaps even in a campervan or motorhome.

Self catering might appeal, with the freedom that entails, or you might be looking for a budget break. Or you could decide to plan your holiday by choosing from Devon’s serviced apartments – and take a look here if you have any special requirements. Maybe you want something with a spectacular coastal view, in which case looking at accommodation in North Devon might be more your thing.

Variety sums up why Devon is one of England’s finest counties for walking, with the Tarka Trail, Granite Way and South West Coast Path delivering Devonshire’s range of landscapes at their very best. From accessible pushchair and wheelchair routes along abandoned railway lines, to dense woodland and river valleys like Watersmeet and Lydford Gorge, where waterfalls and wildlife flourish, there’s so much scope for walking in Devon. Just make sure you pack for all seasons.

Cycling in Devon is almost as natural as scones and tea which is why there are numerous cycle hire companies set up at the start of trails to tempt even the most reticent of pedal pushers into the saddle. Coast to coast from Ilfracombe to Plymouth; the challenging Dartmoor Way; the flat 8km nature reserve trail along the River Exe; a 12km countryside from Bampton to Tiverton; whatever your preferred pace, cycling in Devon shouldn’t be serious, unless you want it to be, of course.

You’ll never forget the first time you saw the Milky Way in the sky rather than a confectionary aisle and as Devon boasts Britain’s darkest skies, free from light pollution, evenings outdoors are about as good as it gets for amateur astronomers. Exmoor National Park, especially, really captures the constellations although, on a clear autumnal night, you’ll be hard pushed not to find yourself watching the skies, if not for the stars, then for the bats and barn owls.

Devon’s been at the centre of the glamping revolution, and it’s easy to see why – the beautiful coast and countryside provides the perfect setting.

You’ll find beautifully kitted out yurts, safari tents and pods, often with wood buring stoves and outdoor verandahs complete with barbecues. Who said you can’t camp in style?

Foodies flock to Exeter’s festival in April just as readily as wildfowl flood the Exe Estuaries over autumn, with Westward Ho! and Broadsands beaches swathed in sandcastles for practically the entire summer. The best time to visit Devon depends on how clean you like your clobber, as muddy winter walks prior to a pint and log fire can be as enjoyable as sand between your toes.

In Jul-Aug, swallows, house martins and swifts arrive along with coastal crowds that clog up the high streets so opt for May or Sep for a quieter break. Lapstock Festival in late July is lots of fun and very colourful, with a laid back atmosphere.