Need Help Narrowing Down Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset Places

Personally, I really liked Devon a lot, so if it were me, I choose to focus on Devon. It's a bit quieter and less crowded than Cornwall and was really beautiful. It's also a bit easier to drive in (imo). Cornwall is bigger than it looks and it takes quite a bit of driving to get to many places. I loved Mousehole but I don't know if it would be worth it to visit there with the time you have.

In Devon, I would highly recommend Coleton Fishacre. I loved this place, and spent hours here. It's very beautiful with lovely architecture, gardens and decor.

And I would not skip Dartmoor National Park, as I consider it a must-see, in my opinion. It's not just a huge expanse of greenery and hills and rocks. There are towns there and sights to see. I think your kids would like the Dartmoor Prison Museum there and Chagford is a fun town to visit. I especially loved going to St. Pancras Church located in the village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. I first heard about this church after reading an article about Bill Bryson, who named it as one of his favorite churches. It's truly in the wild, and was a charming place to visit, with a few shops and a cafe nearby. Here is an account of my day spent on the moor, if you'd like to look at it. https://mostlytraveled.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/day-12-dartmoor-national-park-and-visiting-a-medieval-church/

Torquay would be another fun place for the kids, I think. It's on the coast and there are a lot of resort activities there.

When I was there, I stayed in Falmouth for the Cornwall portion (and did enjoy walking up to Pendennis Castle and visiting there). I really liked Falmouth alot and especially enjoyed my hotel there.

In Devon, I stayed in Plymouth, which I also liked. It has a certain charm and was easy to get around in. I really enjoyed walking down to the harbor, getting fish and chips, and especially visiting the Barbican, which the kids would absolutely love!!! It's a huge expanse of green space right above the coast with a lighthouse to explore. The kids I saw seemed to really enjoy playing there.

Exeter is a place I struggle with because the actual City Centre isn't up to much IMO. But apart from the Cathedral there is the City walls to visit, the underground passages, and the historic Quayside to visit. Yes the walls are not Chester or York but interesting none the less. I don't know why I have fallen out of love a bit with the City- one I used to rate more highly.

There is a free red coat guided tour (and free means free, not some one panhandling for tips at the end).

Apart from the Cathedral there are several other old Churches to see.

You can then follow the ship canal and then the river estuary down to Exmouth- through some quite interesting villages- walking or cycling. TBH I think that and down towards the Riviera Coast is the most attractive part of the area.

Plymouth City Centre suffered badly in the war, and was then rebuilt in a very modern car centred style. But you still have the Hoe and Smeaton's Light. And down by the harbour is very nice - of course where the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower sailed from. There are boat trips you can do from there. Quite a bit to explore down there- it survived the war better than the City Centre.

I don't think either city should be written off, and both are worthy I think of a day or so I think but not major multi day places.

I think you could totally fill the trip with Devon and Cornwall. You mention Port Isaac- since Doc Martin finished the village has had a sharp downturn in tourism, yet it is far more than a film set. To me that is a good reason to actually go there now. You've also missed off St Michael's Mount and the Eden Project. Tintagel seems to split the audience here (or at least the UK part of the audience).

I'm not going to fall into a rabbit hole of 'must see' and 'redundant' (that is far too personal) but would note that you have listed Heligan- there are another half dozen great gardens in the general proximity of Falmouth.

Glastonbury is another place which seems to have the Marmite touch to it, and I'm not sure why. But then we are all different.

To my mind you have two x twelve day trips here in the mix (Dorset/Somerset/Gloucestershire) and the West Country (Devon/Cornwall). I would choose one or the other and I don't want to choose which. But Dorset etc seems the more obvious progression then the West Country as a follow on another year, maybe.

That's an impressive list! We spent 5 nights in Cornwall last fall. If you decide to go, I would not miss The Lost Gardens of Heligan, which has lots for kids to do and is a wonderful day-long excursion, in my opinion. We had planned to visit Mevagissey after the gardens, but didn't have time. Next trip.

We were based in St Agnes and absolutely loved it. There are lovely beaches and coastlines to explore nearby. But if you are just passing through, there is not much to the town aside from a charming church and some shops, a butchers and the St Agnes Hotel. Don't miss the bakery for pasties. There is also a big, free parking lot in town, which we used a lot. Parking in Cornwall is challenging!

Tintagel Castle is another favorite of ours, though it's a long way north. The kids would likely love these dramatic ruins and landscape! We visited Port Isaac on our return to St Agnes after Tintagel and thoroughly enjoyed it, much more than crowded Mousehole and just as charming. But then, we are huge Doc Martin fans.

We picked up our rental car in Truro but did not spend any time there. It's a big, bustling town that we'd like to see more of on the next trip.

I would add the Minack Theater to the list- a day visit. Kids would probably love it! And St Michael's Mount should not be missed if possible. It was a highlight of our Cornwall adventure!

We had 5 nights in Cornwall and wished we had another two or three. So if you do decide to go there, I would allow adequate time to really enjoy this beautiful region, or save it for the next trip.

Happy planning!

Mardee, isn31c, and Sara, this is all immensely helpful. Thank you so much. I can't believe I forgot to put St Michaels Mount on the list because that's a lot of the reason I wanted to go out that way. I'm dying to see Mont St Michel and this seemed similar (albeit scaled down). But I have a feeling that we are backing off the idea of Cornwall...it's tough to make that call but it seems like it might be too much for this trip, given that it requires longer travel too. Thank you all so much for your generosity!

It’ll be a bit more than 2 hrs drive, but if you feel you can make it all the way to Bruton in Somerset on your first night I really recommend staying there. Nearby there is the Newt Gardens. Entry is by membership only which is expensive (£160 for 2 adults, kids free). However it includes free entrance to a number of gardens in Cornwall as well including Heligan and the Eden project making it pretty good value if you intend to see these places. The Newt Gardens are absolutely amazing and a full day out. Lots for kids including a recreation of a Roman villa that stood on the site.

I’m definitely in the pro Cornwall camp here. I prefer it to Devon because it’s further away from familiarity and feels different to the rest of England.

20 or so years ago I spent a couple of nights in Bocastle. I loved it, although that town had a huge, damaging flood since I was there, and I heard many structures were leveled. From there We took a coastal hike to Tintagel and it was wonderful to just walk along the coast. I don't know much about the other places you mentioned, so it is hard to compare. But if I ever get a chance I will return. I even have a small, framed water color piece of art showing the Bocastle harbor (including the B&B I stayed in) as a reminder.

Hellen- Thank you for the Bruton recommendation. I looked up Newt Gardens and the Roman Villa recreation that you mentioned and it sounds wonderful. It’s just what we love seeing in England- gardens and remnants of the Romans. We will definitely include Bruton in our September 2025 itinerary. Thanks again :)

If you are heading towards Devon/Cornwall on the A303 , note that Stonehenge is on that route and Stourhead (NT) is just N of this road and Montacute (NT) just south.

If you want a Cathedral, I would favour Salisbury over Wells. Salisbury could be on your route to Dorset.

In Devon, I am not keen on Torquay.

In SE Cornwall, Looe, Polperro and Fowey are worth a look. Eden Project is in SE Cornwall & worth seeing.

In west Cornwall, don’t miss St.Ives.

Boscastle has been rebuilt very much as was- I was there earlier this year.

From Polperro if you follow the little country lanes west there is a lovely little 12 vehicle ferry - the Bodinnick ferry across to Fowey. You park towards the top of Fowey and it is a steep walk down into town (and back up).
On the Bodinnick side there is a beautiful 3 mile walk, the Hall walk, to a place called Polruan. From there a foot ferry runs over to Fowey.
One of you could take the car over, the rest do the walk, then the foot ferry and meet in Fowey. Polruan is a lovely little Cornish fishing village. Very much an equal of Polperro but way less visited.
There is also a foot ferry across the bay from near the car park in Fowey to Mevagissey, and a bus back.

The scenic way to Looe and Polperro from Plymouth is to not follow the Sat Nav for the fast way over the Tamar Bridge and the A38, but to take the Torpoint Chain Ferry then across the peninsula to Looe.
It is worth hugging the coast to Looe through Downderry, Portwrinkle and Seaton (possibly with a side visit to the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary).
And in Looe (after visiting the village of East Looe) when you cross over the bridge to West Looe bound for Polperro take the short diversion up the hill past the Fisherman's Chapel (worth looking in there) to the end of the road at Hannafore Beach.

Also on the way from Fowey to Mevagissey and Heligan there is the little port village of Charlestown, used as a set in many movies.
I haven't been to either, but close to St Austell and the Eden Project there are the far less well known Pinetum Gardens and Tregrehan Garden. The Eden is a modern invention to fill a clay pit- these are far older, original gardens.

You mentioned Corfe Castle. From Winchester, go to Wareham and you can get the bus to Corfe Castle. From Wareham then get the train down the coast to Weymouth or up to the New Forest if that interests you.