Home / Areas To Visit - Map of Devon / Exeter and the Heart of Devon

Exeter and the Heart of Devon

The Heart of Devon has much to attract the visitor - a rich and varied landscape, the fascinating rocks and sandy beaches of the Jurassic Coast, plus the vibrant regional capital of Devon, Exeter. From moor to sea, there are a host of things to discover and do, all enriched by Devon's distinctive culture and history.

City
Exeter is a thriving city, with a rich history spanning more than 2,000 years from Roman times. Today, it combines a wealth of visitor attractions and architectural splendour with a bountiful array of shops, restaurants, bars and live music venues.

A year-round calendar of events offers something for everyone, from the Exeter Summer Festival to open-air theatre and local markets. Enjoy local Devon food and drink in the weekly Farmers Market or the monthly Slow Food Market, held on the historic Quayside.

Surrounded by rolling countryside, Exeter is an ideal base from which to explore. Just a short journey from the city you'll find a wonderful selection of attractions, historic houses and gardens.

Coast
More than thirty miles of stunning World Heritage Coastline charting 185 million years of the Earth's history - this is the Jurassic Coast. Towering red cliffs and undulating sand dunes, sheltered coves, rock pools and sparkling sea - it's clear why this coastline has been designated an area of international importance. Sandy expanses at Exmouth, to the crunch of pebbles at Branscombe and Beer, thirty miles of stunning coastline fringe the Heart of Devon.

For charming coastal towns, visit Sidmouth, with its Regency hotels and esplanade, or the historic estuary port of Topsham with its unusual Dutch traders' houses and Georgian architecture.

Country
If you want to enjoy the richness of nature and the gentler pace of country life, look no further. Rightly, most of the area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Blackdown Hills is a rural paradise half forgotten by time, rich in history and wildlife.

Walkers, riders and cyclists have an abundance of pathways to choose from, or explore the Grand Western Canal by horse-drawn barge.

Further information:
Exeter and the Heart of Devon - www.exeterandessentialdevon.com
Jurassic Coast - www.jurassiccoast.com
East Devon AONB - www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk
Blackdown Hills AONB - www.blackdown-hills.net

Tourist Information Centres:
Axminster - 01297 34386, email
Budleigh Salterton - 01395 445275, email, website
Crediton - 01363 772006, email, website
Exeter - 01392 665700, email, website
Exmouth - 01395 222299, email, website
Honiton - 01404 43716, email
Ottery St Mary - 01404 813964, email
Seaton - 01297 21660, email, website
Sidmouth - 01395 516441, email, website
Tiverton - 01884 255827, email, website