UK Tourist & Leisure Attractions - South Devon

Here's the station at Buckfastleigh, where we caught the steam train on the South Devon Railway.  There were some wonderful old cars outside the station building to add to the nostalgic sixties feel.

We waited on the pristine platform at Buckfastleigh, with cameras ready to roll, poised to capture the South Devon Railway steam train when it chuffed into the splendid station right on time.

A look inside the vintage carriage showing the back of Belinda's head which is buried in the guide leaflet we picked up.  Mike went to the buffet car - and returned with cold tea as he got waylaid chatting to some enthusiastic South Devon Railway steam buffs!

The train stopped at signals quite frequently on its journey to Totnes, we found out from the steam buffs that a newly delivered diesel locomotive was coming up the other way and our steam train had to wait at a passing point on the single track line.

Now a view of the engine on arrival at Totnes.  We watched as the staff shunted it onto the front for the return journey, which we were doing later after visiting the town.  The train driver looked a bit like David from 'Heartbeat'.  See our UK tourist links page for The South Devon Railway website.

It was a short walk from the station along this path to Totnes.  Spot the Devon tourist!

Belinda just couldn't leave her mobile alone, even on holiday!  We found a nice pub in Totnes for lunch as well as a large gift shop before moving on to visit Totnes castle.

At Totnes Castle we looked out at the view over the town.  The entrance cost the best part of a fiver and we have to say it wasn't the most exciting castle we've ever visited, poor value here then.

Leaving Totnes Castle by the narrow stone stairs we wondered why they built stairways so narrow in castles when all the soldiers would be dressed in cumbersome armour.

Slurp, suup, slop; yes, it's Mike eating an ice cream down on the quayside at Totnes where we headed next for a River Dart cruise.  We were too late, but their website is on our tourist links page.

The next day, and after a fruitless search for Kitley Caves which were no longer in business, we went to Wembury and lunched in a lovely little beach café located right on the beach.

We walked along the South West Coast Path from Wembury to Heybrook Bay, stopping frequently to admire the view and top up with sunscreen.  Here's a lovely view, and Belinda's not bad either!

We found the Eddystone Inn at Heybrook Bay and stopped for a well earned drink.  Mike last visited here in '72 on a family holiday and was pleased to see little had changed, and this time he was allowed in the bar!

Right, back on the South West Coast Path then for the return walk to Wembury, after re-applying the sunscreen we re-traced our footsteps.

Earlier in the day we found the farm that Mike stayed in two years running in the seventies, now disused.

We enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine in Devon as we arrived back at Wembury and time for a refreshing paddle to cool our...

... hot hot feet.  Wembury beach is marvellously unspoiled, with clean loos and a quaint café being the only facilities.

Arrgghhh!  Mike went for a paddle too on Wembury beach and tried to fly!  Seriously, the water was surprisingly warm and very refreshing, he's just being a big wimp!

Belinda left her mark in the sand and let everyone know whose beach it was before leaving Wembury, but we later visited more lovely Devon beaches along the South West Coast Path on our holiday >>>