Circle the South Hams.
From Exeter take the A38 towards Plymough and exit at the sign for Totnes. Stop off at Dartington Hall Cider Mill for crafts and then go on to Totnes which has a castle, a good Irish session at the London Inn and has its own currency "The Totnes Pound". You can also get a steam train on the Dart Valley Railway.

Head out towards Kingsbridge and at halwell take the turning towards Dartmouth. At Dartmouth there is theRoyal Naval College and also the Harbour Bookshop that used to be run by Christopher Robin Milne (of Winnie the Pooh books fame).

From Dartmouth head off towards Stoke Fleming and Strete. You go along Slapton Sands where they did the ill fated practice for D Day. It is very spectacular with the sea on one side and a lake on the other. About half way along turn off to Slapton Village and the very unusual Tower Inn.

Back from Slapton go through Stokenham and then turn left in the village towards Ford, Chivelstone and Prawle. This road takes you towards the Start Point Lighthouse and then follow the signs to Prawle and the atmospheric Pigs Nose Inn. Here you can see Cern Buntings if you are into birds.

Now take the narrow lanes towards East Portlemouth and a spectacular view over the Salcombe estuary. You can go down the lower road from east portlemouth and take a small passenger ferry over to Salcombe but if not continue on the tidal road (check the tide times) and through Goodshelter and then Southpool (The Millbrook Inn is worth a stop) then Frogmore and up to Kingsbridge.

From Kingsbridge take the road towards Salcombe and then branch off towards Plymouth. Go down a steep hill into Aveton Gifford and just after the bridge take a left onto the tidal road where you get fantastic birds eg egrets etc at low tide on the mud flats. Head towards Bigbury.

Park down by the beach for a stroll or a sea tractor ride over to Burgh Island where many Agatha Christie novels were set and filmed. You can get a nice drink in the Pilchard Inn and stay there too. Lots of kite surfing and land sailing to watch here.

From Bigbury get back on the Plymouth road and at Fleet (opposite Kitley) take a right through the lanes and up to the A38 again. Go towards Plymouth and take the turning to Lee Mill and then go past the big Tesco supermarket through Cornwood towards Yelverton up to Lee Moor. From here follow the signs to Princetown (where Dartmoor Prison is) over the moor where the Hound of the Baskervilles was set and through Dartmeet where you will see one of the oldest bridges in England.

Finally turn off this road towards Widdecombe in the Moor (of Uncle Tom Cobbley and all fame) for a drink at the Rugglestone and end up through Moretonhampstead back in Exeter.

You would probably need more than a day to see everything but it is possible to do it in a day - tides permitting!

Have fun

Sarah (who grew up in this area)