Things to do in Devon in the rain

With the UK’s weather patterns so unpredictable, choosing a holiday can feel like a lottery! We’ve some thoughts and recommendations for things to do in Devon in the rain during your summer holiday or half term, to keep your children entertained in this beautiful part of Devon at our Devon lake lodge. And of course, there are some huge benefits of a Devon lodge holiday especially when the weather isn’t great!

Devon walks in the rain

There’s so much to do on the doorstep of our lodges – for all ages and in all weathers. Why not put on your coats and boot and enjoy some stunning walks, of all lengths, still lovely even when it’s not sunny, for example:

• Around Roadford Lake with a tempting option to stop at the café and enjoy a hot drink, breakfast or lunch and enjoy the view of the lake
• Up on Dartmoor National Park, just 10 minutes’ drive – your choice of walk is endless
• Lydford Gorge – a stunning National Trust property
• Tamar Trails with its cycling, walking and canoeing trails
• And some of the most beautiful bits of the North Devon and Cornwall coastal path and beaches less than an hour away.

Devon attractions to visit in the rain

Dingles Fun Park

An exciting new indoor, family-friendly, amusement park opens in the February half-term of 2025. Dingles Fun Park is replacing what was Dingles Fairground Museum at Milford just a 5-minute drive over the A30 from Roadford Lake Lodges Park, Milford, Lifton, PL16 0AT.

Dingles Fun Park will mostly be an indoor attraction with various family-friendly fairground rides like the Dodgems and the Waltzers and The Carousel Café with some outdoor and indoor seating.

Dingles Fun Park will be open every day throughout the February half-term and then every Saturday and Sunday before Easter from 11 am to 7 pm. Opening hour updates will be posted on its website. More rides and a soft play area are planned for the near future.

Dingles Fun Park

Morwellham Quay

Visit the fascinating ‘living museum’ Morwellham Quay near Tavistock with its insights into the lives of the people who lived and worked here. Ride the Mine Train deep underground into an original copper mine. And for younger members of the family, they and let off steam in the Miners Adventure soft play centre.

Indoor play areas

Trethorne Leisure Park is ideal for our younger guests with plenty of undercover fun, play areas and cute and cuddly animals to meet. They also have ten-pin bowling, amusements and dodgems. A great place to visit no matter the weather! Trethorne Leisure Park.

Strawberry Fields, Lifton is a few minutes away with their farm barn, open at the weekends and during school holidays with pedal carts, a giant ball pit, a sand pit, a bouncy castle, games and an opportunity to meet their farm animals.

Their delicious farm produce is always a delight in the shop. They have a good restaurant for a change of scene and events running throughout the year. If it’s not pelting down then enjoy “pick your own” strawberries, sunflowers, daffodils, tulip, pumpkins or wildflowers depending on the season. There’s a miniature Golf Maize Maze run through the summer along with the popular afternoon picnics.

Padel Ball and Hydro Spa

Just over 12 miles away is The Manor and Ashbury Resorts, which is open to non-residents, a great place if the weather is not favourable.  Enjoy one of their 6 stunning indoor Padel courts, a mix between tennis and squash. They charge £20 per court for an hour and supply padels and balls for up to 4 players per court. Call reception to book ahead: 0800 458 3026 or visit their website for more details.

If you are looking for a change of scene from your hot tub, why not book a Hydro Spa Session? Again, booking is essential.

A 90-minute session is £20 per person and includes:

• Hydro Pool & 2 Spa Baths
• Individually controlled jets and massagers
• 3 Saunas
• 2 Steam Rooms
• Relaxation Room
• Poolside Loungers
• Ice Station

Additional massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other holistic treatments are available at an additional cost. Visit their website for more details. Please note that all other activities (apart from a choice of four 18-hole golf courses) are reserved for residents of the resort.

Kents Cavern

If you want to make a day of it and are happy to drive, why not visit the ultimate in undercover attractions, Kents Cavern in Torquay, step into the Stone Age at Britain’s oldest home and explore the extensive system of caves, formed in Devonian Limestone. They also run lots of events throughout the year, so its worth checking out their website.

 Stay dry at the Eden Project

Visit the famous Eden Project with massive covered Biomes to trek through the world’s largest indoor rainforest and immerse yourself in the calm fragrance of the Mediterranean Biome. And if the rain holds off, it now boasts a spectacular new natural adventure park for children up to 16, included in the ticket but booking is essential. For older children and adults who wish to brave the outdoors, there is also the thrilling Hangloose next door, with the longest zip wire in England, giant swing and the aerial sky trek.

Take a trip to Plymouth

A great attraction for a rainy day is the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, the UK’s largest aquarium, located in Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth, is part of the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the Ocean.

For those interested in the history of Plymouth we recommend the new award-winning Box Museum which also runs family-friendly activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer holidays as well as changing art exhibitions. Admission is free.

The Theatre Royal in Plymouth has lots of family-friendly shows throughout the holidays so check out their availability for something different.

Visit the Barbican Leisure in the Barcode with its Vue cinema, restaurants and tenpin bowling alleys. In the same complex, you can test your skills for all ages at Paradise Island Adventure golf

Visit Dartmoor Zoo

Dartmoor Zoo has plenty to see and do if you just have the odd rain shower. It’s set in 33 acres of beautiful woodland and features the largest collection of Big Cats in the region including African Lions, Amur Tigers, Jaguar and Cheetah. Visitors will also find Iberian Wolves, European Brown Bears, South American Tapir, Ostrich, Meerkats, Otters, Monkeys and much more. They run lots of events for children and during this summer Sparky the dragon has lost his belongings in Sparky’s Woodland Adventure!

A trip to the local cinema in Okehampton

Visit the traditional market town of Okehampton, just 20 minutes away with a great range of food and a farmers market on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. Combine it with a trip to their own comfortable cinema showing the latest films.

Houses and Castle visits

When it’s raining in Devon a visit to the National Trust Castle Drogo designed and built by renowned 20th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, is a perfect day out near Exeter. There are also plenty of other National Trust Houses to explore in both Devon and close by in Cornwall.

Staying in at our lodge

Enjoy rare uninterrupted family time together. Our lodges have a large smart TV in the sitting room. Why not cuddle up in front of our cosy log-effect fire and have a day watching a good film? Or login to your streaming service and settle down in front of the latest box set. We also have a few family games in the cupboard. Don’t forget to pack a big jigsaw puzzle and set yourself up on our dining room table for the day. There’s always our wonderfully warm hot tub waiting for you whether the sun is shining or the heavens have opened when you’re wet you’re wet! Or simply curl up with a good book, leaving the distractions of home behind. If you need to expend some energy, why not wander down to our free state-of-the-art gym, all you need to do is fill in the form, put on your favourite workout tunes and get to work!

Why Devon needs the rain?

We have stayed in our lodge in amazing sunshine where the spacious patio becomes the most popular space and also in truly appalling weather as well, and we always have fun, find plenty to do and enjoy ourselves! And of course, the rain is so important to us all – with Roadford Lake Reservoir such a critical water source for the region and still only 58% full, it is very welcome at the moment as we have been on a hosepipe ban since the Spring.

Read our other page for more information and ideas for things to enjoy at our Devon Lake Lodges at Roadford even when the weather is bad.

What are the benefits of a lodge holiday when it’s raining?

There are lots of ways to holiday in Devon, the most expensive being a hotel with a self-catering cottage being the cheaper option, however with all the controversy of 2nd homes and holidays lets, we think a lodge holiday is a perfect option, but then we would say that! Until we as a group of friends had first stayed in the lodge, we had no idea what we were missing, normally opting for camping.

Although we do still love camping occasionally, the joys of a lodge can’t be overlooked! Coming back from a wet walk around Roadford Lake or up on our beautiful Dartmoor National Park and being able to

• leave muddy boots on a boot rack and hang up dripping coats on a clothes dryer inside in the warm
• enjoy a hot bath or shower without sharing facilities with lots of other people and having to  wait your turn in a queue
• snuggle up in the cosy living area and watch a good film on the TV whilst a delicious meal is cooked
• spread out with plenty of room for everyone in the superb facilities for 6 people and being dog friendly, the benefits of a lodge holiday in unpredictable weather, for all ages, can’t be underestimated!

Yes, it’s definitely more expensive than camping with all it offers – but it’s cheaper than a hotel and most self-catering properties, especially when you work out costs per person. And, unlike a hotel, you have more freedom and can self-cater as much as you want to save on eating costs. With our well-equipped, open plan, luxury kitchens and stunning farm shops like Strawberry Fields just down the road, cooking at our Devon Lake Lodges is a real joy. As well as specialist farm shops, of course, we also have easy access to a range of other shops and delivery options with all the big supermarkets not far from the park.  Not to mention the lovely local places to eat and drink.

We think a Devon Lodge holiday is just the best option, no matter the season or the weather, why not try it yourself and see if you agree?

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