Half term in Devon on a budget: free and low-cost days out for families
From free museums to woodland trails and beach clean-ups, here are ideas to keep the kids busy without spending a lot
Half term starts this weekend, and there are plenty of ways to keep children entertained in Devon without spending much. Here are free and low-cost ideas across the county, from city museums to woodland trails and beaches.
Museums and indoor ideas
The Box, Plymouth. General admission is free, and the museum runs family drop-in activities. Some are free and some are paid for, so check before you go. Events listed for families include Tiny Tales (October 23 to December 11, booking required), Den World (October 24 to January 17, 2027), Family Fun: Imagine the Future (October 27 to 30), Quiet and Calm Family Crafts (October 29, booking required), Family Fun: Tell Me a Story (October 30) and a Halloween event, Creepy Creatures of the Deep, on October 30.
Newton Abbot Museum. The museum is running Insects Uncovered and ghost trails, listed as free.
RAMM, Exeter. Family workshops include Build a Woodland Dwelling on October 27 and 29 at £3.50, and The Mushroom Show on October 28 at £5.50. Build a Wicker Beast on November 1 is a free drop-in in the courtyard. Events are booked through the museum’s website.
House of Marbles, Bovey Tracey. Free to enter, with marble runs, a marble museum, a games museum, a brass rubbing trail and live glassblowing. It’s an option for a wet day.
Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton. A museum covering local history over three floors, with trails for children. Its Haunted Museum starts on the afternoon of Monday, October 26, with seasonal crafts for children, and the last Halloween day is Saturday, October 31.
The Burton at Bideford. A free gallery with family activities, next to Victoria Park, which has an adventure playground, skate park and open space. On Wednesday, October 28, the gallery holds its 75th Birthday Party and Kiln Firing at 4pm, a special celebration with a live kiln firing.
Woods, parks and trails
Room on the Broom trail, Haldon Forest, near Exeter. The Forestry England trail, based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s story, is open daily until January 2027. Children can help the Witch find her lost hat, bow and wand, collect ingredients, watch out for the Dragon and have a photo with the Witch and friends on the new broom. From October 1 there is extra Halloween fun, with cauldrons to find and clues to solve a Halloween crossword for a sticker reward. The trail pack costs £4, and the Halloween leaflet costs £1.50 or is free with the pack, from the Information Pod. Car parking charges apply, and Forestry England members park free. Share photos with #RoomOnTheBroomTrail.
Haldon Forest walking trails and Stover Country Park, Bovey Tracey. Free walking, with woodland and lake paths and a nature trail at Stover. The only cost is local car parking charges.
Haytor and the granite tramway, Dartmoor. Free walking and views, with wild ponies. The Dartmoor National Park Authority says: “Please do not feed or touch the ponies.” It adds that “It is illegal to feed the ponies” and that “The ponies are untamed - they can be unpredictable and may kick and bite if approached.”
Dartington Estate. Walks are free to explore, with car park charges.
Autumnfest and the scarecrow trail, Arlington Court, near Barnstaple. The National Trust property runs autumn trails and crafts through half term. It’s free for National Trust members, and non-members pay grounds admission.
Coast and beaches
Berry Head and coastal walks. Free walks along the coast.
Crabbing at Torquay and Brixham harbours. A low-cost classic. All you need is a line, bait and a bucket, and take care near harbour edges with young children.
Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. Bird-watching and dune exploring, followed by a stroll to see the black swans in Dawlish town park.
Wembury Beach rockpooling, South Hams. Rockpooling at low tide, with free entry to the Wembury Marine Centre. Parking is free for National Trust members. Non-members pay £3 for two hours or £6 for longer, and Blue Badge holders park free.
Silent disco beach clean, Woolacombe. A community beach clean with wireless headsets on Sunday, October 25, from 10.30am to 12pm, meeting at Mill Rock. It’s free and no booking is needed.
Tarka Trail. A traffic-free path along the old railway line, suitable for buggies and children’s bikes, between Braunton, Barnstaple and Fremington Quay.
Low-cost evenings and trails
Fireside storytelling, Lorna Doone Valley, Lynton. Storytelling around a fire pit in the play area as part of the Dark Skies Festival, with sessions from 5.30pm to 6.30pm and 6.45pm to 7.45pm at £5 per child.
Ticketed Halloween days (for a bigger budget)
Watermouth Castle, Ilfracombe, is running Pumpkins at the Castle on selected dates until November 1. It’s included with admission, with pumpkins and marshmallow toasting extra. The Big Sheep, Abbotsham, near Bideford, has Halloween half-term events from October 24 to November 1, including pumpkin picking and carving at £3 per pumpkin, and a toddler takeover. The Milky Way, near Clovelly, also has Halloween events.