6-Bedroom Hot Tub Barn in Petrockstow - Fun Days Out

The BIG Sheep is a farm park and theme park in Abbotsham, North Devon, built from the old buildings of a family farm. It is best known for its live shows, including the World-Famous Sheep Race, the Duck Trials and the Sheep Show. In the Animal Barn you can meet and feed animals such as pigs, goats and alpacas, and say hello to the Highland cows, Maggie and Merida.

There are rides too, including the Rampage roller coaster, the Twister, a train around the lake, swan pedalos and tractor rides. When the weather turns, head for EWEtopia, one of the South West's largest indoor playgrounds, with slides, ball pits, rope bridges and soft play. There is a toddler zone and a baby sensory room, and a restaurant and coffee seating for grown-ups who want a sit-down. It suits families with children of all ages.

Tip: Pre-book tickets online, as the park gets very busy in school holidays and term time, and booking ahead is cheaper than paying at the door.

The Milky Way is a family-run adventure park on a former dairy farm near Bideford. It has more than 110,000 sq ft of indoor attractions as well as acres of outdoor space, so a day here works whatever the weather. Rides include roller coasters, indoor dodgems, a mini-train and Ziggy's Blast Quest, an interactive laser shooting ride.

There are live shows, including birds of prey displays, plus archery, bouncing pillows, big soft-play areas and a display of sci-fi memorabilia. Little Stars is a dedicated play area for under-sixes, with a sensory room for babies. Toddlers through to teenagers and grandparents are all catered for, and most rides and shows are covered by the entry ticket.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, especially in school holidays, and check the calendar for opening days and times.

Okehampton Castle is a ruined medieval castle on a wooded ridge above the swift-flowing West Okement river. It began as a Norman motte and bailey castle, and in the 14th century Hugh Courtenay developed it into a palatial home. You can still explore the remains of his buildings, from the keep mound to the tall gatehouse. After its last owner fell foul of Henry VIII the castle was abandoned, and its picturesque ruins later inspired Turner and other Romantic painters.

There are great views from the keep, plenty of wildlife and woodland walks. A riverside picnic area has benches and plenty of grass for laying out a blanket. Dogs on leads are welcome. There are steps up to the castle and a steep set up to the keep, and the ground is uneven in places.

Tip: Wear sturdy footwear for the steps and uneven ground, and note that opening depends on volunteer availability, so it can close at short notice.

Castle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton, built between 1911 and 1930 and known as the last castle built in England. Edwin Lutyens designed it for Julius Drewe, the founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. It is built of granite and overlooks the Teign Gorge. The castle is Grade I listed and the gardens are Grade II* listed.

You can look round the castle, wander the garden and stop at the café and shop in the visitor centre. Benches around the grounds and the orchard make for easy picnic stops. Families can pick up kids' trails and activities in school holidays, and there are buggy-friendly routes around the garden. The property is on the Two Moors Way and the Dartmoor Way, so it also suits walkers.

Tip: The car park has limited spaces, so if it is full, come back another time rather than parking along the drive, which blocks farm vehicles.

Exmoor Zoo is a conservation centre near Bratton Fleming in Exmoor, North Devon. It grew from Exmoor Bird Gardens, which opened on a former farm site in 1982, and today it specialises in smaller animals, with a good number of rare species on show.

You can see red pandas, meerkats, bush dogs and Abyssinian ground hornbills, along with small carnivores such as servals, caracals and fishing cats. Cheetahs, maned wolves and wolverines are among the other residents, and the zoo is also home to birds like flamingos and a shoebill. It is a member of BIAZA and EAZA and takes part in breeding programmes. Families and animal lovers can also book keeper-style experiences, and the zoo runs education activities for curious children.

Tip: Tickets can be bought securely online through the zoo's website, where you can also check price options and offers.

Exeter Cathedral has stood at the heart of Devon for nearly a thousand years. Its Norman towers and Decorated Gothic interior are topped by the longest uninterrupted medieval stone vaulted ceiling in the world. Inside you can see the 15th-century Astronomical Clock and an early set of misericords, and guided floor tours and audio guides help bring the building to life.

The Treasures Exhibition is the other big draw. It shows the Exeter Book, the oldest surviving book of English literature, along with the 1050 Foundation Charter and the Exon Domesday. Families can follow the Cathedral Cat Trail, and the Chapter House Café opens onto the Cloister Garden, with a shop next door. It is also a working place of worship, with regular services and concerts.

Tip: Head for the Treasures Exhibition tour or a guided floor tour, both included in standard admission, though floor tours are subject to availability.

Hartland Abbey was founded in the 12th century and is still the home of the Stucley family. You can wander through the house at your own pace, taking in rooms from Medieval to Victorian times, with paintings, furniture and Chinese porcelain collected over generations. Exhibitions cover filming on the estate and the Stonehenge pioneer William Stukeley.

Outside, there are 18th-century walled and woodland gardens, parkland and walks leading down a valley to the rugged Atlantic cove at Blackpool Mill. Spring brings bluebells, primroses and wild garlic. Children can meet the donkeys, peacocks and black Welsh Mountain sheep, and follow the quiz, nature trail or Malory Towers trail. Fans of the TV series will recognise the house, and the Old Kitchens Tea Room serves light lunches and cream teas.

Tip: Hartland Quay is only a mile away, so it pairs well with a visit; the tea room needs a valid garden entry ticket.

Buckland Abbey was founded as a Cistercian abbey in 1278 and later became the home of Sir Francis Drake. Unusually, the church was kept as the heart of the house when it was converted. Explore the Grade I listed building, where Drake's Drum is part of the collection, then see the medieval Great Barn next to the house.

Outside, there are gardens including the Cider House garden, craft workshops in the converted ox sheds, and miles of estate paths with three circular woodland walks. A natural play area with balance beams and a climbing area keeps children busy, and there is a coffee shop and picnic benches. It suits history fans, families and walkers, including those with dogs.

Tip: Dogs on leads can go almost everywhere except the Kitchen Garden, but only assistance dogs are allowed inside the Abbey. Parking is free.