2-Bedroom Hot Tub Pod in Okehampton - Fun Days Out

Diggerland is a theme park where children and adults can ride, drive and operate real diggers, dumpers and other full-size construction machinery. The Devon park is in Cullompton, and the whole line-up runs to around 20 rides and drives. You can get to grips with real JCBs and Komatsu excavators, spin on Spindizzy, rise up on the Skyshuttle for the views, or take an off-road trip on the Groundshuttle. There are also dodgems and go-karts.

The parks are aimed at children aged 4 to 14, though visitors of all ages enjoy it, and rides have height restrictions. There are indoor and outdoor play areas, a cafeteria and a Goodie Store for souvenirs. Visitors describe the site as compact, with little walking between rides, which suits grandparents and younger children. One reviewer spent about five hours there in mixed weather.

Tip: Check the ride height chart on the Diggerland website before you go, so you know which rides each child can enjoy.

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.

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.

Paignton Zoo covers 80 acres of animal enclosures and gardens, and most families spend a full day here. You can follow the four zones (Wetlands, Islands, Grasslands and Rainforests), catch the daily talks and feeding sessions, and wander through nature trails in Clennon Gorge wildlife reserve.

Highlights include Sumatran tigers, western lowland gorillas, Bornean orangutans, Rothschild's giraffes and red pandas. It is also the only UK zoo with a northern brown kiwi and a short-beaked echidna. Gibbons live on an island in the main lake. Children get indoor soft play, outdoor play areas and activity trails, and the indoor tropical houses help when the weather turns. There is a restaurant and several food outlets on site.

Tip: Book tickets online ahead of your visit to save money.

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.

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 National Marine Aquarium sits in Sutton Harbour, near the Barbican in Plymouth. It is run by the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity, and is split into four zones: Plymouth Sound, Eddystone Reef, Atlantic Ocean and Blue Planet. You'll see local sharks, rays and octopus, a jellyfish exhibit, and a huge Atlantic tank holding around 1,000 Caribbean fish, with lemon and sand tiger sharks.

Ocean Discovery Rangers run shows and talks and are on hand to answer questions, and there are dive shows too. Blue Planet has seahorses, lionfish, giant Pacific octopus and a Great Barrier Reef display. There is also a picnic area with views over Plymouth, plus a cafe and gift shop. It suits families, curious kids and anyone interested in ocean conservation.

Tip: Pre-book your tickets online, as entry can't be guaranteed without a booking, especially at weekends and in school holidays.

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.