Leonards Cove - Fun Days Out

Woodlands is a family-owned, all-weather theme park on the A3122, about 5 miles from Dartmouth in South Devon. It covers over 90 acres, with 16 rides, around 500 animals and several play zones, each with its own rides and attractions. There are water rides, a zoo farm and a falconry display with over 50 birds of prey.

The large indoor play centres have adventure equipment, soft play and rides, so a wet day needn't spoil the plans. Outdoors, you can spend time with the animals and try the rides. Woodlands suits families with children of all ages, and there is a café and a gift shop on site. If you want to stay longer, the park has a family campsite and glamping pods close by.

Tip: Not every ride runs every day, so check the park's website for opening times and which rides are open before you set off.

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.

Dartmoor Zoological Park is a 33-acre zoo just north of Sparkwell, on the south-west edge of Dartmoor in Devon. It is run by a charity that focuses on conservation, education and research, and it belongs to BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The collection includes some endangered and critically endangered species, and the zoo runs breeding programmes for Asian short-clawed otters, Amur leopards and Carpathian lynx. The zoo also has a famous story. Benjamin Mee bought it in 2006 and wrote the book We Bought a Zoo, which was loosely adapted into the 2011 film. If you know the book or film, you can see the real place behind it.

Dartmouth Castle is an English Heritage fortress that has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary for over 600 years. It is one of the most beautifully located fortresses in England, with the water all around and fine views out to sea. Its earliest parts date from the 1380s, and it is described as the oldest known purpose-built coast artillery fort in Britain.

Inside, installations trace the castle's story right up to the Second World War. Look out for the audio and light display of a crew preparing to fire a heavy gun, explore the gun tower and investigate the passageways. Families can get hands-on with the weapons used to defend the fortress, and children can follow an activity trail. Walkers will enjoy the coastal and woodland walks nearby, where you can spot plenty of wildlife.

Tip: Booking tickets in advance is encouraged, and check for any local road closures on your route before driving.

Greenway was once the holiday home of crime writer Agatha Christie. The house is styled as it looked in the 1950s and is filled with personal collections belonging to Christie and her family, including archaeological pieces, silver, china and books. The National Trust owns it.

Outside, woodland garden slopes down to the Dart estuary. The walled gardens have a vinery, a restored peach house and an allotment tended by local schoolchildren. The boathouse inspired the crime scene in 'Dead Man's Folly', and the garden is recognised as a 'Garden of Excellence' by the International Camellia Society. There is a cafe and shop on site, a daily garden walk in high season, and events such as summer theatre and pop-up cinema.

Tip: Parking must be pre-booked, so arrange it before you go. You can also arrive by ferry from Dartmouth.

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.

Totnes Castle is one of the best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in England, standing at the highest point of the hilltop town of Totnes in Devon. It was raised soon after the Conquest, and the stone shell-keep that crowns the mound dates from around the 14th century. It is now cared for by English Heritage.

You climb the unusually high, steep-sided motte and take the steps up to the wall-walk, where the battlements have around 30 crenellations, most with slots for crossbows. The views stretch over the rooftops of Totnes to the River Dart and Dartmoor beyond. Below the mound, the wooded inner enclosure is a good spot for a family picnic. There is also a moat walk, a very old tree to find, and a World Builder trail.

Kents Cavern is a cave system in Torquay, with a long archaeological story. Visitors walk through a labyrinth of caverns surrounded by rocks around 400 million years old, with stalagmites and stalactites along the way. The caves were once used by ancient humans for shelter, fire-making, tool-making and hunting Ice Age animals, and the tour includes a moment of total darkness.

You can explore at your own pace with self-guided entry, or join an expert-led guided tour. Tickets also include an Ice Age woodland animal trail, and there is a cafe on site, the Firestone Kitchen. The site says it welcomes family adventures, couples and solo visitors. One visitor review describes the route as easy to walk with only a few steps. The site also says a fossil jawbone found here is the UK's oldest human fossil, though its dating has been debated by researchers.

Tip: Book online to secure your preferred tour time, and arrive at least 15 minutes before it starts. Solo visitors should call ahead, as a tour needs at least two people.