Rock View Cottage - Fun Days Out

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.

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.

Adrenalin Quarry is a family-owned adventure park in Menheniot, built around an old flooded quarry. It offers five rides: an inflatable aquapark for ages 6 and over, go karting on an 800m all-weather track for ages 7 and over, a zip wire that is 50m high and 490m long, a giant swing 150ft above the lake, and axe throwing for ages 12 and over.

The rides are gravity-powered and low-carbon, as the site is an area of special scientific interest. The site has spectacular views and picnic spots, and entry is free. Reviewers mention swimming and relaxing on the lawn at the bottom of the quarry, and say staff were helpful, including with wheelchair users on the zip wire. One review says dogs are welcome.

Tip: You can book all rides online ahead, or just turn up for the zip and the giant swing.

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.

The Plym Valley Railway is a heritage railway on part of the old Great Western line from Plymouth to Tavistock, which closed in 1962. Trains run from Marsh Mills station to Plym Bridge, a journey of about 1.5 miles of track. Marsh Mills is also a railway centre where volunteers preserve and restore steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and wagons.

Back at Marsh Mills there is a buffet, a shop selling souvenirs, toys, model railways and books, and a 7 1/4 inch miniature railway that often runs on Sundays and special events. Dogs are welcome on a lead and under control, including on the trains. Plym Bridge has other things to do close to the platform, including National Trust and Woodland Trust sites.

Tip: There is no parking at Marsh Mills station, but the Coypool Park and Ride car park is directly opposite and can be used by railway visitors at weekends.

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.

Restormel Castle stands on a high, deeply ditched mound overlooking the River Fowey near Lostwithiel. Its huge, almost perfectly circular keep is one of the best-preserved of its type, and it was once a luxurious residence linked to the Earls of Cornwall and Edward the Black Prince.

You can climb the steps to walk round the battlements and look out over the countryside, then trace the great hall and other buildings inside the walls. There is a walking trail, plus a trail for children, and the site is a good spot for spotting flowers and wildlife. It makes a relaxed picnic stop and a useful base for walks in the Fowey valley, so it suits history fans, walkers and families.

Tip: Bring a picnic to enjoy at the castle, and combine your visit with a walk in the Fowey valley.

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.