Christmas What’s On in Devon and Cornwall

For people coming to stay in Devon or Cornwall over the Christmas holidays there’s plenty of Christmas sparkle on offer to keep you entertained. Here are some suggestions.

Visit Killerton House near Exeter and you’ll be stepping into the world of the Wind in the Willows. This is a Georgian house and estate owned by the National Trust and visitors will be transported through rooms which have been transformed into scenes from Kenneth Grahame’s tales of life on the riverbank and messing about in boats. The theme continues outside with a Wind in the Willows’ inspired family trail through the parkland. Open until 5th January.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without ice skating at the Eden Project. The glittering indoor rink, a perennial favourite, is here once again until 18th February. Always great fun for everyone and a wonderful atmosphere.

South Devon Railway runs between Buckfastleigh and Totnes and children can enjoy Santa’s grotto on the special Santa by Steam journeys which run from 16th December through to Christmas Eve.

For the more adventurous there’s the annual Christmas Day Swim at Bude or the Boxing Day Charity Swim at Charlestown. Strictly no wetsuits but for the less hardy there’s plenty of mulled wine and hot chocolate on offer.

Pantos of course. Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth, Dick Whittington at the Northcott in Exeter and Sleeping Beauty in Truro’s Hall for Cornwall.

Christmas in Cornwall wouldn’t be Christmas without the lights in Mousehole. This will be the 54th year of the lights and the big switch-on is happening on Saturday 16th December at 7pm.

You can’t beat a good bracing beach walk at this time of year. There are endless possibilities here of course. Crackington Haven to the Medieval church at St Genny’s offers spectacular views of the bay there on the north Cornwall coast. Enjoy dramatic cliff scenery walking around Lizard Point on the south coast of Cornwall. Walking the promenade and dunes at Marazion is always enjoyable, offering wonderful views across Mount’s Bay. Visit the iconic Church of St Michael de Rupe atop Brentor near Lydford on the western edge of Dartmoor – and maybe at the same time visit Lydford Gorge’s White Lady waterfall. In north Devon start at Croyde and discover Baggy Point with panoramic views along the way. Salcombe is a good starting point for some lovely walks in the South Hams; start at North Sands and follow the coastal path to Bolt Head for starters. I could go on……