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Local Information & Attractions

Honicombe Manor is twelve miles from Plymouth, with its restaurants, shops and theatre. The Hoe, where Drake played bowls, while waiting for the Armada to get wind in its sails, is a stones throw from the shops. It is a compact city. The Aquarium and the historic Barbican area, with art shops and stunning factory/showroom of Darlington glassware is similarly nearby.

Just eight miles away lies the important town of Tavistock. It has a daily (not Mondays) indoor market with something for everybody as well as a range of exciting specialty shops. The Tavistock Framing Company (beside Focus) has an excellent array of framed prints. Tavistock is also the gateway to Dartmoor and its free open spaces.

In the opposite direction about four miles from Honicombe lies Callington, a sleepy country town with an active art school. You will enjoy the murals painted on walls all around. Nearer lies the riverside village of Calstock, about two miles downhill to the River Tamara. One can travel to Cotele (N.T.) from here by boat (£4 return). From Gunnislake the train goes to Plymouth calling at little riverside villages and passing through picturesque countryside and a vertiginous viaduct over the Tamar. Worth a mention is the Victoria Bookshop in Bere Alston, which is the largest (wildest, and most rambling) in Cornwall. It is choc a bloc with the most interesting secondhand and out of print books imaginable.

If your children are under ten they would enjoy the Donkey Park nearby, which has a soft play area indoors and outside swings and slides and a free donkey ride on a somewhat drugged donkey.! If over ten I would recommend Dobwalls Adventure Park which also has two indoor play areas and a BIG range of rope ladders and climbing frames outside.

I haven't mentioned golden beaches yet, as during July and August they are pretty crowded and parking is not easy. In order of ease of parking I would try Seaton or Downderry and then Looe, but Looe is the most interesting, even if crowded. Bude on the north coast has more beach and parking and surf, and is about one hour away on decent roads.

Three National Trust properties are quite near - Cotele, Mount Edgcumbe and Antony House. Cotele has an excellent cafe.

Should you decide to eat out there are some very good pubs nearby. The most interesting is The carpenters arms. The Cross Keys has a good reputation and a children's playground. The Rifle Volunteer has great views of Plymouth at night. If a takeaway is needed there is a good fish and chip shop-Kellys, and a Chinese takeaway, both in Callington. If you decide to stay at home and have a BBQ, please use the one on the lower patio. Do not try to BBQ on the wooden table or veranda upstairs for Health and Safety reasons. not to mention burning the place down!.

Whatever you do, relax and enjoy - holidays are few and far between and the kids will enjoy the company of their peers at Honicombe.

 

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