7 most OVERRATED places in Devon
Devon’s full of beautiful places (I should know, I live here!), but some are, quite frankly, not as fantastic as they’re made out to be!
Here’s my list of the most OVERRATED places in the county.
1. Torquay
Torquay’s often touted as the “English Riviera”.
While the beaches around the town (and in wider Torbay) are beautiful, with palm-lined beaches and, on a sunny day, bright blue water, the reality of Torquay often falls short of the glossy brochures.
In reality, the town’s quite run-down, with a lacklustre high street and an over-commercialised beachfront; expect bucket-and-spade, kiss-me-quick British seaside vibes.
If you want to visit somewhere in the area that’s a bit more laidback, Brixham would have my vote.
2. Paignton
Paignton has similar vibes!
From the high street to the commercialised beachfront to the waterpark Splashdown Quaywest, which I had all sorts of issues with (you can read about that here), Paignton isn’t exactly a tourist paradise.
But I would recommend visiting for one thing: the steam train from Paignton to Kingswear is incredible. You can do a “round robin” trip between Paignton – Kingswear – Dartmouth – Totnes – Paignton, and this is a mesmerising way to see South Devon. It all gets better as soon as you leave Paignton!
3. Clovelly
Clovelly is often marketed as a picture-perfect village frozen in time, with its steep cobbled streets and traditional cottages.
Don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful – but in many ways, the village feels overly staged and can be swarming with tourists – which makes it hard to appreciate the supposed charm!
There’s also a controversial entrance fee – paying £9.50 to visit what is essentially a living village can feel unnecessary, especially when there are plenty of other charming Devon villages that are free to explore and more authentic.
But on the other side of the coin, when you pay Clovelly’s entrance fee you are paying for entry to the houses that are maintained and kept as they were back in the day! Some people think it’s worth it, others disagree.
4. Woolacombe Beach
Woolacombe Beach is frequently praised as one of the best beaches in the UK – it’s known for its long stretches of golden sand and excellent surf conditions.
However, the beach’s popularity can also be its downfall.
During peak season, the town end of the beach can be overwhelmingly crowded – although it is a very long beach and if you’re happy to walk along the sands a bit you will find somewhere.
Parking can be a nightmare, and the surrounding area is often congested with traffic.
Also, I do agree it’s a beautiful beach – but is it really the most beautiful in the country? Better than Oddicombe in Torbay, or Lantic Bay or any of the far west beaches in Cornwall? Let me know over on Facebook!
4. Wistman’s Wood
Wistman’s Wood, with its ancient twisted oaks and moss-covered boulders, is often portrayed as a mystical, otherworldly spot on Dartmoor.
Now, truth be told I love Wistman’s Wood. I think it is utterly magical, BUT again it’s been a victim of its own success in recent years.
In post-pandemic Devon, Wistman’s Wood became something of a social media sensation, and ultimately people were asked to avoid actually entering this patch of Dartmoor because they were damaging the moss.
Wistman’s Wood is actually an example of a temperate rainforest, which only exist in the west of the UK. They’re a fragile environment, and they should be treated respectfully.
5. Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! is the only town in the UK with an exclamation mark in its name – which I’m not going to lie, was a reason why I wanted to visit!
However, the town itself can be underwhelming.
Despite its long sandy beach, the surrounding area feels overly commercialised, with a proliferation of holiday parks, arcades and souvenir shops.
The beach, while expansive, can get crowded during peak season, and the town lacks the charm found in other Devon seaside locations – it only dates back to 1860 (it takes its name from a book, Westward Ho!, hence the exclamation mark), which you can definitely feel when you visit!
6. Salcombe
Salcombe is often celebrated for its beauty and upmarket feel – but I find it crowded and expensive.
The town is filled with boutique shops and high-end restaurants, catering largely to affluent visitors and second home owners.
The BBC even called Salcombe “the UK’s most expensive seaside town” in 2023!
In fact, many locals have been priced out of Salcombe. Add that to the fact that parking is nearly chronically unavailable in the summer season, and you can see why Salcombe is perhaps the most overrated place in Devon!
What would you add to the list? Join the conversation over on Facebook!
