A day out at Canonteign Falls

Last week we visited award-winning tourist attraction, Canonteign Falls, for a lovely walk with the dog and the kids.

Canonteign Falls is nearly positioned on the edge of Dartmoor in the Teign Valley. Is a luscious part of Devon and only a twenty-minute drive from Exeter – as a bonus the Orange Elephant ice cream parlour/place space is en route and they are doing drive-thru ice cream!!

Boasting 90 acres of park and woodland, there is a lot of walking and exploring to do at Canonteign. The 90 Victorian steps leading up to the top of the Falls are great for the gluts but may be tricksy for smaller dogs so be prepared to carry the little ones.

There are two sets of waterfalls at Canonteign today: the natural falls which have existed in this valley since time immemorial and the spectacular Lady Exmouth Falls, named after the 3rd Lady Exmouth and built under her direction in 1890.

The Lady Exmouth Falls are the highest man-made waterfalls in England, measuring 70m (220ft). The view from the top is spectacular, COVID precautions mean that it is staffed so that only one family at a time can go into the platform

Your small people can search for fairies in the fern garden. We especially enjoyed it, hubby lived in New Zealand for a decade and proceeded to tell us all about the botanicals there and how botany was an expression of wealth in the Victorian times. Rich families would send ships and specialists to far-flung lands to collect flora and fauna, creating gardens here in the UK.

The silver fern is a feature in Canonteign’s Victorian Fern Garden. The kids loved the T-Rex too!

From the falls the path drops through the woodland to the Lily Lake, old Orchard and Bee Garden and to the 30m Zip Wire and Mini-Assault Course.

My kids (10 and 7) enjoyed burning off some energy, running around the course while we grabbed a coffee and an ice cream.

It’s not just about the waterfall though…

Canonteign has a total of 7 lakes including the Lily Lake and Swan Lake. The Lower Lakes provide a fascinating walk in themselves, giving you the opportunity to visit wildlife in its natural habitat and spot kingfishers, bats, butterflies, wildfowl and otter. In the early 1990s the current Lord Exmouth constructed these lakes and here, particularly in spring and early summer, carpets of yellow buttercups and orchids adorn the grass meadows surrounding the lakes. Look out for a round sitting bench and 12 poems around an ancient oak tree, which we have named Poets’ Corner, designed as a peaceful area where you can sit and dream away a sunny afternoon surrounded by some of the most beautiful views Devon has to offer. 

There are lots of lovely walks that suit all ages at Canonteign. The grounds are large enough to lose yourselves and socially distance with ease. We took our dog Lola with us too, she had to be kept on the lead, but she loved it and got a good run in.

FAQS:

  • Canonteign Falls is open with full compliance to Covid-19 Government guidelines.
  • There is no need to book tickets in advance of arrival.
  • It is open every day from 10 am – 5 pm (weather permitting) with the last entry into the Estate at 4 pm. (Please note: to maintain their new one-way system there is no longer free entry to the shop and cafe).

 

Prices:

Adults £8.50

Children  £6.50 (age 5-16)

Concessions (Students /OAPs/Carers)  £7.50

Family day tickets £25 ( 2 adults & 2 Children extra child £3.75)

Groups of 10 + £1 off the admission price.

Follow the link here to find out what to expect on your visit.

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