Summer Family What’s On
It’s summertime and so we’ve curated a list of family events which will be updated for the sunny season…
Totnes Summer Book Hunt. Totnes. All week.
Multi-activity holiday camp for 5-12 year-olds. Leisure Centre. All week. 8.15-5.15.
Family Art Workshop. St Mary’s Church. Fri 7 Aug.
Animal Journey at St Mary’s – free tour for families. St Mary’s Church. Fri 7 Aug. 11.15-12.00.
Rewilding Tour – free for children. Sharpham (Lower Sharpham Farm). Fri 7 Aug. 7.00-8.45.
Board Games & Pizza Night. St John’s Church (Bridgetown). Fri 7 Aug. 6.30-9.00.
Hello Summer – interactive theatre with Playground Arts (free). St John’s Primary School (Bridgetown). Fri 7 Aug. 10.00-1.00.
Summer Sundays – free entry. United Free Church. Sun 9 Aug. 10.30-12.00.
Shear Soccer Holiday Course for 5-14 year-olds starts (free for low-income families). KEVICC. Mon 10 Aug. 10.00-3.00.
Mythical Creature mash-up. The Mansion. Mon 10 Aug. 10.00-1.00.
Kaleidoscope Holiday Activity Camp – Splish Splash! Grove Primary School. Mon 10 – Thu 13 Aug.
Summer Holiday Club for 10-16 year-olds. The Mansion. Mon 10 – Thu 13 Aug. 10.00-4.00.
Brick Ideas – Lego event. The Mansion. Tue 11 Aug. 10.30-12.30.
Teen Art Club summer sessions for 11-19 year-olds. The Mansion. Tue 11 Aug. 5.30-7.00.
Isabella’s Story Bicycle & Count Treetop’s Circus – free kids event. The Mansion. Wed 12 Aug. 10.00-1.00.
Dartington Youth Club for 8-16 year-olds. Dartington Village Hall. Wed 12 Aug. 6.30-8.00.
Steam, Abbey & Vintage Bus Explorer. South Devon Railway. Wed 12 Aug.
Hello Summer – get creative with the Woolly Nanas (free). St John’s Primary School (Bridgetown). Thu 13 Aug. 10.00-1.00.
Bubble Ceramic Painting Masterclass – free. Designs Cafe (Cider Press Centre). Thu 13 Aug. 10.00-1.00.
Coming up
Odd Object Competition. Spot the odd objects in the shop windows. Free entry forms will be available from Country Cheeses in Ticklemore Street in about a week’s time and the competition runs from 17-31 August.
An animal journey at St Mary’s. New FREE Family Activity: An Animal Journey! Every Friday at 11:15 through the summer holidays; no need to book. Read all about it below! Tell your friends! Bring the kids down! Before or after enjoy some coffee and home made cakes at the Friends of St Mary’s Cafe: £4 – for coffee /tea and the best cake around!
Teen Art Club for 11-19 year-olds. Meets Tuesdays 5.30-7pm including the school holidays at The Mansion. Can just drop-in. Contact Emma on 07572 178740 for more info.
Some other ideas
Kids go Free. Valid on Stagecoach buses to Paignton, Plymouth, Exeter and Dartmouth throughout August for 5-15 year-olds.
Bridgetown Safari. See the animal sculptures in Bridgetown. If you want help finding your way around, you can download a map from Totnes Pulse at https://www.totnespulse.co.uk/?s=bridgetown+safari or take a photo of the big maps in the bus shelters at Coronation Road opposite the Seven Stars or Stafford Court in Higher Westonfields. Explore on foot or if you get tired, jump on Bob the Bus (Bridgetown route) and see what you can spot from the bus.
Totnes Museum. Lots to see in the museum. Open Tuesdays and Fridays 10.30am to 4pm. Free (donations welcome).
Historic Guildhall. Behind the church is the old guildhall. Lots to see and still in use. Open Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm. Free.
Totnes Castle. There are a lot of steps to the remains but some great views of the town. Open daily. Admission charges vary (English Heritage free).
Totnes Riverside steam railway station. Signposted from the regular train station. Free to look around, full of old adverts, carriages and books, and if you are lucky, a steam train huffing and puffing at the platform. If you fancy a ride, South Devon Railway run trains to Buckfastleigh. Combined tickets with Rare Breeds Farm and/or Dartmoor Otters.
Totnes Cinema and Barn Cinema. Full listings of what’s on in Totnes Pulse.
Rare Breeds Farm. Adjacent to the steam train station. Not free but lots of fun. Free admission to the little tearoom overlooking the steam trains.
Leechwell Gardens. Peaceful and child-friendly. To get there, walk all the way through the Market Square and out the other side. Go through the Heath Garden in front of you and follow the path alongside a car park. Cross the road and go down the path opposite and you’ll spot the gate.
Vire Island. Entrance on the old bridge at the bottom of town. An easy stroll with picnic tables, squirrels and space for children to play.
Longmarsh riverside walk. If you’d like a longer walk, cross the bridge, follow the road round to the right back to the river. Then follow the riverside path for about ½ mile to the end. You can make it a circular walk by following the newish boardwalk back through the nature reserve to the car park.
Dartington Estate. 2-mile easy level path from the railway station to the Cider Press shops and cafes. Up the hill is Dartington Hall with beautiful architecture and historic gardens (admission charge). Free entry to the courtyard. Three cafes (Green Table, Garden Cafe and Montreal Bagels), White Hart pub and Barn Cinema are all on the same site. Alternatively you can take a direct but infrequent bus (Country Bus 165) from the Royal Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes to Dartington Hall. Check timetable.
Borough Park. Tennis courts and skate park. Pavilion Leisure Centre has swimming pool. Temporary membership available. Cashless payment only. 01803 862992.
Delphini’s Gelato. Our very own Italian-style gelateria. All delicious flavours are hand-made on the premises.