Around Devon

Celebrating Apples at The Apple Festival

Posted on October 12, 2019 by DevonDad Around Devon Life Stuff 0

The Apple Festival at Killerton National Park

It seems that National Apple Day is “a thing”, and that an Apple Festival is a place to be to celebrate.

The Killerton Apple Festival is on the surface, an almost bizarre event that on the surface seems to be all about apples. Picking Apples, juicing apples, toffee apples, apple juice, cider… you get the picture… But once you start having a nose around you also find… Story telling around a fire… Insect hotel building… Face painting… Making apple people…Live music… Archery… Axe throwing… Chain saw carving… and apple runs.

Basically, if you’re not sure if you want to go. Go. Its a lovely family trip out, with a great laid back feel around the place, and apple juice.

Here’s a sample of what we saw there…

The Apple Orchard at Killerton National Park

Walking into the Apple Festival at Killerton National Park

Picking apples at the Apple Festival at Killerton National Park

Quick cheeky plug for my instagram stories of the day…

Oh. And the juice you get is amazing…

See the Killerton website for more information about it all.

The Summer Holiday Bucket List

Posted on July 23, 2019 by DevonDad Around Devon Parenting Life 0

The Summer Holidays have now hit the Sofa household. The good news. There are no school runs for the next six weeks. The “interesting news”… what do we do for the next weeks?

Not for any “making precious memories” type reasons, but because its good to know we have something to do.

Here’s what I’ve got so far…

Try one of the Gluten Free Cones at Orange Elephant.
Tidy the living room.
Pick sunflowers at Darts Farm.
Explore a different beach to normal.
Take a boat ride.
Go fruit picking.
Jump around Dartmoor.
Get the paddling pool out, spend the rest of the summer trying to fix that part of the lawn.
Think about looking for the big tent.
Drink Cider. By a river. (And repeat)
Actually finish painting the shed.
Remember to defrost burgers before the BBQ is lit.
Tidy the living room.
Just move the flipping stuff around the living room, so it appears to be tidy in Instagram photos.

What plans have you added? Or are plans for this sort of thing just silly?

This Easter in Exeter

Posted on April 18, 2019 by DevonDad Around Devon 0

A look at Easter Events in and around Exeter

If you’ve not already been there for (what probably feels like ages), welcome to the Easter Holidays! There are plenty of activities in and around the Exeter area this Easter, here’s a collection of what to look out for.*

Killerton have the National Trust Easter Egg hunt. It was awesome last year, its been awesome again this year. Costs £2.50 on top of normal charges, but you also get an egg at the end of it, and the money goes towards the upkeep of Killerton. There are also other National Trust Easter events going on near Exeter.

Trinity Church, have an Easter Egg hunt happening in the Newcourt area of Exeter.

Fancy helping us find some Easter Eggs? pic.twitter.com/nTNzAKe47K
— Trinity Church (@TrinityExeter) April 18, 2019

Exeter Cathedral has a number of services over Easter (well it is Easter), there is also the Lego Big Build to check out.

The Amazing Pinhoe area have a Easter Trail happening on the Friday. Followed by a Easter Party at the community minded Alicia’s on the Sunday.

Loads of stores have Easter Egg hunts, Greendale Farm (great for food), Bernaville Nursery, Ikea has one where you get enter into a competition if you win, and Sainsburys also…. has an app… thing. (Nothing seems to happen after completing the first one, but tempts you back for a second go).

The Exeter Underground Passages have an Easter Egg Hunt. I’ve not confirmed if it involves kids getting lost underground…

Thats what I’ve found so far… please comment below what I’ve missed out. As I’m sure there’s plenty! (I’ve not mentioned anything happening in Princesshay, but I’m sure there’s a load of stuff happening in town)

*… also we kept forgetting about the activities we heard about, and I figured writing it up would help!

Exploring Killerton in Devon

Posted on February 23, 2019 by DevonDad Around Devon 0

National Trust is great.

National Trust on your door step is even better.

The problem with having a massive National Trust property on your doorstep (in our case Killerton), is that it gets easy enough to keep going to the same old places.

Here’s a few pictures of what happens when you keep going in a different direction a bit longer then normal.

We keep meaning to check out a “den building” area at the top of the forest at some point, but I think we’ll leave the bike at home that time!

On a different note. This time of year, is a really good time to get the geocache near the motorway bridge!

Wondering Around The Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market #MySundayPhoto

Posted on December 16, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon Photography 5

We dont have many Christmas traditions outside of Doctor Who Specials, and Love Actually. But booking a day off work to have a good wonder around the Exeter Christmas Market seems to be turning into one.

Sunrise Over St Davids #MySundayPhoto

Posted on December 9, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon Photography 6

When the sunrise catches the road outside the office, in just the right way…

Sunset at The Top of Exeter

Posted on December 2, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon 4

An older shot I’ve rediscovered this week.

I seem to struggle being places when “the light is nice”, so I kinda treasure this one.

Looking for a Devon Flavoured Christmas Card?

Posted on November 26, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon Photography 0

<plug>

Christmas time is just around the corner. Sorry to point it out, but Christmas is really very nearly here.

Have you brought Christmas Cards yet? If not, can I suggest* this card featuring Exeter Cathedral in a winter scene?

As well as supporting a local Devon photographer, you’d also be helping to keep Dads Sofa running smoothly! Or at least as smooth as it usually gets.

This card is available from redbubble.com

<end of plug>

Exploring The Exeter Christmas Lights

Posted on November 24, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon Photography 5

Thankfully, the small one still likes seeing Christmas lights. So after school finished on Monday, we almost couldn’t not take her for a nose around town, taking in the early Christmas atmosphere. (Whilst avoiding the late night shopping crowds).

The picture is taken from Princesshay, and its view of Exeter Cathedral.

Going to Parke in Devon #MySundayPhoto

Posted on November 18, 2018 by DevonDad Around Devon Photography 1

Inspired by the DevonDaze blog, we decided to explore somewhere a little different today.

Have you ever passed somewhere a million times, and never noticed it was there? Parke is a National Trust property that is found on the road to Hay Tor in Dartmoor. In fact if you’ve ever travelled to Hay Tor from the Exeter direction, the chances are you’ve gone past Parke.

What you’ll find nestled there between Bovey Tracey and Dartmoor is massive estate that will probably take a few visits to explore properly. And if you go, check the cafe, even the Jacket Potatoes were amazing.