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Things to do in and around Tavistock this summer

Come rain or shine, Tavistock makes a great destination for all the family in the summer months - from award-winning markets and cultural treats or vast open moorland waiting to be explored.


There are lots of things to do in Devon's World Heritage town and many places to visit nearby so if you are looking for inspiration this summer, start here!


 

FOR THE KIDS (BIG OR SMALL)


Limber up for a summer of sports at Tavistock Pannier Market

This may not be Paris but, to coincide with the 2024 Summer Olympics, there is a week-long trail at Tavistock Pannier Market, with lots of activities and prizes, plus a Summer of Fun day to round the excitement off at the end of the week.

 

When? Trail starts 5th August ending with a Summer of Sports Day on 10th August

Where? Tavistock Pannier Market PL19 0AE

Time? Opening hours 9am-4pm

Cost? FREE to take part

The Pannier Market is open every Monday throughout the summer until August 19th.


Have fun with history at Tavistock Guildhall

You can expect a whole range of fun summer activities for children, come rain or shine, in the Courtroom of Tavistock Guildhall.


When? Every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays.

Where? Tavistock Guildhall & Visitor Information Centre PL19 0AE

Time? 10:15am – 1:15pm

Cost? FREE ENTRY with a suggested donation of £1 per child to cover materials. Children under 11 must be supervised.

 

  • 30th July – William Morris Designs

Glass painting, stained glass window colouring & making bookmark

  • 7th August – Mining Games Bingo, Shafts & Ladders & panning for gold

  • 14th August – Getting Inventive

Create a collage machine, play with waterwheels & pumps, make a Lego beam engine

  • 21st August – Modelling our Town

Modelling & printing inspired by Tavistock’s buildings

  • 28th August – Cops & Robbers

Make a wanted poster, dressing-up as a courtroom character, make your own ID card


Get creative at Tavistock Library

Get creative at Tavistock Library with loads of amazing activities from crafts and science to theatre performances!


When? Various dates throughout July/August

Where? Tavistock Library, The Quay PL19 8AB

Time? Various times

Cost? FREE ENTRY unless otherwise indicated


  • 26th & 29th July | 10:00-12:00am

Bricks & Bots Creating Coding Workshop – sign up at the Library

  • 30th July | 10:00-12:00am

The Marvellous Game & Toy Swap

  • 3rd August – Marvellous Devon Science | 2:30-4:00pm

Brilliant hands-on science delivered by Devon Science. Suitable for 5-10 years. Tickets £15. Book via www.devonscience.co.uk/for-parents/marvellous

  • 6th August | 2:00-3:00pm

Dog Trust Workshop – sign up at the Library

  • 12th August | 1:00 & 2:00pm

Chris Johnson’s Animal Encounters – tickets £3 from the library

  • 19th August | 10:30-4:00pm

Puppet Workshop with Paper Cinema – tickets £3 from the library

  • 24th August | 10:00am

Rachel Skinner Illustrator and Writer – sign up at the library

 

Be Crafty with Tavistock Scrapstore

Located on Paddon’s Row, Tavistock Scrapstore is the perfect place to pick up all the craft bits you need to keep little fingers and older minds busy. Expect a range of crafty workshops over the summer holidays too.

 

Lose yourselves at Strawberry Fields’ Maize Maze

This ​year's theme - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 MAIZE! Learn about different cultures, ​landmarks and traditions from across the globe. Enjoy the ​educational displays, discover fascinating facts and make sure to ​take in the panoramic view from our mega bridge!

 

When? Opening date tbc

Where? Strawberry Fields Farm Shop, Lifton, Devon, PL16 0DH

Time? AM session until 12noon & PM session until 4pm

Cost? £7.95 per person but under 2s are free.

 

EXPERIENCE DARTMOOR LIFE


Sheep Dog Trials

This summer, Dartmoor will host the English National Sheepdog Trials for the first time. Over 150 elite dogs and handlers will compete with just 15 (+ reserve) destined to represent their country at the next International Sheepdog Trial. Moorlands Farm near Princetown is the stunning venue for a great showcase of upland sheep farming in the south west.


When? Every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays.

  • Thursday 8th August – (12 noon – 6PM) – Braces (9 Pairs)

  • Friday 9th August – (7AM – 7PM) – Singles (50 Singles)

  • Saturday 10th August - (7AM – 7PM) – Singles (50 Singles)

  • Sunday 11th August (7AM – 7PM) – Singles (50) plus 3 top dogs compete for overall champion followed by the Grand Presentation


Where? Moorlands Farm, Princetown PL20 6SA

Cost? Adults £10 entry / day with under 16’s free


 

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY


Play with the National Trust

Visiting a National Trust property is a must when on holiday and we are lucky enough to have three beauties just a stones throw from the town. The perfect trip out no matter what the weather thinks it is doing!


Lydford Gorge National Trust just 9 miles | 16 minutes away by car, this is the deepest gorge in the South West, with a spectacular 30m waterfall and an amazing place to visit at any time of the year.

  • Moss & More Trail runs from 20th July to 2nd September | 10:00am-4:00pm


Buckland Abbey - National Trust 7 miles | 18 minutes away by car, you step into 700 years of footsteps; from the Cistercians who built the Abbey and farmed the estate, to seafarers Grenville and Drake who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country.

  • Summer of Play activities run from 20th July to 1st Sept| 10:00am-4:00pm

  • Medieval Buckland Guided Tours available on Thursdays until 31st October | 2:00pm

  • Medieval Cooking – 30th July, 3rd, 27th & 31st August | 11:00 am

  • Archery Demos 30th July, 13th & 27th August

  • Naturemake 7th, 11th & 14th August (additional charge)


Cotehele - National Trust 9 miles | 25 minutes, hop over the border into Cornwall to visit this Tudor house and spectacular gardens. Nestled on the banks of the River Tamar, the Quay is home to the restored sailing barge ‘Shamrock’ and a short walk takes you through the Morden valley to Cotehele Mill.

  • Summer of Play activities run from 20th July to 2nd Sept | 10:00am-4:00pm

  • Nature Detectives at the Mill 20th July, 2nd, 15th & 28th August | 1:00pm

  • Join a Nature Walk 28th July, 25th August 29th September | 11:00am-1:00pm

  • Enjoy a Really Wild Day Out 6th August | 10:00am-4:00pm

  • Cut Flowers for Cothele’s Garland 13th, 20th & 27th August | 11:00am-3:00pm


Immerse yourselves in beauty at The Garden House

This beautiful garden hosts a series of fun events for all the family this summer.

When? Various dates throughout July/August Where? The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum PL20 7LQ Time? Normal visiting hours - 10.30am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm) unless otherwise indicated Cost: Normal admission applies (members have free entry and includes up to 3 children or grandchildren for free).


  • 6th August to 8th September – Rabbit Trail

Find all the willow rabbits in the 10 acre gardens

  • 7th & 8th August – Teddy Bear Picnic

Events running throughout the day - face painting, storytelling, a teddy bear trail, lawn games and prizes to be won. Teddy bear picnics will be available to purchase on the day for kids (and grown up kids too!) Members and up to 3 of their children have free entry to the gardens. Non-member tickets will be payable on the day.

  • 10th & 11th August - Summer Craft Fair



Get Active at the Tamar Trails Centre

Tamar Trails is home to a number of thrilling and exciting natural outdoor activities making it an outdoor adventurer’s dream!


When? Daily throughout the summer holidays

Where? Tamar Trails Centre, Gulworthy PL19 8JE

Time? Trails open dawn til dusk – activity centre from 9am

Cost: Varies depending on activity


For those adrenaline junkies, Tree Surfers may be the activity for you. Make your way to the tops of the trees and step, hop and jump through them using a series of ropes and ladders.


Canoeing is also an option here at Tamar Trails, Canoe Tamar offer relaxing and scenic trips along the River Tamar. With wildlife aplenty; kingfishers, herons, salmon and even otters can be spotted here.


You can hire a bike and explore the trails or take part in other activities such as archery and geocaching. Whether you’re a keen adventurist or simply looking for something different to do with the family, Tamar Trails have it all!

 

 

FOR THE HISTORY HUNTERS


Go underground at Devon’s World Heritage Centre

No visit to Tavistock is complete without popping into Tavistock Guildhall - a key gateway centre to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Through interactive displays visitors can learn how 19th century mining transformed Tavistock and the local area - once home to one of the largest copper and arsenic mines in the world. it is an ideal starting point for visitors to soak up the history and discover more about the local area. You can even visit the old police cells and experience how it would have felt to be incarcerated in the 19th Century!


When? Mon – Sat throughout the summer holidays (closed Mondays from 26th August)

Where? Tavistock Guildhall PL19 0AE

Time? 10am – 4pm

Cost: FREE


Take a walk on the wild side with Tavistock Heritage Trust

While in Tavistock, a walking tour is a fantastic and fun way of learning more about our beautiful, World Heritage town.

Run by the Tavistock Heritage Trust, from April to October, they cover a variety of topics so there is something for everyone.


  • Explore Tavistock's past with the engaging Heritage Introduction Tour, offering an overview of our fascinating 1,000-year-old World Heritage Town.

  • Learn about our industrial heritage from the mills and leats, to the iron foundries which made much of the heavy industrial equipment used for the copper mines in not only Tavistock parish but also in Cornwall and throughout the world.

  • Why not dive into the world of brewing and pubs with our Pubs and Breweries tour, a delightful journey through history of its breweries and public houses, which used to quench the thirst of the people of Tavistock, 6 of which are still open today.

  • The Tavistock Abbey tour visits the remnants of the Abbey and its history as one of the wealthiest Abbeys in the southwest, as well as being the religious and administrative centre to the region for nearly 600 years.

  • If you're a train or railway enthusiast, The Railways tour is a must-attend, spanning two hours outlining the history of the two railways which served the town from 1859 to the 1960s.

  • The canal is a longer tour that will suit those who enjoy a walk beside water, passing notable spots like the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake whilst keeping an eye out for our resident kingfisher.

  • For more for intrepid souls the Tavistock at Twilight Tour delves into the shadows of Tavistock's darker side, revealing intriguing stories and dastardly happenings.



For booking and information see: https://www.heritageintavistock.org/events

 

Step into the past at the RAF Harrowbeer 1940’s Weekend

Celebrate the past at Harrowbeer Airfield as the WWII Airfield is commemorated with a weekend of activities. Aircraft from many nations flew from this airfield and on the 80th Anniverxary of DDay, there will be special commemorations of the role it played in Operation Neptune.


Expect WWII re-enactments, vintage steam engine and bus rides alongside military, vintage and classic vehicles. Two aircraft engines will be on show and there will be lots for the children too.


When? Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2024

Where? Harrowbeer Airfield, Yelverton

Time? 10:00am – 5:00pm

Cost? FREE ENTRY but donations are welcome

 

 

THE GREAT OUTDOORS



Walking

The town, nestled on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provides the perfect launchpad for exploring the stunning landscapes of the West Country on foot. 


There are so many brilliant walks to choose from in the area. You can download some of the itineraries and maps here https://www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/walking


The recently launched Tamara Coast-to-Coast Way, connecting the north and south coasts of the South West, follows the River Tamar and can be done in sections using Tavistock as your base - https://www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/tamara-coast-to-coast-way

 

Go on a story walk with the Dartmoor National Park

These story walks are a wonderful opportunity to experience live storytelling of traditional Dartmoor folk tales in the part of the moor they are from, discovering the heritage of that part of the moor whilst enjoying its unique, natural environment. The walks will be led by Gillian Healey from Dartmoor Walking Tours alongside Dartmoor-based professional storytellers Lisa Schneidau and Sara Hurley.

The walks are aimed at adults but are also suitable for children aged 8+.


When? 1st August

Where? Burrator Quarry Car Park Time? 10:00am-1:00pm

Cost: £8 per person

 

Channel your inner wildchild

Join the Dartmoor National Park for an afternoon of fun exploring nature and enjoying Dartmoor. There will be a mix of stories, hands on activities and crafty makes.


When? 13th August

Where? National Park Centre Princetown, PL20 6QF

Time? 1:30-3:30pm

Cost: FREE but booking is required


When? 27th August

Where? National Park Centre Postbridge PL20 6TH

Time? 1:30-3:30pm

Cost: FREE but booking is required


 

 

FOODIE IDEAS


Tickle those taste buds

Join Miss Ivy Events in the town centre for some tantalising cuisine from around the world at the Tavistock Street Food Festival. The festival provides the perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family and enjoy an evening filled with delicious food and great company. With plenty of communal seating areas, you can relax, chat, and share your favourite dishes with your loved ones. The lively atmosphere and friendly vibes make it an ideal place to catch up, make new friends, and create lasting memories.


When? 27th July & 24th August

Where? Bedford Square, Tavistock PL19 0AE

Time? 5:00-8:00pm

Cost: FREE



 

CULTURAL TREATS


Sit back & relax or get those dancing shoes on!

Tavistock is lucky to play host to one of the finest live music, cinema, theatre and arts venues in Devon and Cornwall.

You can catch a film, watch a play or get down to the latest sounds at Tavistock Wharf.


Experience theatre outdoors

Join Boxtree Productions on the riverbank this summer to find out, as they celebrate their 10 year anniversary with a performance of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved story!

Featuring hilarious comedy, magic and fantastic toe-tapping songs be sure of an evening of wonderful open-air theatre that the whole family will enjoy.


When? 3rd August

Where? The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum PL20 7LQ

Time? 2:00pm & 6:30pm

Cost: FREE



 

For everything else that is happening in Tavistock go to our What's On page


 

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