South Devon Railway

Steam engines still run on this stretch of line between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, and it's one of those rare bits of Britain where the railways actually work the way they used to. You'll board vintage carriages, hear the hiss and clank of a proper locomotive, and spend an hour rattling through the Devon countryside at a pace that lets you actually see it. The Dart Valley route is genuinely beautiful - wooded hillsides, the river below, proper rural stuff.

It works best for families with younger kids, or anyone who gets a kick out of vintage trains. Older children might find it a bit slow if they're not already train-mad, but the journey itself is solid. There's something about riding behind steam that still does the job, even after a hundred years.

Allow a good three hours from start to finish if you're doing the full round trip - you'll want to get there early, have a proper look round Buckfastleigh station, and maybe grab a sandwich at the cafe. Book ahead in summer. The line runs most weekends and school holidays, though winter is quieter.

If you're staying at Ashbourne Woods (just three miles away), this is an obvious half-day outing. Dornafield, five miles north near Bovey Tracey, is close enough too. Both caravan parks are well-positioned for mixing a bit of gentle rail nostalgia with proper outdoor time on Dartmoor itself.