South Devon Railway - Totnes Riverside Station

The old railway line between Totnes and Dartmouth still runs, and boarding at the riverside station feels like stepping into a proper 1950s afternoon out. Steam locomotives haul heritage carriages through the Devon countryside for about an hour each way - you'll rattle past water meadows, dense woodland, and eventually the Dart estuary opens up before you.

It's worth doing if you've got kids who aren't exhausted, or if you're the sort who enjoys railway history without needing it explained by someone in a uniform. The journey itself is the whole thing - there's no grand destination, just the ride and the landscape rolling past. Adults often find the pace genuinely relaxing. Families with restless toddlers might struggle with the length, but five-year-olds upwards tend to be absorbed.

The Totnes Riverside Station has a small shop and cafe, though neither will blow your mind. Allow a full afternoon if you're doing the round trip. Summer weekends get busy, so arrive early. Steam operation varies seasonally - check ahead.

It pairs well with a holiday at Brownscombe Luxury Glamping or Ashbourne Woods, both just a few miles out. Totnes itself is worth an hour's wander beforehand - proper market town with decent independent shops. You could easily make this a half-day activity rather than the centrepiece of your week, but if you're into railways or just want something different from the beach-and-cream-tea circuit, it's well worth the detour.