SOMETIMES it feels like every hidden gem in Devon has already been discovered.
But one of the prettiest villages in the UK is hiding in plain sight, and it’s even minutes from the beach.
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The South Devon village of Cockington in Torquay has just been named one of the prettiest places for a day trip or staycation in the UK this summer.
Named by The Independent as the fourth prettiest village in the UK, the publication commented that Cockington is a “chocolate-box village” and the “old thatched cottages, rural countryside and Cockington Court manor house are sure to charm”.
Having grown up nearby and popping down to the village most summer weekends, I couldn’t agree more.
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If you are driving from Torquay seafront, it takes around five minutes to reach the main car park – though, due to being a small village, the small car parks can get extremely busy in the summer months.
Instead, do what my family always did to avoid nightmare parking by walking from the seafront, which to the entrance to the village’s woodland walking trails, takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the beach.
The trails lead directly to the village, which takes about 20 minutes to reach through shady woodland and across small streams.
And trust me, you’ll know when you have reached the village as you see houses change to cottages, all with thatched roofs.
Each cottage has its own character too, including Rose Cottage, painted in a dark pink shade with sprawling, pristine gardens (this used to be a restaurant with someone always playing the piano in the garden, and while it is now sadly closed, the building is still stunning to see).
In the centre of the village, you’ll find a crossroads and from here whatever direction you go in you can expect pretty walks.
Sat on the crossroads is one low-roof thatched cottage that is actually a souvenir shop with a ton of horse brasses for sale – an item that links to Cockington’s long history as a blacksmith’s forge.
Directly opposite, you’ll see two more cottages.
One is Sanctuary Coffee – a small coffee shop that also sells gifts and doggy items, from adorable bandanas to handcrafted toys.
The shop has a wonderful story of starting out not too far from where I now live in London, before moving to the 11th- century village last year to open their first shop.
The other cottage is the Weavers Cottage Tea Garden, which is a must- visit for afternoon tea lovers (after all, you are in Devon).
I’ve lost count of the number of warm, fluffy scones I’ve polished off in their sunny stone-walled garden over the years.
And what’s better is that it costs under a tenner – a cream tea costs £7.95 for a fruit or plain scone, with strawberry or handmade raspberry jam and a pot of tea, or without the tea just £5.
Then if you want a cheese tea, this costs £8.45 and you get a choice of cheddar or cream cheese to go with it, as well as either chilli jam or red onion chutney – and again you can get it without the tea for £5.50.
Sitting in their garden is a treat in itself, with large umbrellas to make it more shady in the heat, their resident 16-year-old spaniel called Dolly and roses climbing up the stone walls.
Just remember the golden rule of a Devonshire cream tea is to pop the cream on the scone first, then the jam.
When leaving Weavers Cottage, make sure to leave via the back entrance which leads to a gravelled courtyard where you’ll find the visitor centre.
Inside you can learn all about Cockington, as well as see historic postcards from the English Riviera and browse locally made items, such as jewellery, books and artwork.
If you need a drink after exploring, the village pub is another go-to of mine – The Drum Inn.
The sprawling pub garden is my favourite place to sit at the pub, whilst soaking up the sunshine and sinking a £5.70 pint and perhaps a portion of fish and chips, pie of the day or pizza from £15.25.
Near the pub there is a gateway which you can walk through to head to Cockington Green, where you will find Cockington Court – a 16th-century manor house – and the cricket green.
Inside Cockington Court, you can explore the craft centre, full of work by local artists.
The large open field is the perfect spot for picnics, but you can also grab some food and drink from the Seven Dials Cafe inside Cockington Court.
The field makes up just a small part of the sprawling 450 acre estate which visitors can explore.
Other parts of the estate include scenic walking trails, lakes, a Tudor rose garden and the Walled Art Garden.
One of my favourite parts about Cockington can be found just behind the manor house – the craft studios.
Spread across several units and also the former stables, I often enjoy perusing the local makers which include everything from florists and bakers to jewellery makers and lamp designers.
I have a lot of childhood memories eagerly watching sparks fly as blacksmiths worked and makers blew glass into different shapes – both of which you can still see take place today.
In the old stables, you can even see glass being blown and blacksmiths at work.
History lovers can visit a church that’s next to the manor house as well, and there’s also The Gamekeeper’s Cottage, which is a Grade II-listed building used by the estate’s gamekeeper in the 19th and early 20th century to breed and raise birds.
If visiting the village with little kids, by the craft studios there is also a play park to let off steam.
And to make your visit even better, Cockington is set just behind England‘s very own riviera, formed of the beach towns Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.