Devon ranked in top five places for staycations in the country

Everything from weather to green space has been taken into account

by · DevonLive
Enjoy some of the most beautiful spots by bus

Devon is among the best places in the UK for a family-friendly staycation, a new study has found.

Pound Toy has ranked some of the best staycation destinations in the country on the following factors: the number of green spaces, the lowest population, the number of child-friendly outdoor activities, the number of child-friendly restaurants, the number of campsites and the average summer temperature.

Cornwall came first with an overall score of 83.40, with Devon coming fourth with 70.21.

In between was the Lake District with 73.19 and the Highlands in Scotland with 70.70.

RankDestinationOverall score
1Cornwall83.40
2Lake District73.19
3Highlands70.70
4Devon70.21
5Cotswolds69.07
6Pembrokeshire69.04
7Cumbria68.40
8Snowdonia67.42
9New Forest66.96
10Gwynedd66.16

When looking at the individual factors, Devon came first for green spaces, and second for child-friendly outdoor activities, child-friendly restaurants and the overall number of campsites.

The low average summer temperature (19th) and large population (50th) brought down Devon's ranking overall.

Dartmoor ranked at No.14 overall in the family-friendly staycation destinations.

Cornwall claimed top spot by leading the way when it came to outdoor activities and places to stay, with just under 250 campsites.

Dartmoor was ranked at No.14 overall in the family-friendly staycation destinations(Image: Gary Holpin)

If the weather is the most important factor for your family-friendly staycation then the Isle of Wight, Carmarthenshire and Norfolk have the highest summer temperatures on average

The three least crowded destinations are Northumberland National Park, Isle of Arran and Exmoor

The top three staycation spots with the most child-friendly restaurants are North Yorkshire, Devon and Dundee & Angus

Rob Owlett, marketing director at PoundToy said: “Many of our summer holiday plans have been ruined due to the coronavirus crisis, and the constantly changing border restrictions and quarantine rules make it very difficult to plan a trip abroad.

“And with the summer holidays in full swing, many people are wanting to take their children on holiday, which is why more and more families are opting for a break right here in the UK. And it’s not all bad news, as the UK is home to some of the most beautiful destinations, where there is plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.

“The smaller towns and villages in the UK are also great for families, especially in the current climate, as the low population means it’s much easier to keep your distance from any large crowds. Let’s just hope the sunshine stays!"