A Day Out at Woodlands: Devon's Biggest Family Theme Park
If the weather turns, or you simply fancy a change from beaches and coast paths, Woodlands Family Theme Park makes an easy day trip from Wicket View — and it's built to work whatever the forecast throws at it.
Getting there Woodlands sits just off the A3122 near Blackawton, about five miles from Dartmouth — roughly a 30–35 minute drive from the cottage through the Devon countryside via Totnes. It's well signposted locally, so it's worth following the brown tourist signs rather than relying on sat nav for the final stretch.
Rides for every age Woodlands has been a family favourite day out for over 35 years. With around 90 acres of grounds split into themed play zones, there's a genuinely wide spread of rides on offer — water coasters and a swing ship for older kids and thrill-seekers, gentler rides like the pedal-powered town and a circus train for younger ones, and everything in between. It's the kind of park that comfortably spans a big age range in one visit, so it works well for family groups travelling together.
One of the best indoor play areas in the South West This is Woodlands' real trump card for a South Devon holiday: a large indoor play centre with slides, climbing structures and soft play, plus indoor ball arenas — genuinely useful if you wake up to rain and don't want the day derailed. Between this and Wicket View's own games room, a wet day doesn't have to mean a day stuck inside doing nothing.
The Zoo Farm and Falconry Centre Beyond the rides, Woodlands has several indoor animal barns housing a mix of farm and more exotic animals, plus a falconry centre with daily flying displays — a good change of pace between rides, and popular with younger children in particular.
Making a day of it Woodlands is a genuine full-day-out attraction rather than a quick stop — most visitors arrive mid-morning and stay through the afternoon, with cafés on site so there's no need to plan the day around meal breaks elsewhere. Visit their site for more details.
