South Devon Railway

South Devon Railway is a preserved standard-gauge heritage railway based at Buckfastleigh, at the southern edge of Dartmoor. Its seven-mile line runs through the Dart valley to Totnes Riverside, with steam and diesel trains, old carriages and three very different stations. This is worth treating as a half- or full-day attraction, not a quick photo stop: Buckfastleigh is the headquarters, museum and main place to explore before or after your train.

The station complex is the real reason to start here. The compact museum has photographs, machinery and a working signal, and you can get close to the shunting engine Ashley and the 1848 Littleworth coach. The collection's standout story is the original locomotive built for Brunel's broad-gauge railway. There are also gardens, a children's play area, a riverside walk, a picnic area, Birdies Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms, a kiosk, and a gift and model shop with a working model railway.

The train ambles beside the River Dart through wooded Devon countryside. Staverton is the quieter middle stop, with a largely unchanged country-station feel and a 15th-century bridge nearby; Totnes Riverside is built from rescued railway buildings and connects with the town. For the river view, sit on the left heading toward Buckfastleigh and the right heading toward Totnes. That gives you the best chance of putting the water and countryside in the same frame, especially through the train windows.

Buckfastleigh is just off the A38 at Dart Bridge Road, with plenty of free car and coach parking and level access close to the platform. Accessible toilets are available at the station and café, but not on the heritage trains; some carriages have ramp access and parts of the garden are steep. Well-behaved dogs are allowed, with exclusions on dining and murder-mystery services. Train dates and frequency change, so check the current timetable before you set out. This suits families, railway enthusiasts and anyone who likes a gentle scenic outing; choose something else if your priority is a long moorland walk.