Watch Linh's visit to the city of Plymouth on Instagram
Get inspiration for a day trip to the beach on Instagram
Day trips
Exeter based students Check out the Students' Guild Give it a Go trips to local areas of interest.
Cornwall based students Check out the Students' Union 'Explore Cornwall' trips and activities in Cornwall.
We asked international students for their recommendations of places to visit in the South West.
From Exeter...
| Day trip to: | How do you get there? | What do you recommend doing there? |
| Budleigh Salterton | By bus via Exmouth. | Spend the day at the beach, have lunch at the Boathouse Café, and climb up the cliff for an amazing view. |
| Dartmoor National Park | By train or bus. | Go hiking! |
| Dawlish | By train from St David's. Takes 15 mins. | Get Cornish pie and cream tea at Gay's Creamery. And there are benches along the river to sit and enjoy the place. |
| Dawlish Warren | Train/bus | They have amazing donuts. |
| Durdle Door | Train/bus/car. | Enjoy the place and the nature with homemade food. |
| Exmouth | Train/bus | Have grilled oysters. |
| Ivybridge & Dartmoor | Train to Ivybridge and walk for 20ish minutes into Dartmoor. | In town - walk through Long Timber Woods and explore shops. In Dartmoor - get information about how to get there at the tourist info centre. |
| Langstone Rock | By train to Dawlish Warren and walk from there. | Enjoy walking along the seaside footpath. |
| Newquay | By car. | Surfing!! |
| Penzance | By train or bus. | Enjoy the nature and beauty of South West UK. |
| Plymouth | By train. | Go to the beach, have a picnic by the sea. Visit the acquarium, it's a nice place to unwind. Go shopping at the mall, and enter antique shops. |
| Salcombe | By car. | Chill on the beach, get a tan while you can. |
| Sidmouth | By bus no 9. | Walk along the beach and hill. |
| St Ives | By bus. | Go to the beach and have a pasty. |
| Teignmouth | By train. | Walk along the coastal path from Dawlish to Teignmouth, chill by the sea, go on a boat ride, and have fish and chips. |
| Torquay | By train. | Visit the beach, walk through the town, have fish and chips and some ice cream, go on Agatha Christie's walking tour, and visit Kent's Cavern. |
From Penryn...
| Day trip to: | How do you get there? | What do you recommend doing there? |
| Eden Project | Take the train from Penryn to Truro, change for an eastbound train (platform 3) to St Austell. Take bus 28 or 31 to the Eden Project. Travel time: 1h10 + bus. | Explore this famous attraction with its rainforest and Mediterranean biomes. If you arrive by public transport you can claim a free guidebook as part of Eden green travel incentive. |
| Flushing | Take the bus (U1/U2) to Falmouth, or take the train to Falmouth Town. Walk to Prince of Wales Pier to catch the ferry to Flushing. Travel time: 10 minute ferry from Falmouth. | Enjoy a drink in the pub garden, go rockpooling on Kiln beach at low tide, take a country walk around Trefusis Point to Mylor Harbour and enjoy the café there. |
| Newquay |
Take the U1 bus to Truro, then take the 91 or 93 to Newquay. OR Take the Train from Penryn to Truro, change at Truro for an eastbound train (platform 3), change at Par for the train to Newquay. Travel time: 2h |
Visit the world famous surf spot Fistral Beach, take a surfing lesson, go coasteering, visit the zoo and aquarium, hike the coast path. |
| Penzance |
Take the train from Penryn to Truro then change for a westbound train (platform 2) to Penzance. Travel time: 1h10mins OR Take the U4 bus direct from campus to Penzance Bus Station. Travel time: 1h50mins |
Swim in the geothermal pool at Jubilee Pool (prebooking advised), visit Chan’s Oriental food store, stroll along the promenade, take an onward bus to St Michael’s Mount. |
| Porthcurno & the Minack Theatre |
Take the train from Penryn to Truro then change for a westbound train (platform 2) to Penzance. OR Take the U4 bus direct from campus to Penzance Bus Station. Take the 1A scenic Coaster to Porthcurno or the 1 Land’s End Coaster for Sennen and Land’s End; both of these depart from Penzance Bus Station. |
Visit PK Porthcurno telecommunications museum, enjoy the incredible Minack Theatre, and relax on the most beautiful beach in Cornwall. |
| St Ives |
Take the train from Penryn to Truro. Change at Truro for a westbound train (platform 2), then change at St Erth to get the train to St Ives. Travel time: 1h30mins OR Look out for organised coach trips from campus. |
St Ives is a hub for artists. Enjoy the stunning beaches, visit the Tate St Ives Gallery, visit the Barbara Hepworth museum, explore galleries, and experience a quintessential Cornish fishing port. |
| St Mawes | Enjoy views of Falmouth and Pendennis from the ferry, visit St Mawes’ historic castle, drink a coffee on the harbour, take the ferry from St Mawes to Place and walk to St Anthony lighthouse. | Take the bus (U1/U2) to Falmouth, or take the train to Falmouth Town. Walk to Prince of Wales Pier or Custom House Quay (check falriver.co.uk for which departure point) to board the ferry to St Mawes. |
| Trebah Gardens and/or Glendurgan Gardens | Take the bus to Falmouth. Catch the 35 or 63 to Trebah Gardens. | Explore the subtropical gardens, swim at the beach, enjoy the cafe |
| Truro | Take the train from Penryn to Truro. Travel time: 15mins | Visit the Cathedral, go shopping, visit the Thai and Asian food store, visit the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery. |