Plymouth is ideally suited to many outdoor activities. Being described as Britain's 'Ocean City', it lies on a beautiful natural harbour, with the Rivers Plym and Tamar on either side of it, offering a wealth of sea-related activities, including swimming, paddle-boarding, canoeing and of course ferry rides and boat trips around the harbour. The South West Coast path is easily accessed and allows walking either east, further into Devon's coves, or west into Cornwall and it's extensive beaches. The north Cornwall beaches, like Newquay, (about an hour away) are well-known as surfing destinations.
About a 15-20 minute drive from our house brings you onto Dartmoor, a huge area of outstanding natural beauty. Here, you can hike for miles, climb 'Tors' (rocky outcrops on the higher hills), paddle in streams, or generally just enjoy a picnic.