A county of awe-inspiring contrasts, Devon boasts sandy beaches, dramatic headlands, rolling hills, and sprawling moorlands topped with rugged tors and ancient woodlands, making it rather perfect for the big and small screen. Oh yes, from television favourites and book adaptations to Hollywood hits that are adored the world over, Devon boasts some seriously stunning scenes to explore.
So, whether you want to follow in the footsteps of Steven Spielberg or you’re a lover of murder mysteries, looking to discover the inspiration for the crime fiction queen herself, Agatha Christie, these are the filming locations in Devon you should check out first…
The Roses (Salcombe)
This 2025 black comedy starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman became an instant favourite for many, with the dark humour and star-studded cast taking centre stage. Making an appearance as a fictional restaurant, We’ve Got Crabs, The Winking Prawn stole its scenes by serving up a fabulous beachfront setting and charming interiors that you can enjoy during your next visit to Salcombe. The Roses’ Californian cliff-top pad location was also shot in Devon, with Combe Martin showing us all we can get our Cali fix without leaving the UK.
The Night Manager (Hartland Abbey)
One of the most famous TV shows filmed in Devon, The Night Manager combined nail-biting writing with expressive backdrops that set the mood perfectly. When it came to choosing a Devonshire location for Tom Hiddleston’s character, they opted for Hartland Abbey, which provided an ideal setting for a remote cottage.
The Salt Path (Valley of Rocks)
A film adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs as Raynor and Moth Winn, The Salt Path perfectly captures the magic of the South West Coast Path. There are several stunning settings filmed across North Devon, but the most notable is the Valley of Rocks. Famed for its towering cliffs and wild roaming goats, this is the place for set-jetters to experience one of Devon’s most dramatic landscapes.
War Horse (Dartmoor National Park)
Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse is an epic tale that deserves a backdrop to match, and Steven Spielberg found it in Dartmoor National Park, praising the natural beauty he discovered there. Known as one of the last remaining wildernesses in the UK, this sprawling national park lent its moody moors to the film to great effect, with Ditsworthy Warren starring as the farm where the horse is first kept. You can also spot Sheepstor, Combestone Tor, Haytor, and Ringmoor Down in the film.
Sense and Sensibility (Saltram House)
Offering filmmakers a more serene setting for the screen, South Devon has made just as many appearances in films and TV series. Near Plymouth, Saltram House became Norland Park in the beloved adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant. The captivating Georgian house was quite literally made for some period drama, making it the perfect backdrop to this Austen classic.
Tomorrow Never Dies (Plymouth)
With a rich maritime history, HMNB Devonport in Plymouth was an obvious choice for scenes depicting naval warfare in Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond epic Tomorrow Never Dies. Across the Tamar in Cornwall, there are also several Cornish filming locations to appear in James Bond films, including the Eden Project and Holywell Bay, both of which featured in one of Brosnan’s other films, Die Another Day.
Saunton Sands
Some filming locations just seem to pop up in everything, and in Devon, that destination is Saunton Sands. With 3.5 miles of soft sands backed by the tufted dunes of Braunton Barrows, this beloved Devonian beach has starred in many sci-fi and fantasy epics (and one Robbie Williams music video), including The Edge of Tomorrow, The Witcher, and Aquaman.
Film and literary inspirations
These are the locations that might not have starred in a film or book, but certainly played an important role...
Burgh Island - Agatha Christie famously based her novel, And Then There Were None, on the fascinating Burgh Island at Bigbury-on-Sea, which is cut off from the mainland twice a day. The author also owned a holiday home, Greenway, where she set Dead Man's Folly and Five Little Pigs.
Dartmoor Zoo - We Bought A Zoo, which was a major book and film adaptation, is actually based on Dartmoor Zoo. While the zoo didn’t feature in the film, it’s still one of the best family-friendly days out in Devon and is well worth a visit for animal and literary lovers.
Dartmoor National Park - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is thought to have based his iconic Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, on Dartmoor National Park, with Fox Tor Mire inspiring the peat bog and many of the surrounding historic villages lending their atmosphere to the pages too.
Feeling inspired to explore Devon’s set-jetting scenes? Explore our beautiful holiday cottages across the county and start planning a visit worthy of the big screen.
