You don’t have to dig deep into your purse to fill enjoy Devon’s multitude of cultural attractions and keep yourself fit. There is no need to hide at home just because money is tight. Devon County Council is supporting projects across the county aimed at enhancing our quality of life – projects that are inexpensive, or even free!

Devon County Council is committed to the financial support of a wife variety of cultural activities around Devon, all aimed at helping us enjoy life in the county.

LIBRARIES
Have you visited your local library recently? A library has something for everyone - books and information, music, films, and computers with access to the internet.

And the best thing about joining is that membership of Devon’s libraries is free! Most of the services are free too, with a few requiring just a small charge.

There are sections aimed at children, young people, book groups for adults, computer sessions for pensioners, visits from authors and a whole host of regular clubs and events. Most towns in Devon have a library and there are mobile library vans which visit the outlying villages.

To find out more, go to www.devon.gov.uk/libraries

or telephone 01392 384315

MUSEUMS
Devon is more densely populated with museums than anywhere else in the country – and once again a day out at the museum is free.

The website www.devonmuseums.net has been developed to help you find out about museums and galleries in Devon. It is the official listing, developed and managed by the museums themselves.

On the website you candiscover where you can see objects ranging from Ancient Greek pottery, to real holiday memoirs of seaside Devon to WWII memorabilia and more, using the find a museum section.

You can also find all the museums in each region plus maps of how to get there, and a what’s-on section to help you plan activities day by day.

FREE EVENTS IN DEVON
Whether it’s theatre workshops, organised walks, woodland management, an introduction to geology, ancestry tracing, hedgelaying, Dartmoor ranger days or toddler songs and stories, there are free events and special activities taking place in Devon every day.

Go to Devon County Council ‘s website or the BBC’s local listings for more information. You can also contact your local Tourist Information Centre, even if you are a resident! . Another website www.visitdevon.co.uk has a multitude of ideas.

WALKING
Ditch the gym membership and get fit for free! Devon’s stunning natural environment makes it the ideal place for walking. From country parks and canals to beaches and woodland, Devon has it all.

For inspiration and information go to Devon public rights of way or http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/places/walks/

BUILDINGS
So many of Devon’s towns are choc-a-bloc with beautiful buildings – have a walk around and look up at history unfolding all around you. Picturesque Dartmouth is preserved as a historic port, Tiverton is a thriving traditional market town, Tavistock has its stannary town buildings and Appledore shows off its ship building heritage if you just take a look.

And many towns and villages have tucked away treasures that are open to the public for little or no charge, for example historic Leonards Tower in Newton Abbot (ring 01626 201121), the Haldon Belvedere on Haldon Hill near Exeter (01392 446615) not to mention hundreds of beautiful churches.

For ideas of buildings or attractions to visit and information about admission charges, try www.devon-online.com

CYCLE PATHS
Devon offers an exceptionally wide selection of cycle routes and cycle paths, both on and off road. The new route along the River Exe from Exmouth to Lympstone is a great example of a free, and indeed traffic-free, way to see Devon at its most beautiful.

There are routes and rides in Devon to suit all abilities, experience and needs:

• quality urban commuter networks
• leisurely traffic free rural rambles
• rewarding long distance rides
• challenging mountain biking

Devon County Council is investing £5million into improving the cycling infrastructure in Devon. At www.devon.gov.uk/cycling there is a wealth of information and a Devon cycling map where users can view routes throughout the county.

Devon County Council’s Road Safety Team has also produced Fit2Ride, a unique FREE self-help guide for adults and children who want to learn to cycle or improve their cycling skills.

VILLAGE SHOPS
Village shops are right at the heart of the communities they serve, and are a great place to go to find out about free events and activities in the local area. Devon County Council is supporting 12 communities in Devon where the shops are in danger of being closing after losing their links with Post Office Ltd. These shops will receive £5,000 per year plus free business advice.

The shops to be supported are in the following communities:

• Ashwater
• Blackawton
• Bridgerule
• Bridestow
• Chillaton, Lifton
• Dittisham
• Kennerleigh
• Milton Abbot
• Newton St Cyres

DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL FUNDING
Devon County Council is supporting community projects across Devon with funds generated by the sale of Exeter International Airport. The Plough Arts Centre in Torrington is just one example of an amenity that is being preserved and developed for use by residents across a wide area of West Devon thanks to the council’s financial backing.

The airport sale means the council has £48 million available for local projects and their impact will be wide reaching across the county.