Meet A Devon Blogger – Stephanie Darkes of Exploring Exeter

I’m a Croydon girl, mother of two awesome small people and wife to a gorgeous husband.  I’ve done a few jobs in my life including running a music venue, teaching drama and forklift truck driving and I like to think I’m reasonably well travelled and well read.

We’ve both moved around a lot and when our children came along the wanderlust needed to be curtailed so we eventually (after much deliberation over NZ, Hove and the South East coast) decided to move to sunny Exeter where we are very happy!

My blog is all about the places we go and things we do in Exeter, Devon and the South West. It is full of pictures, parenting stories, interviews, cool places to visit, food, theatre, music reviews and lots, lots more. I also have  a variety of bloggers who regularly contribute to my blog and these days I like to think of it as more of a blogzine

Why did you decide to start a blog and how long has it be running? 

In September 2015 (two months after moving to Exeter) we lost our baby Rudi at 22 weeks and I fell into a deep depression, I was self employed and I had given up my clients in Croydon to focus on family, so I had nothing to do work-wise, I had to start from scratch but I wasn’t ready.

Name 3 of your favourite places for a day out in Devon?

We love The Milky Way when we have friends with kids visiting, it keeps them busy all day! Fingle Bridge is absolutely beautiful for walks and visits to Castle Drogo and I love Ness Cove. We saw a pod of dolphins there on a bright Autumnal day after we moved here, and the moment has stayed with me.

Of course, it goes without saying we love a day out in Exeter (can I have four?) RAMM is one of my fav places to hang out with the kids, the library is amazing, theatres, food… it’s got it all!

Circa 1924 in Exeter is fantastic and their infused gin is to die for. I was lucky enough to be invited to Michael Caines’ Lympstone Manor for lunch which was exquisite (although not a regular haunt – maybe when I win the lottery) and I am a big fan of Rockfish because the food is wonderful and they are SO good with the kids!