Clyst Saint Mary: Theme Park, Westpoint and Historic Bridge

Crealy Theme Park & Resort and Westpoint represent a theme park and event venue, respectively; the bridge and parish church provide a historical connection. Rare black poplars add a natural aspect to the local attractions. Depending on whether leisure, an event, historic architecture or nature matters most to you, different highlights come to the fore.

Crealy and Westpoint as reasons to visit

Crealy Theme Park & Resort is in Clyst St Mary, just a few minutes from Junction 30 of the M5 near Exeter. The park has more than 60 rides and attractions and offers live shows. If Crealy is the reason for your trip, you can take this into account when searching for hotels in Clyst Saint Mary. The rides, other attractions and live shows offer various ways to plan your visit to the park.

Westpoint in Clyst St Mary is an arena and exhibition venue for exhibitions, concerts, shows and industry events. The Devon County Show is also held at Westpoint Arena. Dates and programmes vary from one edition to the next. So check the dates and programme for the specific event before travelling, especially if a particular exhibition date, concert or show is the reason for your stay. This lets you plan your travel dates around the event you actually want to attend.

Bridge and church: historic buildings

Clyst St Mary Bridge is considered the oldest surviving medieval bridge in Devon outside the city of Exeter. Its structure consists of several arches connected by a masonry causeway. The bridge and causeway are protected as Scheduled Monument 1020209. To understand the structure, both its distinctive regional significance and its specific construction are important: the arches are connected by the causeway.

Clyst St Mary parish church adds a different architectural perspective to this historical context. It may date from the 13th and 15th centuries. Inside are three high-quality stained-glass windows from the 19th century. The distinction in dating is important: the church’s date is qualified as “possibly,” while the windows are assigned to the 19th century as an interior feature. The bridge and church therefore represent different historical themes: arches and a causeway at the bridge, and the possible dating and stained-glass windows in the church.

Cycle route and natural features

A cycle route runs from Sandy Gate over a medieval bridge to the edge of Clyst St Mary, and then on to Westpoint’s main entrance. The route provides a distinct way to navigate to Westpoint; the reference to Junction 30 of the M5, by contrast, relates to Crealy. Route conditions and signage can change, so check both before setting out. This is particularly useful if Westpoint is your specific destination.

Rare black poplars are among Clyst St Mary’s natural features. They offer a different point of interest from the named leisure and event venues or the historic architecture: here, the focus is on a local landscape feature. If nature is an important part of your trip, you can include this in your plans alongside an event or visit to the park.

Discover more destinations: Whitchurch, Whimple, Milton Abbot, Bridgerule, Luppitt, Rackenford, Parracombe, Throwleigh

For the overarching travel guide: Devon.