Your essential guide to Easter family fun

From Easter egg hunts to eggtastic activities, there's loads going on in and around Exeter to keep the family entertained this Easter...

Daily, until 12 April:

Exe Egg Chase
Exe Estuary Trail, Exeter
A special Easter egg hunt inspired by Rugby World Cup 2015. Participants have to find small, Rugby-ball shaped chocolate eggs which are hidden at a number of businesses along the estuary trail route including, Saddles & Paddles, Toby Buckland Plant Centre, Stuart Line Cruises, Darts Farm, the Salutation Inn and Double Locks. The Rugby eggs can be found by following clues downloaded from http://www.heartofdevon.com/exe-egg-chase

Easter at Crealy Devon
Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park, Exeter
Crealy has a show stopping line up of events and activities over the Easter holidays. In their largest ever Easter egg hunt they have over 5,000 Easter eggs to giveaway! The Easter egg hunt will take place from Friday 3 April until Tuesday 7 April. Guests of all ages are invited to take part in the Easter fun and follow the trail to find clues and solve puzzles on their adventure around the Park, for a delicious Easter reward. Character days are back as Crealy prepare to welcome Titan the Robot, Jungle Jim and Peppa Pig too. www.crealy.co.uk/Devon

Underground Passages Easter Egg Hunt
Exeter
Exeter’s Underground Passages will be running special Easter egg hunts every day throughout the Easter school holidays. Hunt for the eggs left by the Easter bunny in these mysterious passages beneath Exeter’s Street to win a special chocolate prize! Lots of fun for everyone. Booking essential. Normal admission prices apply. For prices and conditions of access, please call 01392 665887. More information here.

Killerton Easter Eggstravaganza
Killerton House, Broadclyst
Open throughout the Easter holidays there are masses of Eggs to at Killerton House! Join the fun between 11am and 4pm daily. Become Eggsplorers by following a special trail around the spring outdoors and claim your Cadbury chocolate Egghead prize. There will also be extra fun activities led by Cadbury between 3-6 April. £2 per trail plus normal admission fees. Killerton House and grounds will be open 11am-5pm on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton/

Easter Egg Trail
A la Ronde, Exmouth
Fun for all the family with craft activities, face painting, Cadbury sponsored Easter Egg trail and the Egg Scramble at 2pm. £1.50 per child. 10.30am-4.30pmNormal admission applies. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/a-la-ronde

Easter family fun
The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth
Visit The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth during the Easter holidays to take part in Donkey Grooming and a spectacular Easter Holiday Hunt. The Sanctuary’s Easter activities are sure to be a hit with children of all ages. Donkey Grooming takes place daily between 10.30am-2.30pm and, at £3 per person, is the perfect opportunity to make friends with some of the charity’s rescued donkeys.
Explore the Sanctuary’s walks and woodlands with the chocolatey Easter Holiday Hunt or get your daily dose of fresh air by picking up a Signs of Spring pack from the Visitors’ Centre for just £3 each.
On 2 April between 10.30am-2.00pm, children can have their face brightly painted and make their own Easter basket to take home ready for Easter Sunday! In addition, the Sanctuary is also hosting a Bird Ringing Breakfast on 7 April from 9am-11am for £10 per person, giving participants the chance to get a privileged viewing of our feathered friends, with breakfast included. Booking is essential, for places call 01395 573156 or email events@thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.
For more information visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

Egg–tastic Easter Egg Hunt
Escot Park, near Ottery St Mary
Daily Easter egg hunt. Collect a clue sheet from the kiosk and see if you can find the eggs hidden around the park. A chocolate prize and certificate is awarded for every completed clue sheet. You can also decorate your own paper egg to take home with you or peg it up in the park for all our visitors to enjoy! 50p per paper egg. During Easter weekend we have a very special golden Easter egg hunt - keep your eyes peeled for these very special eggs hidden around the park - each egg contains a very special prize! £1 per clue sheet. Escot entry fee applies to non-members. www.escot-devon.co.uk

Daily, until 10 April:

Chocolate and Candy fortnight
Powderham Castle, Kenton
The amazing chocolatier returns with his tasty team from Pocketwatch Theatre who have affection for perfection in confection! There is plenty to see and you can discover the science behind sweets and chocolates. Don’t forget we are open Saturday 4th April. This event is included in a child's standard admission. (Children returning with a free return ticket or a discounted ticket may take part in our themed activity for £2.50). Themed Activity provided by Jonty Depp and Pocketwatch Theatre. http://www.powderham.co.uk/

Wednesday 8 April:

Fancy a ramble with a reptile?
With warmer weather on its way, reptiles will be waking from their winter sleep and coming out to bask in the sun. East Devon District Council countryside team is offering two opportunities to join them on a reptile ramble on the heathland nature reserves at Fire Beacon Hill and Trinity Hill.
The team’s rangers will show you to spot and identify our native snakes and lizards.
Two walks are available:
Wednesday 1 April – Fire Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve near Sidbury 8.30am – 10.30am
Wednesday 8 April – Trinity Hill Local Nature Reserve near Axminster 8.30am – 10.30am.
To join the ramble booking is essential as places are limited so call 01395 517557 or emailCountryside@eastdevon.gov.uk. Meeting points will be confirmed on booking. The events are free of charge, but donations are welcome.
http://eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside

Bugs, Ponds and Dens
Escot Park, Ottery St Mary
Creepy crawlies, things that jump, squirm, swim and have lots of wriggling legs - Oh yes! Join Forest School team leaders and discover the mini-beasties that live in the Escot wetlands. You will be equipped with magnifying glasses, bug collection pots and fishing nets to help you in your quest. Then try your hand at making Blob Monsters or building a den with the help of Escot master den-builders! But will it stand up to the water test. 11am-1pm. Members: £4 per child, non-members £5 per child. Children under 8 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. http://www.escot-devon.co.uk/

Family Activity: Roman Coins
RAMM, Queen Street, Exeter
Design and make a gold, silver or bronze Roman coin to take home and another to be included in a giant coin hoard. This activity links to RAMM’s fundraising campaign to purchase and conserve the hoard of over 22,000 Roman coins found in Seaton in 2013. Adults are expected to stay with their children while they participate and must remain with them if they are under 8 years of age. Tickets can be purchased from the RAMM Garden reception. Drop in £2.50 per child, adults free. 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 3.30pm. http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/

Thursday 9 April:

Sunday 12 April:

Peco Pirate Day
Pecorama, Beer
Family fun with Piratical Performances, treasure hunt, Children's pirate fancy dress competition and lots more. Details http://www.pecorama.info/

Click here for more ideas for days out with the kids.