Multi-Sensory Winter Journeys: Devon’s Bay of Lights Creates Immersive Coastal Travel Experiences

Devon’s south coast has developed an ambitious multi-community illumination project that transforms winter travel into an artistic journey. The extensive light installations create reasons to explore entire regions rather than single venues, encouraging extended stays and broader economic benefits.
The seafront ice rink sits beneath spectacular lighting within a coastal park. This anchors a much larger trail stretching across three seaside towns, featuring numerous large-scale light art installations. The scope and ambition rival major city festivals while maintaining coastal character and accessibility.
Installations include interactive fountains, illuminated botanical displays, and walk-through structures. Historic sites receive projection treatments that highlight architectural features. Heritage railway experiences and natural cave systems incorporate lighting for after-dark visits. The variety ensures something appeals to every traveler preference.
The regional approach creates critical mass that justifies dedicated travel from distant locations. Visitors can design multi-day itineraries exploring different communities and installations each evening. Complementary programming including lantern parades and musical performances adds scheduled events to ambient experiences.
This model demonstrates how coordinated regional tourism development can achieve impacts beyond individual community capabilities. For travelers, it offers exceptional value with single-trip access to multiple attractions. The coastal setting provides distinctive character unavailable in urban light festivals, while the scale and quality match or exceed major city offerings.