Cobbaton Combat Collection

A family-run military museum set in the countryside near Umberleigh in North Devon. The collection is built around more than sixty combat vehicles, including tanks, trucks, armoured cars and artillery, with a strong focus on the Second World War. Displays also cover the Home Front, with ration books, gas masks, blackout lamps and air-raid equipment, and wider conflicts from the Boer War to the First Gulf War. Exhibits are crowded and handled as they would have been in use, which gives the rooms a lived-in feel. Older children and teenagers with an interest in history tend to get the most from it. Everything is indoors, so it works as a rainy-day outing. A shop sells souvenirs and collectors' items, and a canteen serves refreshments. Visitors should check current opening arrangements before travelling, as the venue's own information has not been updated recently.