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Accommodation |
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Activities in the Area
Arts & Crafts
Beaches
Day Trips from
North Devon
Family Attractions
Historic Houses
and Gardens
Links to other North Devon websites
Exmoor and Lynmouth area
Markets & Shopping
Railways
Sport & Leisure
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Day Trips from North Devon
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Arts & Crafts
There are
numerous craft galleries, potteries and glass factories in North Devon
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Beaches
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Barricane, near Woolacombe : good
surfing, many seashells. Drive past Woolacombe towards Mortehoe
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Braunton
Burrows, just behind Saunton Sands. A National Heritage site - beautiful
sand dunes that stretch for miles. Ideal for dog walking.
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Bude,
Cornwall - lovely beaches with safe swimming for children, lifeguard on duty
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Combe Martin: small sandy beach, rocks
and mudflats. Next village along after turning right out of Watermouth
Castle entrance |
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Croyde :
excellent surfing beach, with wake boarding and doughnut rides, shops, beach
restaurant. Indoor pool with flume rides, Jacuzzis. Suits and surfboards can
be hired. |
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Hele Bay:
just outside Ilfracombe, a mile from the cottages, is a small sandy beach |
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Ilfracombe:
Tunnels
Beach, a safe, tidal bathing pool available from May to September |
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Instow :
long sandy beach with dunes and many rivulets into the sea |
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Lee Bay :
delightful small beach with sand and rock pools - area is surrounded by wild
fuchsia bushes that bloom all year round |
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Lynmouth :
rocks and pools with sandy basin on the river, popular with surfers |
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Saunton Sands: magnificent stretch of
sandy beach - walk for miles and miles....
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Watermouth : sand, rocks and mudflats,
on the Tarka Trail and Coastal Path - stream runs into the Cove
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Woolacombe : excellent long, sandy
beach, also great for surfers |
For more information see North Devon Beaches |
Saunton Sands
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Markets & Shopping
Small town and village pannier
markets are usually only open mornings. Barnstaple markets are usually open all
day.
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Barnstaple Daily: Pannier market in
the Market Hall opposite Marks & Spencer
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Monday -
Local Crafts, Collectables and General Goods - April to Christmas
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Tuesday -
Local Produce and General Goods - all year round |
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Wednesday -
Antiques, Collectables and Book Market - all year round |
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Thursday -
Local Craft and General Goods - April to Christmas |
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Friday -
Local Produce and General Goods - all year round |
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Saturday -
Local Produce and General Goods - all year round |
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Barnstaple - a
shopping area with a small mall and some of the big names and chain store
brands |
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Bideford,
Atlantic Village - a good sized shopping mall with some designer outlets |
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Bideford, Pannier Market in town centre Tuesday & Saturday
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Combe Martin
has two small supermarkets and two post offices
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Ilfracombe has numerous shops, most are individual, family-run stores and a
Tesco supermarket |
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Lynmouth has a
post office and a variety of souvenir shops |
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Lynton has
three small supermarkets and plenty of souvenir shops |
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South Molton -
Pannier Market Thursday & Farmers Market Saturday |
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Torrington - Pannier Market - Thursday & Saturday, antiques on Friday
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Railways
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Family Attractions
Within one - two
hours drive there are numerous attractions, all of which are open from Easter to
end September. These include adventure and entertainment parks as follows:
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Farm Parks and
Zoos include:
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Historic houses & Museums
Historic houses
and general interest museums are abundant. The Cobbaton Combat Collection
started as a hobby and is now an exceptional military museum. The Lynmouth Flood
exhibition is also very interesting. At Fremington Quay, there is an RSPB
viewing area and a beach which accepts dogs. Castles, Houses and Gardens. There are more
than 120 Devon gardens to explore, in aid of charities supported by The National
Gardens Scheme. Those closest to the North Devon coast include the following:
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Arlington Court (National Trust property)
near Barnstaple. Rolling parkland, terraced Victoria Garden, fine specimen
trees. |
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Chambercombe Manor, Ilfracombe |
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Clovelly
Court Gardens, near Bideford |
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Cobbaton
Combat Collection |
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Docton Mill
& Gardens, near Hartland |
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Dunster Castle, near Minehead |
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Hartland Abbey
and Gardens |
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Heddon Hall
at Parracombe, 4 acres on edge of Exmoor. |
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The Gate
House near Lee offers 2.25 acres with stream and range of habitats |
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Knightshayes Court, near Tiverton, National
Trust |
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Lynmouth Flood Exhibition, Lynmouth |
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Marwood
Hill Gardens, near Barnstaple |
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Tapeley Park,
Instow |
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Watermouth
Castle
at Watermouth Cove |
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Watersmeet,
near Lynmouth [wonderful for walks - dogs permitted] |
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Westcott Barton, near Barnstaple. 2-acre valley garden with stream, bridge
and bluebell wood |
Top: Gardens,
Middle: Powderham Castle, Exeter
Hartland Abbey and Gardens |
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Cruises to
Lundy Island
are available from Ifracombe. Waverley Paddle Steamers offer trips along the
Exmoor coastline or across to South Wales from May. The Waverley is the last
sea-going paddler.
From Lynmouth there are also
coastal boat trips. Tarka Cruises are run from Appledore
You can bring your dinghy/boat/kyak
with you and park it at Watermouth Cove harbour, using the harbour's
facilities and slipway. Please note jetskis are not permitted in the harbour.
Call the Harbour Master for more information on fees and availability 01271
865422. |
Cycling
Many places in
Barnstaple also offer cycle hire. There is the Tarka Trail to enjoy, which
follows an old railway line. It is therefore level and so ideal for cyclists of
all ages and fitness. Drive to Fremington Quay where you can park, hire a bike
from Biketrail Cycle
Hire and have a spot of lunch overlooking the sea and bird sanctuary.
Great for ornithologists too!
Diving
The
North Devon Sub Aqua
Club will take visitors out to Lundy or other areas where diving is
permitted. The region does have strong tides and offers a very different type of
diving to many coastal resorts, so please be sure to discuss your diving
experience with the club.
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Fishing
You can take your rods and fish off
the harbour at Lynmouth, or off any of the inlets and bays.
Course Fishing
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Bakers Farm,
Moortown, Torrington |
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Melberry,
near Bideford |
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Mill Park,
Berrynarbor |
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Jennetts,
near Bideford |
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Riverton
House & Lakes, Swimbridge near Barnstaple
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Wistlandpound, enter via Calvert Trust
Gate |
Deep Sea & Mackerel Fishing
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Boats can be hired at Lynmouth Harbour.
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Stillwater Trout
Golf
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Bideford,
Royal North Devon Golf |
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Chulmleigh : small 9 hole course, very
good for learners |
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Ilfracombe: Superb views of the sea and
Wales |
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Saunton
: championship links course [pictured right] |
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Willingcot
Valley Golf Club, Woolacombe |
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Open Golf Tournament in Ilfracombe early June each year |
Horse Riding
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Bodstone Barton, Berry Down, near Combe
Martin |
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Brendon Manor, near Lynmouth
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Dean
Riding Centre, Dean, Trentishoe, Parracombe
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Eastacott Farm, Woolacombe
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Liscombe
Riding Stables, Dulverton |
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Mullacott Equestrian Centre
at Ilfracombe |
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Outovercott, Barbrook, Lynton
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Swimming
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Ilfracombe - public indoor heated
swimming pool. Also Tunnels Beach, a safe, tidal bathing pool available from
May to September. |
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Cascades Indoor Fun Pool, near Croyde.
Flume rides and Jacuzzis |
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Barnstaple -
public indoor heated pool with ocean wave
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Aqua Splash
at Minehead |
Theatres & Cinemas
There is a small but very good cinema in Lynton which shows most of the current
films. Ilfracombe has a
theatre,
two cinemas and a museum. Further museums and heritage centres can be found at
Appledore, Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chittlehampton, Combe Martin
[including a motorcycle collection], Croyde, Hartland, Lynton, Mortehoe, South
Molton and Torrington. The theatre in Barnstaple offers a variety of
performances from ballet, to drama and celebrity shows.
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Walking
- idyllic area for walkers and dog lovers!
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Tarka Trail - coastal trail that wends
its way through Watermouth Cove
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South West Coastal Path - this also
runs through Lynmouth - see
www.swcp.org.uk or
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/southwestcoastpath
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There are numerous self-guided walks, maps and details available from the
tourist information centre at Blackmoor Gate |
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Exmoor teems
with footpaths and bridal paths |
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North Devon
Walking Festival May - see
events |
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