Where moorland meets coast, a holiday in North Devon is blessed with beautiful beaches, rugged cliffs and hidden bays. Woolacombe offers a surfers’ paradise of Atlantic rolling waves and Victorian harbour towns like Ilfracombe contrast the sparse moorland of Exmoor, with lush green valleys sweeping down to the sea. North Devon has plenty to offer whatever time of year you decide to visit.
Where to stay
North Morte Farm, MorteHoe
A friendly family run campsite with stunning sea views, just a stone’s throw from the coastal path, North Morte Farm is set over several fields and campers can choose their own pitch. Some can be sloping, so don’t forget your levelling ramps if you’re motorhoming or caravanning. There are hard-standing pitches also available for those hoping for a more level stay.
Little Meadow Campsite, Combe Martin
Little Meadow Campsite is a small campsite with panoramic views over the Hangman Hills of Exmoor and Combe Martin bay. This lovely quiet campsite has a shop, and children’s play area and is dog friendly. It’s a great location for discovering the rugged north coast from Ilfracombe to Lynton.
Riverside Caravan and Camping Park and Country Club, South Molton
This 70 acre landscaped park also has 10 acres of woodland walks set on the banks of the River Mole on Exmoor. This makes Riverside Caravan and Camping Park and Country Club an ideal base for discovering the surrounding moorland. With excellent leisure facilities, the Country Club offers a bar, restaurant and evening entertainment.
North Devon Days out
Best for families: Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a quaint seaside town set around a pretty harbour, famous for its tunnel beaches. Steeped in history, the four tunnels were hand carved in the 1820’s and lead to unique sheltered beaches, rock pools and a Victorian tidal bathing pool. The town also offers an aquarium, a museum, art galleries and plenty of shops. Take time to visit Fore St, Ilfracombes oldest street, where in the middle ages a hotpotch of cottages, workshops and inns popped up. Some still remain today, such as the George and Dragon, which has been operating as a tavern since 1360.
Best for Children: Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
This family run wildlife and dinosaur park is set in 28 acres of beautiful gardens in the Combe Martin valley. There are plenty of animals to see, including lions, wolves, sea lions, primates, meerkats and penguins, and as for the dinosaurs, these impressive life size animatronic creatures are dotted throughout Dinosaur Domain & the Valley of the Dinosaurs. Keep your eyes peeled for the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Megalosaurus & Dilophosaurus that wake up every hour to terrify their audiences. Outdoor and indoor play areas, a museum, train ride and animal experiences all make this a great all-weather attraction.
Best for cycling: Tarka trail
Named after Tarka the Otter in the novels by Henry Williamson, this trail follows the route travelled by the beloved character: 180 miles around North Devon in a figure of 8. The most popular part of this beautiful bike ride, which is suitable for all members of the family, starts at Braunton. This northern trail follows the estuary towards historic Barnstable and meets the Southern route, which takes you along the opposite side of the estuary to Meeth. You can enjoy stunning views across the wildlife-filled estuary, along with picturesque villages and long sandy beaches. There are plenty of places along the way to stop and enjoy a picnic or a leisurely lunch in one of the many cafes and pubs.
North Devon Beaches
Best for families: Putsborough
Putsborough is a beautiful sandy beach situated on the south side of Woolacombe, full of small rocky outcrops. It’s a little quieter than Woolacombe, with its own carpark, toilets, surfboard hire and lovely beach cafe with a shop (in case you forget your bucket and spade). Rock pools are exposed at low tide and the beach transforms into a playground for family games and kite flying. Dogs are welcome to the right of the cafe, where you can walk the long sandy beach all the way to Woolacombe. With superb bathing and rolling Atlantic waves, this beach is a UK surfer’s paradise. For walkers, head over to the headland Baggy Point for great views and continue on to Croyde for a well earned refreshment stop.
Best for dogs: Saunton Sands
The perfect dog walking beach, Saunton Sands has 3.5 miles of golden sand and plenty of room for zoomies, ball chasing and splashing in the surf – and you’re certain to meet many other four-legged friends along the way. Dogs are welcome on this beach all year round, but if you wish to walk on Braunton Burrows (one of the largest sand dune systems in the British Isles and a UNESCO designated Biosphere reserve) they will need to be kept under control.
Best for beauty: Broadsands Beach
With no signs and over 200 steps down Broadsands is certainly not the easiest beach to find. However, this means it’s a great spot for those looking to get away from crowds. The perfect exploration beach, there are caves, tunnels and even an island to explore. You may enjoy relaxing and having a quiet swim here, but beware that the climb back can be punishing, so we advise travelling light.
Do check tide times as there isn’t so much of the beach to explore at high tide.
See this
The Valley of Rocks
A dramatic section of coastline on the northern edge of Exmoor, The Valley of Rocks is a stunning location with craggy cliffs that point up to the sky. Walk the fascinating U shaped valley or scramble to the top of the cliffs for a breathtaking view of the coastline. Watch out for the wild goats that live on these rocks though; the original herd was released here in 1897 but several harsh cold winters wiped them out in the mid 1960’s and they were introduced again in the 1970’s where they are now thriving.
Lundy Island
A 2 hour boat trip from Ilfracombe will lead you to a fascinating island with a turbulent history. Once on the Lundy island you can go birdwatching, walking, rock-pooling and letterboxing – a treasure trail of fun clues to find hidden wooden boxes. Lundy is also a perfect place to see Puffins, best seen between March and August during their breeding season.
Do this
Take a ride on the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
Enjoy a ride on the world’s highest and steepest water powered railway. Perched 500ft up on a cliff, this grade II listed funicular railway, opened in 1890, joins the towns of Lynton and Lynmouth together. It is one of only three left in the world and provides spectacular coastal views. After enjoying the ride explore the Victorian town of Lynton and the pretty harbourside town of Lynmouth.
Discover Woody Bay
Woody Bay is a lovely shingle beach that reveals a natural sea pool when the tide goes out and is an excellent wild swimming spot. It is well worth a visit not only for its beauty but the thrilling history of fraud, deception and embezzlement behind development of this bay in 1885 by Colonel Benjamin Lake and the Woody Bay Estate Company. Start your journey at the Hunters Inn, an historic inn set in the beautiful setting of Heddon Valley, and walk the track, originally a road built to transport visitors, to the bay.
Eat this
Sri Lanken food… on the beach?
After a day of exploring rock pools and searching for exotic sea shells, that folklores say travelled from the Caribbean, in Woolacombe, finish the day off by watching the sunset while enjoying delicious homemade Sri Lanken curry served from Barricane Beach cafe after 5pm. Not your usual beach food, but it is well worth the trip.
Lunch at Watersmeet
This 19th Century fishing lodge sits in a beautiful location in the lush green valley where Hoar Oak Water meets the East Lyn River. Start in Lynmouth, where a lovely walk beside the East Lyn River can then be rewarded with refreshments at the Fishing lodge – now a cafe and owned by the National Trust.
Drink this
Wicked Wolf Gin
This premium handcrafted gin is made on the banks of the River Lyn using distilled botanicals. The husband and wife team set up Wicked Wolf in 2015 and the gin is distilled in copper pots and hand labelled in exclusive 100 litre batches.
Tea (with scones of course)
Hele Corn Mill and award winning tea shop near Ilfracombe sells not only lovely cups of tea, but incredible cream teas and cakes. The unique 16th century water mill was restored in the 1970’s and is still used to mill the flour used in the tearooms.
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