10 minutes drive from the Park, with 3 miles of golden sand stretching to Putsborough beach, with its unusual rock formations and sparkling sea. Woolacombe beach was featured on Trip Advisor’s best beach list, being the 2nd best beach in the UK. The main beach is perfect for all levels of surfing, and during the holidays and summer months offers the security of a fantastic lifeguard team. As well as the main beach, Woolacombe has several smaller bays which are really worth a visit.
Barricane, or ‘White Shell Beach’ and Combesgate are the perfect nursery beaches with their sheltered spots and deep rock pools. During the summer months, you can join many locals from 5pm on Barricane for delicious Sri Lankan curry, and watch the sun go down.
5 minutes drive, with its beautiful working harbour, rugged coastline, shops and restaurants.
Now famous for Damien Hirst’s imposing 20m sculpture ‘Verity‘, the local arts community grows stronger every year, with the Art Trail and Film Festival attracting visitors from far and wide. Ilfracombe is fast becoming the food capital of North Devon, gaining its first Michelin starred restaurant in 2017, and with many other superb restaurants to choose from – why go any further for dinner?
There is a wide range of boat trips and water sports available from the harbour, or why not try your hand at sea fishing and get to bring something back for the BBQ?
15 minutes drive, with its popular bay, Dinosaur & Wildlife Park and famously long high street! Combe Martin is also a great point to start a walk along the South West Coast Path. Set out for the whole day and wind up at the welcoming Hunter’s Inn from where you can get a bus or taxi back, or choose a shorter, circular walk, taking in the stunning views from Great Hangman.
Nestled between Combe Martin and Ilfracombe are Watermouth Bay with its quirky family attraction, Watermouth Castle, and the locals’ best-kept secret Broadsands Beach or ‘Little Thailand’. Try your hand at a jet-ski safari from the water sports centre or simply relax on the white sand beach before climbing the many steps back up to the path.
20 minutes drive, is the main town in the local area with a variety of shops and restaurants and rail connections via Exeter to the rest of the country. Famous for the old Pannier Market which hosts the annual Barnstaple Food Festival as well as various markets throughout the week. Check out Butchers Row for local artisan foods and a huge selection of local cheeses at South West Cheese.
Barnstaple also offers things to do on a rainy day, with recently opened Air-Extreme giving you the chance to bounce off all the cream teas! Or the nearby Rock and Rapid centre, where you can test your strength and agility on their indoor climbing walls. For the shopping fans there are plenty of boutique options, not forgetting Banburys Department store – small but perfectly formed.
Less than 15 minutes drive are the beautiful beaches of Croyde and Saunton and the village of Braunton, with its plethora of surf shops and cafes. Take a stroll through Braunton Burrows, out along the beach and on to Crow point, with views across to Hartland, you’ll be lucky to bump into another soul.
Or for the more experienced surfers, check out the beach break at Croyde with its consistent, year-round surf and finish your day in one of the village pubs, where you’ll find a ready-made party atmosphere.
20 minutes drive, with over 100 miles of walking paths and stunning scenery. The National Trust owns large portions of Exmoor, notably the Holnicote Estate, containing Dunkery Beacon, the highest point in Exmoor. Wild Exmoor ponies still graze here side by side – you can visit them at the Exmoor Pony Centre. You may also come across red deer, the largest of England’s native animals.
The lush green coombes, dominated by oak woods, are home to a variety of bird life, such as grey wagtails, kestrels, buzzards and ring ouzels. Take time out for lunch in one of the many pubs across the region, before weaving back along the beautiful scenic drives.
20-30 minutes drive, where Exmoor meets the sea, connected by the steepest, water-powered funicular railway in the world, these towns are a must-see whilst you’re in the area. Stroll around the array of shops and cafes in Lynton or catch a film in the beautiful arts cinema.
From Lynton walk out to Valley of the Rocks with its wild goat population precariously scaling the rocky cliffs. Take the railway down to Lynmouth and stroll around the quaint souvenir shops or visit Madrigal Brewery and try one of their artisan beers. From Lynmouth, you can walk up the valley along the banks of the picturesque East Lyn River Gorge to Watersmeet House, a National Trust property, tea garden and shop.
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