Things to do,
places to be..
A little bit about the beaches..
The North Devon coast has both dramatic rocky headlands, magnificent surf beaches and family friendly sands. You may find your own favourite little cove but here are some good places to start your adventure...
Instow, 14 miles away - lovely sandy beach, not recommended for swimming but great for beach walks. Brilliant pubs and local deli/cafe.
Westward Ho!, 15 miles away - open seawater swimming pool. Blue flag beach (2.5m of golden sand), great for children, famous for its long sandy beach and surfers.
Saunton Sands, 23 miles away - popular family destination, shallow water. 3.5 mile stretch of golden sandy beach. Considered one of the best long boarding spots in the UK. Next to it is UNESCO protected Braunton Burrows, the largest Dune system in Britain, with extensive walking trails.
The North Cornish coast is famous for its wide surf beaches.
Summerleaze, Bude, 22 miles away - a Blue flag golden sand beach with a safe sea-fed sea pool and easy walking distance of the town, excellent surfing and family friendly bay.
Crooklets beach, Bude, 22mile away - A Blue flag golden sandy beach, popular with surfers and home to the Bude Surf Lifesaving Club. Family Friendly and walking distance from the town.
Widemouth bay, 25 miles away - Popular 2 mile long sandy blue flag beach with toilets, cafes and easy parking. Renowned for excellent surfing. 2 car parks.
Sandymouth Beach, 24 miles away - National Trust maintained beach, car park several minutes walk away, toilets, beach shop and cafe. Pebble beach with sand at low tide, popular with surfers and quieter than Bude's main beaches.
This is just a small selection of the main beaches on the North Cornish and Devon coasts. There are many, many more...
A little bit of countryside..
The famous Southwest Coast Path can be accessed at Bideford, 12 miles away. The famous Bideford to Bude stretch starts there. The Tarka Trail will take you from Winscott to Bideford on foot or cycling.
The Tarka Trail follows the route of a former railway line and the trail traces the journeys of "Tarka the Otter" featured in the 1927 classic novel by Henry Williamson. From Meeth to Braunton is a completely car free route for use by walkers and cyclists. The trail is largely flat, the surface is mostly tarmac so suitable for all the family. BIke hire is available from Torrington, Bideford and Barnstaple and it is a 10 minute walk from Winscott to access it at Dunsbeare Halt.
Dartmoor is accessible from many places but the closest access point from us is from Okehampton, 15 miles away. Dartmoor National Park is a 368 square miles protected area, famous for its vast wild moorlands, its deep river valleys and over 365 granite Tors. Its also well known for its freely roaming Dartmoor ponies, prehistoric sites and the setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Lydeford Gorge, Dartmoor, is 24 miles away. It is a National Trust site and the deepest river gorge in the South West with a 30m high waterfall. It is a rare temperate rainforest and legend has it that it was the lair of the Gubbins, a band of lawless savages. It is a beautiful pathway along the gorge leading to the waterfall with breathtaking scenery and well manitained paths. Cafe, bookshop and car parking.
The Hartland Peninsula (part of the South West Coast Path) is a stunning setting with a dramatic coastline, a hidden lighthouse, incredible rock formations and many shipwrecks through the years. Hartland Quay has a good pub lunch and a view that stretches from Lundy Island to Cornwall.
Devon is the home of cider and we are surrounded by many Cider Orchards many of which have visitor centres and tours. Our most local is Sam's Cider at Winkleigh, 11 miles away and Sampford Courtney Cider, 12 miles away at Solland Farm where they still use traditional cider making techniques over 250 years old only using apples grown on their farm.
A little bit about the markets and towns...
Devon is famous for its thatched villages and bustling market towns, all of which still have thriving independent shops. Each has its own unique character and here are a few of our favourites..
Great Torrington, 5 miles away - the site of the last battle of the English Civil War. Stunning views from the car park. Pannier Markets on Friday and Saturday. Fabulous Bakers and Greengrocers.
Bideford, 12 miles away - Charles Kingsley wrote "The Water Babies" here. Set on the river Torridge this has independent shops and cafes. Market day is Saturday.
Barnstaple, 18 miles away - A bigger town with the usual shops, A big Pannier Market on Saturday.
Clovelly, 17 miles away - A privately "owned", pay to enter, historic village. Lots of history and delightful. Car park at the top and walk down the steep cobbled streets.
Hatherleigh, 7 miles away - Market on Tuesday, small thatched village with an amazing fire festival in November.
Okehampton, 15 miles away - Gateway to Dartmoor, with a variety of independent shops. market day is Saturday.
Tavistock, 29 miles away - lies in the heart of Dartmoor with a large selection of independent shops. Wednesday and Saturday market. Impressive architecture.
Exeter, 38 miles away - City with a beautiful cathedral. A lovely quayside with a variety of artisan shops, set on the river. Bright lights but still small and cosy. Gandy street was the inspiration for JK Rowling's Diagon Alley
A little bit about...
Its not only about walking, cycling, stand-up-paddle boarding, kyaking, surfing and body-boarding in Devon. There are plenty of places around to hire everything you need to do any of these activities in our local area but if you fancy something a little bit different...
War Horse Valley Country Farm Park, 7 miles away - this is the farm around which War Horse, by Michael Morpurgo, was based.
Tintagel Castle, 40 miles away - On the Cornish coast, this ruined castle is heavily featured in the Legends of King Arthur and Merlin.
The Eden Project, 60 miles away - a long drive but worth it to visit the famous biospheres and gardens.
Lundy Island - day trips are available from Bideford Quay. Sailing time is under 2 hours. Famous for birds, pirates, a medieval castle and seals. It has its own Lundy stamps, Lundy ponies and Puffins.