Things to do in north devon

[waddycall]

Hi,
We’re off on holiday to north Devon (braunton) tomorrow. Would be good to hear of suggestions for things to do in the area if anyone’s got any? We live in Cornwall so looking for stuff fairly local to braunton.
We’ll be doing a bit of waveski surfing, going to the north Devon maritime museum, an RHS garden and no doubt lots of walking.
Thanks!

 

[zzr1200]

.....You travel a long way for the hols.....

 

[waddycall]

View attachment 515723.....You travel a long way for the hols.....

haven’t been on a foreign holiday for over ten years. Not sure why everyone feels so entitled to them

 

[zzr1200]

haven’t been on a foreign holiday for over ten years. Not sure why everyone feels so entitled to them

Neither have I, but I have ventured further afield than the next county, up to the Lake District then down to Essex and South Wales.

 

[waddycall]

We did go to wales last year

 

[Cobbler]

There is the Tarka Trail, the cycle & walking off road trail from Braunton to Barnstaple on one side of the river, then up the other side to Great Torrington & beyond. River views most of the way. Plenty of cycle hire companies there. Woolacombe beach not far away, beautiful stretch of sand. Plenty to do around there.

 

[Gareth J]

Thats my neck of the woods. Is the maritime museum at clovelly? It's mostly about shipwrecks. If you're into that sort of thing, there's one there anyway.

The Hartland peninsula is really nice. I like beaches there, bucks mills, speakes mill, peppercombe.

If you're out that way and into gardens, there's a nice little one down in heartland; Docton Mill gardens, pretty small but a really nice/sheltered spot.

Tarka trail?
If going to torrrington for RHS, the plough arts centre is good for films and live events if you happen to get lucky and find something that you like when you're going.

I've a friend that does guided trail walking/running or ebike rides just into Cornwall.

 

[Smallfry]

Hi,
We’re off on holiday to north Devon (braunton) tomorrow. Would be good to hear of suggestions for things to do in the area if anyone’s got any? We live in Cornwall so looking for stuff fairly local to braunton.
We’ll be doing a bit of waveski surfing, going to the north Devon maritime museum, an RHS garden and no doubt lots of walking.
Thanks!

Clovelly. I have photos of me there when I was a kid.

There was a photographer with a monkey that put the blimming thing on you for the photo. I looked rather terrified !

Was a lovely place though. At least it was then.

 

[Hitch]

My kids used be be obsessed with Quince Honey Farm...

 

[voipio]

The weather forecast looks to be half decent for the next few days. There's a Segway Safari type place at the Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park, not too far away, that might be worth a try. The Submarine Forest, exposed a low tide at Porlock Weir, just outside Porlock, might be worth a visit. Exmoor is less than half an hour drive away. Plenty of beaches. The Lundy Isle ferry sails from Ilfracombe at 10.00 on most days until 24th of October, returning at 18.00, so a whole day out. On some days, it sails from Bideford (08.00 start, return 19.00). There seems to be more than one Lundy Island boat experience, so check on prices and availability. The boats used are the MS Oldenburg, an old supply vessel, or there is the RIB. The RIB trips are 2 hours, or 4 hours long.

 

[Gareth J]

Lundy is a good call.

If you are going to clovelly, the extortionate tourist tax is avoided by going in the evening.

 

[Nomad]

If you venture further North towards the Bristol channel ...

Tunnels Beaches at Ilfracombe ( a private beach with salt water swimming pool, access through a tunnel carved in the cliffs)

tunnels beaches | ilfracombe | north devon

Sea pool at Bude

History – FoBSP – Friends of Bude Sea Pool

www.budeseapool.org

More sea pools

Outdoor Lidos and Sea Pools on the South West 660 - South West 660

Lauren Heath shares her tips on outdoor lidos, pools and sea pools along the South West 660

southwest660.com

Fresh pasties at Combe Martin (they were well worth a detour - I've not been for a few years so check...)

 

[Beeezer]

Neither have I, but I have ventured further afield than the next county, up to the Lake District then down to Essex and South Wales.

Essex! Why….

 

[frank horton]

No idea about what to do there.....
we/ve already got confirmed bookings for 2027
plus quite a bit for 2026...

 

[oldbikedavey]

Essex! Why….

'cause its bleedin' 'andsome, that's why......
Outside of the towns, that is.....

 

[bletchmonster]

If you like the Atlantic and interesting rocks/cliffs , Hartland Quay is very interesting .
I wouldn't recommend Hartland point, you can't get near lighthouse, not a lot to see, disappointing I thought

 

[barracuda816]

I grew up in braunton. I would say if you have some bikes or are up for a long walk head to braunton burrows. Also saunton beach is one of the best beaches in the world (and certainly Europe) but putsborough is my fav. Don’t know if you surf or have any desire to the it, but the above two beaches are great for surfing, with putsborough being a little more sheltered.

Croyde is lovely but cafes etc are very overpriced.

Get up on the moors (exmoor), beautiful scenery and you could drive down to Lynton and lynmouth. There is a nice little museum there and some nice pubs to grab lunch.

Like the others have said the Tarka trail is a nice ride, but imho Barnstaple died a death about 15 years ago and is only a place to go to for shopping or the like.

Woolacombe is also nice.

 

[Cobbler]

Agree about Putsboroigh, lovely walked along the beach in the surf from Woolacombe several times. Barnstaple is a bit of a dump though.

 

[Gareth J]

The Burton in Bideford has some good exhibitions and courses if you're into crafty stuff. Did a spoon making course there for a bit of relaxation not long ago. Decent enough French(ish) restaurant attached. My wife has some pictures fs there I think.

There's a nice little bakery up in the town; "the appledore bakery", presumably a spin off from one in gentrified appledore. Sourdough and all that.

 

[Newlands]

The coastal path from Hartland Quay to Hartland Lighthouse is a very nice walk. The in-laws used to own one of the houses near the path until a few years ago, and there is a single story cottage in the next valley which is very picturesque - both have been used as film sets a few times, the former house most notably the Michael Caine film ‘Water’, and the later for one of the Brontë costume dramas, maybe sense and sensibility but not my cup of tea so just guessing.
But much better is the Lyndon and Barnstaple narrow gauge railway - it’s not too far to Barnstaple from Hartland.