The top places to visit in North Devon

I recently spent a fabulous weekend in North Devon courtesy of holidaycottages.co.uk. Our accommodation was Lympscott Barn which is one of their larger properties set in a 300 acre dairy farm. Situated just a few miles from Kilkhampton and Bradworthy, it is perfectly positioned for exploring the likes of Summerleaze beach in Bude and Tamar Lakes.

With beautiful beaches, dramatic coastlines and charming villages, North Devon a glorious part of the country with much on offer. Exmoor for example has one of the finest landscapes with spectacular coastal views, wooded valleys and high sea cliffs.

Designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building, Tarr Steps is a must see. The clapper bridge is located in a nature reserve at Exmoor National Park – rumour has it they were placed there by the devil to win a bet! The wooded valley of the River Barle is also worth exploring for wildlife as is Winsford Hill where you may see wild ponies.

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There’s plenty to occupy yourself with in the picturesque towns of Lynton & Lynmouth from beaches, boat trips and Moses’ Pool at Glen Lyn Gorge to kayaking on the East Lyn, geocaching and horse riding. There’s also the world famous Cliff Railway which provides stunning views of the coastline as you travel between the two towns.

Combe Martin is known as Devon’s best kept secret but central to the South West Coastal Path. This quaint village is located on the edge of Exmoor 4 miles from Ilfracombe and offers breathtaking views from the moors. Ilfracombe Aquarium is located in the Old Lifeboat House at the historic harbour. Visitors can follow a zoned journey from the source of an Exmoor stream, down a river to an estuary, local rockpool, harbour coast and out to Lundy and it’s marine reserve. Hele Bay is a great place for families in particular to explore with rock pools and secret smugglers’ caves.

The National Trust is also well represented in North Devon with several places to visit. Watersmeet offering walking in the woodland, fishing and canoeing on the East Lyn River. Arlington Court near Barnstable allows you to explore the changing fortunes over two centuries from reforming MP’s to wealthy playboys and a globetrotting Victorian inventor-collector. A great walk for all the family is Heddon Valley which was a favourite landscape of the romantic poets.

Barnstable itself is the oldest and largest town in North Devon and central to the Tarka Trail. It’s a series of footpaths and cycle paths that follow the route taken by the fictional Tarka the Otter. Covering 180 miles of wood valleys moorland and coastal cliffs, there’s a 30 mile section between Braunton and Meeth that is car-free. In market town Great Torrington, there is RHS Garden Rosemoor with its stunning gardens, woodland walks and children’s trails. There’s also the Dartington Crystal visitor centre and factory experience.

Woolacombe Beach lies between Morte Point and Baggy Point. It is ranked the number one beach in the UK by Trip Advisor and offers three-miles of golden sand. At Baggy Point, there are stunning coastal views and great walks with Croyde itself one of the best surfing beaches in North Devon. Saunton Sands is another beautiful beach which lies at the mouth of the River Taw estuary, part of the Taw-Torridge estuary’s area of outstanding natural beauty.