
Explore North Devon
Guide to North Devon
Lonely Planet
Intensely rugged and in places utterly remote, north Devon has a coast to inspire. Drastically concertinaed cliffs frame atmospheric fishing villages while long sandy beaches stretch out alongside. It offers a smorgasbord of delights, from surfing lessons at cool Croyde to Damien Hirst’s artistry in Ilfracombe.
Swimming experiences include snorkelling safaris and Victorian-style bathing, and gardens range from the classic designs of the Royal Horticultural Society to those dotted with contemporary art. Then there’s Braunton’s immense sand dunes, impossibly pretty Clovelly, Hartland’s phenomenal rock formations, and (sitting on the horizon 10 miles out to sea) Lundy Island – a truly get-away-from-it-all escape. Take the sea safari to see dolphins, seals, puffins, and breathtaking coastal discoveries.
Activities to suit you
Creating memories
Art and culture
- Blindwell Gallery
- Jackson and Young Gallery
- Venn Valley Vineyard tours
- Studio Kind Gallery
- Appledore Gallery
- Stone lane Gardens (sculpture exhibition)
- Tarka Pottery
- Waterside Gallery
- Echo Beach Gallery
- Magenta Fine Art Gallery
- Damien Hirst’s Verity
- Burton Art Gallery
- The Plough Arts Centre
- Queen’s Theatre
- Ilfracombe Art & Craft Society
- Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
- Braunton & District Museum
- Cobbaton Combat Collection
- Ilfracombe Museum
- Museum of British Surfing
- Landmark Theatre
Fine dining
- Sandy Cove
- Number 8
- Claytons & The Glasshouse
- Maiden Arch
- The Farmers Arms
- Kentisbury Grange
- High Bullen
- Antidote
Casual dining
- Lilicos
- Lush
- Westleigh Inn
- The Rock
- Instow Arms
- The Boathouse
- The Pier House
- The Chichester Arms
- The Red Lion
- The Pyne Arms
- Latitude 48
- Brundel’s
- The Ganges
- Fullam Chinese
- Silver Tree Thai
- Bull and Bear
- Café du parc
- Belluno
Nature and stately homes
- RHS Rosemoor
- Dartmoor National Park
- Exmoor
- Hartland Abbey
- Tapley Gardens
- Becky Falls
- Marwood Hill Gardens
- Arlington Court
Action and adventure
- Venn Valley Vineyard tours
- Walking On Waves
- H2o Outdoor
- Air Extreme – 10% off for BE guests
- Stuart Line Cruises
- Croyde Bay Surf Hire
- Keypitts
Family
- Clovelly
- Big Sheep
- Milky Way
- Exmoor Zoo
- Lundy Island
- H2o Outdoor
- Affinity Devon
- Survival Games
- The Ultimate Adventure Centre
- Lynton & Lynmoth Cliff Railway
- Quince Honey Farm
- Watermouth Castle
- Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
- Junglaroo
- Let’s Go
- Air Extreme
Beaches
- Woolacombe 11.2 miles
- Putsborough 10 miles
- Croyde 12 miles
- Saunton 9 miles
- Instow 9 miles
- Westward Ho! 14 miles
- Combe Martin 9 miles
- Lynmouth 16 miles
- Barricane 11 miles
- Hele Bay 9 miles
- Tunnels 10 miles