North Devon

[YouLookSoCool]

Left it very late to book a week away in the summer and we've found holiday properties in Bideford, Ilfracombe or 5/10 mins walk from Northam. Does anyone know that area and which would you recommend?
Ilfracombe is obviously a beach town but seems maybe a bit tacky and rundown (happy to be corrected)
Is there much difference between Bideford & Northam? Bideford seems bigger with more shops & restaurants but maybe less picturesque/ quaint?
For context, DD & DP want to surf and do other watersports but happy to drive a bit to do so. Weather dependent I'm happy sitting on beach and wandering round pretty towns/villages/independent shops. I have mobility issues so can't manage long walks on Exmoor etc. I'm not usually so indecisive but can't work out best option not knowing the area! Thank you!

My parents retired to Bideford from the South East, so we get to go regularly.
It's lovely. There's a lot to do in and around the area, and Westward Ho beach is a few minutes drive away.
Out of the two I'd go to Bideford every time.

Thank you. I'm getting the impression Bideford is a good "base" to explore, rather than necessarily a popular holiday destination in its own right? (Which is fine btw)

I think if you are happy to explore further afield (you have a car and can drive to the beaches, attractions, etc. you want to visit), any of those are fine if the accommodation is fine). At this late stage (we were trying to book a similar holiday 3 months ago and it was really hard to find anything available), I would look to book the sort of place you want - accessible for you given your level of mobility, right layout/number of bedrooms, garden space if you want to BBQ, do other things in the garden. Bideford is a bit of a big town for me personally (I've not been to Ilfracombe), but anything around there will generally be fine. Woolacombe is lovely. I doubt you'd get anything to let in there now, but it's great for a day trip, as Hartland and Bude a bit further west. I really like Lynton and Lynmouth. Anything vaguely in that area would make day trips easy.

Bideford over Northam. I went to school in Bideford, and lived about 25 mins away. Northam was basically a residential 'suburb' then.

I think your description of it as a good base is perfect - Westward Ho!, Appledore, Instow are all just a few minutes away. Also the Tarka Trail - hire or take bikes and cycle on the flat for ages. There's The Big Sheep if your kids are of the right age. Then you can get on the Atlantic Highway and go down to Bude, or use the slightly less good roads for Ifracombe, Coombe Martin, Saunton etc. Then there's Dartmoor not that far away. There must be wet weather stuff to do in Barnstaple, but it's years since I've been.

I wouldn’t stay in ilfracombe - it’s pretty shabby.

I'd go for Bideford too. As others have said, you can hire bikes from there and cycle along the Tarka Trail. The North Devon Wake Park might interest your children and isn't far away. And Westward Ho! for the beach.

Clovelly is good for a day visit, provided you can manage it physically. And the RHS's Rosemoor garden is nearby (great Torrington) and very lovely.

I like Ilfracombe actually but Bideford is better placed for a variety of activities as above. Don’t do Northam unless it’s particularly better in terms of the specific accommodation, as previous poster said it’s a suburb.

Thanks so much for all these comments. Bideford accommodation is definitely the nicest of the three previously mentioned.
However, I've now also found a lovely looking cottage (although pricier!) for our dates in Appledore, which looks like a prettier place, smaller than Bideford? Any thoughts on Bideford vs Appledore? Really appreciating all the input!

Appledore is more of a picturesque old fishing village, Bideford is a small town. Appledore is 5 mins by car from Bideford so there isn’t much in it in terms of access to anything, but you might like hanging out on the quay at Appledore. I wouldn’t bankrupt myself to stay there or anything though.

You can crab off the quay at Appledore if your kids like that!

Ilfracombe is lovely and quite close to woolacombe, woolacombe beach is nice!

We’re off to ilfracombe in July. We go most years and now I’ll be getting married there in 2 years.

I like both ilfracombe and bideford and both have a lot of charm (well some nice little alleys and shops, cafes n restaurants.... maybe I miss them more being away from them) but both are centres to explore from rather than stay in. Bideford to go to westward ho which is consistently pretty good for surf or go along the coast west and explore sandymouth which is a truly lovely beach. Ilfracombe it’s easy access to Woolacombe and to the pretty little villages and beaches between the two. Plus it’s a lovely walk over the cliffs both west and east but it can get a bit packed in the holiday season in the town centre.

I’d go for Appledore though, the quay is lovely with lots of cafes n arty stuff, you get all the benefits of bideford and Northam and you look over to Instow and can either walk round or sometimes get the ferry. And instow is lovely! Go to John’s and Tapeley Park, as well as a Hockings on the beach! Appledore is more of a holiday centre, with easy access to everything as a bonus. And if not then northam as it is a suburb but does have pretty streets in the centre as well.

*Northam Burrows

Appledore! It's got more of a quaint feel. And YES to whoever said you must have a Hockings. That should be mandatory!

Appledore is lovely, but if you don't have a place with a car parking space can be a mare in the summer. There's a large car park but it can get busy.

Hockings van just came through my village

Croyde Bay is beautiful, been going since I was a baby x