Things to do in North Devon in the rain!

[OnTheBrink1]

For those who live or who have stayed in North Devon, can anyone suggest activities that they e enjoyed that are ok to do in the rain (not beaches)
We are going next week and the weather looks wet- not beach weather at all sadly.
Kids are between 8-12 years.
We are used to UK holidays and always go in July but the weather next week looks the worst for fast I think I’ve had for a while when planning!
Thanks for any suggestions

There are some attractions like the Big Sheep that have indoor areas. I grew up in Barnstaple, and during wet periods town would always be busy with "grockles" looking for things to do and pottering around! Things like the pannier market and butcher's row. There's a small museum which can kill an hour or so. Even things like bowling or the leisure centre, or the local small cinema if you're desperate for indoor entertainment!

Treasure Trails do some local maps for Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe, and across North Devon - they're pretty good for getting you out and about looking at interesting things you wouldn't investigate otherwise. Coats on and off you go! www.treasuretrails.co.uk/things-to-do/devon

Even in the rain you can drive up to Exmoor and find a nice spot for a walk then a coffee from a flask. We used to go for "sausage sizzles" with a little gas stove, cooking up sausages in rolls to eat next to a little stream somewhere. If you don't want to sit on a soggy beach, Crow Point sand dunes are another good walking spot even if not ideal weather.

@givemushypeasachance

There are some attractions like the Big Sheep that have indoor areas. I grew up in Barnstaple, and during wet periods town would always be busy with "grockles" looking for things to do and pottering around! Things like the pannier market and butcher's row. There's a small museum which can kill an hour or so. Even things like bowling or the leisure centre, or the local small cinema if you're desperate for indoor entertainment!

Treasure Trails do some local maps for Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilfracombe, and across North Devon - they're pretty good for getting you out and about looking at interesting things you wouldn't investigate otherwise. Coats on and off you go! www.treasuretrails.co.uk/things-to-do/devon

Even in the rain you can drive up to Exmoor and find a nice spot for a walk then a coffee from a flask. We used to go for "sausage sizzles" with a little gas stove, cooking up sausages in rolls to eat next to a little stream somewhere. If you don't want to sit on a soggy beach, Crow Point sand dunes are another good walking spot even if not ideal weather.

Oh thank you! Some lovely ideas there. We are staying near the edge of exmoor - can you recommend anywhere we could go there family friendly? Never been before so just don’t know where to start! I will visit the bowling and leisure centre - if I can get in with a closer booking! Don’t want to book and pay now just in case the weather turns out ok!

There is a roller skating place in Barnstaple, in the same area is the Bowling and in the hotel on the end you used to be able to go in as a day visitor to use their swimming pool. The Honey farm at South Molton is worth a visit. Beach4art have been doing pebble art on various local beaches even on the rainy days its worth donning waterproofs and letting the children run off some of that energy with a football or a kite.

There is a paint a pot place in Braunton, and always worth going there for the fish and chips! But careful where you park as the carpark opposite is camera'd and expensive!

For Exmoor recommendations - we used to go for sausage sizzles at Landacre Bridge en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landacre_Bridge. It's a nice spot where you can paddle about in the river, here's a blog of a visit theoldquarrysomerset.co.uk/out-and-about-at-landacre-bridge/.

Would also recommend Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkery_Hill. Valley of the Rocks has feral goats which I always loved seeing: www.thebestofexmoor.co.uk/blog/valley-of-the-rocks-exmoor/. Lynton & Lynmouth nearby has a cliff railway between the two villages.

If you do go beachwards at some point, our family summer beach of choice used to be Putsborough. I also worked at a cafe in Croyde for summer holidays and that is very popular for a reason. If you want to play on 2p amusement arcade machines for half an hour and have an ice cream by a harbour, brave the fairly run down tourist tat crazy of Ilfracombe. It's not that bad really!