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Original poster

North Devon recommendations

76 replies

watersprites · 20/07/2023 07:08

Off to North Devon next week (staying in Woolacombe) with primary aged dc. Any recommendations for things to see, do & where to eat? Thanks

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 20/07/2023 19:59

Another vote here for Watermouth Castle and it's weirdness.
My DCs are now adults but both remember it well and loved it.

Devonmummy80 · 20/07/2023 20:04

I know North Devon inside out, feel free to ask me anything. I'd recommend:
Lynton and Lynmouth
Westward Ho! There's two ends, one with the amusements, bars and cafes or the Northam Burrows end, still lifeguards and a Hockings Ice Cream Van!
Instow is lovely
Fremington Quay, you could hire bikes along the Tarka Trail
Hartland Quay and a walk to Spekes Mill
Big Sheep
Quince Honeyfarm, South Molton
Curry at Barricane Beach
Landacre Bridge for a dip in the river
Tarr Steps, Exmoor

RiderGirl · 20/07/2023 20:13

Crinklycut · 20/07/2023 12:43

Oh no! We are going to Ilfracombe!

I live in N Devon, used to live in Braunton, also lived in Ilfracombe and now live in Barnstaple - I bloody loved living in Ilfracombe! The harbour is great for chips, ice cream and arcades for the kids and there's often stuff going on, there are loads of stunning coastal walks with breathtaking views, the people are friendly! Yes the high street is a dive, but it isn't a bad place to visit at all - much better than Barnstaple where I live now which is a soulless shithole (I hate it).

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Holidays
HouseofHolbein · 20/07/2023 20:30

@SabrinaThwaite the club has gone 😢 but I spend a lot of time at the Palladium club which is an absolutely amazing venue for live music. Saw a band in there Friday night and Saturday night last week and went to the Tuesday jam night which is fun.

The draught beer is to be avoided 🤢 but it's a fantastic place. Very dark and slightly grotty but such good fun. We're so lucky to have it here!

SabrinaThwaite · 20/07/2023 22:13

It was the old Strand cinema on Kingsley Rd that became Halley’s - at chucking out time everyone piled out and mobbed the chip van (Cheffells?). It was quite the experience!

fruitypancake · 20/07/2023 22:17

Hire bikes and ride the tarka trail.. all coastal/river and so pretty. Flat too. Can stop for a lovely pub lunch

HouseofHolbein · 20/07/2023 22:32

SabrinaThwaite · 20/07/2023 22:13

It was the old Strand cinema on Kingsley Rd that became Halley’s - at chucking out time everyone piled out and mobbed the chip van (Cheffells?). It was quite the experience!

The strand cinema is now sheltered living apartments. And now you can't get chips after 9pm 😱 nor a curry or a Chinese. Shocking.

mulesrules · 20/07/2023 22:33

Runninghappy · 20/07/2023 13:58

Mortehoe is my favourite place on earth and I have a house there and am in it right now.

I’d recommend the Chichester arms for food. There is a tractor and trailer ride from Mortehoe out to the light house, which is fun. Wednesday night the sheepdog and falconry show is good. If you watch an episode of Mist; sheepdog tales it is set there and you’ll meet the farmer on the show.

exmouth zoo and Combe Martin wildlife and dinosaur park are good. Milky Way and big sheep are a waste of time.

clovelly is worth a visit. Look up events at Hartland abbey as they often have evening outdoor children’s theatre. Ilfracombe harbour is nice but the rest of Ilfracombe is not. They have nice boat trips and you can kill half an hour in the aquarium.

Wooly is all about the surfing. This week it was rough at the start and now it’s flat, which is a shame. Barricane beach is lovely and has a nice cafe. Totally different feel to it.

national trust also often run events like crabbing or rock pooling, which are fun as they help you find things in the rock pools.

I'm so jealous. I've been visiting Mortehoe since I was a baby, I'm 48 now! We've taken our two DS there and go back every few years. Beautiful spot and such happy memories.

HouseofHolbein · 20/07/2023 22:34

Back on topic if any of your family run woolacombe parkrun is one of the most challenging in the country... I did it 😭😭 I'll stick to Bideford in future 🤣🤣

buzzing · 20/07/2023 22:57

Perfect timing as we are also holidaying in the area this summer … am making lots of notes!

RatouilleAndFeta · 21/07/2023 06:13

Verity was stunning and the boat trip from Ilfracombe to look for seals was fun.

Original poster
watersprites · 21/07/2023 07:37

Thanks so much for the response, I'm super excited & can't imagine I will have much time to relax 😆.
I'm away again straight after but I will come back & update!

OP posts:
Gnittensmum · 21/07/2023 08:03

The rib boats from the harbour in Ilfracombe are brilliant fun. You can also now go to Lundy on a smaller (less sicky) boat and swim with the seals which is honestly a man incredible experience. They’re like swimming with a herd of sea labradors! Likely to see dolphins this time of year too.

HouseofHolbein · 21/07/2023 08:59

I saw dolphins when we went across. Was lovely. Also seen dolphins from clovelly harbour wall. Have to say I love living here.

ImaginingDragonz · 21/07/2023 09:02

Following with interest! I've only been to Clovelly so far which was worth a visit.

Crinklycut · 03/08/2023 15:16

I just wanted to come back and thank this thread. I made a list of all the recommendations and worked my way through it. We did nearly all of it!

What a beautiful part of the world it is (and we stayed in Ilfracombe!).

Gnittensmum · 03/08/2023 15:20

Crinklycut · 03/08/2023 15:16

I just wanted to come back and thank this thread. I made a list of all the recommendations and worked my way through it. We did nearly all of it!

What a beautiful part of the world it is (and we stayed in Ilfracombe!).

Thank you! We get a rough ride sometimes in Ilfracombe but I think it’s just fabulous! Glad you had a good time 🙂

ReviewingTheSituation · 03/08/2023 16:29

Did you have a Hocking's...?

HouseofHolbein · 03/08/2023 16:50

So glad you enjoyed it! We love it here 😊 although our holiday this year is to the centre of Birmingham 🤣🤣

Crinklycut · 03/08/2023 17:30

Oh yes @ReviewingTheSituation ! They are amaaazing. We found a Hocking’s van in Appledore and stood among all these stunned tourists licking their ice creams. The lady in the van said the secret is that it has clotted cream in it. Just spectacular. I am embarrassed to say that I went back for a second!

We were in Appledore, by the way, for the rock pools - as recommended on here!

elm26 · 03/08/2023 20:05

Croyde is just beautiful.

I'm 30 and grew up going there every year for Easter holidays, all of us cousins with our parents and grandparents. Lovely memories and a beautiful beach, village and surrounding areas.

I haven't been in 8 years but we've booked to go back next year with family and when our DD will be a year old, some of my Nan and Gramps ashes are scattered on Croyde Beach as they adored it there so much and had been going since the 70s.

EllaPaella · 03/08/2023 20:49

elm26 · 03/08/2023 20:05

Croyde is just beautiful.

I'm 30 and grew up going there every year for Easter holidays, all of us cousins with our parents and grandparents. Lovely memories and a beautiful beach, village and surrounding areas.

I haven't been in 8 years but we've booked to go back next year with family and when our DD will be a year old, some of my Nan and Gramps ashes are scattered on Croyde Beach as they adored it there so much and had been going since the 70s.

So lovely
I feel the same about Croyde
I went every year as a child and my Dad before me had all his family holidays there. We go every summer, my eldest is 21 now and gone every year of his life. We've moved around a lot and lived in several different parts of the UK but gone to Croyde every single year. Dinner at The Thatch of an autumn evening or summer as sun is setting = heaven

ShiteRider · 03/08/2023 20:53

Motehoe and Woolacombe are my favourite places on earth.

Devonmummy80 · 04/08/2023 05:07

Croyde is nice but the sea can be very dangerous there with Rips and currents compared to the other ND beaches.

ell2 · 09/08/2023 21:22

@EllaPaella oh isn't it just lovely! The Thatch is gorgeous, I'm so excited to go back!