Somewhere with INTERNET ACCESS while we're on hols in N DEVON

[Puff]

Dh MAY have to work while we're away if a job comes up that we really can't afford to turn down.

We're staying near Westward Ho! and I just wondered if anyone local to N Devon know of any internet cafes etc in case he need access. It would save him having to come home .

All advice gratefully received!

Really interesting tips thanks ladies, we are coming to Woolacombe for a fortnight in August. Don't suppose the proposed Barnstaple by-pass has been even started yet...
Love the area, hate the peak traffic. It must drive year-round residents crackers.

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Rickman, there is a detour round Barnstaple that looks quite long on the map but is pretty driving and almost always quicker than crossing the town North/South. It is signposted I think koo?
It did not stop us having a lovely time - we just chose our outings judiciously to minimise HAVING to go through Barnstaple.

Bratton Fleming is lovely, rickman, and Marina's right, you can get to all the good beaches without going via Barnstaple.

If you drive uphill through Bratton Fleming you hit the main road (?A39 can't remember offhand) towards Blackmoor Gate. There's a turning to Barnstaple on the left pretty much opposite Blackmoor Gate and the turning to Lynton. It's a more scenic route, too and will get you to eg. Woolacombe, Saunton Sands, Putsborough wthout having to go through Barnstaple. You can also hire a bike at Fremington Quay and do the Tarka Trail, which is nice and flat!

I shouldn't really recommend Lee Bay, just beyond the Valley of Rocks in Lynton, as it's our own personal secret, but I will anyway. It's particularly excellent at low tide as it has sand, as well as rockpools, streams, caves etc. You do need to bring all the kit with you, though, as there are no shops or anything there.

Bingo! That's the one Frogs! Don't cancel rickman, there are so many pretty beaches and walks, and lots of family-friendly things to do, the children will really love it there.
We are hoping to bag a Sri Lankan barbecue on Barracane Beach this year - the little beach-hut/cafe there does great food in the early evenings. (Barracane is made up mainly of shell sand and shells and is just outside Woolacombe. It's not secret, alas, but well worth a visit).

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About the same time. I will CAT you Rickman!

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The drive is a bit grim in summer, particularly on a Saturday. Where are you coming from, rickman?

My parents live near Lynton, so I spend most of the summer driving up and down from London. The trick is either to travel late, ie. leaving after kiddies' supper, or very early, ie. leaving London at 6am (yes, really!). Under those circs, London to N. Devon is about 4 hours driving time, assuming you can manage it non-stop.

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The drive is admittedly a long one but its more than worth it. I lived in Barnstaple for a while and loved it there are so many lovely places and great attractions.

I know everyone says Barnstaple is always gridlocked but do pay a visit while you are around. Its a lovely town and has a really great market (thats the one thing I really miss!)

The other things not to miss is the Cycle trails (very wide and flat) and Braunton Burrows / Saunton Sands.

Hope you have a great time

Emma xx

We were held up in the Wylye Valley last year, and near Stonehenge, and coming through Barnstaple , so it took us about six hours from east of London Rickman. That included a vomit break for ds
We loved Lynton and Lynmouth Frogs, for quite a bizarre and silly reason. Dd ingested a sycamore key and I convinced myself it was toxic, so we threw ourselves on the mercy of the Lynton Health Centre in a bit of a panic. They could not have been kinder.

Stonehenge, Marina? How so?

Surely M4 and then M5 is quicker? The most likely bottleneck on that route is the first bit of the M5 south of Bristol, but if you're there by 8am it's usually OK. Much after that and you hit all the caravans.

Definately don't go for the A303 - its a complete nightmare. We live not far and going home to visit the folks in Devon its always quicker to go M4 / M5 it is a lovely route down through sailsbury plain and the devon hills but its so full of bottle necks and traffic jams it takes hours and hours longer. The only way I'd recommend that route is if you are making a dayout of the journey down- which if you have little ones is not a bad idea.

Emma x

I had completely forgotten about the M4 M5 option
As dd is two and ds a queasy six we have got into the ambling habit of using A roads for wee breaks etc (and we did all want to see The Henge last year as it happens).
I will put the motorway alternative to dh. I have a horrid feeling that he likes the A303 because it reminds him of childhood, plaid rugs and their half-timbered Morris Traveller...

There are good stop-offs along the motorway route, as well -- you can go to Wookey Hole, for example, or the Cheddar Gorge. Or you can leave the M5 at Bridgwater and take the coast road. Traffic-wise it's almost always okay as long as you leave early or late. We often have friends coming down to stay in rented accomodation nearby, and I usually tell them to leave ridiculously early and then spend the surplus time before their accommodation is free doing something nice nearby, rather than leaving later and spending two extra hours sitting in a traffic jam.

The A303 is evil in the summer -- I had to do it last year to take dd1 to her summer camp in Bruton, and it was hot hell.