Holidaying in north Devon

[Berty24]

We fancy a holiday in north Devon this year as we have never been. Can anyone recommend anywhere? Probably around the Woolacombe area as I hear the beach there is pretty good. A pretty village is also on top of our list!

Westward Ho! is lovely, there is a wide choice of accommodation walking distance to the beach. It's the only beach in North Devon to have been awarded the Blue Flag in 2014. It's within day trips to Cornwall. This site gives a bit more information about the village. www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/2954444

beautiful place but stay away from The Golden Coast Holiday Park.

If you like teens fagging in the doorway to the bar area/bingo/greasy chips its the place to be.

If not, stay away & read Trip Advisor. Something I didn't do before going......

We stayed in west down. Drove each day to where we wanted to go. Woolacombe is beautiful. Ilfracombe is nice to visit, more things to see there, Woolacombe is mainly beach, but a good beach. Tarr Steps is lovely too. Look it up.

Westwood Ho beach was great for surf lessons but the place itself was pretty grim!

Croyde or Morthoe. Beautiful beaches and pretty villages everywhere you look!

Have just googled them and Croyde and mortehoe look like real good options. Croyde I have heard about so it would be nice to go somewhere off the beaten track. I was hoping to find self catering as opposed to a holiday resort - thanks for tips on golden coast!! Mortehoe has three pubs! Sounds like my kind of place! Anyone holidayed in mortehoe?...

Just looked at blue flag beaches in north Devon and Woolacombe is def there!

We've just got back from Woolacombe as my DHs aunty owns an apartment there, it's a lovely beach, nice area, but not much around at all though. Id suggest croyde, I've camped there when I was younger. It's not too far so you can always venture around the different areas :)

Croyde is beautiful, basically a smallish village with a few pubs and an incredible beach. There are quite a few self catering places available I think we used a Costal Cottages who seemed to be a small firm with cottages just in that area. We've used them twice and both cottages were good. Croyde is one of my favourite places in the world

Mortehoe is lovely, a short walk to woolacombe with a few lovely little beaches inbetween, are you camping there are some lovely little campsites in mortehoe or if you want somewhere with a pool and stuff twitchen is nice.
Also only a 15 minute drive to both ilfracombe and croyde.

Mortehoe is lovely and I think a bit more accessible for the general north Devon area.

I seem to remember the road toCroyde is fairly long and narrow in places. So took ages to get to Croyde from the top road.

Morthoe is amazing - stayed in a campsite there loads of times that has a panoramic view over the sea, and one of the pubs stays open late on weekends. There's also a good cream tea place. You can't lose!

Ah yes cream tea places def at top of our list too!
Also want surfing, coastal walks and rock pooling and sunny weather too!

We go to Woolacombe every year surfing, the beach is great and so are the surrounding villages. We stay at Easewell Farm near Mortehoe. Amazing pubs and excellent walks. You won't be disappointed.

Morthoe is good and gives easy access to lovely sandy beaches, westward Ho! is shingle, so not great for sand castles etc

Plan for rain and shine!! Eg The Big Sheep for a wet day

Use holiday home hunter, they have loads of the really nice self catering places around woolacombe. It's fantastic for families, surfing, rock pooling, horse riding, golf all here and so easy.

annabanana19 This is addressed mainly to you. I am sorry you had a disappointing time in beautiful (your word) Westward Ho! and witnessed something unsavoury, unfortunately this appears to be a universal risk where ever you go. I hope you give it another go. For the record, as a resident of beautiful Westward Ho! I am mildly offended but more amused by your negative, sweeping remarks. Westward Ho! has a thriving entrepreneurial community which has, and is bringing about rapid and considerable regeneration. The village caters for all budgets and tastes. We have had scant help/investment from central government, this is now making us stronger. We also have one of the lowest crime rates in the whole of the UK.

I was responding to the OP with information. I trust that free minded, independent thinkers will make up their own mind. After independent research.

More factual information about Westward Ho! can be viewed below:

Westward Ho! is near the A39, with easy access to Barnstaple, Bideford, Bude. The village is set beside two miles of sandy award winning Blue Flag Beach and the North Devon Coastal path can be joined nearby. Views cross to Saunton Sands and Croyde in one direction, Clovelly the other. It is also the site of Royal North Devon Golf Club, the oldest Links golf course in England & Wales.
Westward Ho! Is popular with surfers and walkers.

Other day trips in the area include the stunning sights of Exmoor National Park, traditional Clovelly village and Hartland Quay.
Situated just off the A39, Westward Ho! is an ideal staging post for those on tour to and from Cornwall.

Naice Places and activities include:

www.kitemare.co.uk/#/westward-ho/4540886726

Tea On The Green reviewed on Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1918603-d1163953-Reviews-Tea_on_the_Green-Westward_Ho_Bideford_Devon_England.html

www.thepier-house.co.uk/

theblueandgreen.co.uk/

www.themilkyway.co.uk/

Not an exhaustive list.

I think annabanana was talking about the golden coast holiday park in Woolacombe not westward ho! Thanks everyone for your comments we have now found a self catering apartment luckily still available with what looks like seriously nice views in Mortehoe so will try it out this year, maybe westward ho next year then xx

Oops, my apologies to annabanana19, I see The Golden Coast Holiday Park is Woolacombe, which is a lovely place too. My mistake. I hope you have a lovely time in beautiful North Devon Berty 24.

We are in Ilfracombe on holiday right now. This is my view.
Just gorgeous.

I was a bit puzzled by your comment I have to say!!

But I've never been to Westward Ho, but I would definitely love to go to North Devon again - thus avoiding the said holiday park!!

A must on your list to do is Quince Honey Farm - fascinating place!

OP check out Twitchen House. I've just come back today and would highly recommend it. The website is good and true to real life. Wherever you stay Woolacombe/Morthoe is a must it's absolutely beautiful it will not disappoint. Enjoy!

I love Westward Ho! It has the right mix of lovely sandy beach and and bits of tatt for ds to pore over in the shops/amusements without being a huge place. We have stayed at Braddicks twice now and had lovely holidays. We have looked elsewhere the last couple of years as need dog friendly holidays now.

Westward Ho! is a lovely beach...just invest in a windbreak I have missed our Big Sheep visits too.

We're going back to Woolacombe this year for the third year in a row. We have stayed twice in 8 Narracott Apartments through Holiday Home Hunter but couldn't get it this year so have chosen something similar in Woolacombe. We love it - our kids are 5 and 8. Last year we had amazing weather and didn't leave Woolacombe. Beach every day. There isn't a massive amount to do in the evenings but there is a small crazy golf and play area, plus a mini golf. I can recommend the Red Barn for decent pub grub and the waffles from the waffle hut! This year I am determined to try the pancakes from the pancake shop! Take a pop up tent for the beach, as well as Crocs or similar for climbing on the rocks. If you head down to the water at low tide and walk to the right (with the sea on your left), you will come to an amazing little cove with a hut selling the most amazing curry. The first time we went the weather was a bit iffy so we went to the Big Sheep. We had been before when staying in Bideford and loved it but were disappointed the second time as we realised it is really an expensive farm park. If the Milky Way is still open that was good fun with little ones.

+1 for the Croyde area.
We love it down there. You can choose between getting a cheap yet comfortable Premier Inn or one of the more expensive hotels on the seafrtont, or a holiday cottage. Either way, you will spend most of your time on the beach or one of the villages.
Linton/Linmouth, Woolcombe are fantastic.

Our boys loved The Big Sheep