Holidays & Short Breaks in North Devon and Exmoor

Things to do in North Devon

• Around North Devon
  • Explore the coast

    Whether you are looking for an afternoon stroll to take you to a beauty spot, or to embark on the challenge of a hike, you’ll find walks for all ages and abilities around the stunning North Devon coast.

  • Step back in time

    Discover the cobbled, traffic-free fishing village of Clovelly in North Devon. Built into a cleft in a 400 foot high cliff, Whitewashed cottages festooned with flowers lead to the tiny, ancient working port.

  • Learn to surf

    North Devon is home to some of the best and most consistent surf beaches in the UK. Friendly instructors will have you catching your first wave in no time at all.

  • Visit a festival

    Spend a weekend on the beach at the UK's coolest surf and music festival hosted annually in Croyde, North Devon.

• Get close to nature
  • Lundy Island

    Designated the first Marine Conservation Area, Lundy offers opportunities for diving and seal watching, and a wide variety of seabirds, wildlife, flora and fauna. Take a boat trip, pack picnic, and make a day of it.

  • Exmoor Zoo

    Exmoor Zoo is different, neither a wildlife park or a city zoo, but a more friendly and contact orientated zoo which has grown into the North Devon countryside.

  • Experience Exmoor

    Whether you are looking to do something active, or would prefer to sit back and relax, Experience Exmoor is your gateway to this wonderful area, with its dramatic scenery and fascinating past.

  • Biosphere Reserve

    Visit the only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Britain and discover dramatic scenery with steep-sided sand dunes, wild open grassland plains and wonderful plants and wildlife.

• Rainy day ideas
  • Rock climbing

    Put the kids through their paces with an afternoon at this indoor climbing wall with a range of climbing experiences.

  • Ifracombe Aquarium

    This exciting, award winning, all weather educational attraction provides a fascinating insight into the watery world around North Devon.

  • Quince Honey Farm

    Visit Beeworld, Quince Honey Farm’s renowned exhibition of honeybees. Nowhere else in the world can visitors get such an up close view of the inner workings of the honeybee society.

  • North Devon Theatres

    Enjoy a theatre production or children’s workshop at the Queens Theatre in Barnstaple or the Landmark in Ilfracombe or an inspiring visit to the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon.

• Theme parks
  • The Big Sheep

    This famous attraction and Gold Award Winner for Tourism Excellence in SW England is now firmly established as one of the UK’s most innovative and exciting family attractions.

  • The Milky Way

    Over 85,000 sq feet of indoor fun & outdoor activities, The Milky Way is the biggest all weather, family day out in North Devon and voted best day out attraction by North Devon visitors.

  • Dinosaur and Wildlife Park

    Watch lions and wolves, catch otters feeding, monkeys playing and penguins swimming. Have a close encounter with a lemur or a meerkat. But watch out for the dinosaurs!

  • Watermouth Castle

    Discover Museums, Dungeons, Antique Slot Machines and the wonderful water show extravaganza. Children’s rides, Play areas and free parking.

• Houses and Gardens
  • Hartland Abbey

    Hartland Abbey is a fascinating house. Experience not only the stunning interiors, collections, beautiful gardens and walks but also the warmth and friendliness only found in a family home cherished for generations.

  • Castle Hill Gardens

    Exceptional 50 acre garden surrounding magnificent Palladian house, including lavender edged herbaceous borders and a water sculpture, woodland walks with Daffodils, Bluebells, Camellias, Magnolias Azaleas, Eucryphias.

  • Clovelly Court Gardens

    Clovelly Court gardens are a classic example of a Victorian walled kitchen garden including magnificent glasshouses sheltering peaches, apricots, melons and grapes. The unique maritime micro-climate also allows the growth of tender and exotic plants.

  • Marwood Hill Gardens

    An 18-acre garden with 3 small lakes, unusual trees and shrubs, bog garden, national collection of astilbes, iris ensata and tulbaghias. Many rare and unusual.