I consider myself really lucky to live here in North Devon, especially now I have children because we really are spolit with places to visit and have some outdoor fun. I know I did not appreciate it when I was a teenager and made my mind up that when I left home for university I was NEVER going to come back….EVER! Of course, I did and the rest of my life is history because now I love the area and would not want to live anywhere else (for now at least!).
I am often asked for reccommendations of places to see when friends are visiting the area so I thought I would give some of my favourite places a mention here on my blog. I do not believe in spending much money to keep my boys active and entertained, so my list is mostly ideas for inexpensive places to see which I think is perfect for a holiday because it allows more money to be spent on the accommodation and food.
There is a wide variety of accommodation from campsites, hotels, B&B’s, lodges, self catering and caravan parks all over North Devon, so once you have chosen yours now all you need to do is get out and enjoy the area.
Coastal Path Walks
The coastline here in North Devon is very rugged and wild and yet beautiful at the same time.
You can pretty much walk along the cliff paths and have unspoilt views across the Atlantic Ocean, maybe stopping off for a bite to eat to enjoy a breathtaking vista while you tuck into some tasty homemade food. If you prefer to take a car, you can of course stop off at many of the villages and seaside resorts along this area of natural beauty, and there are plenty of small coves and beaches off the beaten track which you will find less busy than the more well known beaches in the area. Welcombe, Duckpool, Westward Ho, Bucks Mill are just a few of the beaches which are worth a visit.
Fremington Quay
Once a bustling port, importing and exporting goods all around the world, Fremington Quay now boasts a wonderful cafe and museam and a lovely outdoor adventure playground for children to enjoy (with a picnic area).
Positioned just off the Tarka Trail cycle path, which is a 30 mile old former railway line between Braunton and Meeth, the Fremington Quay Cafe and Heritage Centre sits directly between Barnstaple and Bideford. It is a great place to stop off and enjoy an ice cream and the views
Crabbing at Appledore
This is such a fun activity to do and it only requires a net, a bucket and some bait, all of which you can buy at the shops in Appledore.
Then once you have been crabbing, enjoyed an ice cream and a wander around this quaint little fishing village, (see more here) you can catch the ferry boat across the water to Instow which is lovely for some sand castle building and paddling.
There are of course hundreds of other things to see and do here in North Devon. My top tip is to plan your trip by looking up places you would like to visit before your holiday, look for savings and destinations that are free to visit, and that way you can have a whole lot of fun for not much money.
