Visit North Devon

Known as the sur fing capital of the UK , home to the UK ’ s first Sur f Reserve and nicknamed Little Switzerland

Known as the surfing capital of the UK , home to the UK’s first Surf Reser ve and nicknamed L ittle Switzerland, there is much to love about North Devon, a reg ion thoug ht of as Britain’s Adventure Coast. ere is much more to this spectacular and diverse reg ion than meets the e ye. e entire reg ion is famed for its beaut y and the diversit y of the landscape meaning that whatever kind of adventure you want to have, you’ll find the perfect location in North Devon.

Located in the South West of Eng land, bordering Somerset and parts of Cornwall, North Devon features ever ything the West Countr y is famous for and more. With delicious, locally sourced food and drink, including reg ional favourites like cider and the traditional Devonshire Cream Tea and benefiting from its own warm micro -climate.

Full of popular coastal towns and villag es and accommodation options, the beautiful coastline of the area falls within North Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beaut y, which features many award-winning stretches of coast, popular towns and even Britain’s best-loved beach, Woolacombe.

As well as the coast, North Devon is home to the Exmoor National Park, Exmoor features Britain’s hig hest coastline making it ideal for beautiful coastal walks, parts of which are included along the South West Coast Path. It is this part of the world that was fondly nicknamed L ittle Switzerland by the romantic poets that used to reside here, like Perc y Shelle y, Samuel Taylor Coleridg e and William Wordsworth who used the spectacular views as inspiration for their works. Looking around, it is little wonder that the y manag ed to conjure such beaut y, the villag es of Lynton and Lynmouth and natural phenomena like Valle y of Rocks have to be seen to be believed e whole of Exmoor is home to a host of wildlife, including the famous Exmoor Ponies which wander wild around the moor and provide an iconic backdrop for your visits e reg ion is also populated with a herd of wild mountain g oats, who are a joy to see frolicking around the rockier outcrops.

It isn’t just the coastline that deser ves a visit, North Devon is full of charming market towns and quaint villag es that attract visitors by the thousands ever y year. Here you’ll find the historic villag e of Clovelly, which is completely vehicle-free, instead, using donke ys to make deliveries along the steep, cobbled streets and down to their picturesque harbour. e reg ion is full of traditional fisherman’s cottag es, particularly in places like Appledore and lovely seaside resorts like Ilfracombe, Woolacombe and Westward Ho !, the only place in the UK that has an exclamation point in its name It is also the only place to have been named aer a book, the novel Westward Ho ! was written by local author, Charles King sle y, who also wrote the Water Babies and lived in nearby Bideford. While those that love a bit of hustle and bustle along side historic markets should visit Barnstaple, the reg ion’s oldest and larg est town is isn’t the only literar y link you can find in North Devon.

ose of you who love g etting out and about and exploring should head to the Tarka Trail, a purpose-built route which follows the journe y of Tarka the Otter around some of the prettiest spots located around Barnstaple and Bideford Wherever you are in North Devon, there are wonderful places to explore, and no two towns and villag es are the same.

North Devon has much to be proud of when it comes to the reg ion’s natural beaut y. Not only does it have that incredible coastline, but it is also home to a UNESCO Biosphere, one of only six in the UK , which centres around the Braunton Burrows and extends out from the River Taw out towards Lundy Island. e Reser ve has over 60 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and contains lots of rare wildlife and is home to the larg est sand dune system in the UK While in the reg ion, why not escape the ever y day by catching the ferr y over to Lundy Island Located just off the North Devon coast and was once home to a colony of pirates but nowadays is more popular with sea birds e island has the only ones to be found in the South West. At certain times of year, you can witness these beautiful birds building nests along the rockface. Lundy Island is a site of marine conser vation and there is no electricit y or WIFI anywhere on the island If you fanc y g oing off-grid, this is the perfect North Devon location, there are accommodation options and plent y of activities throug hout the year, including rock climbing , surfing and more

oug h known as the Adventure Coast, North Devon isn’t just an area for the outdoorsy t ypes, the reg ion has a host of amazing popular attractions, perfect for groups e reg ion is particularly popular with foodies, especially in becoming one of the best foodie hotspots in the southwest. e reg ion is famed for the qualit y of its seafood and a lobster festival is held ever y year. If you ’ re looking for some retail therapy, you’ll find big named brands rig ht throug h to small, independent retailers and ever ything in between Here you can find theatre performances and live events, as well as the south west ’ s big g est surfing festival which takes place on the beach at Croyde ever y year

Whatever the weather, you can take your pick from theme parks, water parks, heritag e attractions, spas, leisure centres and g olfing opportunities among st other activities In fact, while North Devon is known for surfing these days, previously, it was more famous for its connections to g olf.

e Royal North Devon Golf Course in Westward Ho ! is 150 years old and has the oldest links in Eng land. e course is one of the top 100 in the world and is widely reg arded as being the St Andrews of the South. e course is as toug h as any of the UK’s more famous links and being the oldest g olf club in Eng land is well worth a visit

North Devon has a wide variet y of attractions on offer, from all-weather attractions to award-winning zoos, intrig uing museums, beautiful parks and g ardens and shopping opportunities to rival any larg e destination Across the reg ion, you can find big named brands and familiar hig h street stores nestled among independent retailers and a hug e focus on arts and antiques, particularly on the Hartland Peninsula , home to one of the most dramatic views in the area As the reg ion is well ser ved by both main roads and the national road network, you’ll find that this is an easy and accessible holiday destination that is easy to explore.

When it comes to accommodation, North Devon has ever ything groups could ask for, cottag es, holiday parks overlooking the beach, sprawling countr y estates and just about ever ything else in between. North Devon’s holiday providers are committed to welcoming visitors of all ag es and abilities, you’ll also find that the area has a rang e of accommodation and attractions to suit travellers with disabilities and additional needs. Many of the beaches and the Exmoor National Park offer all-terrain wheelchairs, allowing ever yone who visits to g et the most out of their time in North Devon.

ere are a whole host of events taking place all over the reg ion

Whatever your interests or your ag e, there are a host of attractions and activities here whether you ' re a thrill-seeker or looking for a peaceful retreat With g ardens to stroll around, museums to visit and spas to rela x in while overlooking award-winning beaches, North Devon really does have something for ever yone

North Devon has a wide variet y of attractions on offer, from all-weather attractions to awardwinning zoos, intrig uing museums, beautiful parks and gardens and shopping opportunities to rival any large destination.