The Best Things To Do In North Devon

Wondering what to do in North Devon? With beaches offering everything from sunbathing to surfing, lots of family attractions and some of the most incredible landscapes in the UK, this corner of England has plenty to offer its visitors. 

Here is my guide to the very best of all there is to see and do, helping you make the most of your visit to this beautiful British county.

Before we start, here are a few nice hotels to consider for your stay in North Devon:

1. Saunton Sands Hotel Source Spa and Wellness is a 4-star hotel located in Braunton on the coast. The hotel is elegant, modern and provides 2 swimming pools as well as a spa.
2. Croyde Bay Hotel is located in Croyde. This 4-star hotel is located right on the beachfront and offers great facilities including a tennis court and a fitness centre.
3. The Park Hotel is located in Barnstaple Bay. This 4-star hotel is right in the town centre so that you can have easy access to the beach but also to restaurants. The rooms are clean and elegant.

Visit Exmoor National Park

One of the most scenic places to visit in North Devon, Exmoor is the smallest National Park in the UK and a unique combination of coast and countryside.

The extensive moorland is covered in a colorful blanket of gorse and heather and there is both plant and wildlife here that you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

Perhaps the most famous features of Exmoor are its gorgeous ponies – managed herds that freely graze the rough pasture. To learn more about them, pay a visit to the Exmoor Pony Centre at Ashwick.

Here you’ll find various activities and programs to allow you to meet the ponies up close! Exmoor is a wonderful place to visit at night too – the Park is a designated Dark Sky Reserve, and on a clear night, you can see the milky way and many other astronomical features with the naked eye.

Take A Ride On The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway

Voted one of the best historic attractions in the UK, this funicular Cliff Railway first opened in 1890.

Totally powered by water, it is the highest and steepest railway of its kind in the world, connecting the picturesque Exmoor villages of Lynton and Lynmouth.

Admiring the awesome coastal views from an elevation of 500 feet – and rising at a gradient of 57% – has to be one of the most exciting things to do in North Devon. It also gives you some of the very best photo opportunities of your visit! The railway is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm, with no booking required.

The fare is £3 for adults and £2 for children but is one way only. If you want to ride back down instead of taking the 10-minute walk, then you will need to buy another ticket.

Enjoy A Devon Cream Tea

Cream teas are a specialty of the southwest of England, and although you will find them sold elsewhere in the UK, those served in both Devon and Cornwall are indisputably the best!

A traditional cream tea is essentially an afternoon tea, comprising a pot of tea and a delicious scone, served with clotted cream and jam. Cream teas in Devon are a little different from those served in Cornwall – in Devon it is customary to spread the cream on the scone and top it with the jam. In Cornwall, the cream goes on top!

Either way, a cream tea is a treat you simply cannot miss when you’re in this part of the world and two of the best places to enjoy one are at the award-winning Hele Corn Mill (close toe Hele Bay Beach) and The Upalong Bar in the beautiful village of Clovelly.

Spend A Day In Clovelly

One of the most popular North Devon attractions is the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly, nestled on a cliffside in Bideford. Once owned by the Queen of England, this historic location features steep cobbled streets that lead down to a scenic harbor and ancient quay.

There are multiple winding lanes and alleys to explore, with absolutely no vehicles to disturb the tranquility. Instead, all goods are transported through the village by man-powered sledges.

These have replaced the donkeys that were traditionally used for this purpose, although there are still donkey rides on offer in the village for children.

It costs £8.25 per adult to visit Clovelly and £4.80 for children, with family tickets available. All tickets include entry to two museums, Clovelly Court Gardens, parking, and a donation to the village’s preservation.

See The Uk’s Only Black Leopards At Exmoor Zoo

A great day out for the whole family, Exmoor Zoo is home to a wide range of weird and wonderful animals. Featuring everything from Sand Cats and Singing Dogs to Giant Snails and poisonous frogs, this isn’t your typical zoo and you will meet lots of animals here you simply wouldn’t encounter anywhere else.

There are lots of interactive exhibits and fascinating talks that make a visit not just fun, but very educational too. The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm and you can buy tickets at the door, or online for a 5% discount.

Admission at the door is £15.95 for adults and £11.95 for children, which includes an optional donation for the zoo’s upkeep.

Enjoy Family Fun At The Milky Way Adventure Park

One of the best North Devon attractions for the whole family – no matter the weather – is this award-winning adventure park located just one mile from Clovelly.

One entrance fee gives you access to all of the park’s rides, including the Droid Destroyer Dodgems and Cosmic Typhoon roller coaster (which happens to also give you some pretty cool views from the top!).

There are rides suitable for both young and old, plus extra activities such as Bird of Prey Displays, laser tag, play areas and mini-golf, some of which require separate tickets.

This park gets very busy so it’s a good idea to book online in advance. Standard tickets cost £16.95 for adults and for children aged from 4+, or £7.95 for children from 1 to 3 years.

Go Beachcombing

North Devon has some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the United Kingdom, with many in designated Areas of Natural Beauty.

For the most picturesque views (and the best photos) head to the idyllic 3-mile Woolacombe Beach, located between Baggy Point and Morte Point, or the romantic Barricane beach, where you can enjoy some incredibly scenic sunsets.

If you are traveling with your furry friend you’ll be pleased to hear that North Devon is one of the most dog-friendly areas of the county, with Instow Beach and Saunton Sands welcoming them all year round.

And don’t miss the popular Westward Ho!, which is popular with families and offers lots of rock pools to explore. 

Get Away From it All At RHS Garden Rosemoor

One of the most serene North Devon attractions, RHS Garden Rosemoor spans 65 acres and is located in a steep wooded valley between Exmoor and Dartmoor.

There are lots of things to see and do here, including themed gardens ranging from the gorgeously vibrant Rose Gardens to the Bicentenary Arboretum, along with play areas, woodland, a lake, and wildflower meadows. The diversity of the flora means there is always something beautiful to see here, whatever the time of year.

Be sure to check ahead of your visit to see if there are any special events taking place – the venue plays host to many art exhibitions and craft fairs. Admission to the Garden starts from £12.25 for adults and £6.10 for children, with RHS members and guests admitted free.  

Hit The Surf

North Devon’s west-facing sands give it some of the UK’s most consistent waves and its proximity to the Gulf Stream gives it some of the country’s warmest waters.

It’s no wonder, then, that the region is so popular with surfers, from complete beginners to experienced pros! If you’re a novice surfer and looking for the perfect place to get started, head to Woolacombe Beach, which has plenty of surf schools ready to get you going. It is good for surfing at most tides and is also surrounded by some breathtaking scenery.

More advanced surfers will enjoy the waves at Croyde Bay (although there are a few surf schools here, too, for beginners). If you really know your stuff, then an ideal spot – but often quieter in terms of visitors – is Lynmouth, the only point break along this coastal stretch.

Go Kayaking

Last but not least on the list of things to do in North Devon is kayaking –  a great way to enjoy the scenery from a new perspective and to find new beaches and hidden caves!

It can also be enjoyed as a family activity or a solitary experience and brings you close to some of the country’s fascinating marine life. There are several locations in North Devon to rent kayaks, the most popular being the highly-rated Surfside Kayak Hire in Combe Martin.

Here you can rent single, double or triple kayaks for 2 or 3 hours for anywhere from £20 to £45, ideal for exploring the 2 miles of coastline around Combe Martin Bay.

If you have your own kayak, other great spots to visit include Watermouth Cove and Lee Bay Beach, where the sheltered position makes it a great place to view the fish and colorful seaweed.

Final Thoughts

With such a variety of things to do in North Devon and so many fascinating places to visit, it’s no wonder that it is so popular with both British and international visitors.

Whether you are planning a family holiday, a romantic escape, or an adrenaline-packed getaway, you’re guaranteed to find it here.