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The Eden Project.
An unforgettable
experience in an
epic location.
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View your personal itinerary of things to do, places to visit and where to eat on your holiday.
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Clovelly
A beautiful, unspoilt fishing village enveloped in green countryside. From Clovelly it is easy to take a boat trip across to Lundy Island, a pristine little wilderness just off the coast.
50.998
-4.399
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Bampton
Just outside Exmoor National Park, Bampton is everything you could hope for in a Devon town. Located entirely within a conservation area, Bampton’s streets are lined with historic listed buildings, giving the distinct feeling that you’ve stepped back in time. The town is famous for its flowers - having won the ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition no less than 6 times, Bampton is a magnet for the green-fingered, who make a pilgrimage here during the summer months to marvel at the floral displays.
50.991
-3.487
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Barnstaple
One of north Devon’s largest towns, Barnstaple is a hive of activity all year round. The popular Pannier Market is good for a browse, while the Green Lanes shopping centre has many big high street retailers if you feel the urge to shop.
51.081
-4.057
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Bideford
Just what you want in a seaside village - whitewashed cottages, higgledy-piggledy narrow lanes, a quaint harbour and plenty of cosy pubs and cafes to linger in.
51.016
-4.206
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Combe Martin
Combe Martin is on the edge of Exmoor and claims to have the longest village street in England. Visit the Pack of Cards Inn, built to celebrate a large win at cards by George Lay in 1626; it has 52 windows, one for each card in the pack, and four floors, each with 13 doors. The beach is perfect for the whole family with rock pools, cliffs, caves and pebbles plus lots of soft sand when the tide is out.
51.199
-4.025
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Crediton
Always lively, the market town of Crediton has a thriving town centre with plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Food-lovers, golfers and fishing enthusiasts will all find many good reasons to visit Crediton – some of Devon’s finest fly, coarse and game fishing can be found around the area. Crediton is ideally placed for some fun days out; Dartmoor, with all its opportunity for outdoor activities, is on the doorstep, whilst the historic city of Exeter, great for shopping, is just a few miles down the road.
50.790
-3.652
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Croyde
Lots of old world Devon charm to be found here - Croyde is a tangle of narrow, twisty lanes and pretty cottages. The main attraction is, of course, the beach – a perfect v-shaped notch in the towering cliffs with fine, yellow sand. Croyde is a mecca for surfers due to the consistent waves that roll onto the shore, but even if you don’t fancy a dip yourself, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the location, from horse riding on the sand, walking the coast path or hiring a bike and setting off to explore the north Devon coast.
51.131
-4.222
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Hartland
Once a busy Georgian market town, Hartland is now a beautiful, peaceful idyll set in stunning surroundings. It’s a rare visitor who leaves without seeing Hartland Abbey; built 850 years ago, the Abbey is a magnificent residence (it is still a family home to this day) which exhibits a variety of architectural styles including Queen Anne and Regency. Hartland Quay, a short distance from the village, is known for the immense rock formations that rear out of the sea; storms battering the north Devon coast here are invariably a dramatic sight.
50.993
-4.480
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Holsworthy
Holsworthy is a centre for agriculture, with one of the largest livestock markets in the south west each Wednesday and Thursday - a lively occasion, well worth a visit. An attractive town, it has a large indoor swimming pool useful for the children if the weather turns inclement.
50.811
-4.352
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Ilfracombe
One of the most popular seaside resorts in Victorian times, Ilfracombe has recently undergone something of a renaissance, with some of the most elegant Victorian architecture having been restored. Damien Hirst’s new restaurant here has put the spotlight on the town and drawn food lovers from afar.
51.209
-4.120
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Lynton
Lynton sits on the north Devon cliffs, sandwiched between the sea and Exmoor National Park. 500 feet directly below Lynton is its sister village, Lynmouth; the two are joined by a unique water-powered funicular cliff railway. Natural beauty is everywhere you look in this stunning part of Devon; the coastline here is glorious, while inland Exmoor’s valleys, rivers, waterfalls and hills create an inspiring, wild landscape.
51.230
-3.840
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Okehampton
Okehampton is easily accessible from the A30 in the centre of Devon, and has become the walking centre for the northern region of the Dartmoor National Park, with the ‘Dartmoor Pony’ rail line from the town to Meldon Visitor Centre running at weekends for most of the year, daily during peak season. Visit the Museum of Dartmoor Life in West Street and the ruins of the largest medieval castle to be built in Devon, Okehampton Castle, just outside the town.
50.740
-4.002
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South Molton
South Molton offers a great base from which to explore Devon. To the north is Exmoor; heaven for those who love untamed wilderness walks. Go west and you’ll find some of the country’s best surfing beaches, including Croyde and Woolacombe. There is plenty to keep golfing and fishing enthusiasts entertained or if that seems too energetic, you might like to browse the art galleries or visit the honey farm to see the bees in action.
51.019
-3.834
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Tiverton
Tiverton is set on the Exe and Lowman rivers in a circular layout, now jealously guarded by the planners. Best known for John Heathcoat who set up his 19th Century textile factory with a few wool frames after escaping the luddites in Loughborough, the industry prospered and he built nearby Knighthayes Court as his mansion - now open to visitors with the National Trust. Tiverton Castle is in the centre of the town.
50.905
-3.489
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50.995
-3.985
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Westward Ho!
Westward Ho! is one of possibly only two place names in the world that features an exclamation mark; it’s almost impossible to say it without breaking into a smile. Once dominated by holiday camps, Westward Ho! has been updated in recent years and although it remains a lively resort, it now has a thriving permanent population. The big draw, of course, is the beach – two miles of sand stretch into the distance, backed by a pebble ridge that forms a dividing line between the beach and Northam Burrows Country Park, a magnificent stretch of salt marsh, grassland and sand dunes.
51.042
-4.235
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Woolacombe
Beaches don’t come any bigger than this – Woolacombe’s sands stretch beyond the horizon in a perfect yellow arc. Surfing is the main activity here and this bay is a great place to learn, with consistent swell and a gently shelving beach. The town has a classic seaside feel, with ice cream parlours, surf shops and cafes serving fresh local seafood. There’s an unhurried pace of life here that just begs you to unwind.
51.172
-4.205
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