Day trips
- Lundy Island
- A day trip to Lundy Island. The ship sails from Bideford and Ilfracombe depending on tides with a bus transfer between ports available (see 2024 timetable). A Winter helicopter service is available near Hartland Point.
- Exmoor Coaster
- A open top bus hop on and off ride between Lynmouth and Minehead (in Summer between Ilfracombe and Minehead).
- RHS Garden Rosemoor
- Rosemoor Garden is located near Torrington (about a 30 minutes drive). For RHS members, entry (plus one guest) is free. It covers a large expanse and has a plant shop, visitor centre, restaurant and tea room. Allow a few hours to visit there.
A selection of Walks and hikes
- Watersmeet
Park for free on Hillsford Bridge National Trust car park and walk towards Watersmeet and continue further to either Lynmouth or Rockford. This walk has opportunities to shorten or lengthen the distance.
- Lynton via Valley of the Rocks
Park for free at Woody Bay car park and walk along the small and usually not busy road to Lee Bay, Lee Abbey and Lynton. You can avoid the road between Lee Bay and Lynton. Alternatively you can walk down to Woody Bay and immerse yourself in Colonel Lake’s failed vision of a grand tourist resort. The scenery is unique.
- Hunter’s Inn
Walk from Woody Bay car park. Park for free at Woody Bay car park and walk down to Hill towards Woody Bay until turning onto the costal path on your left. Stop over at Heddon’s Mouth. From there it is an easy walk to Hunter’s Inn where you can get refreshments and return via the upper path (Colonel Lake's carriageway) back to Woody Bay. This walk can be strenuous.
The walk from Hunter’s Inn to Heddon’s Mouth is gentle. There is limited free parking at Hunter’s Inn in addition to a National Trust car park (free for members).
- Lanacre Bridge
- Park near and walk to Withypool. There you will find the Royal Oak Inn and a good but seasonal Withypool Tearoom. You can make this a round trip by walking back via Kitridge Lane. Lanacre Bridge makes a good picnic spot in summer although you won’t be the only ones.
- A challenging walk from Withypool to the Tarr Steps
This leds you along the river Barle. Rest at the Tarr Farm Inn next to the Tarr Steps clapper bridge. You can also park at Tarr Farm (pay car park) and enjoy the area with a some gentle strolls along the local paths.
- Visit Horner Wood
Horner Wood is near Porlock including Webber's Post. Use the National Trust pay car park at Horner or free parking at Webber's Post.
- Bossington near Porlock.
Use the pay car park at National Trust Bossington. Alternatively, there is limited free parking at Allerford.
- National Trust's Arlington Court estate and house.
Park on street for free at Loxhore and walk the grounds. In order to see the house and formal gardens, you will need purchase a ticket (free for members). You can park directly at Arlington Court (pay car park, free for National Trust members) with easy access to the grounds, house and gardens.
- Croyde, Putsborough and Woolacombe beaches
Both beaches have convenient but expensive pay car parks. There is a free car park for National Trust members in Croyde with access to the beach or to walk the Baggy Point headland. Outside the season you may park free at North Walk in Woolacombe and walk towards Putsborough along the three mile beach.
- Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows
… both with pay car parks. You can walk towards Crow Point. You can also park at Crow Point using the tool road (£2.50 at the time of writing). When walking the Braunton Burrows keep track of your path to find your way out.
- Walk to Clovelly
Park at the smallish Brownsham National Trust car park for free (donations welcome) and walk to Clovelly (passing Clovelly Court Gardens). This can be a circular walk (ca 6 miles).
Restaurants and food
Barnstaple and the wider area has a good selection of places to east ranging from simple tea rooms to decent restaurants. We assembled a small selection of recommendations below.
- St Johns Garden Centre's Conservatory Cafe
- is a short walk away and serves breakfast, lunch and tea.
- Willow's Tearoom in Landkey
- is a short drive away.
- Castle Inn
- Outside of the town in Landkey and the Jack Russel Inn in Swimbridge are nice village pubs for a relaxed evening meal.
- Fox and Goose
- Paracombe (ca 14 miles) with a small but tasty selection food. It’s a bit out of the way, but you could combine it with a walk in Exmoor. Book ahead on weekends and during the summer season.
- Pyne Arms
- in East Down (ca 9 miles) Award winning pub with good food. Book ahead.
- Castle Inn
- in Landkey (ca 2.1 miles). The food is traditional pub grub. Check the food service times before you go.
- The Jack Russel
- in Swimbridge (ca 3.7 miles) with good food and an excellent Steak Night on Wednesday and a burger night on Friday. Check the food service times before going and book ahead because it can be busy.
- Cedars Inn
- ca 2.6 miles from here, lively, with a large beer garden in summer and traditional pub grub
- Fish and Chips are done by the Pelican
- in Bickington (ca 2.2 miles) and famous Squires in Braunton (ca. 6.6 miles). Both places have a sit-in restaurant and do take away.