Barnstaple

This beautiful historical town of Barnstaple is nestling in the well-known valley of The River Taw. With fantastic scenery and natural wildlife the River Taw begins at Dartmoor National Park and flows through the Tarka country before reaching the sea at the Taw- Torridge Estuary. From Barnstaple you can easily reach the moorlands of Dartmoor and Exmoor which is perfect for walking and exploring yet situated within minutes from a coastline that offers outstanding beaches and cliff walks.

Barnstaple has always been known as a market town, generally because traders flocked to the market to sell their produce. The pannier market today is continually thriving as you will see meat, vegetables and lots more on sale here. You can discover the full history of Barnstaple including its untouched Victorian buildings by visiting The Heritage Centre which consists of a large exhibition on the rich history of Barnstaple; also take a stroll along Barnstaple’s Castle Green where you can see the ruins of the Castle Mound.

The town has a well-established shopping mall known as Green Lanes with over 40 shops and the mall leads onto the main high street with many well known high street shops plus many cafes, pubs, restaurants and bars. Around the Barnstaple area there are many attractions for all ages for example North Devon Quads, The Milky Way, The Big Sheep, Superbowl, Paintballing, Museums, National Trust gardens and much more.

For those who are looking for a more tranquil holiday why not take a trip down to the North Devon coastline offering a selection of fantastic beaches which include Croyde Bay, Putsborough and Saunton Sands all offering great bathing, Surfing and swimming. Croyde Bay offers lifeguard cover from May to September and dog restrictions apply. Dogs are generally allowed on the Saunton Sands beach although Kite buggies and sand yachts are prohibited. If you’re looking for a great surf then Saunton Sands is the beach for you!