4 Tips For Exploring North Devon
By Simon Hird
1. Come early or late - in the day or season
Whilst Devon might not be quite as busy as its popular neighbour Cornwall during the summer it can get pretty packed with holidaymakers during, particularly with the rise of ‘staycations’. I’d recommend coming in the spring (late March to early May) or the Autumn (September-October). The more well-known spots are much quieter and often the weather can still be great.
The early bird catches the worm rings true when visiting places in Devon and an early morning walk or swim on one of the stunning beaches in North Devon can be a real treat. Though with much of the North Devon coast being westward-facing to the ocean, the sunsets can be unreal and it’s well worth checking the forecast and direction of the sun to see if you’ll catch a beautiful sunset dipping into the ocean.
2. Walk some of the South West Coastal Path
I think this is a real must for any trip to the South West and I’m sure many of you may have walked stretches of it before. But for those who don’t know, the South West coastal path is a continuous footpath that goes from Minehead in Somerset the whole way around the South West peninsula and finishes up in Poole Harbour. It is 630 miles long and offers views over some of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the UK. The joy of the coastal path is you can literally start and stop anywhere and it gives you access to the entire North Devon coastline on foot. I’d recommend getting out a map, packing a picnic and planning a little walk out to a secluded cove or remote clifftop to enjoy the real beauty of Devon.
3. Enjoy some of the local food
There’s some great food stops in North Devon and I’d highly recommend checking out these:
Hockings Ice Cream - the iconic North Devon ice cream that you can even get clotted cream on top… You’ll find a Hocking’s van at Instow, Appledore, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Torrington and Westward Ho! most days during the summer.
John’s Deli - local shop/deli/cafe in Instow with a sister shop in Appledore. I’d recommend heading to the one in Instow and grabbing some food from the amazing cafe there
The Flame Factory in Appledore - I’m yet to try this place but everyone raves about it, so it’s here for good measure, let me know if you love it too!
Fish & Chips - You can’t come to the coast without going to a fish and chip shop right? There’s honestly so many to choose from, but my top two are Graylings in Fremington and Atlantic Bay in Westward Ho!
Cream Tea - a Devon classic and don’t forget to do it the Devon way, cream on first.
4. Cycle the Tarka Trail
The Tarka Trail is a 180-mile route that traverses much of North Devon. A bit like the coastal path, it’s very easy just to pick out certain stretches to cycle and there are multiple spots along the route to start/stop and to rent bikes from. I’d recommend the stretch starting from Fremington Quay (a good spot to rent bikes) and either cycle around to Braunton or down to Great Torrington. It’s a great day out and there’s plenty of spots to get food/coffee or secluded spots to have a picnic.
Written by outdoor photographer and North Devon local Simon Hird.
Follow @simonhird for more beautiful images from Devon, Scotland and beyond.