Things to do and local attractions around Barnstaple and North Devon

The much-loved book Tarka The Otter was the inspiration for this famous series of footpaths and cycle paths around North Devon . Experience the wonderful variety of the local countryside, including rugged moorland, gorgeous wooded valleys, cliff top views and beautiful sandy beaches. Bikes can be hired locally at Tarka Trail Cycle Hire in Barnstaple.

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Exmoor Zoo is an award winning zoo that has a mission to promote education and conservation.  It’s a  friendly zoo which allows visitors to get really close to the animals in its care.

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The famous Heddon Valley has exceptional walks and stunning views. Starting from the National Trust Visitor Centre, there is a selection of beautiful walks to choose from. The picturesque cobbled beach at Heddon's Mouth is only accessible by footpath.

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Arlington Court is a beautiful family estate, which has been held by the Chichester family for over 500 years, with an impressive house, excellent gardens and unique carriage museum.

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Broomhill Sculpture Gardens are where art and culture meet in magical surroundings. This was created in 1997 and has now become one of the largest permanent collections of contemporary sculpture in the south west.

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Explore the brilliant displays and collections at Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Among the many things to see are the Tarka Gallery, the Story of North Devon, and the Regimental Collection of the North Devon Yeomanry.

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Only 4 miles from Barnstaple, Marwood Hill Gardens is an excellent 20 acre private garden and lakes, with a Garden Tea Room and wonderful views.

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At Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, you can see some wonderful wildlife including wolves, sea lions, meerkats and African Lions. Also featured are impressive dinosaur models and some unusual attractions, such as swimming with sea lions and experiencing birds of prey at close hand.

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2 for 1 entry price

See the world famous range of Dartington Crystal and try your hand at glass blowing. From the Visitor Centre, you'll learn all about the glassmaker's history, see their famous creations and shop to you drop for homeware and gift items. Then it's time for a tour of the factory to see the glassmakers at work, blowing and shaping glass to create pieces you may have at home. We take a look at this via our Dartington Crystal News piece.

Go to their Visitor Centre website for details

If you’re looking for a great day out for all the family a visit to The BIG Sheep is a must! The famous attraction is now firmly established as one of the UK’s most innovative & exciting family attractions providing wacky and unique entertainment for all the family.

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There are 6 indoor courts and 4 outdoor courts at this ‘Pay and Play’ tennis centre in nearby Barnstaple.

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Devon's premier fly fishing venue, with lakes stretching over five acres. There is also a great range of activities for youngsters.

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Try an amazing range of sports delivered by trained staff. Activities include climbing, zip wire, archery, surfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking.

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Right next door to the Barnstaple Hotel, Let's Go! is a state of the art centre that features tenpin bowling and a unique indoor skating rink. Great fun for the whole family to enjoy.

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15% discount off Extreme Jump Sessions

Air Extreme, in Barnstaple, is a trampoline filled centre of fun, where guests can bounce, bounce and bounce some more. 

Extreme Jump Sessions include the use of all 8 adrenaline activities, such as the Battle Beam, Performance Trampolines, Free Style, Dodgeball and Airball - so there's something for all the family. 

By booking a set session in advance, you get your own time on the trampoline, for as much space and fun as possible. Speak to our reception teams to claim the discount. 

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Based at Abbotsham, near Bideford, this centre offers a host of exciting activities, including coasteering, mountain boarding, high ropes and climbing wall.

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The Market trades every day of the week on butchers row and hosts regular food festivals. A great place to browse for local produce.

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An all-weather theme park featuring Devon’s tallest, fastest & longest roller coaster and a huge indoor play area that is great for both children and adults.

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A lovely Victorian Castle with interesting displays that is also home to a family theme park with rides, maze, dungeons, play areas and beautiful landscaped gardens.

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Exmoor adventures provides a range of award winning outdoor activities including coasteering, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, raft building, archery, stand-up paddle boarding, tree climbing, orienteering and team building activities across north devon, west somerset, exmoor and the quantock hills.

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Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset, England, contains over 400 cars and motorcycles and a collection of other automobilia.

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In a place of wide spaces and big skies, without roads, cars or pollution, simply walking is a profound pleasure. Lundy has a milder climate than the mainland, with more sunshine and less rain. Book a day trip on the MS Oldenburg to Lundy from Bideford quay.

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Hartland Abbey with its beautiful gardens and grounds welcomes visitors from the end of March until October. It is the cherished home of the Stucley family with treasures and memorabilia collected over many generations.

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Castle Hill house and gardens are steeped in history and are, and have been for centuries, a home to the Fortescue family. Today it is loved and cherished by the Earl and Countess of Arran and is a wonderful visitor attraction. Visit castle hill’s open gardens and stay to enjoy refreshments at their new tearoom.

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20% off Cream Teas at the New Inn and Red Lion in Clovelly village.

World famous for its cobbled, traffic-free street, donkeys, sledges and historic harbour. The stunning views, peaceful tranquillity and cobbled, traffic-free, high street of this fishing village, built into a cleft in a 400' high cliff, tumbles its way down past whitewashed cottages festooned with flowers to the tiny working port.

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This exciting award winning, all weather, fun, educational attraction provides a fascinating insight into the watery world of North Devon... The aquarium offers Local Aquatic Exhibits and showcases a diverse collection of animals displayed within beautifully recreated natural habitats.

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Take a guided tour around the interesting displays and exhibits and learn fun facts about the honeybee before you take a closer look inside the working hives. Nowhere in the world can you get so close to live bees without needing protective equipment! The Happy Bee play hive is a large indoor soft play area, this is where you will also find the café offering homemade food and our special Devonshire cream tea with honey! There is also an outdoor play and seating area for when the sun is shining.

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There are tubes slides, bumpy slides, crawl tubes, ball cannons, rope bridges, spider webs, dangly snakes, gliders, scramble nets, ball pools, log ramps, punch bags, edu blocks and so much more including a specially dedicated area for the under 3’s to enjoy. Even the grown ups can join in the fun as the play frame is designed for adults to enjoy to.

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Tapeley is a historic estate in the parish of Westleigh situatied between Bideford and Instow. It features Italian terrace borders, a traditional walled Kitchen Garden, a lake with massive ThujaPlicata trees, Granite Labyrinth. Falconry Displays each Sunday at 11:30am and 3:30pm, weather permitting. Animals including Highland Cattle, Peacocks and Berkshire Pigs. Tea Rooms - light lunches and teas. Childrens Play Area 'hidden' in the Wild Garden. 

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£8 entry instead of £12.65

At Rosemoor gardens, you can enjoy 65-acres of beautifully planted flower beds, set within a pretty wooded valley. Around every corner there's a lovely surprise. The gardens are home to plants from around the world. Events take place through the year, there's lots of shopping to be done and children's activities keep little green-fingers amused.

We look more at what Rosemoor offers in this news piece.

Or visit their website

Walking on Waves

First Wave sessions are designed to get you off the beach, in the water, and having fun as quickly as possible. We meet up, get to know each other and jump into our “guaranteed to keep you warm” winter wetsuits. It’s only 100m to the beach (although if the tide’s out it can be a bit further to the sea) where we’ll go through the safety drill and give you a chance to practice before we get wet. Then it’s off to the sea to get some real experience with the help of Sarah’s expert on-the-water coaching techniques.

www.walkingonwaves.co.uk

Surf South West

Our North Devon surfing beaches and surf schools are the closest in the southwest to London, the Midlands and the north of England. Travel time from London to Croyde, Devon is 3-4 hours by car and we are only 45 to 60 minutes from the M5, much closer than surf beaches in Cornwall. Croyde Bay in North Devon is renowned as one of the best and most consistent surf beaches in the UK

www.surfsouthwest.com

We can organise a day of coasteering in Croyde with local specialist, Rock and Rapid Adventures. They will provide all the equipment and training you need for an amazing experience, as you swim, climb and jump your way along the dramatic North Devon coast.

www.rockandrapidadventures.co.uk

Fantastic shopping with over 30 stores from famous national brands, offering a fantastic variety of offers on normal retail prices. Clothes, food and drink, children's play area and regular events - what more could you want from a shopping trip? Open seven days a week.

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