Gemma's Guidebook
Sightseeing
We love to walk our dog here as it’s quieter than most beaches.
58 locals recommend
Northam Burrows Country Park
Sandymere RoadWe love to walk our dog here as it’s quieter than most beaches.
Westward Ho!
Great for rock pooling, swimming, surfing and much more.
Crabbing, take the Summer passenger ferry to Instow, walk the cobbled streets and look at the colourful fishermans cottages & enjoy the restaurants & cafes.
147 locals recommend
Appledore
Crabbing, take the Summer passenger ferry to Instow, walk the cobbled streets and look at the colourful fishermans cottages & enjoy the restaurants & cafes.
A lovely estuary beach with sand dunes and a selection of great eateries. The beach is dog friendly.
88 locals recommend
Instow
A lovely estuary beach with sand dunes and a selection of great eateries. The beach is dog friendly.
Clovelly
A beautiful fishing village that's worth exploring.
Lundy is a magical little island, MS Oldenberg sails from Bideford Quay & Ilfracombe. Tickets can be bought on Bideford Quay.
72 locals recommend
Lundy
Lundy is a magical little island, MS Oldenberg sails from Bideford Quay & Ilfracombe. Tickets can be bought on Bideford Quay.
Activities
Local activities we’ve tried and tested for you!
I had surf lessons here when we first moved to Devon, they’re so friendly and offer lots of lessons and hire of boards and wetsuits etc.
22 locals recommend
North Devon Surf School
1 Pebbleridge RdI had surf lessons here when we first moved to Devon, they’re so friendly and offer lots of lessons and hire of boards and wetsuits etc.
Great for the kids and it has a free shallow outdoor pool for paddling.
17 locals recommend
Victoria Park
39 Kingsley RdGreat for the kids and it has a free shallow outdoor pool for paddling.
Worth a visit to see which exhibitions are on. The cafe does great French food.. try the galettes
55 locals recommend
The Burton Art Gallery and Museum
Kingsley RoadWorth a visit to see which exhibitions are on. The cafe does great French food.. try the galettes
The Tarka Trail is a lot of fun to explore, hire a bike, trailer and all the accessories you could need and explore the long flat route. Lots of eateries along the way! Our fave route is Instow to Fremington Quay and back.
67 locals recommend
Tarka Trail
The Tarka Trail is a lot of fun to explore, hire a bike, trailer and all the accessories you could need and explore the long flat route. Lots of eateries along the way! Our fave route is Instow to Fremington Quay and back.
Hire a bike, trailer, tandem etc and head towards Instow or Torrington.. plenty of places to eat and drink along the way.
10 locals recommend
Bideford Bicycle Hire
Torrington StreetHire a bike, trailer, tandem etc and head towards Instow or Torrington.. plenty of places to eat and drink along the way.
A day of fun inside and out for kids of all ages, run by a local eco friendly family
148 locals recommend
The Milky Way Adventure Park
A day of fun inside and out for kids of all ages, run by a local eco friendly family
Try wake boarding or bounce on the aqua park with your friends or the kids.. a lot of fun!
46 locals recommend
North Devon Wake Park
Try wake boarding or bounce on the aqua park with your friends or the kids.. a lot of fun!
Air Extreme Trampoline Park
1 Lauder LnGreat indoor fun for all ages
Food scene
Great pizza right near the beach and all cooked to order.
21 locals recommend
Pig and Olive, Westward Ho!
1 Pebbleridge RdGreat pizza right near the beach and all cooked to order.
Pier House Wedding Venue North Devon
Merley RoadA great place to eat with amazing views
Our favourite place for coffee, hot chocolate, lunch and homemade cakes
45 locals recommend
The Coffee Cabin
22 The QuayOur favourite place for coffee, hot chocolate, lunch and homemade cakes
Instow Arms
Marine ParadeGreat food and great views
You can’t come to North Devon without trying our local Hockings ice cream, unless you’re Vegan! Their vans can be found everywhere.
20 locals recommend
Hockings Dairy Cream Ices
Kingsley AvenueYou can’t come to North Devon without trying our local Hockings ice cream, unless you’re Vegan! Their vans can be found everywhere.
Morans is great for a grown ups night out or a tasty meal or a few cocktails at the bar. Take the kids to the all you can eat Sunday buffet
55 locals recommend
Morans Restaurant & Bar
Golf Links RoadMorans is great for a grown ups night out or a tasty meal or a few cocktails at the bar. Take the kids to the all you can eat Sunday buffet
Fine dining for adults only, we highly recommend the food, wine & service. It's run by a Husband (Chef) & Wife (Waitress) Team.
19 locals recommend
Number Eight
49 Allhalland StFine dining for adults only, we highly recommend the food, wine & service. It's run by a Husband (Chef) & Wife (Waitress) Team.
The Thatched Inn
Hillsborough RoadThe best Sunday carvery around
The Royal George
Irsha StreetWe love eating here! Great food and great views.
Yumee
1 The Pill RdOur favourite Chinese take away.
Fine dining for adults only, we highly recommend the food, wine & service. It's run by a Husband (Chef) & Wife (Waitress) Team.
8 locals recommend
Memories Restaurant
8 Fore StFine dining for adults only, we highly recommend the food, wine & service. It's run by a Husband (Chef) & Wife (Waitress) Team.
Rock Pool Café
2 Golf Links RdA top quality cafe for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
Shopping
These are some of my favourite places to shop
Everything Westward
51 Bath Hotel RdMy favourite local shop for gifts and goodies
Josie's Interiors
10 Cooper StMy favourite local shop for home wares, especially their Reed diffusers
My favourite place to shop, fill your own tubs with oats, nuts, rice etc or even washing up liquid and shampoo. Lots of vegan food and fresh bread.
Nature's Nutrition
45 Mill StMy favourite place to shop, fill your own tubs with oats, nuts, rice etc or even washing up liquid and shampoo. Lots of vegan food and fresh bread.
Neighbourhoods
Such a pretty little fishing village with lots of places to eat, drink and shop.
147 locals recommend
Appledore
Such a pretty little fishing village with lots of places to eat, drink and shop.
A great dog walking beach but I wouldn’t paddle in the water. Great eateries, deli, cafe etc and most welcome dogs.
88 locals recommend
Instow
A great dog walking beach but I wouldn’t paddle in the water. Great eateries, deli, cafe etc and most welcome dogs.
A beautiful cliff side village which is worth a visit, the steep cobbles are not for the faint hearted though.
277 locals recommend
Clovelly
A beautiful cliff side village which is worth a visit, the steep cobbles are not for the faint hearted though.