Wyldlore Cottage guidebook
Food scene
River Cottage
Trinity Hill RoadCelebrity chef Hugh Fearnely Whittingstall's famous cookery school.
A Jacobean country house hotel with ancient cedar trees and walled kitchen gardens - luxurious feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. The Folly offers delicious flatbreads and al fresco dining ( no need to book), or make a reservation to the restaurant for a more formal experience. The wine list and cocktails are a must! Eat drink and be merry...and maybe slightly broke but happy for the rest of your life. Top destination!
60 locals recommend
The Pig - at Combe
A Jacobean country house hotel with ancient cedar trees and walled kitchen gardens - luxurious feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. The Folly offers delicious flatbreads and al fresco dining ( no need to book), or make a reservation to the restaurant for a more formal experience. The wine list and cocktails are a must! Eat drink and be merry...and maybe slightly broke but happy for the rest of your life. Top destination!
A favourite amongst locals - an atmospheric olde-worlde pub with a hearty, well priced carvery with good options for veggies too. It gets super busy on Sundays. The banoffee pie is marvellous! Forest walks along the East Hill are a nice way to spend the rest of the afternoon and offers views as far as Dartmoor on a clear day.
Hare and Hounds Inn
A favourite amongst locals - an atmospheric olde-worlde pub with a hearty, well priced carvery with good options for veggies too. It gets super busy on Sundays. The banoffee pie is marvellous! Forest walks along the East Hill are a nice way to spend the rest of the afternoon and offers views as far as Dartmoor on a clear day.
Just a 5 min drive away in Seaton, a seafront cafe with outdoor tables in the summer months. Great for a light brunch and lunch.
15 locals recommend
The Hideaway
West WalkJust a 5 min drive away in Seaton, a seafront cafe with outdoor tables in the summer months. Great for a light brunch and lunch.
A seafront gastropub with al fresco terraces. The food is good and offers interesting vegetarian options. Its the go-to pub after a hike up and down Golden Cap - the highest point on the South West coast. It can be busy.
79 locals recommend
The Anchor Inn
A seafront gastropub with al fresco terraces. The food is good and offers interesting vegetarian options. Its the go-to pub after a hike up and down Golden Cap - the highest point on the South West coast. It can be busy.
Coffee and cake in the coastal clouds. Its so pretty up there you won't want to come down. A nice starting point if you're thinking about walking west along the coastal path towards Ladram Bay and beyond.
7 locals recommend
The Clock Tower
Peak Hill RoadCoffee and cake in the coastal clouds. Its so pretty up there you won't want to come down. A nice starting point if you're thinking about walking west along the coastal path towards Ladram Bay and beyond.
If you just want some hearty sea food, this is your place. Located down on Lyme Harbour beach, they also have a little fenced al fresco area in the sand, so you can feel even more marine while you munch your moules marinieres.
44 locals recommend
Harbour Inn Lyme Regis
23 Marine ParadeIf you just want some hearty sea food, this is your place. Located down on Lyme Harbour beach, they also have a little fenced al fresco area in the sand, so you can feel even more marine while you munch your moules marinieres.
Looking for the best cream tea in the world? Head over to the Cosy Tea Pot in Budleigh Salterton. Let me explain: Warm, melty chocolate scones, rich clotted cream, and cherry jam...and if Black Forest scones don't rock your world, I promise you won't find a better classic cream tea anywhere for all the tea in china!
Cosy Teapot
13 Fore StreetLooking for the best cream tea in the world? Head over to the Cosy Tea Pot in Budleigh Salterton. Let me explain: Warm, melty chocolate scones, rich clotted cream, and cherry jam...and if Black Forest scones don't rock your world, I promise you won't find a better classic cream tea anywhere for all the tea in china!
City/town information
Great beach for a safe sea swim, an abundance of lovely shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries - and fossil hunting of course. It's heaving in August. Best enjoyed in September when its less crowded and the sea is still warm.
326 locals recommend
Lyme Regis
Great beach for a safe sea swim, an abundance of lovely shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries - and fossil hunting of course. It's heaving in August. Best enjoyed in September when its less crowded and the sea is still warm.
A beautiful Victorian seaside town where you can easily lose a whole day exploring. It hosts a folk music and dance festival in the summer, presenting some of the best folk music talents the UK has to offer - well worth going through the programme with a fine tooth comb to find some hidden gems!
105 locals recommend
Sidmouth
A beautiful Victorian seaside town where you can easily lose a whole day exploring. It hosts a folk music and dance festival in the summer, presenting some of the best folk music talents the UK has to offer - well worth going through the programme with a fine tooth comb to find some hidden gems!
Devon's capital - a vibrant university town with a diverse range of shops and restaurants. Check out:
- The Phoenix Arts Centre for activities and events.
- The Royal Albert Memorial Museum museum for the latest exhibitions.
- The Northcott Theatre for theatre and dance performances
- The Exeter Picture House for mainstream and arthouse movies.
- Exeter cathedral.
409 locals recommend
Exeter
Devon's capital - a vibrant university town with a diverse range of shops and restaurants. Check out:
- The Phoenix Arts Centre for activities and events.
- The Royal Albert Memorial Museum museum for the latest exhibitions.
- The Northcott Theatre for theatre and dance performances
- The Exeter Picture House for mainstream and arthouse movies.
- Exeter cathedral.
Sightseeing
A picturesque fishing village with beautiful coastal paths. Walk west to reach Branscombe for some breathtaking scenery and lots of cliff top bunny rabbits.
53 locals recommend
Beer Beach
A picturesque fishing village with beautiful coastal paths. Walk west to reach Branscombe for some breathtaking scenery and lots of cliff top bunny rabbits.
Axmouth Harbour
A bustling estuary harbour with a thriving fishing, sailing and kayaking community
An endless beach with rugged and fascinating jurassic coastline with a great cafe and restaurant near the parking area
44 locals recommend
Branscombe Beach
An endless beach with rugged and fascinating jurassic coastline with a great cafe and restaurant near the parking area
Blackbury Camp
An English Heritage iron age hill fort.
Forde Abbey House and Gardens
A friendly observatory on the Sidmouth coast with very little light pollution - great for taking a closer look at the moon!
24 locals recommend
Norman Lockyer Observatory
A friendly observatory on the Sidmouth coast with very little light pollution - great for taking a closer look at the moon!
Go on...go and see the fuzzy wuzzies. You wont regret it! They do amazing work to help equines in need around the world. Entrance is free and you can either walk around the farm and let the donkeys entertain you, or you can take the steep hike down to Weston Beach (its not for the faint hearted). Support the charity by making a donation, visiting their gift shop, or enjoying the cafe and restaurant.
80 locals recommend
The Donkey Sanctuary
Go on...go and see the fuzzy wuzzies. You wont regret it! They do amazing work to help equines in need around the world. Entrance is free and you can either walk around the farm and let the donkeys entertain you, or you can take the steep hike down to Weston Beach (its not for the faint hearted). Support the charity by making a donation, visiting their gift shop, or enjoying the cafe and restaurant.
An atmospheric victorian seaside town - plenty of interesting tea houses, cafes and quirky vintage shops.
28 locals recommend
Budleigh Salterton Beach
An atmospheric victorian seaside town - plenty of interesting tea houses, cafes and quirky vintage shops.
Just over 1 hours drive away but its one of my favourite river walks of all time...especially in autumn.
57 locals recommend
Fingle Bridge Inn
Just over 1 hours drive away but its one of my favourite river walks of all time...especially in autumn.
Dunkeswell Airfield
Gliding....
Golden Cap is the highest point on the Jurassic Coast line, and you'll feel really good about yourself if you make it to the top! On a clear day you can see as far as....Mexico.
103 locals recommend
Golden Cap
Golden Cap is the highest point on the Jurassic Coast line, and you'll feel really good about yourself if you make it to the top! On a clear day you can see as far as....Mexico.
A mind blowing insight into the beasties that lived here before we did.
19 locals recommend
Dinosaurland Fossil Museum
Coombe StreetA mind blowing insight into the beasties that lived here before we did.
Health and Wellbeing
Jala Flow Yoga
39 Sidford High StA lovely yoga studio in central Sidmouth
A hauntingly beautiful neo gothic mansion set in 11 acres of idyllic Dorset countryside. It has been converted into an educational centre for sustainable living, and offers various courses, retreats and events.
Monkton Wyld
A hauntingly beautiful neo gothic mansion set in 11 acres of idyllic Dorset countryside. It has been converted into an educational centre for sustainable living, and offers various courses, retreats and events.
Native wild flower meadows, cafe and farm shop. A wonderful place to pick up wild flower seeds.
Goren Farm
Native wild flower meadows, cafe and farm shop. A wonderful place to pick up wild flower seeds.
A beachside sauna that's available for private hire as well as individual bookings. Why not try one their full moon sauna sessions.
seasidesaunahaus
A beachside sauna that's available for private hire as well as individual bookings. Why not try one their full moon sauna sessions.
Just 5 mins drive away, Pinewood offers an absolutely gorgeous heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool at a very reasonable price. Sssh its one of our best kept secrets!
Pinewood Retreat Holiday Park
Sidmouth RoadJust 5 mins drive away, Pinewood offers an absolutely gorgeous heated indoor and outdoor swimming pool at a very reasonable price. Sssh its one of our best kept secrets!
A herbal clinic and shop in Honiton run by a talented herbalist. Drop in to browse a brilliant range of herbal products, from teas to tinctures balms and ointments. A true apothecary.
Roots To Health
59a High StreetA herbal clinic and shop in Honiton run by a talented herbalist. Drop in to browse a brilliant range of herbal products, from teas to tinctures balms and ointments. A true apothecary.