As dawn breaks over the rugged cliffs of North Devon, a misty canvas of enchanting beauty unveils itself – a quintessential landscape dotted with quaint towns, invigorating coastal paths, and hidden beaches that are every bit as alluring as the tales that reside within their borders.
Imagine strolling through charming narrow lanes lined with thatched cottages, savouring a traditional cream tea, keeping the kids amused at a local theme park, soaking the sun up at a 3-mile-long beach or perhaps losing yourself in the midst of magnificent moorland scenery.
In this locals guide, discover the top 11 towns in North Devon that everyone should include in their travel itinerary.
Each of these gems holds its unique appeal, and whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, food enthusiast, or simply an incurable romantic, you’re bound to find a town that feels like it was created just for you.
So, put on your virtual hiking boots, fill your flasks with curiosity, and join us as we traverse the fascinating contours of North Devon’s most inviting towns.
North Devon’s Natural Beauty
North Devon offers a diverse range of places to visit, including charming towns, stunning beaches, and historical landmarks.
It is also home to Exmoor National Park, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering opportunities for hiking, wildlife spotting, and awe-inspiring scenery.
North Devon’s Coastal Delights
This region’s coastline is renowned for its pristine beaches and excellent surfing conditions. It’s even been recognised as the 12th Surfing Haven in the world!
Whether you’re seeking thrilling waves, a peaceful seaside retreat or to keep the kids amused when on holiday, North Devon’s beaches, including Woolacombe, Saunton Sands, and Croyde Bay, offer something for everyone.
Now let’s get into these 11 unmissable towns right here in North Devon.
Woolacombe
The main attraction in Woolacombe is its award-winning sandy beach, which stretches for three miles and offers excellent surfing conditions.
It’s like a step back in time, with a small, but busy array of shops, some amazing cafes and a beach that just goes on for days. Did we mention it’s dog friendly too?
This is a must-visit location for anyone with kids who love the sea, the beach or have a bucket & spade. We nearly always go to Woolacombe when in the area.
How to Get to Woolacombe
Located on the North Devon coast and can be reached by car via the A361 or A399 roads. The nearest train station is Barnstaple, and from there, you can take a bus or taxi to Woolacombe.
You can find out more about Woolacombe in our dedicated visitor’s guide to Woolacombe.
Mortehoe
Located just a few minutes away from Woolacombe, Mortehoe houses our absolute favourite takeaway in the entire North Devon area (see the visitor’s guide as it’s amazing).
It’s a small village yet packs a real punch. With two pubs, multiple takeaways, a traditional post office, a campsite with amazing views across the channel, a museum and some amazing walks around the hills and out to Morte Point on the South West coast path.
There are some hidden beaches to discover here, you just need to know where to look. Our guide below has all the details
See our dedicated visitors guide to Mortehoe for more information.
Croyde
Croyde is a renowned surfing and holiday destination in North Devon.
Staying with surfing for a few moments, the surf found here is more suitable for experienced surfers, however at high tide it’s a lot tamer. If surfing is your thing, see our dedicated local’s surfing guide to North Devon.
There are numerous campsites in and around Croyde Bay. The village itself is quaint, to say the least! The ice cream shop is amazing and it can get very busy during the school holidays, so we always recommend arriving early, as the is finite parking in the town.
Out of all nearly all the places to visit, Croyde is the least dog-friendly of them all. So if you have your dog with you, this may not be the best choice. of towns to visit.
We have a visitors guide to Croyde if you’d like to learn more about the views from Baggy Point, all the parking spots & campsites (and a little more about the attitude towards dogs here).
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is renowned for its harbour, its shale beach and the huge “Verity” statue.
But what is often missed is the Aquarium at the end of the harbour, the hidden beach which is actually Tunnels beach, not the one you first think is Ilfracombe’s beach and of course, the busy high street set back up on the hill.
In our dedicated visitor’s guide to Ilfracombe, we explain how the family loves the food at the top of the hill in “The Depot” (really must go there) and will drive down to the harbour and walk it off.
There are loads of things to do in and around Ilfracombe and in the guide above, we have all the tips on the things not to miss, the hidden beaches, a castle and even some free parking too.
Combe Martin
Combe Martin is quite far from Bideford, but it’s worth the journey up if you love a fantastic beach and also fancy the idea of discovering some hidden away, probably deserted coves no one knows about.
A busy small town, the beach here is amazing on a hot summer’s day with cafes and shops behind the beach’s edge.
The Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is definitely worth a visit if you have kids with you. Plus there are several really good campsites nearby.
We have a visitor guide to Combe Martin for your adventures here so you don’t miss out on finding those hidden beaches and where dogs are allowed in the summer
North Devon Beaches
If beaches are your thing, then wow you’re in luck. North Devon has some of the best beaches in the United Kingdom.
Woolacombe pictured above is almost 3 miles long and has sand & surf for days, the same for Saunton Sands which we cover in a moment. But there is a lot more! We cannot forget Westward Ho!, Clovelly, Croyde, Instow and all the hidden beaches you’ve yet to discover here.
If you want to know the best sandy beaches for kids, surfing and more, this is the complete visitor’s guide to North Devon Beaches.
Saunton Sands
The main attraction of Saunton Sands is well, the sands! A 3-mile long beach that is backed by epic sand dunes, it’s another amazing dog-friendly beach here in North Devon.
The carpark is huge and we’ve found a spot even on the busiest of days. A cafe, ice cream, surf school and restaurant are all on-site and the surf here is renowned for its long-boarding potential.
During low tide, you can rockpool to the North of the beach and if you walk all the way down to the South you’ll discover Crow Point.
And yes, we also have a dedicated visitors guide to Saunton Sands so you don’t miss out on anything here.
Instow
As a family, we absolutely love Instow. Its pure, naked beauty is what makes it one of our favourite beaches in the whole of Devon.
Instow and its beach is located just a few minutes away from Bideford’s town centre and there is even a ferry that runs between Instow and Appledore across the water at high tide.
This is the perfect place to watch the sun go down over Appledore and the sea behind the Northam Burrows. We always go to Instow, the dog loves the beach and the dunes.
There are one or two small caveats with Instow, we cover these in our visitor’s guide to Instow.
Clovelly
Clovelly is a privately owned harbour village just south of Bideford. It’s renowned for its traffic-free streets, absolutely stunning location, timeless beauty of white-washed houses, cobbled streets and beautiful harbourside.
Tickets to enter Clovelly are £8.75 for an adult and £5.10 for children aged between 7 and 16 (free entry for kids under 7). And Clovelly is dog friendly
We’ve included two snaps of Clovelly above, you only need to hit Instagram to find out how beautiful this place is.
Check out our visitor’s guide to Clovelly for more in-depth details
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is one of the biggest towns in Devon and makes a fantastic day out for all the family.
From our own experiences in Barnstaple, the main high street is full of shops and has the Green Lanes shopping centre. We’re also a fan of charity shop diving and also stopping off for cake and a cuppa in The Boutport Cafe is highly recommended.
The Barnstaple Pannier Market is an indoor market worth seeing if it’s open. At the time of writing, it’s being renovated and is currently closed.
How to Get There
Barnstaple is the largest town in North Devon and can be easily reached by car via the A361 or by train from Exeter. It’s also well-served by buses.
Explore the historic town centre, visit the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, take a leisurely walk along the River Taw, or enjoy a boat trip on the Tarka Line are just a few of the things you can do here.
This is our visitor’s guide to Barnstaple with more details on what to see and do in the town.
Braunton
- How to Get There: Braunton is located inland but is within a short distance from the North Devon coast. It can be reached by car via the A361 or by bus from Barnstaple.
- Notable Attraction: Braunton Burrows is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and offers a diverse and unique landscape. It’s an excellent place for walking, birdwatching, and exploring the sand dunes.
- Beaches Nearby: Braunton is close to popular beaches like Saunton Sands, Croyde Bay, and Putsborough Sands.
- Things to Do: Explore the unique ecosystem of Braunton Burrows, go surfing at nearby beaches, visit the Braunton Museum, or take a bike ride along the Tarka Trail.
- Here is the visitors guide to Braunton for more information.
Westward Ho!
- How to Get There: Westward Ho! is easily accessible by both public and private transportation. If you’re travelling by car, you can reach the village via the A39 road, which connects it to other major towns and cities in the area. There is ample parking available near the beach and within the village.
- Notable Attractions: Westward Ho! offers notable attractions such as its beautiful sandy beach, popular among surfers, and the adjacent Northam Burrows Country Park, a vast nature reserve with sand dunes and grasslands.
- Things to Do: In addition to coastal walks with breathtaking views, Westward Ho! offers thrilling water sports and the opportunity to explore the charming village of Appledore. Indulge in delicious local cuisine, including seafood specialities, at the village’s restaurants and cafes.
- Learn about this beautiful town and check out the visitors guide to Westward Ho!
These are the top 11 towns to visit in North Devon, each offering its own unique beauty, attractions, and opportunities for relaxation and adventure.
Plan Your Visit to North Devon, each guide in each town offers important information for travellers including accommodation and places to eat.
All Our Visitor Guides
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to the top towns in North Devon. We have visitor guides with insider, local’s guides to all of them
- Visitors guide to Woolacombe
- Visitors guide to Morthoe
- Visitors guide to Croyde
- Visitors guide to Ilfracombe
- Visitors guide to Combe Martin
- Visitors guide to Saunton
- Visitors guide to Instow
- Visitors Guide to Clovelly
- Visitors guide to Barnstaple
- Visitors guide to Braunton
- Visitors guide to Westward Ho!
In Summary
Experience the captivating towns of North Devon, nestled along the stunning southwestern coast of England.
With breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, and rich history, North Devon is a must-visit destination.
From the award-winning sandy beach of Woolacombe to the unique fishing village of Clovelly, each town has its own charm and attractions.
Explore the region’s natural beauty, indulge in delicious cuisine, and enjoy warm hospitality.
Whether you seek relaxation or adventure, North Devon’s 11 towns offer an unforgettable experience.
Plan your visit and immerse yourself in the beauty and history of this enchanting region.
Our newsletter is packed with helpful tips and resources to help you mazimise your time in & around Bideford. Sign up now and join our community of savvy Bideford’ers.
About the Author
Welcome to Bideford.com! I’m Jason Jr, a seasoned explorer and avid fan of Bideford and the broader North Devon area. With over a decade of consistent family visits, virtually every weekend, I’ve immersed myself in the rich history and vibrant culture Bideford & North Devon.
On this site, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge amassed from my adventures here. From in-depth local guides to engaging blog posts about Bideford. Whether you’re looking for recommendations on things to do or guidance on where to stay we have you covered. Join me as we delve into the heart of Bideford, North Devon – a town that’s more than just a destination, but an experience waiting to be discovered.
Do you want to see your favourite Bideford attraction, place to stay, event or activity listed here? Contact Us!
