SPRING & SUMMER
in North Devon
As the weather begins to brighten and the spring flowers start to bloom, this is your ultimate guide to joyful exploration and simple pleasures in spring and summer. Discover the rugged clifftops, hidden beauty, fairytale villages, and family-friendly days out. This is a compendium of everything that makes North Devon such a special corner of the south west in the warmer months.
We hope these places to visit in North Devon fuel your imagination and incite adventure. It goes without saying that there is more to discover – no doubt you will alight upon your best bits – but here are thirty-four of our favourite things for spring and summer!
Jump straight to…
🍃 Outdoor Adventures & Nature
🚸 Family-friendly Things To Do in North Devon
💎 Hidden Gems & Unique Experiences
🍤 Foodie Delights & Local Produce
🗝️ Cultural & Historic Attractions
☔️ Best Things for Rainy Days in North Devon
1. Discover the Coastline by Horseback
There is nothing like a long gallop on a sandy beach amongst the waves and breathing the salty air for a truly ‘bucket list’ experience.
The great thing is that you needn’t have ridden so much as a pony before to get involved at Woolacombe Riding Stables – where beginners and all youngsters of seven or over are more than welcome.
2. Hike to a Hidden Waterfall
Spekes Mill Mouth is home to one the most famous waterfalls in North Devon. It is easy to reach – just 20 minutes from Hartland Quay on the South West Coast Path.
A 30m waterfall descends into a hidden pool beneath before cascading over another waterfall into a pool then onto the sea beyond. The first pool is hidden from people looking from above and you can get down to the pool (carefully) to swim in the pool and under the waterfall.
At low tide there are rockpools to investigate or swim in. To get there, park in the car park at Hartland Quay and walk for around 30 minutes, enjoying the pretty views as you go.
3. Explore the Coast by Kayak
Taking to the water in a kayak is an opportunity to go that bit further – exploring sea caves, seeing the stunning coastline from a fresh perspective and discovering secluded coves.
Hele Bay Adventures can fix you up, or Putsborough Sands and Watermouth Cove are perfect launching spots too.
4. Hike the South West Coast Path
Follow the dramatic coastline of North Devon along the South West Coast Path, where breathtaking sea views, rugged cliffs, and hidden coves await. Whether you tackle a short scenic stroll or a more challenging hike, every step is rewarded with stunning landscapes and fresh sea air.
5. Paddleboard Through Secret Caves
In the spring and summer, when the weather conditions are favourable, stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP) is a great way to escape the crowds. With just a little paddle power, you can explore North Devon’s enchanting waterways and coastline in the most peaceful way, at your own pace.
Watermouth Cove is a great place for SUP newbies as it’s a lovely sheltered cove. That said, it won’t be any less exciting for experienced SUP-ers as it’s just a gorgeous place to be. To experience it from the water is truly special – there are so many secret coves and stunning coastal sights! SUP hire and lessons are available here. Barricane Beach and Grunta Beach are also great spots to launch from.
For the ultimate SUP experience, hit the water at sunrise to really see its velvety smoothness in a whole new light.
6. Cycle the Tarka Trail
Famed by Henry Williamson’s “Tarka the Otter” there is wildlife and views in abundance on this trail! Whether you’re a keen cyclist or just fancy the wind in your hair as you explore, the Tarka Trail has something for everybody!
This 32 mile cycle trail runs from Braunton to Meeth in North Devon. Flat and family-friendly, the trail travels through beautiful countryside, offering stunning views across the estuaries of the River Taw and Torridge with many picnic spots, cafes and pubs along the route.
7. Learn How to Wakeboard
An exhilarating combination of water skiing, surfing and snowboarding, wakeboarding has taken the world of watersports by storm. Strap a wakeboard to your feet and keep tight hold as you’re towed at speed across the water, riding the choppy waves.
Before you head out to open water, the North Devon Wake Park is a great place to start – every wakeboard session comes with professional coaching from some of the UK’s best Wakeboarders.
8. Go for a Picnic at Heddon Valley
There are so many amazing picnic spots around North Devon. One of our favourites is Heddon Valley – a short drive up the coast.
This is a great spot for families because you can either walk along the picturesque river near the car park, or wander to the beach on an easy pushchair friendly walk to Heddon’s Mouth. There is a National Trust shop and ice-cream parlour right next to the car park.
For more adventure, head to Highveer Point. A short but steep walk will reward you with stunning views across the Heddon Valley and along the coast to Woody Bay. Look out for perigrines, deer, porpoise and dolphins.
9. Watch a Falconry Display
Visiting North Devon with kids? Everyone will love the falconry and sheepdog displays at Borough Farm in Woolacombe. Perch on hay bales or, if it’s raining, you can shelter in the barn to watch the displays.
10. Cheer at a Sheep Race
Head to The BIG Sheep to watch Red Ram, Sheargear and Woolly Jumper race in The BIG Sheep memorial cup. You can place a bet and cheer on your favourite! This is great fun for kids of all ages.
11. Go on a Buggy-friendly Stroll
When the sun is out, there’s nothing better than going off for a jaunt, kids in tow. But what if your little people are buggy bound? Our answer: don’t let this stop you!
Northam Burrows Country Park is just a short drive away in Bideford, It is a site of special scientific interest with a range of habitats including sand dunes, salt marsh, grassland and rocky shores. There’s also a visitor centre (May to Sep) with refreshments, toilets, family activities & events.
12. Go on a Road Trip
If you feel like getting out and exploring a bit further afield, North Devon has all the essential ingredients for the perfect road trip. Beautiful ever-changing scenery, dramatic seascapes and you’ll always get a warm welcome in the pretty towns and villages.
Go on a coastal adventure to Heddon’s Mouth, discover the pretty village of Porlock Weir, or head to Simonsbath for a jaunt across historic moorland.
13. Go Crabbing in Combe Martin
Pretty Combe Martin is the perfect seaside town to drop your line if you’d like to catch some of these feisty critters!
All you need is a bit of bacon, a bucket, and a fishing line. Find a suitable spot on the harbour wall. Don’t use a hook, choose a line with a small net and a weight attached. Bacon or any fish off-cuts are ideal as bait – you’ll probably have your first few bites in just a few minutes!
14. Walk an Alpaca
Head to Cadenza Alpacas in Torrington for an unforgettable trek! You’ll take a guided stroll through the beautiful North Devon countryside in the company of one of their friendly and docile alpacas.
You’ll learn how to hand feed, handle and walk your new friend – sometimes known as ‘therapacas’, this is a uniquely stress-busting experience. Better still, at the end of your walk you can enjoy a cream tea in the paddock.
15. Swim with the Seals at Lundy Island
Have you ever seen the Devon coastline by boat? Witnessed wild sealions playing along the rocks as you dive? If not, then a tour with Wild Frontier is a must.
You can depart Ilfracombe Harbour for Lundy Island and spend the morning swimming with the seals in one of the many coves and bays around the Island’s Marine Nature Reserve.
Go ashore and stroll the many coastal paths or grab lunch in the Marisco Tavern. The journey is just over an hour long and dolphins are often encountered along the way!
16. Go on a Mackerel Fishing Boat Trip
While these sleek silvery treasures swim in deep water around 300m deep over winter, they return to the shallows off the coast in the summer months to spawn, often in fast moving shoals numbered in their thousands.
With the expert guidance from the team at Wild Frontiers, you can get your hands on a fresh catch of these salty morsels. Trips from 2 to 10 hours are available; no fishing experience required!
17. Ride the World’s Highest and the Steepest Totally Water Powered Railway Between Lynton and Lynmouth
The famous Lynton and Lynmouth funicular Cliff Railway opened in 1890 and is the highest and the steepest totally water powered railway in the world!
It’s an impressive feat of engineering, but not only that, it joins some of the nicest places you could hope to visit while in North Devon. Lynton is a pretty Victorian town filled with independent shops, while Lynmouth is often referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’! There are pretty harbour views and plenty of places for a classic Devonshire cream tea (cream before jam!)
18. Be a Beekeeper for the Day
Quince Honey Farm is a family run honey farm that has been producing quality honey products since 1949. Beekeeping experiences are available from 30 minutes, to a full day. Visiting Quince Honey Farm is one of the most unique things to do in Devon!
19. See the Coast from a New Angle
Appledore is a small fishing village near Westward Ho! and Bideford, across the water from Instow. You will find lots of narrow cobbled streets lined with bunting and pretty pastel houses with beautiful flowers everywhere.
To see views of the North Devon coast from a new angle, take the ferry from Appledore to Instow at high tide in the evening. Get there early and make an afternoon of it – there are quite a few cafes and art galleries and antique shops to nosey around.
20. Discover Secret North Devon Beaches and Coves
North Devon is famed for its hidden coves, sandy stretches and breath-taking bays. But those are the shores that people know about…for every one of our famous expanses, there is a lesser known gem waiting to be discovered.
You may need to pack your own your picnic (or ask us to prepare one for you), and some of these beaches in North Devon require a little extra effort, but they’re worth it.
Our favourites:
Barricane Beach, Woolacombe: Just 300m from our own Woolacombe Beach, Barricane is a perfectly formed little cove that is often overlooked by the madding crowds.
Rockham Bay, Mortehoe: A pretty 2km coastal walk from Woolacombe will bring you to this large, isolated west-facing beach. Hauntingly beautiful, this secluded bay used to be known as ‘Death Point’ – in times gone by the rocks and treacherous currents here caused numerous shipwrecks, five in one year in fact – one wreck can still be seen. Visit at low tide for a sandy beach!
Lee Bay, Ilfracombe: A short 3 mile drive from Ilfracombe, Lee Bay has small caves and there’s even a secret route across the beach to a secret cove – visit at low tide to follow the 300m causeway.
21. Visit Clovelly – The Famous Cobbled Village
Step back in time in Clovelly, one of the most picturesque villages in North Devon. Here, steep cobbled streets tumble down to a historic harbour. With no cars, just donkeys and sledges, this unique coastal gem offers charming cottages, stunning sea views, and a true taste of old-world Devon.
22. Watch the Sunset at Valley Of The Rocks
Perched above the wild North Devon coastline, in the Exmoor National Park, the Valley of the Rocks is a breathtaking spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon.
As golden light spills over dramatic rock formations and wild goats roam the cliffs, it’s a scene straight from a postcard. Pack a picnic, find the perfect vantage point, and soak in the magic of a North Devon sunset.
23. Eat Sri Lankan Curry on the Beach
The tiny Beach Cafe on Barricane Beach may not sound or look like much, but if you want front row seats for the sunset, this is the place to dine.
The cafe cooks up a mean Sri Lankan curry on fine weather evenings and you can join the locals for an unforgettable evening – pack your own candles for extra romance! Small firepits are also permitted, but please be responsible, mindful of others and take away whatever you bring with you.
The cafe is walking distance from Woolacombe beach, simply head north along the Esplanade and the cove is on the left after 300 metres.
24. Feast on the Freshest Oysters
Located in the heart of Woolacombe, The Beach House specialises in seafood. Cosy, intimate and friendly, this is a lovely spot. They cook super fresh, just-caught seafood, taking special care with the provenance of the ingredients – keeping simplicity and attention to detail in their dishes. For the best Devon crab, oysters, and seafood linguine, The Beach House is a must!
25. Hunt for Wild Garlic in Combesgate Valley Woods
Visit Combesgate Valley Woods to escape the crowds, enjoy shady woodland, and spectacular panoramic views across the bay.
In spring, the heady fragrance from the carpet of wild garlic in these woods is incredible. Collect some plants – bulb, leaves, and flowers are all edible! The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and they make a useful addition to basic foods such as a cream or cottage cheese and are delicious when added to salad, or in soups toward the end of cooking.
The woods can be explored as part of a lovely three-mile round walk from Woolacombe – start at the Esplanade car park, keeping the sea to your left to enjoy sweeping views out over Woolacombe Bay to Lundy Island and along the beach to Baggy Point. Pass the small inlet known as Barricane Beach, just before the road starts to bend to the left and rise up the hill to Mortehoe you will see some public toilets and a National Trust Sign for Combesgate Valley. (Season: Feb – June).
26. Eat Fresh Seafood on the Harbour in Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe harbour is a working port so the fishing boats bring fresh fish and seafood daily.
One of our favourite things to do in Ilfracombe is to stop by S&P Fish Shop and Cafe, next to the lifeboat station on the Cove in the inner harbour, for fresh crab, cockles and lobster. There’s a small terrace outside the shop or take away a tub of cockles or crayfish and eat it on the quay – enjoying views of Damien Hirst’s Verity sculpture.
The woods can be explored as part of a lovely three-mile round walk from Woolacombe – start at the Esplanade car park, keeping the sea to your left to enjoy sweeping views out over Woolacombe Bay to Lundy Island and along the beach to Baggy Point. Pass the small inlet known as Barricane Beach, just before the road starts to bend to the left and rise up the hill to Mortehoe you will see some public toilets and a National Trust Sign for Combesgate Valley. (Season: Feb – June).
27. Try the Famous ‘Piggie Fries’ at Bar Electric in Woolacombe
For a laid-back bite with stunning sea views, head to Bar Electric in Woolacombe. This relaxed, surf-inspired spot is known for its great atmosphere, craft beers, and seriously tasty food. A must-try? The Piggie Fries—crispy loaded fries piled high with mouthwatering toppings like smoky pulled pork, tangy Mexican flavours, and melty cheese. Perfect after a day on the beach or before catching the sunset over the waves!
28. Indulge in a Devonshire Cream Tea (cream first, of course!)
No visit to North Devon is complete without a proper cream tea—fluffy scones, fruity jam, and a generous dollop of Devonshire clotted cream (always cream first!).
For the ultimate treat, head to Bay Brasserie restaurant at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, where you’ll find the perfect scones served with lashings of cream and jam. Want to take it up a notch? This is also one of the best places for afternoon tea in North Devon. This is served complete with delicate finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and a pot of your favourite brew.
29. Go for Hockings Ice Cream – a must-try Devon classic
When in North Devon, the only way is Hocking’s! Look out for one of the famous Hocking’s vans around the region and enjoy with clotted cream and a flake. Hocking’s distinctive yellow and red vehicles can be found throughout the summer season from March till October.
30. Explore the Rose Garden at RHS Rosemoor
Nestled in the Torridge Valley, RHS Rosemoor is an enchanting place to visit in every season, but rose season (spring/summer) is really special.
Rosemoor is famous for its two outstanding rose gardens – The Queen Mother’s Rose Garden, featuring modern roses, and the Shrub Rose Garden, planted with old traditional roses. Stroll, pause and delight in these wonderful gardens.
31. Visit the largest collection of surfboards in Europe
The Museum of British Surfing in Braunton has quite possibly the largest collection of surfboards and surf memorabilia in Europe. There are over 200 boards dating back a century, plus memorabilia going back to the late 1700s. Run by volunteers, you’ll be amazed by their knowledge! Please check opening times, as seasonal opening hours apply.
32. Go Coasteering
Take adventure to the next level with coasteering—an adrenaline-fuelled way to explore North Devon’s rugged coastline. Scramble across rocks, leap into the sea, and ride the waves as you experience the wild beauty of the Atlantic up close. Rain or shine, you’re getting wet anyway, so why not embrace the elements?
33. Catch a Movie in Devon’s Best Cinema
Settle into a plush velvet seat and enjoy a film in style at NEO Cinema, the boutique cinema at Woolacombe Bay Hotel. With a handpicked selection of the latest blockbusters and timeless classics, plus luxury snacks and cocktails, it’s the perfect cosy escape—especially on a rainy day!
34. Relax with a Spa Day at The Alchemist Spa
Unwind in the luxurious Alchemist Spa, where a range of indulgent spa days and spa treatments await. Whether you’re craving a soothing massage, a rejuvenating facial, or a full day of relaxation, there’s something for everyone.
Guests staying at Woolacombe Bay Hotel also enjoy complimentary use of the spa facilities, making it even easier to escape and recharge.
Happy Exploring!
With its breathtaking coastline, charming villages, and endless opportunities for adventure, Devon is definitely one of the best places in the UK for an unforgettable getaway – come rain or shine! Whether you’re exploring the rugged North Devon landscapes, indulging in local delights, or embracing the great outdoors, Devon is the perfect destination with something for everyone. For more travel inspiration, check out: The Best Things To Do in North Devon in Autumn and Winter and The North Devon Coffee Guide.
However you choose to spend your time, visiting North Devon promises memories to last a lifetime.
Best Place to Stay in North Devon
For the perfect base to explore this stunning region, look no further than Woolacombe Bay Hotel. Overlooking one of the best beaches in Devon, our luxury retreat blends timeless elegance with modern comforts. Relax in beautifully designed rooms and suites, indulge in spa treatments at The Alchemist Spa, and enjoy dining at the Bay Brasserie.
With easy access to Woolacombe Beach, top-class leisure facilities, and even a boutique cinema, it’s the ideal place to stay to experience North Devon’s best bits.