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WALKS & HIKES

South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path is a 630 mile adventure along the coast line of England’s south west peninsula. It’s a place for life’s adventurers, one for the discoverers, the boundary pushers and the bucketlisters. Walking the entire path will take around 56 days, but it’s easy to dip in and hike shorter stretches. Discover a digestible slice of the path with our favourite walks…

 

WOOLACOMBE TO POTTERS HILL WALK

This walk up Potters Hill and beyond will reward you with breathtaking views across the bay towards Baggy Point and Morte Point. Depending on your pace, this route will take you between 45 minutes and 2 hours. The full route is described on the National Trust website.

‘Steep but sweet’

This circular route is well worth a brief huff and puff for brilliant views of Morte Point and Woolacombe, along with an abundance of coastal flora and fauna. The lush coastal grasslands are especially rich for smaller birds, mammals and reptiles.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3 miles

Start: Marine Drive car park hut, grid ref SS458433

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From the beginning of Marine Drive car park, walk up the grassy bank and through a field gate and follow the footpath up hill, signed by a finger post saying Public Footpath. Continue up the hill as the path winds its way around Potters Hill.

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Bear left at the first waymark you reach. When you reach the second waymark, head straight on, continuing on up to Woolacombe Down.

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Go through the bridlegate and follow the track up, passing a bench with fantastic views over to Baggy Point and Hartland.

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Continue along this track until you reach another field gate. Go through the gate and head down hill.

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Take the footpath to the right, waymarked to Marine Drive. When you reach Marine Drive go left for 20 metres then take the footpath down into the dunes on your right.

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When you reach the dunes follow the South West Coast Path signs to the right. Where the path forks, take the right hand fork which will take you through the dunes and back to your starting point.

Cycle Canva

CYCLING ROUTES

Explore by pedal power

Whether you’re a keen cyclist looking for a challenging terrain, or just fancy the wind in your hair as you explore, North Devon delivers on ‘lovely and level’ as well as ‘wild and wicked’.

BAGGY POINT

8 mile round-trip

This gentle route will take you along the back of Woolacombe beach, past Putsborough Sands, and up to Baggy Point – an impressive headland at Croyde with crashing waves and dramatic cliffs. Keep an eye out for the North Devon Red Cattle on the Woolacombe dunes, who are there to help improve biodiversity on the dunes!

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 8 miles
Start: Woolacombe, SS 458,438

Simply reverse the cycle route below

TARKA TRAIL

32 mile cycle trail

The Tarka Trail is a traffic-free 32 mile cycle trail which 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.

COASTAL LOOP

22 mile round-trip

This is an expert bike ride for which very good fitness is required. But if you’re looking the most coast for your effort, this is the ride for you. Starting out in Woolacombe, you’ll pass through beachy Croyde and skirt around the edge of Saunton. We recommend stopping at Heartbreak Hotel Coffee in Braunton for one of their fabulous doughnuts on the way back- you’ll have earned it!

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 22.1 miles
Start: Esplanade Car Park, Woolacombe

Map

PLACES TO VISIT

for your bucket list

You’ll find no shortage of magical places and unique destinations to visit in North Devon. But perhaps the greatest quality of all is that in spite of its accessibility, Woolacombe feels as if it exists a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our lovely team are a font of inspiration when it comes to places to visit and things to see in Woolacombe and North Devon.

For some of the finest days out and adventures, we recommend…

VALLEY OF THE ROCKS

The wild coast

Lynmouth is one of the most popular destinations in the Exmoor National Park. Its spectacular setting is at the mouths of the wooded gorges of the East and West Lyn rivers, hemmed in by gigantic cliffs.

The Valley of Rocks is arguably the most spectacularly scenic locations on Exmoor.

CLOVELLY

A world away

Clovelly village is famous the world over. It clings to a 400 foot cliff in North Devon and has no vehicular traffic on its steeply cobbled street, just donkeys and sledges.

Once owned by the Queen of England, visiting Clovelly is such a special experience.

LUNDY ISLAND

Go puffin spotting

One for the explorers is Lundy Island. Lundy lies 10 miles off the coast of North Devon, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol Channel. Just setting sail for Lundy feels like an adventure!

A granite outcrop, three miles long and half a mile wide, the island is never crowded, even in the height of summer. It’s home to puffins and seals. If it’s a castaway, get-away-from-it-all bolthole you crave, you have found your mecca.

Explore more travel inspiration…

FREEDOM TO ROAMroom-only stays

All our stays are available on a room-only basis so you can enjoy a restful slumber in your choice of boutique bedroom, with full access to hotel facilities. Breakfast in Doyle’s can be booked, or you can head straight out and do your own thing.


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