Things to do and local attractions around Barnstaple and North Devon

Our guests can enjoy these facilities free of charge. This is the premier club in North Devon and is situated at our sister hotel, The Barnstaple.

Based at Abbotsham, near Bideford, this centre offers a host of exciting activities, including coasteering, mountain boarding, high ropes and climbing wall.

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Dating back to 1884, the Market trades every day of the week on butchers row and hosts regular food festivals. A great place to browse for local produce and gifts.

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The much-loved book Tarka The Otter was the inspiration for this famous series of footpaths and cycle paths around North Devon . Experience the wonderful variety of the local countryside, including rugged moorland, gorgeous wooded valleys, cliff top views and beautiful sandy beaches. Bikes can be hired locally at Tarka Trail Cycle Hire in Barnstaple.

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The Royal Hotel is conveniently located for many local bowls clubs including Bideford Bowling Club, Bideford Victoria Park Bowls Club, Torrington Bowling Club, South Molton Bowling Club, and Kingsley Indoor Bowls Club at Westward Ho!

Try an amazing range of sports delivered by trained staff. Activities include climbing, zip wire, archery, surfing, bodyboarding, and kayaking.

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Devon's premier fly fishing venue, with lakes stretching over five acres. There is also a great range of activities for youngsters.

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There are 6 indoor courts and 4 outdoor courts at this ‘Pay and Play’ tennis centre in nearby Barnstaple.

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An all-weather theme park featuring Devon’s tallest, fastest & longest roller coaster and a huge indoor play area that is great for both children and adults.

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A lovely Victorian Castle with interesting displays that is also home to a family theme park with rides, maze, dungeons, play areas and beautiful landscaped gardens.

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If you’re looking for a great day out for all the family a visit to The BIG Sheep is a must! The famous attraction is now firmly established as one of the UK’s most innovative & exciting family attractions providing wacky and unique entertainment for all the family.

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Spanning 65 acres Rosemoor is set in the beautiful Torridge Valley. There is something for everyone to enjoy from the stunning gardens to the Woodland Walks which offer interesting glimpses of local wildlife and wild flowers. Not to mention there are lots of family activities and a packed programme of events, plus a childrens trail and The Brash picnic and play area with interactive and creative play opportunities. There is a licensed Restaurant Tea Room (gaining a fantastic reputation for its food), Plant Centre and Shop on site plus ample free parking.

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At Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, you can see some wonderful wildlife including wolves, sea lions, meerkats and African Lions. Also featured are impressive dinosaur models and some unusual attractions, such as swimming with sea lions and experiencing birds of prey at close hand.

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Exmoor Zoo is an award winning zoo that has a mission to promote education and conservation.  It’s a  friendly zoo which allows visitors to get really close to the animals in its care.

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The famous Heddon Valley has exceptional walks and stunning views. Starting from the National Trust Visitor Centre, there is a selection of beautiful walks to choose from. The picturesque cobbled beach at Heddon's Mouth is only accessible by footpath.

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Broomhill Sculpture Gardens are where art and culture meet in magical surroundings. This was created in 1997 and has now become one of the largest permanent collections of contemporary sculpture in the south west.

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Watch the highly skilled craftsmen shape beautiful crystal perfecting an art form 3 000 years in the making. The tour of the glass factory allows visitors to get really close in complete safety on elevated viewing galleries.

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Explore the brilliant displays and collections at Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Among the many things to see are the Tarka Gallery, the Story of North Devon, and the Regimental Collection of the North Devon Yeomanry.

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Soak up over 500 years of history at the Chichester family’s stunning estate, complete with lovely gardens, a beautiful house and a fascinating carriage museum.

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Fantastic shopping with over 30 stores from famous national brands, offering a fantastic variety of offers on normal retail prices. Clothes, food and drink, children's play area and regular events - what more could you want from a shopping trip? Open seven days a week.

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Let's Go! is a state of the art centre that features tenpin bowling and a unique indoor skating rink. Great fun for the whole family to enjoy.

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Only 4 miles from Barnstaple, Marwood Hill Gardens is an excellent 20 acre private garden and lakes, with a Garden Tea Room and wonderful views.

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Exmoor adventures provides a range of award winning outdoor activities including coasteering, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, raft building, archery, stand-up paddle boarding, tree climbing, orienteering and team building activities across north devon, west somerset, exmoor and the quantock hills.

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Haynes International Motor Museum at Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset, England, contains over 400 cars and motorcycles and a collection of other automobilia.

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In a place of wide spaces and big skies, without roads, cars or pollution, simply walking is a profound pleasure. Lundy has a milder climate than the mainland, with more sunshine and less rain. Book a day trip on the MS Oldenburg to Lundy from Bideford quay.

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Hartland Abbey with its beautiful gardens and grounds welcomes visitors from the end of March until October. It is the cherished home of the Stucley family with treasures and memorabilia collected over many generations.

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Castle Hill house and gardens are steeped in history and are, and have been for centuries, a home to the Fortescue family. Today it is loved and cherished by the Earl and Countess of Arran and is a wonderful visitor attraction. Visit castle hill’s open gardens and stay to enjoy refreshments at their new tearoom.

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World famous for its cobbled, traffic-free street, donkeys, sledges and historic harbour. The stunning views, peaceful tranquility and cobbled, traffic-free, high street of this fishing village, built into a cleft in a 400' high cliff, tumbles its way down past whitewashed cottages festooned with flowers to the tiny working port.

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This exciting award winning, all weather, fun, educational attraction provides a fascinating insight into the watery world of North Devon... The aquarium offers Local Aquatic Exhibits and showcases a diverse collection of animals displayed within beautifully recreated natural habitats. 

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Take a guided tour around the interesting displays and exhibits and learn fun facts about the honeybee before you take a closer look inside the working hives. Nowhere in the world can you get so close to live bees without needing protective equipment! The Happy Bee play hive is a large indoor soft play area, this is where you will also find the café offering homemade food and our special Devonshire cream tea with honey! There is also an outdoor play and seating area for when the sun is shining.

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There are tubes slides, bumpy slides, crawl tubes, ball cannons, rope bridges, spider webs, dangly snakes, gliders, scramble nets, ball pools, log ramps, punch bags, edu blocks and so much more including a specially dedicated area for the under 3’s to enjoy. Even the grown ups can join in the fun as the play frame is designed for adults as well.

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Tapeley is a historic estate in the parish of Westleigh situatied between Bideford and Instow. It features Italian terrace borders, a traditional walled Kitchen Garden, a lake with massive ThujaPlicata trees, Granite Labyrinth. Falconry Displays each Sunday at 11:30am and 3:30pm, weather permitting. Animals including Highland Cattle, Peacocks and Berkshire Pigs. Tea Rooms - light lunches and teas. Childrens Play Area 'hidden' in the Wild Garden. 

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Devon's Crealy Great Adventure Park is an award winning family attraction located just minutes from junction 30 of the M5 near Exeter. The Park has over 60 rides and attractions set in over 100 acres of glorious Devon countryside.

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