Activities

Around the Farm Activities:

 

• Farm Tours, we are very happy to show you around the farm, meet the animals and see where good food comes from!

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• Yoga/Pilates in the woods or with the cows (in the cowshed if it rains) Bend it with our fully qualified instructor Marcie. £10 per head minimum 8. Booking essential​

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• Natural Swimming in the River Taw, Simple fun! Half hour walk or 4 min drive .. strip off under bridge and  swim upstream or catch minnows in the shallows, help yourselves here to nets and jam jars, masks and snorkels. We recommend you wear rubber swim shoes and take a pic nic

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•   Stargazing, we are on the edge of  Exmoor,  designated Europe's first international dark sky reserve. Simply borrow an extra large waterproof  blanket, lie down on the gentle mown slope in camp and enjoy the show...www.gostargazing.co.uk download the App or find literature in the camp library.

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• Walk to the pub , take the bridle path short cut to the Rising Sun Pub Umberleigh over looking the river Taw, they do simple pub grub and great pints! also pizza to take away www.theriser.online

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• Clay Pigeon Shooting with a qualified BASC instructor, 2 hours competition style lesson, no previous experience necessary £30 pp (based on 8 ) includes all kit  and any ability, min age 12

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•  Atherington children's playing field and Pavilion..  a 10 min stroll up our quiet lane (say hello to the ponies in the field on route)  you'll find swings, slides, climbing frames, zip line and scooter track. A Tennis /netball court  & football pitch. We have lots of bats, balls and scooters to borrow. The Pavilion hosts many local events www.atherintonpavillion.org​

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Out and about:

  

We have fantastic local transport links. The Tarka train line at Umberleigh is a 20 minute walk, trains run hourly from mainline Exeter ( www.gwr.com) to Barnstaple, with stops by pubs , walking and cycle trails. from Barnstaple you can hire bikes or can catch the North Devon Wave open top bus to some of our best  beaches  www.stagecoachbus.com

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BEST BEACHES: (30/40mins)

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• Putsborough sands is the best and ticks all the boxes for a perfect beach, excellent cafe

• Croyde Bay= surfers beach village feel, market, eats and shops

• Saunton Sands huge beach surfing and kite surfing with..

•  Braunton Burrows at the other end good for dune walking 

• Barricain Bay intimate with a good cafe selling curries

• Woolacombe beach, surf and seaside town

• Westward Ho seaside town and surf beach

• Watermouth bay charming cafe, sheltered harbour good for paddleboarding/kayaking

• Instow beach on the  estuary, easy access, great for sandcastles but NOT swimming, pubs, deli, sunsets

• Tunnels beaches Ilfracombe the best rockpooling in Britain with Victorian tidal swimming pool

• Surfing & more www.nickthorn.com @ Putsborough & Woolacombe 01271 871337 10% discount for our guests

       Coasteering  www.xtremecoasteering.co.uk 07412  603116 £35pp,                            

• Paddle boarding & kayak www.activeescape.co.uk 01271320745 £25pp,                                                             

• Surfing www.croydesurfacadamy.com 01271 320218 £40pp

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• The Tarka Cycle Trail (over 30 miles ) Really good active fun. We suggest you hire bikes from Puffing Billy in Torrington 01805622633 and follow the almost dead flat cycle path , following the River Torridge all the  way  to Instow beach ( 9 miles 1.5 hrs approx ) for a picnic or pub lunch, stopping for an ice cream/cream tea mid way from a converted train carriadge at Bideford. Tip- ask for bike with a soft seat !www.torringtoncyclehire.co.uk £12 all day bike hire  10% discount  for our guests 

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• RHS Rosemoor a mecca for garden lovers , 40  acres of formal , wild , wooded and  vegetable gardens,  activities for all ages and a very good place to eat , fabulous Sunday Lunches or take a pic nic www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

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• Clovelly an ancient and fascinating village . A labyrinth of  steep cobbled streets, with almost tropical sheltered gardens  leading to a beautiful harbour and stoney beach www.clovelly.co.uk

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• Watermouth Castle an eccentric collection of all sorts, like no other theme park on earth! words can't really describe it!  set in a beautiful sheltered bay www.watermouthcastle .com

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• Cobbaton Combat Collection one man's obsession and now museum  stuffed with a Naafi bus cafe run by his long suffering wife! www.cobbatoncombat.co.uk

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• The High Bullen Hotel  & Country club book a treatment or for £6 ph you can use the  indoor swimming pool, with hot tub, sauna and steam room. There is also a gym, cafe, restaurant and Golf course, check out their 'Dip & Dine' Sunday lunch deal  www.highbullen.co.uk

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• Exmoor National park . 267sq miles of jaw-dropping landscape to explore.  The medieval  Lanacre Bridge is a favourite spot to picnic and paddle in whist watching the wild ponies and red deer  www.exmoornationalpark.co.uk   

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• South West Coastal Path 50 miles of which are in North Devon. Challenging, moderate and easy walking through stunning varied coastline www.southwestcoastalpaths.com 

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• North Devon Wake and Aqua Park- brilliant fun for all  www.northdevonwakepark.co.uk

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• Paintball/lazer and airsoft combat games www.survivalpaintball.com  10 mins from us​​​

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Rainy days, big and small Kids (indoor activities)

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• The Cactus shop-www.cactus shop.co.uk over 600 varieties of cactus under one roof (May -July in bloom)

• Quince Honey Farm-  www.quincehoneyfarm.co.uk all about Bee's, fun park for children

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EATING OUT​

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        The Rising Sun at Umberleigh (0.8m or 20 min walk ) Overlooking  the river Taw. Our local, great beer & grub                    risingsuninumberleigh.co.uk  tel 01769 560​​

• Chichester Arms at Bishops Tawton (5m) huge portions of good pub grub tel 01271 343945 chichesterarmsbishopstawton.co.uk  EX32 ODQ   

• The Duke of York Iddesleigh,15th century pub and birthplace of 'War Horse'01837 810253                                  

• The Rams Head at Dolton (10m) posh pub grub set in pretty village and next to Halsdon nature reserve , excellent walks by the River Torridge,  ...01805 804255 theramsheadinndolton.co.uk    EX19 8QS                                                                                   

• The New Inn at Roborough (5m), good locally sourced food  01805 603247 thenewinnroborough.co.uk  EX19 8SY

• The Boat house Instow great food and view of the beach & sunset. 01271 861292 theboathouseinstow.co.uk

• The Glorious Oyster, beach cafe at Instow amazing home cooked local fish 07843 278521 thegloriousoyster.co.uk

• The Royal George Appledore delicious and smart, beautiful views 01237 424138 trgpub.co.uk

• Storm in a teacup .Watermouth Harbour, near Ilfracombe .cafe in a boat, great cream tea's in a sheltered harbour

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BEST FISH & CHIPS

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• Squires in Braunton on way home from the beach www.squiresfishresturant.co.uk 01271 815533

• The Pelican in Barnstaple wwwpelicanfishandchips.co.uk 01271 345605 

• Graylings in Fremington www.graylingstogo.co.uk 01271 346661 best eaten by Fremington Quay