The North Devon Maritime Museum at Appledore offers a fascinating insight into the rich shipbuilding and seafaring history of the area. In seven well laid out exhibition rooms, with the help of child friendly interactive displays visitors can find out about WWII beach landing experiments, sail and steam vessels, shipwrecks and much more. 

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Established in 1976, Skern Lodge is about education and learning through adventure.  An outdoor activity centre in North Devon, it’s set in 22 acres of grounds with tidal waters in the estuary.  There’s a wide variety of activities and it’s always about safety first, so pop along and enjoy, surrounded by the beautiful Devon countryside.

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A stately home that’s passionate about sustainability, Tapeley Park and Gardens has a history dating back to before the Domesday Book.  Overlooking the port of Bideford, once the largest port in Britain, it was a spectacular vantage point with staggering views.  Fast forward a thousand years, and today the illustrious building is open for pre-booked seasonal tours and the gardens are open at select times of the year.  

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Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! Was founded in 1864 and is the oldest course in the country.  It regularly features amongst the top golf courses in the world, and stretches to over 7,000 yards.  The course welcomes visitors and green fees start at £65 for 18 holes Sunday to Friday.

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Enjoy £5 off 18 holes with your Toad Hall Cottages Discount Card

An unspoiled island that’s home to incredible wildlife, a small village and a 13^th century castle, the National Trust’s Lundy Island is the perfect place for nature lovers.  Day trips by boat are available from March to October with parking at Bideford and Ilfracombe.

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A warm and welcoming place to eat with a great selection of lunches, drinks, cakes and snacks. Vegan and vegetarian options, friendly staff and dog friendly too! 

Market Street Kitchen 25 Market Street, appledore, Devon EX39 1PP (T: 01237 474168)

Located on the harbour-side in the heart of this thriving community, this popular café, deli and grocers is well worth a visit.  Choose from the mouth watering selection of artisan cheeses, rustic breads, gins and much more in the deli, take a seat in the friendly café for a coffee or bite to eat, or pre-order a picnic hamper full of goodies to take with you to the beach. 

Johns of Appledore The Quay, Appledore EX39 1QS (T: 01237 429065)

A dog friendly waterside pub with wonderful estuary and sea views serving local fish, along with other excellent locally sourced food and a choice of wines, beers and real ales.  Dine on the terrace or in the bar or dining room and watch the fishing boats come in on the top of the tide, bringing home the catch of the day. 

Beaver Inn, Irsha St, Appledore, Bideford EX39 1RY (T: 01237 474822)

Located on Irsha Street in Appledore, at the meeting point of the Taw and Torridge rivers, this waterside pub is in the perfect position to take in the superb view across the estuary.  Enjoy a few drinks on the terrace or try something from the locally sourced menu of innovative dishes and twists on traditional classics. The talented kitchen team selects the freshest seasonal and local ingredients that are delivered to customers by a friendly front of house team in light and bright surroundings.  

The Royal George, Irsha Street, Appledore, North Devon, EX39 1RY (T: 07415 487302)

A sea front restaurant with quality food, a great atmosphere and stunning views.

The Boathouse, Marine Parade, Instow EX39 4JJ (T: 01271 861292)

A good choice for families, Instow is a pleasant sandy beach with safe swimming protected from swell by sandbanks at the mouth of the Taw estuary.  There’s plenty to do including kayaking and windsurfing and lots of space for children to play.  There are some good café’s to choose from, and the beach is easily accessible with a car park and toilets.  Dogs allowed October to April. 

By the small seaside town of Westward Ho! is a comparatively huge and sandy beach, extending two miles north of the town.  To the north it is is backed by a pebble ridge and behind that is Northam Burrows Country Park.  You can access the beach from a number of places; via steps and a slipway in Westward Ho!, or by the ridge itself.  Dogs are banned from most of the beach from May to September, but they are allowed north of Sandymere all year round.  There are two small car parks by the sea front and plenty of parking behind the beach in Northam Burrows Country Park.  Toilets are available in various locations and there are cafes and shops close by in Westward Ho! itself.  The area is popular with surfers and happily there are lifeguards on hand in the summer months as well.

A long straight sandy beach backed by the Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Saunton Sands Beach is popular with surfers and families alike thanks to the long stretch of tantalizing water.  Suited to beginners and intermediate surfers, the waters are comparatively gentle (although obviously you should always be careful), and it is famed for having featured in Robbie Williams’ Angels music video.  Restaurants, cafes, shops and toilets are all within easy reach of the beach, dogs are permitted all year round, and it is the only beach in North Devon to have a Landeez all terrain wheelchair so that everyone can have full enjoyment of it.

Very popular with swimmers and more experienced surfers, and of course sunbathers in the summer months, Croyde Bay is rated as one of the best surfing beaches in the world.  Lifeguards operate from May to September for peace of mind, and there are beautiful rock pools at either end of the beach.  Dogs are allowed on the beach although there are restrictions in summer months, and toilets are close by.  The beach is popular with swimmers, and you can hire equipment for activities such as surfing, fishing and canoeing close by. Restaurants are within easy reach, and you access the beach via a slipway and beach car park with disabled parking, so it’s an extremely welcoming beach for all visitors.

Rumoured to be one of the finest beaches in the South West, Putsborough Sands stretches three miles north to Woolacombe and has been voted Best Beach in Britain, fourth Best in Europe and thirteenth Best in the World multiple times.  Clear, gentle water make swimming in the summer months inviting, while the rock pools are wonderful sources of entertainment for budding adventurers.  There's a beach shop and a café, toilets close by, and the location is famed for its excellent sunsets.  Popular with surfers, especially long-boarders, Putsborough is the only beach in the area to have some protection from south and south-westerly winds thanks to the landscape, but if you’re heading into the water keep in mind that there’s no lifeguard cover.  Dogs are allowed on the beach and there’s plenty of parking with easy access via a long, sloping path.