Where to enjoy a pre Christmas break in North Devon

1st December 2020

With England’s National Lockdown lifted on 2^nd December and Devon entering Tier 2 restrictions, accommodation providers can once again open their doors and you can squeeze in a quick break before 2021 rolls around. As Devon is covered by Tier 2 restrictions, this means that overnight stays are permitted provided you stay within your house hold or support bubble and travel between Tier 2 regions is fine, though please do not travel from a Tier 3 area.

This guidance is being updated every two weeks, so for the latest information on local restrictions, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.

If you are able to travel and feel like getting away for a few days before Christmas kicks in, here are a few suggestions of great places to stay in North Devon.

If you’re looking for somewhere picturesque with easy access to the coast, plenty of things to do and some incredible dining experiences, North Devon is the place for you. For those of you who are particularly excited about the food and drink, why noy take a look at one of the many B&Bs and guesthouses in the region?

Image: Heddons Gate Hotel.

One option is Heddons Gate Hotel on the outskirts of Barnstaple. This country house B&B Hotel has incredible panoramic views, its own 2.5 acre garden and a surrounding woodland as well as access to the south west coast path and just being a stone’s throw from the region’s premier town, Barnstaple.
It has the perfect amount of space for social distancing and a diverse number of surrounding landscapes, so you can really feel like you’ve escaped the everyday. Not only that, but your dogs are welcome to join you too! If you choose to stay here, you have plenty of interesting attractions in the area to visit should you want to leave the grounds. The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway  is less than five miles away and Keypitts Offroad Adventures in nearby Ilfracombe offers a range of fun and unique things to do.

Alternatively, for a B&B experience but with the added option of having fresh eggs for breakfast every morning, take a look at the properties offered by North Devon Farm Holidays who have a range of farm house B&B accommodation all over the region. A farm holiday is a great way to get away from every day life, not only do you get to experience life as a local, but you also get to get up close and personal with the farm’s animals and like we said, fresh produce every day with your breakfast!  

Image: Croyde Bay.

While we can all agree that beaches seem more fun in the summer, the winter is when you get the best waves, so if you enjoy surfing, this is the best time to come to North Devon. The coastline is renowned for having perfect conditions for water sports and while the waves are at their biggest, why not come and brush up on your skills or even challenge yourself to learn something new before the year is out? One of the best beaches for surfing can be found at Croyde and the Croyde Bay Holiday Resort  backs right onto the beach! With a range of different self catering accommodation as well as the only hotel in the village on site, this is perfect for those of you who want a little more freedom to do your own thing. You can choose from lodges, cottages and hotel rooms with dog friendly options available too and a range of facilities right on site, including a putting green, swimming pool and gym. Being in Croyde gives you easy access to some of the region’s award winning beaches, incredible independent eateries and of course, activities like the National Trust walks and watersports.

Self catering isn’t for everyone, so for those of you who want to be fully pampered and waited on for your stay, here are a few hotel suggestions for you.

If you have a flare for the dramatic and want to be somewhere straight out of a Daphne Du Maurier novel, look no further than Hartland Quay Hotel . The Quay itself recently featured in the Netflix adaptation of Rebecca and winter is the perfect time for seeing the cliffs in their dramatic glory. The hotel allows you direct access to the south west coast path and on a clear day, you can easily look across to Lundy Island.

Image: Hartland Quay

Hartland Quay is a truly beautiful and fascinating place with a history that dates back to Henry VIII and plenty of tales of pirates and smugglers to keep you entertained. This is a great hotel for those of you who want to hide away at a quiet, isolated retreat but still have the option of exploring and visiting top attractions.

The historic village of Clovelly is just a stone’s throw from the hotel and the Hartland Abbey and Gardens offer a great day out. Just remember to contact the attractions first to check what covid procedures they have in place and to prebook your visit. Other nearby attractions include The Milky Way Adventure Park  as well as the towns of Bideford and Barnstaple, where you can finish off your Christmas shopping.

Image: Royal and Fortescue Hotel. 

Speaking of Barnstaple, you’ll find many fine hotels in town, including several of the Brend Hotels. In the centre of town is the Royal and Fortescue Hotel which is ideally placed for exploring everything the town has to offer. It is located at the head of the historic high street, where you can see rows of designer shops, the Pannier Market and a host of interesting independents offering unique gifts.
The hotel’s restaurants are award winning and serve the finest, local sourced fresh food, allowing you to really indulge in a lavish setting and the rooms include free WiFi, complimentary toiletries and LCD TVs, giving you the option to relax in peace.

If you’re someone who wants to get out of town and hide away at a rural retreat, take a look at the the Woodford Bridge Country Club.
The site features a leisure centre, spa facilities and a 15^th century thatched coaching inn at its centre. Accommodation consists of several spacious apartments within the thatched inn with everything you need to hide away including a fully equipped kitchen. If you were looking for a real Devonshire country holiday, this gives you everything you need. Holsworthy Golf Club is close by as are several other peaceful attractions including RHS Garden Rosemoor ​​​​​​, the Gnome Reserve and Wild Flower Gardenand the Exmoor National Park.

Image: The Gnome Reserve

If we’ve inspired you to head to North Devon for a winter break, make sure to take a look at all the accommodation options here and see more things to see and do here.

Please note that at time of writing, Devon is covered by Tier 2 Coronavirus restrictions, if you need any information about local restrictions or clarification on rules in the region, please visit gov.uk/coronavirus.