Romantic places to stay in North Devon

23rd December 2020

Please note, the UK is currently under a national lockdown, please do not travel. These suggestions are for future reference only. 

With the dramatic cliffs, beautiful scenery and its connection to some of the great literary romances, North Devon is the perfect place to get away for a cheeky valentine’s break.

North Devon has a range of accommodation options, so whatever your taste or budget, you’ll find the perfect property for you. From luxury coastal hotels to secluded rural retreats and cosy cottages, perfect for hiding away from the world. Alternatively, you could give glamping a go – the possibilities are endless!

One option for a rural location is Deer’s Leap Retreat. This traditional Devon farmhouse is on the edge of Exmoor, set within its own grounds with a lake and stunning views across the National Park. The farmhouse has all the cosy home comforts and modern conveniences you could wish for, whilst keeping with Devon tradition. Whatever time of year you visit, you can enjoy the scenery, with wild deer roaming around making it a truly magical home from home.

Image: Birchill Farm Cottages.

If a rural hideaway sounds right up your street, take a look at Birchill Farm and Cottages . The farm sits within 8 acres of Greenland and ancient woodland, just a few miles from the town of Great Torrington. Each of the cottages are 5 or 4  Star Gold rated and are filled with books, toys and games, allowing you to truly hide away and enjoy each other’s company. If you do want to go out, the cottages are conveniently located to visit a number of North Devon’s top attractions including art galleries, museums and adventure activities, as well as the National Park and those incredible award winning beaches. If you can’t get enough of the beautiful plants and gardens, be sure to take a trip to RHS Rosemoor, which is less than 3 miles away or for a fascinating trip where you can also pick up some unique souvenirs, visit Dartington Crystal. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a complimentary cream tea – one of Devon’s best loved delicacies and an absolute must for your romantic trip!

If you’d rather be in the centre of the action, the Royal and Fortescue Hotel is in Barnstaple, North Devon’s premiere town. This sophisticated hotel was once a coaching inn and combines luxury with historic charm, offering you all the modern comforts you would expect. The hotel is ideally placed for exploring Barnstaple and the surrounding North Devon area, it is at the head of the town’s historic high street just a few steps from a host of eateries, designer shops, theatres and the ancient pannier market. You don’t have to leave the hotel, there are two great restaurants, the Lord Fortescue Restaurant and 62 The Bank, where you can find first class cuisine. Using the finest, fresh foods locally sourced from around the county, you’ll have a dining experience like no other.

Image: Royal and Fortescue Hotel

On the outskirts of Barnstaple, giving you the best of both worlds, with easy access to the town centre, the countryside and the coast is Heddons Gate Hotel. The hotel is located in the Heddon Valley where the South West Coast Path weaves down to the sea front. The hotel is set in more than 2 and a half acres of its own gardens with panoramic views to the west. Midway between Lynton and Combe Martin and just a mile from the sea, Heddon’s Gate has an illusion of remoteness in an idyllic setting.
Heddon’s Gate is a great destination for anyone who wants to surround themselves with peace and quiet while also being close enough for you to be able to enjoy the various attractions in the area including the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway where you can enjoy a romantic stream train ride. For a real nostalgic experience, visit Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway the UK’s only fully water powered Victorian railway. Lynton and Lynmouth are truly beautiful too, so don’t forget to have a walk around should you visit!

Somewhere else rural is Woodford Bridge Country Club, a rural retreat with a 15^th century thatched coaching inn at its centre. The site has a leisure centre, pools, sauna, squash and badminton courts as well as a fitness centre giving you plenty to do while staying there.
Guests stay in spacious apartments which all have well equipped kitchens, with apartments or terraces where you can see the view.
For a unique experience on your romantic break, visit the Gnome Reserve and Wild Flower Garden where you can find over 250 different species of wild flowers, as well as a range of antique gnomes! There’s nowhere else like it! 

Of course, if you’re planning a romantic break to North Devon, we’re going to assume that you want to spend a little bit of time at the coast. Especially as many of the beaches in the region are Blue Flag winning beaches. If you want somewhere to stay with plenty of facilities, a choice of accommodation and an incredible view over the sea, book a stay at the Combe Martin Beach Holiday Park . Combe Martin is a great place for a beach holiday, there are a number of beautiful, secluded bays and beaches around the area giving you lots of coastal places to explore. 

Image: Combe Martin Beach Holiday Park

For the beach bums among you, there can be nothing better than staying right on the seafront, which you can do at Croyde Bay Holiday Resort. The resort is nestled behind the sand dunes on Croyde Beach and is just a few moments from the village centre where you’ll find all manner of shops, pubs and eateries. Like many of the resorts in North Devon, this one has several different accommodation options for you including a selection of lodges, self catering cottages and Croyde’s only hotel. Plus, there are a whole host of onsite facilities including private access to the beach, indoor swimming pools, jacuzzis, steam room and gyms, so there is plenty to keep you entertained. The holiday resort is close to Baggy Point, which provides incredible walks through National Trust maintained land, as well as parts of the South West Coast Path and other coastal walks. There are several beaches in this part of North Devon including Saunton Sands and Putsborough Sands, which, along with Croyde, have amazing water sports opportunities, with organisations offering tuition and expeditions.

The region is home to two Parkdean Resorts, Ruda and Bideford Bay . Both parks are committed to making your stay as covid safe as possible, with enhanced cleaning, social distancing systems and traffic marshals to help guide you around the parks. Ruda Holiday Park is in Braunton near Croyde, with a range of self catering accommodation including luxury glamping tents. Some of the lodges even have hot tubs! What could be more romantic than that?! Bideford Bay can be found in nearby Bideford with a gorgeous hilltop setting, woodland location and nearby Blue Flag beaches to explore, you can easily retreat into the countryside, bask in the views or spend time at the beach. This site also has a variety self catering accommodation options, with luxury pine lodges and fully equipped caravan holiday homes. Onsite, there is also a restaurant and take away, so if you don’t feel like cooking or socialising in the restaurant you don’t have to!

If you do want to venture off site for an adventure or two, Clovelly village is only around 2 miles away and allows you to step back in time with the vehicle-less, cobbled streets and cute cottages. Alternatively, for a couple who enjoy something a bit thrilling, the Milky Way Adventure Park is also nearby.

Image: Hartland Quay Hotel

For a more dramatic place to stay, the Hartland Quay Hotel can be found right on the Hartland Peninsula with its huge cliffs, sandy and rocky beach with views across the London Island and access to the beach by the slipway.
The main building has been a hotel since 1886 and the original lofts are now ensuite bedrooms. The Hartland Peninsula has featured in several film productions including the recent Netflix adaptation of Rebecca and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, making it a great place to stay for bibliophiles, film lovers and romantics at heart. From the hotel, you have incredible views of dramatic cliffs, the sunsets in particular here are unforgettable and there are beautiful walks all around the hotel to enjoy on brighter days.

If you do book a stay here, make sure to visit the Hartland Abbey and Gardens for a day out full of local history. The stately home and stunning gardens also make a perfect place for proposals. Just saying. The abbey’s tea room serve some of the best cream teas in the area, so make sure to stop by and order one – it has to be done!

Speaking of cream teas, this part of the world features some of the best places to grab a romantic meal – click here to see what options are available to you. This is just a selection of some of the romantic accommodation options available to you in North Devon, you can find more suggestions and inspiration here.  

Please be aware that there are still measures in place to keep you safe from the coronavirus. You can find out the latest updates regarding covid 19, travel and other restrictions in your local area by visiting gov.uk/coronavirus. Please do not travel if you are currently within a Tier 3 region and do not travel if you feel ill or if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. Accommodation providers and attractions across Devon have protocols in place for those that can’t travel because of local restrictions. Please speak to the individual businesses for their regulations.