Activities around North Devon and the Poltimore Pods
North Devon and Exmoor is one of the most popular locations for a family holiday in the UK. There is so much to see and do here in North Devon, there is something for everyone. From jumping from the cliffs into the sea on a coasteering session with Active Escape, to honey tasting at the nearby Quince Honey Farm. There are fantastic walks on Exmoor and the stunning coastline, days at the beaches and horse riding over the moors, you can have adventure days or more sedate days, North Devon and Exmoor has such a wide variety of activities for all tastes and energy levels.
Quince Honey Farm
Quince Honey Farm is a unique experience and one that we are proud to support. Here you can learn all about bees, honey, take a tractor tour and eat some beautiful food. They have daily experiences including talks, tasting and guided tours as well as a great shop, pay them a visit, you will be surprised!
Active Escape
If you are looking for a fun day of excitement, activity and adventure, try Active Escape, based at Watermough Cove near to Combe Martin. They specialise in coasteering, coastal rafting and stand up paddle boarding and have a superb location for this. You can go as a group, family or individual and join in with others to enjoy the stunning north coast in a unique way. Explore caves, jump from rocks and get the adrenaline flowing, a perfect adventure day out for the family, especially for adrenaline junkies!
Exmoor Zoo
If you are here with your family or love animals, Exmoor Zoo is great. Throughout the day, there are always numerous talks and events where you can meet the residents. From meerkat feeding to seeing their great range of spiders, learn all about nature and the resident animals. They also offer experience days where you can be a keeper or have a birthday party.
Arlington Court
If you enjoy visiting National Trust properties, Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum is probably the best in the area. Arlington Court was the home of the Chichester family, one of the oldest landed gentry families in Devon. There are several collections to view inside the house including model ships, shells, pewter and silks. This is also the home of the National Trust Carriage Museum with over forty carts and carriages to view with hands on activities for the family.
Castle Hill Gardens
Castle Hill is an eighteenth century grand mansion, quite rare in Devon and very palatial. Just a short drive from the Poltimore, you can visit the gardens that are Grade I listed and enjoy the views and landscape. There are several statues across the millennium, walled and woodland gardens and a tea room for refreshments. There are also excellent views of the landscape of North Devon and Exmoor from various points.
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is a narrow gauge steam railway that is based at Woody Bay in North Devon. There is a track of 600m and you can travel in the original and authentic Victorian carriages for the length of the track. There are special events at the railway throughout the year including santa specials at Christmas and galas in the summer. There are also team rooms and the railway is dog friendly.
Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
A great day out for the family, combine dinosaurs and a wildlife park in one location and hey presto, everyone is happy. There is a great Dino Express train ride, don’t expect to stay dry though! The sealion shows are also definitely very popular and well worth a watch. It is a unique place to visit, one of our favourite places to go in North Devon and well worth the money. You can get up close and personal with some life size dinosaurs as well.
Watermouth Castle
Watermouth Castle is set in a beautiful location near to Combe Martin and Ilfracombe. The castle is steeped in history and you can get closer to the pirates in the smugglers dungeon if you really want to! We really love the toboggan run, its great fun, fast and furious. The big river ride is a family ride that we all enjoy. This is an ideal day out for a young family, there is a lot of historical things to see in the castle itself and plenty of attractions in the grounds.
Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway
If you are in North Devon, Lynton and Lynmouth are places that you should visit anyway, we love the walk by the river to Watersmeet! The funicular cliff railway links both of the towns, it takes all of the effort from the walk and you can enjoy the stunning views from Lynton and enjoy the sea at Lynmouth. It’s a great and unique experience and just one more reason to visit ‘little Switzerland’, one of only three water powered railways in the world.
Portmore Golf Park
Easily accessed from the Poltimore Inn, Portmore is on the outskirts of Barnstaple and offers a nine hole and an 18 hole course as well as a large golf range, club house with restaurant and bar. We like Portmore because it is relaxed, a perfect course for visitors to access and play. It is a friendly club and doesn’t charge the earth, perfect if you want a game of golf on your holiday.
Rock and Rapid Adventures
Rock and Rapid Adventures is a local adventure centre, just by the turnoff from the A361 to North Molton. They offer a range of activities and have an indoor climbing wall where you can get courses and taster sessions for beginners. They also offer other activities including rafting, zip lines and abseiling.
Ilfracombe Aquarium
If you enjoy learning about the environment, fish and sea life, the Ilfracombe Aquarium might be a good choice. It is in a great location, based in the old lifeboat house in the harbour and is popular with young kids. See the underwater life without going underwater with a range of aquatics tanks that reflect the real sea life of North Devon, a great excuse to visit Ilfracombe.