Barnstaple Town Centre :: Devon Accommodation

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Exminster
Exminster is a charming little village on the outskirts of Exeter, in Southeast Devon. Meaning church beisde the exe, Exminster is an old village, with buildings dating as far back as the 16th century. Although Exminster has become a commuter area for the nearby city of Exeter, it hasn't lost any of the charms of a typically Devonian village.

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Exmoor
Exmoor is one of the smaller National Park areas but contains some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in the country. The largest part of the Park is in Somerset rather in Devon. The A39 coastal road from Minehead is a fine way to explore this area as it passes through Lynton and Lynmouth, Combe Martin and Ilfracombe and there are several good routes to take inland, exploring via Dulverton or South Molton for example. Exmoor sheep with their small horns are famous for their fine wool and excellent meat. Also bird life is prolific. There are prehistoric sites, old pack-horse bridges, ancient churches and houses to see, and of course this is Lorna Doone country - the woman immortalized in the novel of the same name by R.D. Blackmore.

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Exmouth
Where the river Exe meets the sea, this seaside resort is a good base to explore this part of the coast amd its inland towns and villages and only 10 miles from Exeter and the M5 motorway-Junction 30, so that travelling to this beautiful part of Devon couldn't be easier. Strand Gardens with it's trees and flower displays. It's very nice to sit a while in summer, a midday break away from the heat of the beach, a good meeting spot being in the centre of town. The Manot Gardens. Exmouth is well known for it's beautiful flower displays in summer. It's regularly won many Britain in Bloom competitions over the years and the immaculately kept gardens in the summer are a joy to behold.

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Great Torrington (Click here for Town Site)
Great Torrington is a friendly, welcoming town set in the midst of rolling, unspoilt green countryside. An ancient settlement extraordinarily sited on a cliff top with steep drops down to the River Torridge below. In the very heart of Tarka Country, the wonderful landscape has remained practically unchanged since Henry Williamson wrote his classic novel "Tarka the Otter" in the 1920's. Great Torrington for years was valued for its strategic importance. The town had a significant role in the English Civil War, specifically the Battle of Torrington in 1646 which marked the end of Royalist resistance in the West Country. Great Torrington today has become well recognised as an important heritage centre for the history of the 17th century.

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Hartland
On the extreme West of North Devon is the large unspoilt parish of Hartland with contrasting moors and delightful wooded valleys; tall cliffs rise above the rugged coastline hiding secluded bays. The sizeable village has developed around the square where St John's Chapel, with its ancient town clock was built on the site of the old market & town hall. St John's is now home for the town band and the male voice choir. There are various craft workshops in the village with occasional art & craft fayres in the parish hall. Across a sheltered valley is the 12th century Abbey, with gardens which lead down to the rocky cove. At the west end of Hartland, Springfield leads into The Vale, where a pleasant walk takes you to Stoke, where you will find the parish church of St Nectan with its commanding 128ft tower, described "the cathedral" of North Devon.

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Hatherleigh (Click here for more info)
Hatherleigh is set in the midst of Devon's countryside, north of Okehampton on the road to Bideford and Barnstaple. Hatherleigh was originally part of one of the many estates owned by Tavistock Abbey after its founding in the late 10th century, but became it's own borough during the 13th century. Hatherleigh hasn't lost any of the charm of it's agricultural past and is a wonderful place to spend a few hours wandering the side roads and visiting the many local pubs for some well earnt food and drink.

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Coming soon, the Devon and Cornwall Accommodation Directory......