MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I'm off down there next week and I've never been before. After a bit of research, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of off road stuff to warrant taking the mountain bike. I've tried surfing before may give it another bash.
What's recommended and shouldn't be missed?
Lovely road riding down that way.
Lovely hilly road riding down that way!
Some good trails on Exmoor.
Are you taking kids?
There are things to do in Woolacombe?? Well I never!
Check out Marisco for a classy night out 😯
The cycle path from Wooly to Ilfracombe is very pleasant, through Lee bay and that. Good family route.
Get some swim shoes and walk / swim around the little headlands to Morte Point during mid-tide.
Rent a canoe for a day?
Just out of town is the little Barracane beach that has a little cafe - they do lovely curries in the evening that you can eat on the beech, its BYO but get there early as they are popular!
Nice walking along the coast with a nice little beech below Morte Hoe cmapsite about halfway along to Bull Point light house.
WillH - Member
Check out Marisco for a classy night out
Blimey that brings back some memories 😯
The beach is obviously the main attraction and is lovely. If surfing isn't your thing but you still want to get out on the water you can also hire kayaks and a few of the local surf schools run coasteering trips which are both great ways to explore the coast.
Barricane beach around the corner from the main beach to the North is quieter and is fantastic for shells and rockpools. There is a cafe there which does amazing curries (BYO).
Day trip to Lundy from Ilfracombe is worth doing if you like wildlife (seals and seabirds). Ilfracombe itself is a bit run down but the harbour area is really nice for a wander. Tunnels beach also worth seeking out.
Fantastic coastal path walking in both directions from Woolacombe- North up to Lee Bay via Morte Point and Bull Point is stunning South along the beach and over Baggy Point to Croyde also great. A walk over to Croyde for lunch and then back would be on my must do list.
There are riding stables in both Croyde and Woolacombe both of which will take you riding on the beach.
As far as MTB is concerned, you can ride the coast path to the South over to Putsborough and from there over the top of Saunton Down and down to pick up the bridleway through Braunton burrows to Crow Point - all very pleasant for a pootle with a couple of sharp climbs, and possible to string it into a bigger loop if you take a look at the OS map. If you speak to the guys at South Fork in Braunton they'll be able to give you some advice I'm sure and if you want more challenging then you're not too far from Exmoor.
As above some good road riding around too.
Pubs - Red Barn in Woolacombe itself is lively and does OK food, but can get really busy.
Personally I really like The Rock in Georgeham,but it's quite small so worth booking if you want food.
Thatch in Croyde is also good fun with decent pub grub but again gets absolutely rammed - The Manor up the road towards Georgeham is a quieter option.
If you have the weather sure you'll have a great trip.
Head to Lee Bay for stone skimming heaven and top rock pooling.
Woody Bay for the waterfall onto the beach.
Very jealous there's just so much to do down there.
Walk to Putsborough along the beach and then across and round the headland to Croyde. These two beaches plus Saunton see some decent surf. Billy Budd's in Croyde is fine.
The Tarka trail is a nice pootle along the estuary at Barnstaple if you have a non-serious cycling partner or kids. nice & flat with a few cafe's etc. along the way. I think we started at Braunton.
Just bookmarking as off on Sat.
Any other tips welcome btw!
The Kings arms in georgeham does great food - better than the manor or thatch. Ilfracombe has some decent restaurants too believe it or not.
The barricane curry is excellent but it's super busty at the moment, so get there early. The seafood takeaway/ fish and chip shop on mortehoe does amazing fresh fish, straight off the boats from ilfracombe.
There's a lot of decent riding on and off road if you're bringing a bike - there's been a few threads I've posted on about it if you're look at my history. Some fine hilly coastal road riding (bring your climbing legs) and a fair bit of fun mtb stuff if you know where to look although it's mostly linking off road sections with bits of road. Drive 40 mins to exmoor and there's some superb riding (again you will need your climbing legs!)
Pretty much any of the coast path walking is nice. Around morte point or bull point or from putsborough to croyde and back are all nice for a family stroll. Short drive onto exmoor but Watersmeet has a nice riverside walk down to Lynmouth and a good national trust cafe for tea and cake. Nice walking and some geocaching around baggy point in croyde with a good NT cafe by the NT car park at the north end of croyde beach.
Im local so any questions let me know!
JKo book a shopping delivery from Braunton's Tesco, saves a lot of hassle. I shall be wending my way down there tomorrow but longboard means I can't squeeze a bike in.