Page 53 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 3: North Devon Coast and Exmoor 51

PLAN YOUR DRIVE
Start/finish: Taunton to Barnstaple.
Number of days: 2–3 days.
Distance: 134 km (84 miles).
Road conditions: Well-paved and
signposted, country roads are often
narrow and winding. Be prepared
to stop in a passing place if there is
oncoming traffic. On Exmoor, watch
out for ponies or sheep on the road.
Most places have well-signed car
parks, usually pay-and-display.
When to go: In April–May, wild flowers
border the roadsides; autumn sees the
Foreland P
Foreland Pointoint
Heddon’ss
Heddon’ LYNMOUTH leaves turn rich brown and the moors
LYNMOUTH
Mouth
Combe
Combe Mouth Coun Countisburytisbury Above Beautiful Woolacombe Bay – a wide, sandy beach with great surf, see p55 are splashed with purple heather.
Hele Hele Martin Mar Martinhoetinhoe Lynt Lyntonon
Martin
SELWORTHY
Bay Bay Bay Bay Brendon Malmsmead SELWORTHY During July and August, families crowd
Malmsmead
Brendon
Combe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe Combe into the area for seaside holidays. It can
Minehead
MORTEHOE Berr Berrynarborynarbor Mar Martintin OARE Porlock Minehead Br Br idgwateridgwater get very busy. In winter, the weather is
MORTEHOE
Porlock
OARE
Mor Mortete Parr Parracombeacombe often relatively mild and towns return
Bay
Wooton
Point Point Wooton Bay
Luccombe
Courtney
Trimstone
Trimstone Blackmoor Gate Luccombe Courtney Watchet Stogursey to “normal”, but villages can be quiet.
Watchet
Stogursey
Blackmoor Gate
Kentisbury
WOOLACOMBE Kentisbury DUNSTER Carhampton West West
WOOLACOMBE
Carhampton
DUNSTER
Bittadon
Challacombe
West West Bittadon Ford Ford Challacombe Dunk Dunkery Beaconery Beacon Quantoxhead Opening times: Museums and
Quantoxhead
Williton
Down Exmoor 519m 519m Williton Nether attractions are generally open
Down
Exmoor
Nether
ARLINGTON COURT &
Stowey
Croyd Geor Georgehamgeham ARLINGTON COURT & Cutcombe WASHFORD Bicknoller Stowey 10am–5pm, but close earlier (or are
Croydee
WASHFORD
Cutcombe
NATIONAL TRUST CARRIAGE
NATIONAL TRUST CARRIAGE
Bicknoller
Cannington
Simonsbath
MUSEUM
Lobb Lobb MUSEUM Simonsbath Exfor Exfordd Wheddon Quantock Cannington
Wheddon
Leworthy
Muddif Leworthy Cross Cross Quantock Hills closed altogether) Nov–Easter. Shops
Muddifordord
National P ar kar k
Monksilver
Saun Sauntonton Braunton Shirwell Bratton National P Monksilver Crowcombe are often open longer. Churches are
Braunton
Shirwell Bratton
Treborough
Fleming
Ashford
Ashford Fleming With Withypoolypool Treborough Crowcombe Hills usually open until dusk.
Elworthy
Brayford
Brayford Elworthy
Stoke Stoke
BRAUNTON
BRAUNTON Rivers Winsf Winsfordord B r e n d o n H i l l s West Bagborough Market days: Taunton: Farmer’s
Rivers
West Bagborough
B r e n d o n H i l l s
BURROWS Fremingt BARNSTAPLE High Bray Exton Brompton Clatw Clatworthyorthy St Lawrence
BURROWS
BARNSTAPLE
Exton
High Bray
St Lawrence
Fremingtonon
Brompton
Broomfield
DEV O N East Buckland Regis Regis Wimb Reser Reservoirvoir Broomfield Market, Thu; Barnstaple: Pannier
DEV O N East Buckland
Wimbleballleball
North
Clatworthy
Appledoree
Appledor Insto Instoww Bishop’s North River Exe River Exe Reser Reservoirvoir Clatworthy Bishop’s Market: local produce, Tue, Fri, Sat;
Bishop’s
Bishop’s
Molton
Molton
SO M ERSETM ERSET
Lydeard
Kingston
Tawton SO Lydeard Kingston antiques and books, Wed; also crafts,
Tawton
Apr–Dec Mon & Thu.
Upton
Wiveliscombe
Dulverton
Dulverton Upton Wiveliscombe
Vale of Taunton DeaneTaunton Deane
River Taw
River Taw
Loveacott
Loveacott Vale of Shopping: Look out for Devonshire
Milverton
Milverton
Alverdiscott
Alverdiscott Oake Oake clotted cream, local cider, surfing gear
and beachwear.
Bathealton
Bathealton TAUNT
TAUNTONON
Stawley Major festivals: Taunton: Carnival,
Stawley
Wellingtonon
Wellingt West Buckland Oct; Exmoor: Walking Festival, May;
West Buckland
Mortehoe: Scarecrow Festival, Aug;
Below Pretty Periwinkle Tearoom, Barnstaple: North Devon Food
Selworthy, see p53 Festival, Oct.
DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Beach lovers can enjoy the golden
sands and surging surf at
Woolacombe Bay before tucking into
a Devon cream tea. Walkers can
explore the windswept expanses
and hidden valleys of Exmoor,
home of the legendary outlaws, the
Doones. From Taunton and Washford,
step back in time by visiting ancient
churches, an abbey and a restored
steam train. For full details, see p55.
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