Wintershead provides an excellent base for discovering the diverse settlements scattered across Exmoor and North Devon, with easy access via the North Devon link road placing numerous attractions within comfortable reach. The historic market town of Barnstaple, North Devon’s largest settlement, offers a fascinating blend of medieval architecture and modern amenities. Its ancient Pannier Market, dating from 1855, remains a bustling centre of local commerce, whilst the town’s strategic position at the head of the Taw estuary has shaped its character for over a thousand years.
Bideford, known as the ‘Little White Town’ due to its lime-washed buildings, sits elegantly along the banks of the River Torridge. This former shipbuilding centre retains much of its maritime heritage, with its historic quay now serving as a departure point for boat trips to Lundy Island. The town’s 13th-century bridge, one of the longest ancient stone bridges in England, remains a defining feature of the townscape.
Clovelly stands apart as one of Devon’s most photographed villages, frozen in time with its impossibly steep cobbled main street plunging dramatically towards a tiny harbour. No motor vehicles can navigate these ancient pathways, so supplies are still delivered by sledge, much as they have been for centuries. The village’s unique character and stunning coastal setting have attracted visitors since Victorian times, though its origins stretch back to the 14th century.
Further south, the market town of Bude straddles the Devon-Cornwall border, renowned for its excellent surfing beaches and the remarkable Bude Canal, an engineering marvel of the early 19th century. The surrounding countryside features some of North Devon’s most spectacular cliff scenery, where wooded valleys carved by centuries of erosion lead down to secluded coves and hidden beaches. These dramatic landscapes, with towering cliffs rising directly from golden sands, epitomise the raw beauty that has made this coastline internationally famous amongst photographers and nature enthusiasts.
