15 Things to do in North Devon for Couples
You're either in North Devon or planning a visit to North Devon and looking for fun things to do to fill your time. Luckily, you've come to the right place, as this blog will give you 15 things to do in North Devon for couples.
We spent a long weekend in North Devon in 2021 and absolutely loved it (check out the image below). Furthermore, Henry spent most of his summers between 5 and 16 going to North Devon, so he's more qualified than most to give you the best things to do in North Devon for couples!
Introduction: Why North Devon?
North Devon is a county in the southwest of England, surrounded by the Bristol Channel, the Irish Sea and Exmoor National Park. It has some of England's most beautiful scenery, coastline and countryside.
The county's coastline is crisscrossed by rugged cliffs and sandy coves, with several secluded beaches to explore. The coast is also home to an array of wildlife, including dolphins, seals and otters, as well as many species of birds. North Devon's inland scenery is just as spectacular, with rolling hills covered in lush green fields, which are dotted with picturesque villages that have their own individual character.
North Devon has something for everyone - from leisure activities like surfing at Ilfracombe or visiting Bideford Quay to discovering ancient abbeys or taking.
You're never going to be short of things to do in North Devon for couples; it just can be hard to find things as it's very rural!
If you're looking for other romantic places to visit in the UK, check out our romantic UK places guide, or get in touch for recommendations!
The 15 Best things to do in North Devon for Couples
Let's get right into it then - below, we have listed the 15 best things to do in North Devon for couples. We've also given you things to do in North Devon in the rain and free things to do in North Devon, so you'll never be short of things to do on your trip!
#1 Visit Woolacombe Beach
In our opinion, Woolacombe Beach is the best beach in North Devon and one of the best in the UK! So whether you want to relax, play sports on golden sand, catch some rays or surf (as we'll cover below), then this beach is for you.
It's not just our opinion that backs this up; Woolacombe was ranked one of the best beaches in the world and the best in the UK in 2020.
Woolacombe Beach, Woolacombe Tourism
One thing you need to be careful with is the parking - on a hot day there will be queues to get into Woolacombe, and you'll have to go to overflow car parks.
We advise heading there early in the day to miss the rush and make the most of this beach - this gives you plenty of time to explore the town too, which has arcades and cafes (such as The Beach House Restaurant)
#2 Eat at Espresso Bar Ilfracombe - The Best Restaurant in North Devon
Looking for things to do in North Devon for couples? You have to book into Espresso Bar Ilfracombe. Henry has been going to this place for 10+ years, and we managed to get a booking for our recent trip. You can see how much Robyn enjoyed it below!
The restaurant owners go away for winter, so ensure you book early for when they return in winter!
If you can't get into Espresso Bar, check out The Angel - Henry first went to this place when he was 12 and has visited ever since. It doesn't look much from the front, but we can guarantee you home-cooked, wholesome food that delights.
You can also try and get in Thomas Carr 1873 - a Michelin Star restaurant we have covered in #15 below.
#3 Visit Ilfracombe Harbour
Ilfracombe Harbour doesn't have golden sandy beaches like Woolacombe, but there's more than enough to do for a whole day there.
Ilfracombe has one of the largest tidal changes in the world, which is great for crabbing. So make sure you do this at the right time, as it's amazing how far the water changes in low tide!
You can also check out Verity (below), a stainless steel and bronze statue created by Damien Hirst in 2012. Standing at just over 20 metres, the sculpture stands at the entrance of the harbour and is an impressive sight. The statue is a pregnant woman standing upon a pile of law books, holding a sword up high while carrying the scales of justice.
What makes this sculpture even more impressive is that half of the sculpture shows the insides of the pregnant woman - showing the baby foetus clearly inside her.
It's a sight that cannot be missed and is just one of the things you can do at Ilfracombe Harbour.
#4 Go to the Amusements
You can't go to North Devon without going to the Amusements. All of the seaside towns in North Devon, including Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, Combe Martin, Lynton and Lynmouth, have amusements that you can enjoy when you're looking for things to do in North Devon for couples.
We spent hours collecting tokens at an amusements in Ilfracombe. Not only did the time fly by, but we found it so fulfilling just enjoying the simple things in life!
If you're a competitive couple, the amusements are also a great way to channel this energy.
#5 Stay at a Secluded Cabin in North Devon
As you have already seen from our Rest + Wild blog, we love staying at a secluded cabin. Not only do you have a much more private experience than staying in a hotel, but you also get to enjoy quiet mornings as a couple. We both appreciate this a lot more now that we live in the city.
When we went to North Devon for the weekend, we booked into a gorgeous secluded cabin located in Muddiford (on the B3230 on the way out of Barnstable). The cabin had great attention to detail and was situated in a valley. We were surrounded by trees and out the way of the main road - so there was no noise or distractions!
The only downside of cabins is that you typically have to get a taxi to go anywhere (that's if you want to have a drink). However, we did head down to The Muddiford Inn one night - which was schoffel central and worth a visit if want to teleport back 20 years ago.
Check out "The Chicken Pod with outside bath" we stayed at on Airbnb using this link.
#6 Set up a BBQ
One of the must-dos if you have the space is to set up a BBQ and enjoy the tasty smokiness of burgers, sausages and chicken cooked over coal.
When we were at the above secluded cabin, we headed to Sainsbury's in Barnstable, got an ungodly amount of food for 2 people and stuffed our faces with food while drinking wine under the sun.
While the BBQ was heating up, we played cards while listening to music - sometimes it's the simple things. But, as we've already mentioned, when looking for things to do in North Devon, you have to think outside the box as it is secluded!
#7 Take a Dip at Tunnels Beaches
Tunnels beach is named due to the four hand-carved tunnels you have to walk through to get to the beach. Built in the 1820s, the four tunnels provide a unique experience, as you can read about the extensive history of the Ilfracombe site. At the same time, you're on your way to one of the boost unique beaches in the UK.
The beach itself is pebbly, but incredibly, it has a handmade victorian bath - meaning when the tide goes out, you're presented with a pool to swim and bathe in!
If you're not a swimmer, you can sit back and enjoy the steep cliffs and rugged scenery or even go rock pooling on the 3rd best beach for rock pooling in the UK (BBC Wildlife Magazine).
#8 Visit Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
The twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth aren't the easiest to get to but are one of the most picturesque villages on the Exmoor coastline. Epitomising the reasons why you want to go to North Devon, Lynton and Lynmouth are very laid back and charming - ideal for a couples trip.
As for the railway - you might be thinking, "how the hell is there a cliff railway for two twin villages?"
Well, Lynmouth is actually 500ft below Lynton, meaning you are best to use the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway to commute between them.
Opened in 1890, this cliff railway is the highest and the steepest completely water-powered railway in the world - meaning you're getting a taste of global history while taking in incredible views.
Check out the below image - hopefully, you can see why we're qualified to give you a list of the best things to do in North Devon for couples.
#9 Walk the Coastal Path
Our favourite coastal walk is a three-hour trek from Bolt Tail, near Hope Cove, to Bolt Head, near Salcombe. It provides some beautiful views of beaches and headlands up on the coast. If this doesn't whet your appetite for coastal walks, then check out this link for a list of all the different paths you can enjoy.
We have also done the 10-mile trek from Ilfracombe to Woolacombe (which passed through Croyde) - this isn't for beginners, but it's good fun!
#10 Get Competitive at The Big Sheep
The Big Sheep is next on our list of things to do in North Devon! It may sound like it's a farm, but don't worry, the main attraction here isn't the sheep. With a massive play area, pet corner, quad bikes and even laser tag, this amazing outdoor theme park is the perfect thing to do in North Devon for couples.
Henry also wanted to add that the laser tag at The Big Sheep is also one of the best he has ever gone to (he did this with his brother), so be sure to check it out.
#11 Eat at SQ Restaurant and Bar
SQ Restaurant and Bar is the sister restaurant opposite the famous Squires Fish bar. If you are in the Braunton area and have the time, we recommend you book a table here as the food is delicious!
We're not a massive fan of fish and chips, as the fish can be quite greasy and make you feel sick after, but at SQ, you won't have this problem, as all the freshly caught fish is cooked exceptionally.
One thing we love about this place is its rooftop terrace - it's a great spot to take in some rays while enjoying a drink from their cocktail menu.
If only this place had used a free menu maker beforehand, it would be much easier to review their restaurant before we left though!
#12 Go Surfing
One of the next things to do in North Devon is surfing. So if you're willing to get a bit wet and cold, then surfing has to be on your list of things to do in North Devon for couples.
With Woolacombe being one of the best surfing spots in the UK, even if you're a beginner, we recommend heading down. So many businesses offer some great lessons at reasonable prices - there's no reason not to do it.
Robyn was giving it the "bigun" before our surf lesson - unfortunately, Henry wasn't allowed to put some of the failure shots in this blog
#13 Go to a Dog-Friendly Beach
Most of the beaches in North Devon are dog-friendly - which is ideal for us as it just doesn't feel right to go to a beach-rich location like North Devon without enjoying it with your dog!
As we covered above, Woolacombe is one of the best beaches to visit as a couple. It's also one of the best beaches to take your dog.
Midge (Henry's dog) isn't just accomplished with the London Underground; she's also a talented sand dune sprinter. She absolutely loves sprinting up the steep sand dunes at Woolacombe beach.
Be sure to check up on the beaches website before going and clean up any mess when you're there!
#14 Explore Ilfracome Aquarian
Ilfracombe Aquarium is a coastal marine exhibit that features live creatures from the local area. It also has a charming café and gift shop. Not only does it have a lot of family-fun attractions, but it has also won awards! This means you can fill your day in Ilfracombe with another fun activity.
This site will fit conveniently within your plans, as it's located just between Ilfracombe harbour (where the boats are) and Damien Hirst's Verity. It is also just below the 14th Century St Nicholas' Chapel - meaning you can explore history while also enjoying the wildlife.
This may be relatively simple, but enjoying wildlife in an Aquarian can be one of the best things to do in North Devon for couples.
#15 Eat at Thomas Carr 1873
As you will have already seen, we love going to amazing Michelin star restaurants. This is precisely what you will find if you manage to book a table at Thomas Carr 1873 in Ilfracombe.
Located in the town's former Victorian police station, Thomas Carr 1873 brings the same team that acquired a Michelin Star at The Olive Room (a restaurant we have also visited as a couple!).
As with the other top restaurants in the area, you can expect fresh fish and beautifully cooked locally sourced meat.
Things to do in North Devon in the Rain
North Devon has plenty of things you can do in the rain. Below we have listed 5 things you can do in North Devon in the rain:
Go to the amusements
Stay at a Secluded Cabin or boutique hotel
Go Climbing at Rock and Rapid Adventures
Go to Air Extreme (located just outside of Barnstable)
Go bowling or go to the cinema
Free Things to do in North Devon
North Devon is very rural, meaning you're likely going to have to get a car or taxi to get around. This aside, you can do plenty of free things in North Devon. Below we have included a list of 5 free things to do in North Devon for couples or families:
Visit one of the fantastic beaches
Go rock pooling
Geocaching on Exmoor or in one of the towns/cities
Try wild camping
Explore a harbour (such as Ilfracombe or Hartland Quay)
Conclusion: Go to North Devon!
This blog has given you a complete run-through of things to do in North Devon for couples. We have been there as a couple twice, and Henry has been there for over a year combined! We have packed all of this knowledge into our blog to make your visit as fantastic as possible.
If you have any ideas for what we should include in future blogs, feel free to get in touch! We are building a list of our favourite bars in restaurants across all the cities we visit in the UK, so don't be shy.
