Elmscott Youth Hostel North Devon :: Places to Visit in North Devon and North Cornwall

	Hartland The Parish of Hartland covers a large area in the north west corner of Devon. It prospered on the wool trade in the Middle Ages. Hartland village, otherwise known as Harton, is a small town of Georgian origins, with the sort of community and spirit long abandoned by most of England. From brass band to carnival, skittle team to football team, from Harvest Suppers in the village hall to Carol Services in the village Square, Hartland is what an English village was fifty years ago. The lovely village of Clovelly is just a five mile walk along the coast.
	Bideford The thriving medieval market town of Bideford ('Bydas Ford') is full of charm and history. There are many narrow streets, largely untouched by time. Bideford was the major port in the area between 1550 and 1750, and Bridgeland Street still retains the grand merchant houses. Known for its historic Pannier Market, Bideford town is located on steep hills overlooking the River Torridge. There are pleasant walks along the river to Appledore and the Tarka Trail inland to Torrington, or towards Barnstaple along an old railway track.
	Clovelly Picturesque and unique, Clovelly is privately owned by the Clovelly Estate Trust, and still maintains its olde worlde air. Access to the sea is via a steep cobbled street where quaint, flower-strewn houses nestle down into the hillside. There is an entrance fee to access Clovelly via the Visitors Centre, which includes an audio-visual display on the history of Clovelly from 2000BC, gift shops, a picnic area, restaurant and fisherman's museum.
	Appledore The delightful unspoilt fishing village of Appledore has many pretty cobbled lanes with fascinating little shops, inns and art and craft galleries. It faces Instow across the River Torridge and has a long history and association with the sea. Take time to sit on the Quay at Appledore and watch the boats in the estuary, observe the seabirds and, at low tide, the waders in their tireless search for edible delicacies to be found in the mud. In the summer you can take a ferry across to Instow or a trip around the estuary.
	Stoke Two miles beyond Hartland lies Stoke, with St Nectan's, the fourteenth century church with a dramatic 128ft tower. The site of the church is where the Saxon Countess Gytha, mother of King Harold, founded an abbey in 1050 in thanks for the salvation of her husband in a storm.
	Barnstaple Blessed with a beautiful setting on the estuary of the River Taw, Barnstaple lays claim to being the oldest borough in the kingdom. The bustling town centre is just a short walk from the station, over a 13th Century bridge, with fine examples of Medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture. For a historical perspective, visit the Heritage Centre and the North Devon Museum.
	Westward Ho! Founded in 1863 and named after Charles Kingsley's novel, the seaside resort of Westward Ho! is known for its remarkable four kilometre long pebble ridge and sandy beach. Underneath these sands have been found the remains of Stone Age food, including shells and a variety of bones. The pebble bank protects Northam Burrows Country Park, which consists of some 250 acres of sand dunes and pasture land. A natural habitat for many varieties of flora and fauna
	Instow Instow lies on the banks of the River Torridge almost opposite Appledore, with views towards Bideford Bay. The Appledore skyline, seen across the river, is dominated by the huge covered workshops of Appledore Shipyards. A wide variety of craft can be seen on the river as it stretches out to the Bristol Channel.
	Bude Bude in North Cornwall is a small, unspoilt seaside town situated on the Atlantic Heritage Coast. It is well known for its surfing and annual jazz festival. There are many shops to explore - including a number of excellent surf shacks.