Devonshire Coast & Dartmoor

LYNTON, LYNMOUTH & RHS ROSEMOOR

After breakfast, our exploration of North Devon begins. We hug the coastal path on our journey, driving out towards the sea and passing Croyde and Woolacombe bay before arriving at our destination of Lynton and Lynmouth. Nestled where Exmoor meets the sea, these picturesque villages are connected by the cliff railway the highest and steepest fully water powered Victorian railway in the world.
Despite these connections and proximity, the two villages have their own distinct appeal. Perched at the top, lively Lynton is a Victorian village with plenty of character, whereas Lynmouth has a more romantic appeal, with rows of charming fishing cottages clustering around the pretty harbour.

There’s plenty of time to explore these pretty villages, with beautiful walk that starts nearby. The walk begins in Lynmouth, where you can amble along a series of wooden and stone bridges to former fishing lodge and National Trust owned Watersmeet. The lodge stands at the bottom of a deep gorge and is situated at the confluence of the East Lyn and Hoar Oak rivers. There’s be plenty of beautiful British wildlife and birds to be seen along the river as well as ancient woodland.

Next, we hop over the border to Somerset, leaving Lynton behind and continuing our journey through the national park to Porlock. As we drive through Exmoor, some of the most remote and beautiful moorland will come into view. Be sure to look out for the beautiful Exmoor ponies, rare birds and deer and even highland cattle!

There’s even more in store to round up a wonderful first day, as we conclude with a visit to RHS Rosemoor Gardens. Found in a sheltered valley between the Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks, the enchanting 65-acre garden offers year-round interest, blending a mix of formal and informal planting to stunning effect. After taking in the fabulous seasonal display, we return to our base in Barnstaple.

CLOVELLY, HARTLAND ABBEY & DARTINGTON CRYSTAL

Many people will have heard of the charming village of Clovelly, with its famously steep streets which are pleasingly pedestrianised. This morning we step back in time with a visit to it’s beautiful cobbled streets. Clinging to a 400ft cliff, the only traffic you’ll find are donkeys and sledges making their way up and down to the 14th-century quay past the plentiful independent shops and cafes.

After time to explore the village and visitors centre, it’s onward to Hartland Abbey and Gardens. Built in the 12th century, it was the last Abbey in the country to be dissolved by Henry VIII, who gifted it to the Sergeant of his Wine Cellar at Hampton Court, Mr. William Abbott. It is now a stunningly preserved stately home, where Abbott’s descendants still live to this day. Bursting with colour and culture, Hartland Abbey boasts an impressive art collection and an archive of ancient documents along the Alhambra corridor and beyond. Masterpieces include the likes of Reynolds, Gainsborough, Hudson, Ramsey and even Kneller’s portrait of Sir William Stukeley, who saved Stonehenge for the nation. The journey through history doesn’t stop here, with the unmissable Gothic library, the walled garden, bog garden and Victorian fernery created by Gertrude Jekyll all waiting to be explored. Some might even recognise the award-winning scenery from film and TV, having featured in Pride and Prejudice, The Night Manager and episodes of Gardeners World.

Our next stop will demonstrate one of the local skills of the area as we heard to Dartington Crystal. The art of glassmaking takes years to perfect, so what better place to appreciate the talents by visiting the UK’s last remaining glass workshop. After hearing the story of glass making in the visitors centre, we’ll take the overhead walkways which allow us to see the skilled crafts people at work.

DARTMOOR, SOUTH DEVON STEAM RAILWAY & BUCKFAST ABBEY

Today our exploration of Devon takes us in a different direction, as we head south through Dartmoor National Park. Our destination is the fascinating Buckfast Abbey, home to a working community of Benedictine monks. Originally founded by King Canute before William the Conqueror arrived, like Hartland, it remained an abbey until Henry the VIII dissolved the monasteries. Centuries later, a group of exiled French monks brought the life and soul of Buckfast Abbey back to life. The special site truly has an incredible history, which we learn more about today, with plenty of time to wander the award-winning gardens.

Our next stop may be the highlight for some, as we board the South Devon Steam railway we'll notice that the stations have been restored to their former glory. We board at Buckfast leigh and the line runs along the stunning valley of the river Dart. Once we reach Totnes and disembark, our journey continues along the river Dart, as we take the  historic paddle steamer to the pretty town of Dartmouth. (On some occasions the trip may operate in reverse).

Fans of detective novelist Agatha Christie might recognise the area as inspiration for her best-selling crime literature. For this part of Devon, being a favourite of hers, was where she often resided in a boathouse along the river. We round off a fantastic day with a visit to one of Devon’s premier vineyards to taste the locally produced wine, before returning to the hotel for our final dinner.

RETURN HOME

After breakfast, we return home with fond memories of the Devonshire coast and Dartmoor.