With over a thousand years of history, Barnstaple has long been the commercial and cultural centre for the whole North Devon region.

The town has a delightful river frontage along the estuary of the Taw and many historic buildings, public gardens and recreation facilities. Overlooking the town’s ancient stone bridge is the North Devon Leisure Centre with a superb indoor pool, sports hall, squash courts, gym etc.

A thriving shopping centre - bedecked with award winning floral displays in the summer - includes many pubs, restaurants and entertainments such as cinema, theatre and discos. Being within 15 minutes of a choice of sandy beaches or Exmoor, and surrounded by fine countryside, Barnstaple is an increasingly popular choice as a touring centre.

Going Westward from Barnstaple is the most attractive, beachside village of Instow. The roadside sands and dunes of this delightful estuary beach make it ideal for sailing and windsurfing, and there are outstanding views across the River Torridge to the ancient fishing village of Appledore. The Tarka Trail also passes through all of these places, offering miles of unspoilt walking and cycling alongside the coast and through beautiful countryside.

Just a short drive from Barnstaple and the superb sandy beach at Saunton, is the extensive village of Braunton.A wide choice of pubs, shops and restaurants, easy access to Ilfracombe and the far reaching dunes at the Nature Reserve make this an excellent holiday base.

Local Attractions (Particular beauty spots)

Barnstaple - N.Devon Leisure Centre. Rock Park with pitch and putt, bowling, tennis and riverside walks. Weekly pannier and cattle markets. Unique Butchers Row and covered Victorian market. Guildhall and Heritage Trail covering many historic buildings. Queens Theatre. Cinema. Snooker club. Choice of pubs, restaurants and discos. Barnstaple and Newport potteries. Blakewell Fisheries.North Devon Farm Park, Landkey. Excellent library and museum. Jungleland plants and flowers collection. Marwood Gardens. Portmore Driving Range and golf course.

Bishops Tawton - Superb walking and views at Codden Hill. Cobbaton Combat Vehicles Museum.

Braunton - Braunton Burrows Nature Reserve - dune backed haven for many rare flowers, birds and butterflies leading onto the wide sandy beaches of Crow Point and Saunton.

Instow - Character beachside village with choice of pubs, wide sandy beach, yacht club, thatched cricket pavillion overlooking the estuary and former home of the Christies of Glyndbourne - Tapeley Park, with its superb views, antiques and Italian gardens.