Don’t discount North Devon for an Autumnal outing

optixsolutions
Authored by optixsolutions
Posted Saturday, September 26, 2015 - 10:51am

As the days get shorter, temperatures drop, leaves begin to fall and the UK begins to blur into 50 shades of terracotta. It’s tempting to slump into a state of hibernation, watching endless hours of catch-up TV and wrapping yourself in shrouds of artisan throws. But before you write off your weekends and start reeling off reasons not to leave the house. We’ve put together (along with our North Devonian friends over at http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/ a list of autumnal outings you should consider in the coming months.

Watersmeet & Countisbury (Lynmouth)

Watersmeet & Countisbury are part of the National Trust and offer oodles of natural beauty with its rushing river, wondrous woodland and rocky bay. Whether you want to cruise along the cliffs at Countisbury, hike through the Watersmeet woods or kickback with a cream tea at a local tea room. You’ll constantly be surrounded by landscape that gives the likes of the Lake District a run for its money!
You can find walking routes and more on Watersmeet on the national trust website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/watersmeet/things-to-see-and-do/

Castle Hill Gardens (Barnstaple)

A crisp autumn’s day in Castle Hill Gardens is truly a sight to see with its rolling acres of grounds designed by renowned landscape and garden designer Xa Tollemache. Even in the autumn, the grounds boast a riot of colour with all of perennial plants proudly on display. Along with the impressive gardens there’s also ponds, statues and an impressive water feature all fighting for your attention, and at the heart of it all, the elegant 1730’s Palladian House.
Castle Hill Gardens is also an established venue, check out the ‘what’s on’ page and see if any upcoming events take your fancy: http://www.castlehilldevon.co.uk/what-s-on

Gnome Reserve (Bradworthy)

For a truly unique and quirky experience, the North Devon Gnome reserve is possibly one of the strangest yet interesting sights to see. The reserve is home to over 1000 gnomes and 250 species of grasses, herbs and wild flowers. Ticket prices are extremely reasonable so there’s no qualms with bringing the whole family, and you can even acquire a discount voucher by visiting the gnome reserve website (http://www.gnomereserve.co.uk/). If you’re worried about feeling out of place, then the team over at the gnome reserve have got you covered. Upon entry you’ll be presented with a gnome hat and fishing rod – what more could you want!?

Heddon Valley (Barnstaple)

In the depths of West Exmoor National Park lies Heddon valley, this rocky, heather and gorse clad combe is the perfect place for an autumn’s day out. You can take a walk down to Heddon’s Mouth where the river meets the sea, take a pew and enjoy a well-deserved flask of coffee. Aside from the walking routes, you can take a costal boat trips from nearby towns Ilfracombe and Lynmouth, and see the natural beauty in all of its glory. They also claim to have some of the best ice creams in the west, so if you’re planning on dropping by, you may just want to verify that!
If you want more information on Heddon Valley, visit the national trust website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley/

North Devon Hawk Walk (Exmoor)

If you’re looking for something truly unique then a North Devon Hawk Walks is the activity for you. For an hours walk, a group of four can go for the small fee of £40, and not only do you get to enjoy the edgy experience of engaging with some amazing birds of prey but all of this is done in the beautiful surroundings of Exmoor. The session includes an introduction, educational talk about the different species of hawk, how they differ in flight and hunting and how they can be used in falconry.

Visit the website to book your North Devon Hawk Walk today: http://www.northdevonhawkwalks.co.uk/index.php

So there you have it, five reasons not to discount North Devon for a day out this autumn.

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