There is so much to escape to in North Devon this Easter. Easter is the time of year when the region emerges from its winter hibernation and becomes the go-to holiday destination. It has been a favourite seaside stop since the early days of the Victorian era, when the railways opened up the possibility of travel for millions and a dip in the ‘old briny’ first became a holiday ritual. Ilfracombe still retains much of the original Victorian coastal charm, as evidenced in the architecture of one of the West Country’s most picturesque seaside towns with its narrow streets, unfussy harbour, town cove beaches and coastal views.
North Devon Seaside
For visitors this Easter, you can’t ignore the smorgasbord of sea-based activities available. These range from taking a refreshing trip at Tunnels beaches, surfing the waves at nearby Woolacombe (10 minutes by car), which was recently voted the best beach in England by Trip Advisor travellers choice, or coasteering with H2Outdoor to get a seal’s view of the beautiful North Devon coastline.
For some, even a warm layer of neoprene and the exaltation of ‘it’s not too bad once you’re in!’ is still not enough to be coaxed into the water, and there’s no harm in that either. There are few simpler pleasures in life than beachcombing for shells, rock pooling for crabs or joining one of the region’s regular beach cleans to get a sense of well-being. North Devon is blessed with many beaches – from wide expanses of golden sand to intimate secret coves.
Places to Visit at Easter
Step into spring with soo many National Trust places to explore, including Bideford Bay and Hartland, Arlington Court and Heddon Valley near Barnstaple, Watersmeet in Lynmouth and Lorna Doone Valley in Lynton, Baggy Point near Croyde, Woolacombe and Mortehoe, to name a few! The many National Trust houses and grounds in the area often have dedicated Easter events and the Landmark Theatre has a full Easter programme. Why not celebrate spring/summer in spectacular fashion at the RHS Rosemoor Gardens. There are also a wealth of art exhibitions in Ilfracombe to explore, including Fleek Gallery, Forty Three Shop, Ilfracombe Art & Craft Society, Magenta Fine Art, The Craft Raft and Echo Beach, to name just a few!
Easter Events
Let the children spring into action and delight in finding treasures in a traditional egg hunt or themed bunny hunt – it’s just lovely to see their smiling faces as they fill their baskets with Easter goodies. From Lambing Live to Easter chick hunts to dinosaur hunts, there’ll be something for every member of the family to enjoy (and ok, there’ll probably be plenty of chocolate alongside too).
We are super excited about this year’s Easter line up including, Thank Abba For The Music at The Landmark, Easter Nature Trail at Arlington Court – National Trust, Find The Easter Chicks at Clovelly Village and the Woolacombe Easter trail to name a few! For more information about Easter breaks at The Carlton, call us on 01271 862446 or email.