Wooldown Farm Holiday Cottages

For a beach off the beaten track but with great facilities and private accommodation, Putsborough ticks all the boxes. The soft white sand is framed by rocks that demand to be climbed and a sea that simply invites you in. 

If you're looking for curious coastal charm, Ilfracombe offers a gateway to an exciting blend of stunning scenery, seaside fun, rural tranquillity and centuries of heritage and style. Easy access to Exmoor, Woolacombe, Croyde and Braunton makes Ilfracombe a great coastal choice. Escape to a cosy rural cottage at Little Comfort Farm in Braunton or for panoramic sea views try Gabriel House in Ilfracombe    

For natural wilderness, Lynton and Lynmouth sit within Exmoor National Park and offer a wealth of places to stay, quirky shops and great places to eat. Base yourself here and you have access to diverse moorland areas and rugged coastline. For a unique self catering holiday which offers courses on arts and crafts, and alpaca experiences try Alta Lynn Barns in Lynton or for peace and tranquillity, combined with fine food and hospitality, why not stay at the Staghunters Inn on the banks of the River Lyn.

If your idea of holiday heaven is breathtaking scenery then head for the western tip of North Devon. The entire Hartland Peninsula sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where the spectacular Atlantic coastline is complemented by verdant valleys, tumbling waterfalls, ancient woodlands and wildlife of every kind. Two Harton Manor is a 300 year old property offering four poster B&B accommodation in the heart of Hartland Village, or for the ultimate escape, why not book a lighthouse or fisherman's cottage on Lundy Island. From October onwards you can take a helicopter from Hartland Quay and really arrive in style.

Appledore

For lovers of theatre, shopping and nightlife, Barnstaple is the ideal base for your holiday. With restaurants, cafes and bistros to suit all tastes and budgets, a traditional pannier market, large shopping centre and a wealth of independent retailers, the town offers a multitude of opportunities to relax and unwind between bouts of retail therapy. Art lovers will enjoy a stay at the Broomhill Art Hotel which boasts 300 sculptures by over 60 sculptors, sited in 10 acres of garden.

A stay in South Molton will give you a taste of life in a small market town, great dining and entertainment, and serves as an excellent base for exploring Exmoor. For stylish central accommodation stay at the George Hotel and enjoy their weekly stand up comedy nights. For the warmest welcome in North Devon, head for Great Torrington and discover the Great Torrington Smile. Take a lodge at Smytham Manor for a relaxing family break in 23 acres where you can swim, ride, surf, shop, run and play or just take it easy.

If you want to experience old world charms then take a trip to Clovelly Step back from the modern technological world into a thriving community whose buildings have remained unchanged for centuries, and whose traffic free cobbled streets tumble down 400ft of solid rock to the tiny harbour and lifeboat station, both protected by an ancient stone breakwater.

For history explore Porlock and discover why writers Wordsworth and Coleridge found the place so captivating. A traditional Exmoor village where the remains of a prehistoric settlement are occasionally visible at very low tide at Porlock Weir. Crammed with antiques and curiosities you'll find Miller's at the Anchor, a fabulous hunting lodge and harbour view restaurant.

For easy access to a little bit of everything, including a great beach, history, art, plus a thriving cafe culture, make Bideford your base. Westward Ho! beach is just 15 minutes from the town, with a Blue Flag status and 2 miles of soft sand backed by a pebble ridge and the Northam Burrows Country Park. Locals can often be found down on the beach enjoying the local fish and chips and admiring the sunset as the tide comes in.

A wander through the winding lanes of Bideford reveals shops selling everything from antiques to books and jewellery to handmade fudge.

Stop at one of the many cafes or restaurants for a bite of homemade, locally sourced food or a pint of local ale, or shop at the regular Farmers Market for a real taste of North Devon. To sample local life in a unique ship building village try a stay at Mariners Cottage, a cosy beamed cottage located on the sea wall at Appledore.

To enjoy the ultimate rural experience, head for Ruby Country near Holsworthy. Enclosed by the upland expanses of Bodmin, Exmoor and Dartmoor, and to the north by the wild North Devon coast, Ruby Country is a haven of tranquillity.

For a truly romantic break with easy access to the rural heart of North Devon, Cornwall and the North Devon Coast, stay at Wooldown Holiday Cottages www.wooldown.com. 12 luxury romantic barn conversions just for couples. Alternatively find yourself a cosy cottage retreat and live like a local for a week or two, Orchard Keepers Cottage in Beaworthy www.orchardkeeperscottage.co.uk is a spacious quality oak barn conversion tastefully reconstructed and architecturally designed for two.