Things to do in North Devon with kids: family-friendly days out
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Things to do in North Devon – a guide for families
We had a brilliant family holiday in North Devon last summer. Highlights for us included the wild coastline with its fantastic beaches and the brilliant Tarka Trail cycle path. North Devon is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the UK, offering stunning coastlines, rolling countryside, historic sites, and a variety of activities to suit all ages.
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Whether you are looking for free activities, toddler-friendly attractions, fun days out for teenagers, unusual experiences, or ways to entertain the family on a rainy day, there are so many things to do in North Devon with kids. This guide explores all the best family-friendly things to do in North Devon, helping you plan an unforgettable trip.
If you’re visiting North Devon with your four legged friend, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of dog friendly beaches in North Devon. Read my article about our trip to North Devon if you’re looking for a dog friendly place to stay in North Devon with kids.
If I’ve missed any days out in North Devon which you’ve enjoyed as a family, do let me know in the comments below.
Driving to North Devon? Check out my comprehensive guide on where to stop on a long car journey.
Free things to do in North Devon with kids
A family holiday can be expensive, but North Devon offers plenty of fantastic free activities that allow you to explore the region without spending a fortune. Despite mediocre weather during our trip to North Devon, we returned to the beach again and again – the coastline is incredible, and it’s free. Here are some of the best free things to do in North Devon for families.
Hit the beach – rockpooling, bodyboarding and sand castles
Devon is home to some of the UK’s most spectacular beaches, perfect for family fun. We loved Woolacombe – it was close to where we were staying, there was always loads of parking (surprising given it was August), and the ice cream shop was excellent.
Woolacombe has miles of sand, colourful beach huts, piles of rocks for the all-important rockpooling and the waves are great for bodyboarding and surfing.
Barricane Beach is just next door to Woolacombe and is a secluded little spot surrounded by rocks. It’s great for clambering and also for shell hunting – apparently shells are washed ashore here from as far afield as the Caribbean.
Saunton Sands and Croyde are both famed surf beaches. I’ve not been to Saunton but Croyde has an ice cream shop of equal greatness to that found in Woolacombe (not a free activity but unavoidable I find).
Westward Ho! is unique with its pebble ridge and rock pools that provide hours of entertainment for children. It’s also the only town in the UK to have an exclamation mark in its name – maybe that in itself warrants a visit.
Walk a section of the South West Coast Path
I know not all children relish the idea of going for a walk. However, the scenery on the South West Coast Path is so breathtaking that even the most reluctant walker cannot fail to be impressed (hopefully).
Baggy Point Walk is an easy and scenic walk with incredible coastal views towards Lundy Island, ideal for families with young children. Although it’s only 4.5 miles, you can make a day of it by including a break at Putsborough Sands, starting and ending at Baggy Point National Trust car park. There is also a shorter two mile version of this walk.
If you’re up for more of a challenge, Clovelly to Hartland is a more strenuous route of 10 miles offering dramatic and diverse landscapes and historic sites.
Explore Exmoor National Park
Exmoor National Park is a wonderful place for a free day out in North Devon for families. There are miles of scenic trails, opportunities to spot Exmoor ponies, and stunning landscapes.
The Valley of Rocks is a breath-taking spot where wild goats roam freely among dramatic rock formations.
We enjoyed a peaceful morning walk through Heddon Valley along the river to an empty beach where the river meets the sea. The beach was the perfect spot for lunch – we sat on the beach watching the sea pound the cliffs.
Explore the village of Lee – known locally as “Fuchsia Valley” for its profusion of flowers. Lee Bay is an excellent place for children to discover marine life in rock pools filled with crabs, sea anemones, and tiny fish.
Walk or cycle the Tarka Trail
If you’re bringing your bikes to North Devon, the Tarka Trail is a popular walking and cycling path that follows the route of Tarka the Otter, offering a car-free cycle route for families.
Things to do in North Devon with toddlers
Travelling with toddlers can be challenging, but North Devon has plenty of attractions tailored to little ones, ensuring kids and parents alike have a good holiday (most of the time).
Beaches in North Devon for toddlers
No matter the weather, you can fill a whole week just building sandcastles at the many beaches in North Devon. All the main beaches are pretty good for little ones – Woolacombe, Saunton, Croyde and Westward Ho! all have good facilities and lots of sand. Westward Ho! also has a disabled ramp onto the beach so that’s useful for pushchairs as well as wheelchairs.
Look out for the seagulls at Woolacombe – we had to be quite creative with how we consumed our picnics on the beach – the birds were quite aggressive. We were one of the few families without a beach tent or windbreak. Not only would these have been useful protection from the wind, they’d also have protected our lunch from the gulls.
Ilfracombe Aquarium
The small but engaging Ilfracombe Aquarium showcases local marine life with interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain young visitors.
Take the funicular railway from Lynmouth to Lynton (or vice versa)
We parked at Lynton and walked the steep cliff path – lovely views – down to the harbour at Lynmouth. After a wander past the pretty shops and a play in the park, we then took the cliff railway back up to Lynton. There’s a very good ice cream shop near the railway called Nana Jude’s – it has a particularly extensive range of flavours and a friendly owner.
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
Featuring animatronic dinosaurs as well as actual animals – including meerkats, sea lions, and wolves – Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park is a fun day out for little children.
Theme parks in North Devon for children
There is a dense concentration of theme parks in North Devon. When we were faced with non-beach day weather, we decided to try out one of the theme parks. None of us are big fans of rollercoasters so we opted for the weird but strangely likeable Watermouth Castle – we all loved it but couldn’t quite put our finger on why…
The Big Sheep
This is one of the most popular family attractions in Devon, featuring indoor soft play areas, gentle rides for young children, live animal shows, and a miniature train ride.
The Milky Way Adventure Park
The Milky Way Adventure Park offers a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions, including soft play areas, mini roller coasters, a toddler-friendly maze, and engaging space-themed activities.
Watermouth Castle
Watermouth Castle is unique, quirky and amusing for adults, and endlessly enchanting for younger children (actually, our teen and tween loved it too). The rides are very much geared to little children so if you’re after extreme thrills, this isn’t the theme park for you. There’s a fun crazy golf course too.
Things to Do in Devon with Teenagers
Obviously, your idea of what makes a holiday in North Devon appealing to teenagers might not marry with what your teen kids have in mind. However, there are some pretty cool attractions which will hopefully unite all the family, at least for a while.
Things to do in the sea in North Devon for teenagers
Surfing lessons are a must-try experience in North Devon, with some of the UK’s best surfing spots along its coastline. If you’re not ready for surfing, bodyboarding is great fun and skim boarding went down really well with one of our boys.
Where are the best North Devon beaches for surfing? Croyde Bay, Woolacombe Beach, and Saunton Sands all offer surf schools that provide lessons for beginners and advanced surfers alike.
Coasteering is an adrenaline-fuelled activity that involves climbing, swimming, and cliff-jumping along the rugged coastline. Companies like H2Outdoor and Active Escape offer guided sessions.
Despite North Devon’s famed waves, there are some good spots for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. The Taw and Torridge Estuary, Ilfracombe Harbour, and Combe Martin Bay all provide calm waters and beautiful scenery. Combe Martin is particularly good as there are some fantastic rock pools -even teens can’t fail to be impressed by the pools there.
Inland adrenaline activities in North Devon for teenagers
The Ultimate Adventure Centre near Bideford offers exciting high rope courses, zip lines, climbing walls, and assault courses. Quad biking and paintballing can be had at Keypitts Off-Road Adventure near Ilfracombe.
Museums in North Devon for families
Devon is rich in history and culture, with a variety of museums that provide fascinating insights into the region’s heritage.
North Devon Maritime Museum
The North Devon Maritime Museum in Appledore showcases the region’s seafaring history with fascinating exhibits.
Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon showcases the area’s maritime heritage, archaeology, and industry with interactive exhibits.
Burton Art Gallery and Museum
The Burton Art Gallery and Museum in Bideford features a collection of local and contemporary art, as well as historical exhibits about Devon’s past.
Lyn and Exmoor Museum
The Lyn and Exmoor Museum in Lynton displays relics from Exmoor’s past, including Victorian artefacts and local history exhibits.
Ilfracombe Museum
Ilfracombe Museum is a quirky collection of curiosities, including Victorian taxidermy, military memorabilia, and maritime history.
Unusual places to visit in North Devon
For those looking for something a little different, North Devon is home to several unusual and unique attractions.
Quince Honey Farm
The Quince Honey Farm in South Molton has an indoor soft play area and fascinating interactive beekeeping exhibits.
Clovelly Village
Clovelly is a privately owned, picturesque fishing village where cars are banned. The steep cobbled streets, charming cottages, and breathtaking sea views make it a magical place to visit. Despite being unusual, it’s certainly not unknown – expect to share this special place with quite a few other visitors.
The Gnome Reserve
The Gnome Reserve is a fun and quirky attraction featuring thousands of garden gnomes in a whimsical setting, where children can even borrow gnome hats to blend in. Read more about this unique North Devon attraction from one of my friends who used to love taking her kids there.
Hartland Peninsular and Quay
Hartland Quay is a rugged and dramatic coastal spot with fascinating geology and shipwreck history, perfect for exploring. Hartland Abbey has lovely gardens to explore and hosts outdoor theatre – including child-friendly productions – in the summer months.
The Tunnels Beaches
The Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe are hand-carved tunnels leading to a secluded beach and sea water pool, originally hand-carved in the nineteenth century.
Things to do in North Devon when it rains
Rain does not have to spoil your plans, as there are plenty of North Devon indoor attractions. Of course, provided you have a wetsuit, you can still spend hours in the sea. During our trip to North Devon, the sea temperature was slightly warmer than the air (we picked a bad week).
Aside from the attractions below, take a look at the theme parks and museums listed in this article too.
Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor Zoo is home to rare animals, including the Exmoor Beast (you’ll have to click on the link to the zoo’s website for the spoiler of what that actually is), and provides an engaging experience for families.
Dartington Crystal
Dartington Crystal allows visitors to see skilled glassblowers at work and even try their hand at glassmaking.
Hire bikes for the Tarka Trail
On the wettest weather day we had on our trip to North Devon, we drove to Barnstaple and hired bikes at the train station from Tarka Bikes. From there, we cycled a 25 kilometre section of the Tarka Trail (and back again).
The Tarka Trail is car-free so children can safely whizz along on their bikes for miles (just look out for the odd road crossing here and there – I think we only had one on the section we did). Even when it rains, the Tarka Trail is great fun as there are regular pitstops to take shelter in – we ate a lot of cakes and scones that day.
Indoor climbing at Rock and Rapid Adventures
There’s good indoor climbing at Rock and Rapid Adventures where you’ll find auto belays and top rope routes along with a range of bouldering options.
North Devon theme parks for rainy days
The Milky Way Adventure Park and The Big Sheep have large indoor play zones, live shows, and fun attractions that are perfect for a rainy day in North Devon for children.
Art and theatre in North Devon
The Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington and Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple offer family-friendly theatre performances and cinema screenings.
