around golland farm

^{Towns & Villages}

^Chulmleigh^{- Small and friendly village 5 minute drive from the farm, offering bakery, butchers, green grocers, pubs, café/restaurant, The Old Dairy,(organic/local store) hairdressers, estate agents, hardware store, takeaway, post office.}

^{South Molton}^{- Busy market town 20 minute drive from the farm, offering green grocers, butchers, bakers, Griffins Yard (organic store), hardware store, newsagents, estate agents, chemists, banks, market (Thursdays & Saturdays), Mole Valley Country Store, museum, swimming pool, café’s, restaurants, takeaways, pubs, sports shop (sells fishing gear) and tourist information office.}

^{Barnstaple -}^{Barnstaple as a town has so much to offer and it is always a challenge to know where to start. Whether it’s shopping, dining out, leisure and culture or immersing yourself in the towns rich history, there really is something for everyone whether you’re local or visiting the town. As a shopping destination Barnstaple caters for all tastes from a large selection of well known national retailers to a fantastic range of unique and award winning independent traders. Barnstaple is a truly friendly and welcoming town which caters for everyone and includes the provision of a fantastic shopmobilty service. With a wide range of eating and drinking options, the superb Queens Theatre and a mutli-screen cinema right in the heart of the town, and plenty of the history you would expect to find in England’s oldest borough. If you like your locally produced, organic food then pay a visit to Orchards Farm Shop, opposite Tesco at St John's Garden Centre. Well worth a visit for the best of the region's produce under one roof - wonderful meat from local farms, home grown veg, fresh fruit, cheese and dairy products.}

^{Bideford -}^{Nestling alongside the River Torridge, Bideford is more than a resort. It is a market town and a port, too, with an active fishing industry. Cargo ships call in to load and unload and the MS Oldenburg, which plies between Bideford and Lundy Island, is often to be seen tied up by the quayside. Bideford being its port. Bideford Pannier market days are Tuesdays & Saturdays 8am - 3pm Butchers' Row & Market Place open six days a week all year round.}

^{The Pannier Market complex has been in operation since it was built by John Chudleigh of Exeter in 1883/84. It was-officially opened by the then Mayor G.W Vincent in April 1884. The opening ceremony was followed, by a public dinner when almost 200 people sat down. The day ended with a promenade concert and-later that week 2000 children gathered at the Market for a tea party. It was built at a cost of £4,200 to house a fish market, butchers stalls and a corn exchange.}

^Clovelly^{- Discover the timeless village of Clovelly. Where the steep, cobbled street tumbles down past gleaming white cottages to the tiny, deep blue harbour…}^{www.clovelly.co.uk}

^{Lynmouth Bay}^{- This charming village sits on the mouth of the River Lyn and attracts many visitors. It is very pretty and has an excellent museum, a cliff railway linking Lynmouth to Lynton, a brass rubbing centre and lovely woodland walks by the waterfalls in Glen Lyn Gorge. The pebble beach however has little to offer apart from a tide filled bathing pool on the Eastern Beach facing the Manor Grounds. Spectacular riverside walks through the gorges, fabulous sea views, beautiful waters meet, fishing harbour, shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs and cliff railway.}

^{Great Torrington}^{- traditional market town with award winning shops, master bakers & butchers, cafes, restaurants, Victorian pannier market, pubs, museum, shambles, Dartington Crystal, Torrington 1646, Survival Paintball, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Barometer World, golf, Tarka Trail, The Commons, festivals and events.}^{www.great-torrington.com}^{www.northdevon.co.uk}

^{Activities & Places to Visit}

^{Crealy Adventure Park -}^{www.crealy.co.uk}

^{The Milky Way Adventure Park -}^{www.themilkyway.co.uk}

^{Wildlife & Dinosaur Park -}^{www.dinosaur-park.com}

^{The Original Miniature Pony Centre -}^{www.miniatureponycentre.com}

^{Keypitts Stables & Quads -}^{www.keypitts.com}

^{Woodlands Leisure Park -}^{www.woodlandspark.com}

^{Quad World -}^{www.quadworld.co.uk}

^{The Big Sheep -}^{www.thebigsheep.co.uk}

^{Atlantic Village -}^{www.atlanticvillage.co.uk}

^{Paintball & Laser Games -}^{www.skirmishexeter.com}

^{North Devon Karting -}^{www.northdevonkarting.co.uk}

^{Golf in North Devon -}^{www.willingcott.co.uk}^{www.highbullen.co.uk}^{www.ilfracombegolfclub.com}^{www.portmoregolf.co.uk}

^{www.royalnorthdevongolfclub.co.uk}^{www.sauntongolf.co.uk}

^{Lundy Island}^{- Lundy lies off the coast of North Devon, where the Atlantic ocean meets the Bristol Channel with nothing between it and America, a granite outcrop, three and a half miles long and half a mile wide. In the hubbub of the modern world it is a place apart, peaceful and unspoilt. Winter helicopter service.}

^{The Mill Adventure Centre, South Molton}^{- indoor climbing wall and outdoor activities.}^{www.milladventure.co.uk}

^{Old Corn Mill and Pottery, Hele Bay, Ilfracombe}^{- 16th centry watermill, tea room, gardens, pottery.}^{www.oldcornmillandpottery.co.uk}

^{Surf South West, Croyde Bay}^{- learn to surf with the professionals.}^{www.surfsouthwest.com}

^{Atlantic Kayak Hire, Bideford}^{- Tel: 01237 474900}

^{RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington}^-^{www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor}

^{Tarka Trail Cycle Hire, Barnstaple}^{- 21 miles of level scenic traffic free cycle track - Tel: 01271 324202}

^{Bideford Bicycle Hire}^{- direct access to the safe traffic free Tarka Trail Tel: 01237 424123}

^{The Gnome Reserve & Wild Flower Garden, Bradworthy}^{- 1000+ gnomes and pixies to meet! Plus gallery, café, conservation centre, wild flower meadow.}^{www.gnomereserve.co.uk}

^{Becky Falls, Dartmoor}^{- waterfall, discovery & wildlife trails, petting zoo, picnic areas, boulder clambering, café, craft & gift shop and special events.}^{www.beckyfalls.com}

^{North Devon Beaches

Northam Burrows - 1.5 miles of sandy beach protected by its ridge of huge pebbles. Ideal for swimming, surfing and sailboarding. There is a visitors centre explaining the ecology of the sea and surrounding area. This is open Easter - September 10am - 5pm, although the park is open all the time. There is a car park behindthe pebble ridge and toilets at the visitors centre.

Westward Ho! - A seaside resort with all the features one expects - amusement arcade, putting green, tennis courts, playground, beach shops, snack bars and seaside pubs. The beach - sand/pebbles - is easily accessible from the car park and is ideal for swimming and surfing. There are also pools in the rocks which have been adapted for swimming.

Instow - from which the beach is wheelchair accessible. Although it does have a sandy beach it is not really for sunbathing and surfing as it is in the estuary. It is however great to play on, fly kites etc. It is an attractive area and has always been popular with artists. When the tide is out it is very pleasant walking along the beach by the edge of the river Torridge with picturesque Appledore on the opposite side, or just sit down and enjoy an ice cream. The children find this fun too as there are lots of pools in the soft sand, many of which contain attractive seashells. There is car parking in the village There is also a car park behind the dunes.

Saunton Sands - 3 miles of flat sand backed by massive sand dunes. Excellent surfing beach and ideal for all water sports. Manned with lifeguards. Wheelchair accessible. Shop, toilet etc. at car park end of beach - However you can get away from the crowds by just walking further along the beach. Try to arrive early as car parking space is limited and can fill up on busy days.

Croyde - This award winning sandy beach is just around the corner from Saunton Sands, but because it is smaller it can get crowded. However it is easily accessible, there is plenty of car parking and it is excellent for swimming, surfing, windsurfing etc. The beach is manned with lifeguards. At one end of the beach there is equipment hire, a shop, refreshments and toilets. From here the beach is wheelchair accessible.

Woolacombe - A modern settlement rather swamped by hotels guest houses and caravan parks. However once you get past all this you come to one of the finest beaches in the West Country. 3 miles of golden sand with numerous awards. It is very clean and tidy, has good toilet facilities, first aid, life saving equipment and even a lost children service. There is a large car park near the beach which is easily accessible to wheelchairs. Woolacombe is ideal for all water sports and there are lifeguards on the beach. However attention should be paid to warnings not to bathe at low tide.

Putsborough - (At the southern end of Woolacombe Sands) Another award winning sandy beach manned with lifeguards. Again ideal for surfing, swimming and water sports. There is a beach car park but access for wheelchairs is difficult. Toilets and snack bar.}

^{Barricane Beach}^{(Just north of Woolacombe Sands) A Small rocky cove with a beach made of broken sea shells not native to Britain. Rock pools amongst the flat rocks. Wheelchair access is possible if a little difficult. Parking is on the Mortehoe road (opposite The Devon Beach Hotel) or at Woolacombe Beach car park five minutes walk away.}

^{Combesgate, Rockham & Grunta}^{- are all small secluded bays which have deep safe rock pools. Unfortunately the only access to these bays is by footpath. A good starting point is the ancient parish church at Mortehoe - St Mary's. The Chichester Arms in Mortehoe provides an excellent lunch.}

^{Tunnels, Ilfracombe -}^{An aging holiday resort which was at its best during the Victorian era. The Tunnels are passages hewn through the cliffs to a privately owned bathing beach. The Victorians also built up walls between rocks to make two bathing pools - One for ladies and one for gentlemen. There is a cafe at the entrance to the tunnels as well as a snack bar by the beaches. There is a small charge to use the Tunnels.}

^{Hele Bay -}^{(Just east of Ilfracombe) A safe shingle beach which is popular with canoeists. There are a few amusements and a tide filled children’s swimming pool. In the village is a working 16th century watermill open April - October. There is also a pottery at the mill where you can make your own pot. From the village there is a path up the impressive 447ft Hillsborough hill which provides a good view of Ilfracombe Harbour. Its summit is also one of the few places in the country where you can see the sun rise and set over a sea horizon. Just yards from the beach is the Hele Bay pub with excellent food.}

^{Lee -}^{This pretty little village is nestled in Fuchsia Valley - a deep combe where fuchsias grow in abundance. The beach is delightful at low tide with lots of rock pools to explore and a stretch of sand giving good bathing. At high tide all this is covered and the beach becomes very uninviting.}

^{Hartland Quay & Hartland Point -}^{The coast around Hartland Point is one of Britain's most treacherous. At least 36 ships were wrecked on the 4 miles centred on Hartland Quay alone between 1800 and 1920. This small museum tells it all, and also has displays on the little port itself and its smuggling days, natural history, and the incredibly contorted rock layers hereabouts. Six circular walks start from the museum. The beach at Hartland Quay is rocky with numerous pools and the cliffs are spectacular with contorted rock formations. There are lovely views from Hartland Point although you are unable to climb down to the beach below.}

^{Combe Martin -}^{At high tide the beach looks uninteresting but as the tide goes out there are large rock pools to explore and a stretch of level sand appears outside a ridge of stones known as the breakwater. The sea is free of currents and therefore popular for bathing. Just a little to the west is Sandy Bay which is reached by Sandy Bay Lane. Steps lead down to the beach, but unfortunately there is no sand. However it is a great spot for a picnic. In Combe Martin itself there is a large beach car park which provides easy access for wheelchairs. There are also a variety of shops and cafes on what is said to be longest main street in the country.}

^{Wild Pear Bay}^{- A delightful beach often used by naturists. Although steps have been cut into the cliff down to the beach, the descent and climb back are quite arduous. The beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles and on the north side is a stream of drinking water. The nearest car park is the beach car park at Combe Martin. Take the footpath to Lesser Point which then goes on to Little Hangman and you will come across the path down to Wild Pear/Hangman beach.}

^{Woody Bay}^{- A lovely sheltered bay where the steep cliffs are covered in woods and a fast flowing stream gushes down the hillside to the beach below. There is a small car park next to the road and the path zigzags down through the woods to the beach below. The beach, made up of rocks, large pebbles and shingle, is safe for swimming and is a lovely place to just sit, relax and enjoy the scenery. The only disadvantage is having to walk back up!}

^{Lee Bay}^{- A very narrow scenic road brings you from Woody Bay to Lee Bay. Another very attractive bay with rocks to climb and a sandy/shingle beach to play on. Bathers should be aware of strong currents. Car parking is in a field near the bay and there are some facilities.}

^{Wringcliff Bay -}^{This secluded little bay is surrounded by high cliffs. The path down to it is quite steep and not really suitable for very young children. There is a car park in the Valley of the Rocks and the path is sign posted from the little roundabout near the car park.}

^{For further visitor information on North Devon visit}

^{www.discoverdevon.com}