North Devon

Getting to Watermouth Cove Accommodation   Arts & Crafts Banks Beaches Day Trips from North Devon Eating Places including Local Pubs and Deliveries Events and Festivals Family Attractions Historic Houses and Gardens Links to other North Devon websites Exmoor and Lynmouth area Markets & Shopping Railways Sport & Leisure

Getting to Watermouth Cove [EX34 9SJ]

BY CAR

The quickest and easiest route to Watermouth Cove is via the M5 leaving the motorway at junction 27 and taking the A361, the North Devon Link road (NDL), towards Barnstaple. After passing the roundabouts for Tiverton and South Molton, at the ‘Little Chef roundabout’ turn right onto the A399, signposted Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, Lynton and Lynmouth. At this  junction there is a brown leisure signpost to Watermouth Castle, 17 miles away.   

BY RAIL

The scenic ‘Tarka Line’ from Exeter to Barnstaple connects with Intercity trains to the rest of the country. Watermouth Cove is a short bus ride from Barnstaple - ask for Watermouth Castle.

BY BUS

National Express together with the local bus service serve the North Devon area including Watermouth Cove. Buses between Barnstaple and Combe Martin stop at Watermouth Castle and The Old Sawmill pub in Watermouth. In the summer months there is an open top tourist bus between Barnstaple and Watermouth Castle. However, buses are not frequent in this rural area, and a car is a much easier way of getting around to see the sights and local attractions. 

BY AIR
Coming from overseas?
Fly into London Gatwick. Easiest way is to hire a car - journey is around four hours. Alternatively by rail there are connections from Gatwick via Reading and Exeter - current fare is around £65 return.

Exeter Airport
Flights to/from Exeter [1.5/2 hours from Watermouth] as follows:

Austria, Salzburg – Flybe
Canada. Toronto – Transat
France, Bergerac, Brest, Chambery & Paris – Flybe
Holland, Amsterdam – Flybe
Ireland, Dublin – Flybe
Switzerland, Geneva – Flybe

Bristol Airport
Flights to/from Bristol [2/2.5 hours from Watermouth/Lynmouth] as follows:

Ireland
 = Belfast – Flybe & Easyjet
 = Cork – Aer Arann
 = Dublin – Ryanair & Aer Lingus
 = Shannon – Ryanair
Belgium, Brussels - SN Brussels
France
 = Bergerac, Bordeaux, Toulouse – Flybe
 = Nice – Easyjet
 = Paris – British Airways
USA, New York – Continental
Germany
 = Berlin – Easyjet
 = Bremen – OLT
 = Dusseldorf, Frankfurt & Munich – BA
 = Hamburg – Easyjet & OLT
Holland, Amsterdam – KLM & Easyjet
Switzerland
 = Geneva – Easyjet
 = Zurich – British Airways

Accommodation

Well behaved pets are welcome in all our properties

Watermouth Cove offers visitors a wide range of accommodation, including self-catering cottages and lodges, camping, caravanning and hotel. 
Watermouth Cove Cottages, in the lee of Watermouth Castle, offer the ideal escape, with self-catering accommodation.

Berrynarbor, just a few minutes drive from Watermouth, is a prize winning village overlooking the beautiful Sterridge Valley - with a first class restaurant and an historic Inn.

Ilfracombe, a couple of miles west of Watermouth Cove, has Rapparee, Hele Bay and Tunnels beaches, with delightful walks and gardens. There is an exceptionally scenic coastal golf course and boat trips are available for fishing and to visit Lundy Island. Ilfracombe has a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Close by are the beautiful sandy beaches of Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands.

Banks

• Barclays in Ilfracombe

• HSBC nearest is at Woolacombe (open 9-3)

• Lloyds in Ilfracombe and Combe Martin

• Natwest and Barclays in Ilfracombe

• Londis in Combe Martin has a multi bank 'hole in the wall'

Day Trips from North Devon Bude, Cornwall Castle Drogo,  near Exeter Clovelly, North Devon Dunster, Somerset [pictured right] Eden Project Cornwall Exeter Exmouth Lost Gardens of Heligan Cornwall Lundy Island Paignton Zoo Powderham Castle, Exeter See also Lots to Do for more ideas!

Markets & Shopping

Small town and village pannier markets are usually only open mornings. Barnstaple markets are usually open all day.

• Barnstaple Daily: Pannier market in the Market Hall opposite Marks & Spencer,  each day a different theme

  • Monday - Local Crafts, Collectables and General Goods - April to Christmas
  • Tuesday - Local Produce and General Goods - all year round
  • Wednesday - Antiques, Collectables and Book Market - all year round
  • Thursday - Local Craft and General Goods - April to Christmas
  • Friday - Local Produce and General Goods - all year round
  • Saturday - Local Produce and General Goods - all year round

• Barnstaple Friday morning: Cattle Market 

• Barnstaple - a huge shopping area with mall and all the big names and chain store brands

• Bideford, Atlantic Village - a good sized shopping mall with some designer outlets

• Bideford, Pannier Market in town centre Tuesday & Saturday

• Combe Martin has two small supermarkets and two post offices

• Ilfracombe has numerous shops, most are individual, family-run stores rather than chain stores

• South Molton - Pannier Market Thursday & Farmers Market Saturday

• Torrington - Pannier Market - Thursday & Saturday, antiques on Friday

Railways Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Instow Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh, Near Tiverton Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, Exmoor Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway Tarka Line  Barnstaple to Exeter [pictured right] West Somerset Railway

Picture of Bideford Station courtesy of Pat Evans, North Devon Focus.  www.thenorthdevonfocus.co.uk

  Please call us on 0845 029 1958 (Local call rate) or 01271 883931 for information and colour brochure of accommodation or e-mail stay@watermouthcove.co.uk