Oldiscleave Farm

North Devon’s quite rightly proud of its coastline, best viewed either with a ramble along the South West Coast Path or by picking one of its many fine beaches for a day out. Westward Ho! (15 minutes’ drive) is a popular pick for sandcastle-building families, while surfers (both novices and regulars) should aim for Croyde (40 minutes) or Woolacombe (50 minutes) for the best waves. Bideford (five minutes) doesn’t have its own beach as such, but the folk on site recommend hiring bikes here for a trip along the Tarka Trail, stopping at Instow beach for an ice cream along the way. The town does, however, have a harbour – the launching point for boat trips out to the wildlife haven of Lundy island. Other spots worth a visit locally include the colourful floral displays at RHS Rosemoor (15 minutes), the glass-blowing factory of Dartington Crystal (15 minutes) and the fishing village of Clovelly (25 minutes), where the only traffic comes in the form of donkeys. Family-friendly days out can also be had at the Big Sheep amusement park (10 minutes) and the Milky Way Adventure Park (20 minutes).