Barle Brook Retreat

Want to hang 10 with the dawn patrol, dude? This part of Devon is an absolute surfing hotspot. Famed wave-catching beaches Saunton Sands and Croyde are within 35 minutes’ drive, and it’s half an hour to the Museum of British Surfing in Braunton. More sedate beaches are within easy reach too: the closest sandy stretch is at Combe Martin, 15 minutes away, where kayaks can be hired, guided tours can be taken and dolphins can be spotted. A little further afield is the quiet Woolacombe (half an hour), and the lengthy and wide Westward Ho! beach is under an hour away. Kids can be entertained close at hand – particularly the animal fans – as it’s a mere five minutes to Exmoor Zoo and 10 minutes to Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, and those that need something a little more energetic can make tracks for the Big Sheep or the Milky Way Adventure Park (both within 50 minutes) instead. Drawn to historical sites? Chug right into the past at Lynton and Barnstaple Steam Railway, 10 minutes from base, sweep along from there to Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum (15 minutes), then settle in for a longer jaunt to Dunster Castle, 40 minutes away. Those who are quite happy on lengthy journeys (like, an hour and 20 minutes kind of lengthy) can add impressive Castle Drogo to the list too.