There's nothing Jack and I love more than escaping off from the everyday hustle bustle of our lives and heading off to a quiet little place somewhere to explore and relax. We both love Devon and Cornwall, it's our English answer to Australia with it's sandy beaches, relaxed atmosphere and surf brands galore.
A little bit spontaneously, we booked ourselves a campsite near the small seaside town of Ilfracombe and headed down for a long weekend to get away and chill out.
I'd been down Ilfracombe way a few times when I was younger but it was nice to see it all again and really enjoy the tranquility of it and rediscover why I'd loved it so much. It was also really nice to show Jack around all the little places I remembered from family trips.
We arrived late Thursday afternoon so once the tent was up, we'd eaten and sorted everything out there wasn't much time left for exploring so we made a promise to ourselves to get up early and get out and see what was about.
As we were staying in Ilfracombe we decided we'd make that our first stop. It's a lovely, quaint, picture-post card town with all the things you'd expect a Devonshire seaside town to be. We wondered around the harbour and along the seafront and it was beautiful. St Nicholas' Chapel, atop Lantern Hill, overlooks the harbour and the views are stunning and well worth the trek to the top of the hill.
Lack of a gas bottle also meant we trundled into Barnstaple on the hunt for gas in the afternoon. We didn't really look around properly as we were running out of time but what we saw from the window of the van was lovely and we wished we'd made time to get out and have a look.
Saturday was the real day for exploring and explore we did. We drove to Lynmouth and I was finally allowed to indulge in a cream tea. Well, when in Devon? It would be rude not to. Lynmouth is a beautiful town and you can ride the cliff railway up to Lynton which is great fun and a definite must if you've not done it before or if you've got kids because they'll love it.
There's plenty to see in Lynton and Lynmouth for a whole day and we really enjoyed ambling around the cobble stone streets and exploring all the nooks and crannies. And of course the cream tea, or egg mayo baguette in Jack's case. I'd definitely recommend the Lynmouth Bay Cafe if you're looking for a pit-stop in the area.
Once we felt liked we'd ticked Lynton and Lynmouth of the list we decided we'd drive to Woolacombe. I remembered absolutely adoring it as a child and I really wanted to take Jack to see it.
Once we got there I remembered why I loved it. A big stretch of open sandy beach, bright blue water and crashing waves and surf shops in abundance. Woolacombe is my kind of place. The only downside is it's so expensive to park but it's worth it if you're planning to stay a while.
On a sunny day, Woolacombe is the perfect place to enjoy Devonshire beaches at their best. It's restaurants and cafes mean you can literally stay there all day and want for nothing. You can hire surf boards, paddle boards and anything else you could want. It really is a dreamy place.
We drove up the Esplanade past Barricane Beach (which is a beautiful place to stop and also a great place to enjoy Sri Lankan curry in the summer) to Mortehoe. It's a lovely little drive and a great way to take in the views over Woolacombe Bay.
Saturday evening we decided to treat ourselves to Fish & Chips at Ilfracombe harbour. It was a lovely evening watching the sunset over the harbour and enjoy proper fish and chips.
After packing up the tent and sorting ourselves out we decided to head into Croyde for breakfast on Sunday and one last explore. We stopped at the Blue Groove in Croyde and it was glorious. Jack indulged with what they call 'The Big Pig' while I went for a more subdued eggs Florentine and it was delicious. Highly recommend.
After a delicious breakfast we headed down to the beach. Unfortunately it wasn't a very nice morning so we just looked out from the van and put it on the list for a beach day next time we're in the area. Down in Devon though, sometimes it's great just to get in the car and drive there's so many beautiful photo spots.
For me North Devon is the perfect place to escape to when it's all getting on top of me. It was just what I needed at the time and it really helped me to feel better about things. I realise camping isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for me it's the perfect way to unwind and disconnect from everything.
If you're in need of an escape I'd definitely consider heading to North Devon.
Until next time.
