About the area

Rushmead House, Lydacott,Fremington, North Devon, EX31 2PD
Tel: 01271 373198, www.rushmeadhols.co.uk
Webmaster: Val Waite

Devon has some of the cleanest beaches in Europe. Instow is our nearest beach...just 3 miles away, but Saunton Sands, Westward Ho!, Hartland, Croyde, Woolacombe, Ilfracombe and many more are within easy reach. For water sports, playing with the children or just doing nothing!

If you enjoy walking or cycling, the famous Tarka Trail is within walking distance of the cottages. Based on the route taken by Tarka the otter in the book by Henry Williamson, it is 180 miles long, taking in moorland, coastal and riverside paths. ‘Pick and mix’ your own trips from the many trails. Bring your own cycles or hire them locally at reasonable rates.

20 minutes drive away and you can be on Exmoor with it’s beautiful scenery of unspoiled moorland and wooded valleys, ponies and deer.

Visit the famous Pannier market in Barnstaple, dating back to Victorian times, built on the site of the old meat market and corn exchange where the locals used to congregate to sell their produce from pannier baskets. Nowadays it is open every day and an ideal place to find a wide range of local goods including arts and crafts and antiques as well as farm produce.
Opposite the market is Butchers Row, a whole row of butchers shops dating from 1855 and still in good use.

Well worth a visit is the island of Lundy - 12 miles off-coast, once the haunt of smugglers and pirates and now a haven for wildlife including puffins and seals. Regular ferries run from Bideford.

There are plenty of attractions around - adventure parks, museums and stately homes and gardens. Dartington Crystal, Clovelly Village, The Milky Way, The Big Sheep, Exmoor Zoo, potteries, Superbowl, the RHS gardens at Rosemoor, Tapeley House and Arlington are just a few examples.

The North Devon Leisure Centre in Barnstaple has a comprehensive range of facilities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, squash and badminton. Barnstaple’s superb all-weather tennis centre opened in 2003. There are so many golf clubs around, you could try a different one each day! North Devon has some of the best surfing around...you can even have lessons in Croyde.

Devon is an all-year-round holiday destination and the mildness of the climate is matched only by the warmness of the welcome you will receive!