May half term holiday are almost here and we’ve got lots of suggestions for having the best half term ever! Whether you’re coming to visit for the whole week or are just the day, there’s plenty to see and do over half term.
Of course, coming to North Devon means you have access to the incredible coastline – the whole of the North Devon coast falls within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and regularly wins awards. It isn’t just their looks that the beaches have going for them either, they also form part of the UK’s first surf reserve – awarded to North Devon because of the perfect surfing and watersports conditions! May half term will (hopefully!) mean some bright and sunny days, which may inspire you to get out on the waves and what better place to try out some surfing?
If you’re new to watersports, start out at either Saunton or Woolacombe beaches where the surf is a bit gentler, those of you who are more experienced, will want to head to Croyde or Putsborough which are known as real havens for surfers. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll find tuition and equipment hire, so you won’t even need to bring your own boards and there will be instructors on hand should you need a helping hand. If you want to try out some watersports before heading out on the waves, book a few sessions at North Devon Wake Park.
Located near Clovelly and Bideford, the North Devon Wake Park is just 10 minutes from the coast and gives you the chance to enjoy a host of water based activities including wakeboarding, paddleboarding and more. The aqua park is great for families, offering activities for all ages and abilities, they offer packages too, so you can tailor your day out!
Skern Lodge is another great option for those of you who are looking for a touch of adventure this half term. They’re based on the edge of Appledore and have a whole host of activities taking place throughout the year, with even more to choose from over the school holidays. You can even take advantage of their childcare facilities if the parents want to have their own fun over half term too!
For those of you who want an adventure of a different kind, check out some of the region’s theme parks. The Milky Way is an award-winning, all-weather day out for the whole family. Not only have they consecutively won the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award for the past five years, but there are a host of fun things to do all year around.
You’ll find the largest roller coaster in North Devon at the Big Sheep in Bideford, which is also home to the world famous Big Sheep Race. This farm theme park has rides, live entertainment and plenty of animals to cuddle up to throughout the day.
Elsewhere in North Devon you can find a variety of half term events at RHS Rosemoor. Throughout half term they have a Sow Awesome family trail where you can follow a grow-your-own themed trail around the garden and spot some superheroes along the way. There are also chances to pot a pea, make wildflower seeded paper to create a wildflower plot and the Tibetan discovery weekend, which includes workshops and entertainment!
If you want to keep the kids busy, head to Quince Honey Farm – on top of the usual fun and games, there are additional events for half term including their Make a Cob Bug Hotel activity. In this fun and hands on workshop, children get the chance to build their own bug hotel out of cob to take home for the garden. It’s a great way to learn more about biodiversity and how insects help our gardens and watching the bugs move in is also endlessly fascinating!
Thinking about coming to North Devon for half term? You can find more things to do here.
