Though we love seeing the North Devon coast in the sun, there is something very special about visiting in the winter. With the rugged coastline and wilds of Exmoor, it’s a wonderfully atmospheric place to spend a few days before the end of the year. Don’t believe us? Come see for yourself with a Christmas or New Year break!

There are hotels, cottages and more offering delightfully festive packages, with Christmas dinner complete with all the trimmings, cosy beds and even visits from Santa to look forward to! Interested? Here are some of our suggestions for a festive break in North Devon. 

If we had you at visits from Santa, then you need to book a break with the Mole Resort. With both self catering lodges and rooms in the manor house available, all with an array of holiday activities, including visits with Father Christmas himself, this is a wonderful home from home for the whole family. If you’d rather a coastal stay, Saunton Sands is right on the beach and has a variety of holiday packages for the festive season. Choose from a pre-Christmas break to get you in the spirit, a spa break so you can relax before the big day, spend the Christmas holiday right on the coast or book for New Year to enjoy three nights of 20s themed glamour.

For those of you who would rather a self catering break, Saunton Beach Villas gives you access to the coast with exclusive pathways down to the sand and their self catering villas are fully equipped with everything you need for hosting your festive celebrations – they are even decorated ready for your arrival.

Elsewhere along the coast at Byron Woolacombe Holidays, at nearby Woolacombe Beach, also offer Christmas and New Year breaks. Both these providers are also dog friendly, so the whole family can enjoy Christmas together!

If you like the look of the Saunton Sands offering but want to be somewhere more rural or somewhere close to amenities, like the towns of Barnstaple and Bideford, check out what’s available from some of its sister hotels. Saunton Sands is one of many properties under the Brend Collection of hotels and they have several offers across North Devon for the Christmas holidays. The Barnstaple Hotel offer breaks of up to 4 nights over Christmas, with the leisure facilities all included as part of the price; the Park Hotel Barnstaple provides you with a luxury hamper in your room and a packed entertainment programme; The Imperial Hotel also has entertainment throughout as well as dinner with all the trimmings; and the Royal Hotel’s offering includes exclusive discounts at neighbouring attractions… Wherever you want to stay in North Devon, there is a Brend Hotel offering luxury and comfort for the Christmas and New Year break.

For those of you looking for somewhere suitable for a large family or friend group, Lower Campscott Farm Holiday Cottages are offering a chance to celebrate the end of 2024 and the start of 2025 on the farm, where family and friends can get together and enjoy the farm and each other’s company in a peaceful environment. Ideal if you want to get away from it all! There are also cottages available from Mardens Devon Cottages, giving you the perfect cosy home from home to unwrap presents and carve the turkey together. With everything you need to create the perfect Christmas or New Year, with the family or just the two of you, find the Dickensian cottage of your dreams here.

Looking for more places to stay in North Devon? Click here. 

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