Free Days Out in North Devon

As the best things in life are free, here are some top tips for fun days exploring, getting active and seeking out our local heritage while you’re in North Devon!

Budget friendly holidays

Going on holiday doesn’t have to cost the earth, and the great thing about North Devon and Exmoor is that there’s a lot to enjoy for free! We’ve compiled a few ideas for you to get you started.

Firstly, you can explore our great outdoors – we’ve hundreds of miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore giving stunning views across the varied landscape and the opportunity to discover the huge amount of wildlife on show. Heading along the South West Coast Path, the Tarka Trail or taking on Kipling Tors are all free, as are visits to the beach and the Biosphere. Many of the walks and outdoor spaces around the North of Devon are managed by the National Trust, like the one at Baggy Point, so there are plenty of chances to get out and about to experience North Devon in all its glory.

If you are the outdoor type, make sure to head to the Exmoor National Park during your visit. Not only are there incredible sights, but you can also enjoy the wide open space, see how many of the wild ponies you can spot or just spread out and enjoy a picnic!

Learn something – for free!

It isn’t just the open spaces that you can take advantage of while you’re in North Devon.

You’ll also find a number of local galleries and museums offer free entry, with a range of talks and activities often available throughout the year.

Many of the people in North Devon are keen, creative types and as such you’ll find a number of pop up art galleries, art trails and more for you to enjoy, at no cost.

If you’re someone who likes the sound of art and also of being outdoors, why not explore the Hartland Peninsula? The scenery there is incredible and there are a number of art galleries and pop ups all year round.

Free fun for the family

If you’re in North Devon for a family holiday, our beautiful beaches offer a great venue for a day of sandcastle building, kite flying and swimming. During the summer months, the beaches at Croyde, Saunton Sands and at the popular tourist areas like Westward Ho!, Woolacombe and Combe Martin have life guards, so swimming and enjoying the water are all completely safe. If you’re the kind of family that loves a thrill ride, the North Devon coastline offers the perfect conditions for surfing and other water sports, which you can enjoy on your own for free.

For an alternative way to tire everyone out, bring your bikes and head to the traffic-free Tarka Trail for 30 miles of estuary views and wooded scenery or visit some amazing local parks, notably the ones in Barnstaple and Bideford – they offer swings, slides and fun equipment for younger children, with skate parks and bike trails for the older ones.

Or for something different, have a go at geocaching – a digital form of treasure hunting, with many caches to find around the area.