Location: Barnstaple
Top Things to do in Barnstaple
Countries
Top 7 Hidden Gems Things to do in Barnstaple, England
Barnstaple (/ˈbɑːrnstəbəl/ ( listen) or /ˈbɑːrnstəpəl/) is the main town of North Devon, England and possibly the oldest borough in the United Kingdom. It is a former river port, located at the lowest crossing point of the River Taw, flowing into the Bristol Channel.
Restaurants in Barnstaple
1. Heddon Valley
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By O8035DBannet - Barnstaple, United Kingdom
Beautiful walk down to the beach....it's how become National trust property.... Gutters inn is great for a drink and food to warm up at this time of year....
2. Exmoor Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,626 reviews
Winner of FSB Family business 2019,Winner of the Legacy award ,Best Family Business 2017, Gold award for best attraction in the South-west 2012, Exmoor Zoo has become an ideal family day out. The zoo has established a good rapport with the North Devon community and offers a very hand on experience.Activities run throughout the day (every half hour in summer), meet a bird eating spider, hold a snake, feed wallabies), meet some of the zoos friendly furry animals and go to all the talks and feeding sessions!Home to the “Exmoor Beast” (a pair of black leopards), Puma, Cheetah, Maned wolves, monkeys and lots of other unusual animals like Tamandua, Fishing cats, Tapir, Singing dogs and Binturong to just name a few! The zoo is a living place with changes all the time; no visit is ever quite the same.Useful information:• Disabled access (wheelchair provision and scooter hire)• Activities through out the day• Cafeteria• Children’s playground• Undercover picnic areas• Zoo trail.
Reviewed By red_snowUK - Marlow, United Kingdom
We are staying in the area for Christmas and found Exmoor Zoo on TA. What a gem of a Zoo, a great range of species from reptiles to big cats to wildfowl to primates and a wide range of mammals including the lovely and rare in Europe, singing dogs What I really liked was seeing a lot of the more unusual species and how close you get to large cats as they devour their meat. I saw new enclosures being built for new species as well. A great find, really enjoyable and great for close up observations ..... including a “beast of exmoor”
3. Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,009 reviews
Reviewed By Folly1998
A lovely day exploring the house and gardens, we particularly enjoyed observing the horseshoe bats on the batcam followed by a delicious cream tea in the tea room.
4. Blakewell
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Waterside cafe and tea rooms on a working trout farm: Come and feed the fish, catch your own supper enjoy our lovely gardens and ponds while having a cream tea, specalist coffee or a light lunch such as our home made smoked trout pate salad. we are also a premier trout fishery & have a beautiful 5 acre lake stocked with hard fighting Rainbow & Brown trout from 2 to 20 pounds!
5. Broomhill Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 373 reviews
Reviewed By 39lizr
Wonderful sculpture trail set in beautiful woodland garden and meadow. Dizzying amount and variety of sculpture in every corner plus a sculpture competition to vote in. Lovely walks to make sure you see it all. Then you can get coffee and came in the hotel aterwards.
6. Pyne Arms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By jamesmO9690VI - Goodleigh, United Kingdom
My wife and I were fortunate to eat here 2 nights running. The food is of the utmost quality featuring local ingredients cooked perfectly. Normally after a starter and main we often pass on dessert but the mini dessert option with coffee makes for a perfect finale. Can’t wait til we are back in North Devon again to return to The Pyne Arms
7. Castle Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Privately owned historic 50 acre gardens surround the spectacular family home set in the rolling hills of Devon. Come and enjoy a picnic in the grounds or visit the garden kiosk for a cream tea. Walks take you through the Millennium Garden, Walled Garden Woodland Gardens, past follies, statues and temples. Walk up to the Castle and enjoy spectacular views.
Reviewed By V5248PXbarryw - London, United Kingdom
Amazing place to visit greeted by a lovely lady on the paying kiosk who told us the best route to take to get to the castle. Its got paths that take you to different parts of the grounds to suit your abilities we went to the top for the castle and I must say its not the easiest of walk but really worth it for the views and there are seating places on route. This is a very peaceful place all you can really ear are the birds I can't recommend it enough if you want to get away from all the stress of every day life. We finished off with a lovely drink and freshly made sandwiches that were outstanding and very good value for money all in all a fantastic day out 5 stars will visit again in the near future.
