What to do and see in Barnstaple, England: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do

December 28, 2021 Mollie Coke

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. Biketrail Cycle Shop & Cycle Hire

Biketrail Fremington Quay, Fremington, Barnstaple EX31 2QF England +44 1271 372586 [email protected] http://www.biketrail.co.uk/Biketrail_Home.htm
Excellent
91%
Good
6%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 98 reviews

Biketrail Cycle Shop & Cycle Hire

AWARD WINNING Cycle / Bike Hire & Cycle Shop offering SEASONAL DISCOUNTS. Located alongside the Tarka Trail in North Devon, Access to 31 miles of traffic free Cycle trail. We hire bikes for use on the Tarka Trail as well as specialist bikes for exploring Exmoor, Devon & the Devon Coast to Coast (National Route 27). We have a wide range of bikes for all ages & abilities, Bikes especially designed for non cyclists as well as bikes for Disabled users. We also have a Mobility Scooter. Recumbents, Penny Farthing, Tandems, Children Tandem, Beach Cruisers, MTB, Hybrid, Vintage Bikes, Dutch Bikes, Dutch Family bike, Children's Trailers, Handcycles, Dog Trailers and more.

2. Heddon Valley

Martinhoe Between Combe Martin & Lynton, Barnstaple EX31 4PY England +44 1598 763402 http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley/
Excellent
79%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 203 reviews

Heddon Valley

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....

3. Tarka Trail Cycle Hire

Barnstaple Railway Station Station Road, Barnstaple EX31 2AU England +44 1271 324202 [email protected] http://www.tarkabikes.co.uk
Excellent
86%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 160 reviews

Tarka Trail Cycle Hire

Tarka Trail Cycle Hire is one of the leading cycle hire companies with a large range of bikes, including, hybrids, mountain bikes, tandems, and an adult trike, they have a bike that will suit everybody. They provide various child attachments including, seats, trailers and tag-along systems. Even the dog is catered for, with use of open or enclosed trailers.

Reviewed By mickd572

Many thanks to Paul and the team at Tarka Trail cycle hire. Fantastic service and support and great ebike hire with spares at competitive prices. Would recommend to anyone and we will be back. Mick

4. Exmoor Zoo

South Stowford Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple EX31 4SG England +44 1598 763352 [email protected] http://www.exmoorzoo.co.uk
Excellent
68%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,626 reviews

Exmoor Zoo

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”

5. Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum

Arlington near Barnstaple, Barnstaple EX31 4LP England +44 1271 850296 [email protected] http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-arlingtoncourt
Excellent
58%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,009 reviews

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum

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.

6. Rock Park

1881 Ladies' Mile, Barnstaple EX32 9AH England +44 1271 373311 http://barnstapletowncouncil.gov.uk/what-we-do/rock-park/
Excellent
46%
Good
44%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 41 reviews

Rock Park

7. Blakewell

Muddiford, Barnstaple EX31 4ET England +44 1271 344533 [email protected] http://www.blakewell.co.uk
Excellent
81%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 63 reviews

Blakewell

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!

8. Broomhill Sculpture Garden

Muddiford Road, Muddiford, Barnstaple EX31 4EX England +44 1271 850262 [email protected] http://www.broomhillart.co.uk/
Excellent
67%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 373 reviews

Broomhill Sculpture Garden

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.

9. The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

The Square Beside the River Taw and not far from Rock Park which is at the end of Taw Vale, Barnstaple EX32 8LN England +44 1271 346747 http://www.barnstaplemuseum.org.uk
Excellent
43%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 162 reviews

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Reviewed By W3687CKandrewb - Reigate, United Kingdom

What a great find! We only popped in to buy a card from the gift shop and ended up spending over an hour in the museum. This is a great collection of artefacts, photographs and stories that bring the history, people and industry in the area to life. The volunteers were charming and welcoming and Covid secure measures were taken seriously. The museum is free to visit, although donations are welcome (obviously) The cafe is a must with a great selection of home baked cakes and scones.

10. Castle Hill

Filleigh Near South Molton, Barnstaple EX32 0RQ England +44 1598 760336 [email protected] http://www.castlehilldevon.co.uk
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 69 reviews

Castle Hill

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.

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