4 day North Devon itinerary [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 15th May 2021 | Updated: 21st November 2023

North Devon is like a home away from home for us. Having visited the area nearly every summer for years we thought it about time that we put together a devon itinerary that showed the best and most beautiful places of the area.

From the cliffside walks to the golden sand beaches, the independent eateries to the famous fish and chip shops here is our 4 day North Devon itinerary. Great ready for beaches, hikes, and bikes!

📍 North Devon Itinerary Day 1 – Putsborough to Morthoe

📍North Devon Itinerary Day 2 – Baggy Point & Croyde

📍North Devon Itinerary Day 3 – The Tarka Trail & Braunton Burrows

📍North Devon Itinerary Day 4 – Westward Ho! & Appledore

Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:

Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com

Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com

Travel Insurance: We recommend World Nomads

Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com

Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide

North Devon Itinerary Map

4 day North Devon Itinerary

Before we get on to the full itinerary, we cannot recommend enough, driving down for sunset the night before your trip starts, grabbing a Squires fish and chips from Braunton, (in our opinion the best fish and chips in North Devon – The curry sauce is incredible too!) and then driving out to park up on the side of the road overlooking Saunton Sands to eat. The views are insane, the food is to die for, and it is the perfect way to start the trip off.

Day 1 – Putsborough to Morthoe

The first day of the North Devon itinerary and its one of the most beautiful walks along the South West Coast Path, that you can do. At just over 8 miles, with a little bit of a climb in a couple of places along the route, it’s not the easiest of routes for all but it is lovely!

Starting off in Putsborough, a small but perfect beach located at one end of the long beach with Woolacombe at the other, follow the South West Coast Path from the car park and out along Vention through the sheep fields. From here weave your way through Woolacombe Warren or along Marine Drive, watching the skies for the paragliders that are often taking off from Woolacombe Down, before descending into Woolacombe. This lively village is full of cafes, independent shops, and an art gallery or two, so a great place to stop for a wander through if you fancy it.

From here continue on the road out along the coast from Woolacombe, following the South West Coast Path, passing numerous hidden beaches that are much less busy than Woolacombe Beach itself, Barricane Beach, and Grunta Beach to name a couple. Cross the grassed area and follow the road up the hill behind the hotel.

Just past the end of the buildings up the hill, is where you will find the coast path bears west out along the edge of Morte Point, taking in the views back across to Woolacombe and Putsborough. This part of the route is the most picturesque, with sea thrift growing abundantly, rock formations you have to see to believe, and the bright yellow flowers of gorse leading the way.

Upon reaching the tip of Morte Point and taking in the view for a while, (which looks like something out of a fairy tale about dragons), and if you’re lucky catching some seals sunbathing, continue to wind your way along the coast path towards Rockham Bay and Bull Point with its lighthouse.

From here you can either continue on the coast path to the lighthouse or as we did follow one of the paths up into the quiet cliff-top village of Mortehoe. Just a 10-minute walk from the outskirts of Woolacombe, this little village is well worth a walk through and has a rather nice tearoom overlooking the church too.

From here take the small road south out of Morthoe, past the church and colourful houses, before reaching the point of the walk where you forked off to walk to the point. Now it’s simply a case of retracing your steps back to where you started. On your way through Woolcombe stop by Fudgies Bakehouse to grab fudge, ice cream, or a pasty, all of them are delicious but the minted lamb and the rhubarb and custard pasties are something else!

If you want a bit of a change of scenery on the way back, rather than heading along Marine Drive or through the sand dunes, walk along the beach instead. It’s tougher on the legs but it means you can have a dip in the sea!

Day 2 – Baggy Point & Croyde

Now our original plan for this day was to walk from Putsborough to Croyde via the coast path along Baggy Point. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad with a storm heading in, (great timing weather!), that it just wasn’t feasible, and we would have been soaked through within minutes, which is not ideal when you’re camping.

Luckily however we have walked the 5-mile route numerous times over the years so can still show you what to expect along the route and recommend where to go!

Starting off from the campsite, head along the lanes towards Putsborough, before bearing west along the headland onto Baggy Point above Putsborough beach following the coast path. From here you may be able to see the old concrete arrow that was once used for assisting bombing practice in the bay below.

Baggy Point is one of our favourite places in North Devon. Covered in colourful purple heather in the summer, with the local sheep chomping their way between the footpaths, and with some of the most wonderful coastline to discover, where you can often see sea birds and the odd seal, what is there not to like about it. Follow the coast path all the way along, keeping the sea on your right, before reaching the tip of the headland.

At the end of Baggy Point, lies not only some beautiful cliffs, home to nesting seabirds in the spring and rock climbers in the summer but also a Coastguard training post. Built to look like the mast of a ship and once used to train the coastguard, it is now a landmark that Baggy Point is known for.

From here the views out across the coast are impressive, to say the least. From Hartland Point in the south, past Croyde, out to Lundy Island, then around to Putsborough and Woolacombe and even Wales on a clear day.

Continuing along the coast path, you start to wind back into the land towards the bustling village of Croyde. Before reaching Croyde Bay, however, close to the National Trust car park, you can find the remains of a bone from a whale that washed up in 1915 and were preserved by the Hyde family, who owned Baggy Point until 1939 before handing it over to the National Trust.

Follow the footpaths to the beach then through the sand dunes or along Moor Lane and Jones’s Hill into the centre of Croyde from here. Be sure to stop at the Blue Groove for a bite to eat, (the curries and mussels are really tasty!) or opt for ice cream and a pasty from Croyde Ice Cream Parlour. From the centre of Croyde take the small road from outside the post office east through the houses before walking along Combas Lane back to Combas Farm.

If you fancy spending even more time in North Devon, check out our North Devon Itineraries post here

Day 3 – The Tarka Trail & Braunton Burrows

Today is the day for hitting the road on a set of two wheels, that is where the wonderful Tarka Bikes come in! Located on the side of Barnstaple train station, (with lots of cheap parking, so no need to rush back), Tarka Bikes is well situated to explore either the north or the south Tarka Trail.

The Tarka Trail is named after the famous book by Henry Williamson, Tarka the Otter, which is based around lots of the beautiful places along the trail, hence the name.

Tim from Tarka Bikes is great at giving advice on the 21 miles of trails as well as the bikes, (and IT band problem knees!), before getting the bikes set to the right height for you and letting you loose on the trail. We opted to explore the south trail for the day, so hit up the route out of Barnstaple to the south towards Instow.

The whole route is off-road, bar a crossing at Instow, and is a well-maintained paved pathway, if not a little bumpy in places!

Whilst in Instow be sure to have a wander through this old fishing village on the banks of the rivers Taw and Torridge. With views across to Appledore and a beautiful sandy beach, it is a great place to stop and refuel after the cycle from Barnstaple. We recommend stopping by The Boathouse Instow along the beachfront for some good food with a view.

From Instow head back to the Tarka Trail and continue along the route south to Bideford, passing by numerous old boats and along the waterways, before reaching the old station. From here you can either continue along the Tarka Trail south, head back the way you came, or, as we did, head into Bideford for a wander and to find the famous little otter, this trail is named after.

Once you’ve had your fill of cycling and exploring for the day, head back along the trail all the way back to Barnstaple in time to drop your bike off for the day. We had the bikes for the day and cycled 32km in total to Bideford and back, and boy was it lovely!

Bike hire starts from as little as £13.50 for the whole day, and comes with a helmet and puncture repair kit, so what are you waiting for? Get out on the Tarka Trail with Tarka Bikes! (Please know that although we were given the bikes for the day from Tarka Bikes all of our opinions are entirely our own).

The final stop of the day is Braunton Burrows. You can’t create a North Devon itinerary and not include the largest sand dunes in England, can you! Seriously this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is incredible to explore, and you can easily get lost for the day in there.

Park up at Sandy Lane car park, then head out on foot through the dunes. You’ll see them off in the distance way before you reach them. Just be aware that it is a military firing range through part of the dunes so listen to the signs.

If you have time and don’t mind getting a little lost, then head all the way through the burrows out onto Saunton Sands. This beach is vast, and really quite wonderful to wander along if you get the chance. It is also where Robbie Williams filmed Angels, something for your North Devon trivia!

Day 4 – Westward Ho! & Appledore

For the last day of the North Devon itinerary, we’re taking to our feet again and exploring the 6-mile loop walk between Westward Ho! and Appledore. Westward Ho! is famed not only for its immense beach, which can entirely disappear at high tide leaving just the pebble ridge but for being the only town with an exclamation mark in its name in Europe.

This typically British town has colourful beach huts lining the seafront, with numerous cafes and a fish and chip shop or two to discover too.

After exploring Westward Ho! head out along the beach and up its pebble ridge where you will reach Northam Burrows Country Park. Home to the oldest golf course in history in the UK and a few sheep, this salt marshy landscape is a little different from the sand-filled landscape around the rest of the area. Once home to the towers of RAF Northam, this country park is a wonderful place to walk through, just don’t get caught by one of the many little streams that run through!

From Northam Burrows Country Park follow the coast path along either the High or Low Tide path, (tide depending obviously), around the coast all the way into the colourful Appledore. Appledore is a quaint fishing village, which is quite possibly the most colourful place in all of North Devon! Every winding narrow roadway is lined by painted house after painted house, each with its own unique twist.

After getting your fill of Appledore, head back along the coast path following the way you came. You can extend this route further if you follow the South West Coast Path all the way along the pebble ridge around the edge of Northam Burrows Country Park, but as the weather was against us, we opted for taking the more direct route back through the park instead.

Want to know about more incredible beaches to visit in North Devon? Check out our post here

Planning your own trip to North Devon? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

Where to stay in Devon

For this trip, we would highly recommend staying at Combas Farm, partway between Putsborough and Croyde. This little farm has a big character, with numerous fields to pick from for your camping, (be it a tent or campervan), such as the one just a short walk from the main farmhouse overlooked by sheep fields or the top field with views over Croyde and even out to Woolacombe on a good day.

The facilities are also really well maintained with outdoor washing-up areas and the quaintest rustic toilet and shower block you have ever seen.

If you fancy something a little less rustic, however, check out Booking.com or the map below.

4 day North Devon Itinerary FAQs

Where is North Devon?

North Devon is located in the southwest of England surrounded by the Bristol Channel to the north and west, bordering Somerset to the east and Cornwall to the south. With rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and a nature reserve or two North Devon is one of the most beautiful places in all of England.

What is the best time of year to visit Devon?

By far the best time of year to visit Devon is in the spring or autumn. Yes, the summer is lovely, with likely more warm weather, but you will have to deal with more tourists and it just being much busier in general. Visiting in the spring or autumn you can still get some incredibly lovely days and not only is it less busy, but often campsites are cheaper too.

If you are looking to stay at a campsite but want to hire a campervan for your trip then check out Rentalcars.com for some of the best deals.

How to get to Devon

Getting to Devon is relatively easy if you have access to a vehicle, via either the A361 or the A39, however arriving via public transport is much more difficult, with trains only running to Barnstaple and buses only between the larger towns. You can take the train from London to Devon, on the London Paddington to Barnstaple route.

How to get around Devon

The best, and we will argue, the only way to get around Devon is via car. If you want to get between lesser-known spots, like in some of our itinerary, then you will have to drive some single track lanes, (which aren’t as scary as they sound), but if you opt to drive whilst it’s not peak time to get to or from the beaches then you should meet minimal traffic.

Parking in devon

Parking in Devon is much like other rural and coastal locations across the UK, if you are going somewhere that could get crowded or busy, then get there early to ensure you get a parking spot, (especially if you are visiting during the peak seasons). Some of the parking at the beaches and in smaller villages in Devon can fill up quickly if it is a nice day, leaving you searching for alternate parking.

Most car parks in Devon use apps such as Ringo or PayByPhone for parking payment, but it is always worth having some cash on hand just in case you have no signal to use the app.

How long should I plan to stay in Devon?

If you have the time, plan to spend at least 7 days in Devon, but ideally more if you can! Devon is a fantastic area of England to explore, and has been having us back year after year for over 10 years. Each area in Devon, (North Devon, South Devon, East Devon, Exmoor National Park and Dartmoor National Park), is also completely different so each is well worth a visit of at least 7 days.

If you want to visit all of them at once then we would highly recommend taking a month to visit them all. There is simply so much to see and do all across Devon that any less than a month you will miss out on things.

How to travel from London to Devon?

It takes roughly 3 hours 30 mins to 4 hours of driving time to travel from London to the centre of Devon, although this does depend on traffic conditions. If you would rather take public transport then First Great Western trains run between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids, taking nearly the same amount of time at just under 3 and a half hours.

How long does it take to drive around Devon?

From North Devon to South Devon it takes roughly 2 hours of driving time, (on a good day when there are no school holidays or other hold-ups!). It will most likely take you a little longer however as you will want to stop and take in the view every so often.

Is it easy to drive around Devon?

Yes, although there are smaller single-track lanes with passing places that you will have to contend with if you visit certain locations, these are always well-maintained and very easy to navigate. Just make sure you are happy reversing in whatever vehicle you are in!

What is the most beautiful part of Devon?

The coast around Croyde, Putsborough, and Woolacombe is the most beautiful part of North Devon. With pristine yellow sands, blue waters, and stunning coast paths to explore it really is the most wonderful area of North Devon.

Is Devon better than Cornwall?

Now this is slightly dependent on what you want from your holiday, but in our opinion, Devon is better than Cornwall. Yes, they both have incredible scenery, friendly locals, and good eateries, but Devon has a special place in our hearts that sees us returning back there year after year.

What part of Devon is best for holiday?

If you want relaxation, beach walks, and quaint seaside villages then North Devon or East Devon are perfect. If you are after a more active holiday with lots of hiking then Exmoor or Dartmoor are great for a holiday.

How far is Devon from London?

Devon is roughly 175 miles from London, which takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to drive or 4.5 hours via train. That is assuming minimal traffic and no train strikes!

Conclusion: 4 day North Devon Itinerary

So, here is our 4 day North Devon itinerary ready for you to get out exploring the wonderful area. This area of coastline is one of the most beautiful in England, so getting out on foot or by bike makes one of the best North Devon itineraries you can do. Be sure to pack your sun cream as well as an umbrella, you never know which one you might need in the UK!

Not had enough of Devon? Well then make your way further along the coast to Ilfracombe or even on up to the Valley of the Rocks and Exmoor, to get your fill of wonderful beaches, beautiful landscapes, and a cream tea or two!

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Gemma (i.e The Travelling Tedaldi)

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Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.