Gardener's Cottage, Martinhoe

EATING OUT & TAKEAWAY 
 
Suggestions for eating out/takeaway (*booking advised).  

Heddon Valley & Parracombe

Hunters Inn, Heddon Valley EX31 4PY (pub/restaurant) 01598 763230
Fox & Goose, Parracombe EX31 4PE (pub/restaurant) 01598 763239* 
Caffyns Farm Barn, Caffyns EX35 6JW (farm shop/café) 01598 753967

Lynton & Lynmouth

The Blue Ball, Countisbury EX35 6NE (pub/restaurant) 01598 741263*
The Oak Room, Lynton EX35 6HW (restaurant) 01598 753838*
The Old Bank, Lynton EX35 6HY (restaurant) 01598 751487*
Cottage Inn, Lynbridge EX35 6NR (Thai restaurant) 07977 609426* 
Rising Sun, Lynmouth EX35 6EG (pub/restaurant) 01598 753223*
Ancient Mariner, Lynmouth EX35 6EL (pub/restaurant) 01598 752238*
Charlie Friday’s, Lynton EX35 6AA (café) 07544 123324
The Pavilion, Lynmouth EX35 6EQ (café) 01598 753484 

Other recommendations

Staghunters Inn, Brendon EX35 6PS (pub/restaurant) 01598 741222*
Rockford Inn, Rockford EX35 6PT (pub/restaurant) 01598 741214* 
Black Venus, Challacombe EX31 4TT (pub/restaurant) 01598 763251* 
Bottom Ship, Porlock Weir TA24 8PB (pub/restaurant) 01643 862274*
Pyne Arms, East Down EX31 4LX (pub/restaurant) 01271 850055* 
Kings Arms, Georgeham EX33 1JJ (pub/restaurant) 01271 890240*

Takeaway Food

Fish and chip shops are available in Lynmouth, as are pasty shops. Authentic curries are available from The Spicey Mare in Lynton check Facebook for menus and opening times.

Pop-up eateries appear around the area during the season. Recent recommendations include: curries at Barricane Beach Cafe, Woolacombe; and pizzas at The Stores in Croyde. Check online for operating times.

Do tell us about any personal ‘finds’ you think should be included.

LOCAL INFORMATION & PLACES TO SEE

Houses and Gardens
There are wonderful gardens nearby at Marwood Hill Gardens near Ilfracombe www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk  Castle Hill Gardens near Barnstaple www.castlehilldevon.co.uk and the famous RHS Rosemoor Gardens, near Torrington www.rhs.org.uk  The National Trust’s Arlington Court houses the National Carriage Collection. Dunster Castle is also a National Trust property www.nationaltrust.org.uk  Hartland Abbey is a privately owned house and garden www.hartlandabbey.com  A little further afield is Hestercombe House and Gardens near Taunton www.hestercombe.com
	
Towns & Villages
The towns of Barnstaple and Ilfracombe are about 40 minutes drive. Barnstaple has the famous Butchers Row and Pannier Market, the North Devon Museum and some beautiful Alms Houses, as well as town centre shopping. Ilfracombe has a picturesque and historic harbour featuring the famous Damien Hurst statue, Verity. Boat trips are available including to Lundy Island. There is a theatre, local shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

You will undoubtedly visit our own villages of Lynton and Lynmouth during your stay for their shops, craft centre, cinema, museums, water-powered cliff railway, cafes, restaurants and walks. Other villages well worth visiting are Porlock, Porlock Weir, Bossington, Selworthy, Dunster and the wonderful Clovelly www.clovelly.co.uk 

Heritage Railways
There are two steam railways in the area. The closest being at Woody Bay Station. This is part of the narrow gauge railway that used to run from Barnstaple to Lynton. It is currently a short run of track, but there are active plans to extend it www.lynton-rail.co.uk  

The steam railway at Minehead is the longest heritage railway in the UK. This runs to Bishops Lydeard and has several gala events during the year with guest locomotives www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk 

Horseriding
Horseriding on Exmoor is available at Brendon Manor Stables www.brendonmanor.com  Pony trekking is also available nearby at Caffyns Farm www.exmorcoastholidays.co.uk

Bike Hire
You can hire bikes and ride along the Tarka Trail from Barnstaple railway station following the river towards Braunton or on the old train track to Bideford via Instow www.tarkabikes.co.uk 

Open Top Bus (Exmoor Coaster)
Hop on board and get ready for an adventure on one of the most spectacular open-top bus rides, combining the wild beauty of the Exmoor National Park and the seaside harbours of Lynmouth and Ilfracombe.

Walks
We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful and spectacular cliff and moorland paths in the UK. The South West Coast Path is accessible at Hunters Inn. Information on local walks and a Landranger OS map of the area are all provided in the information box in the cottage. If you find walking difficult, the National Trust has ‘Tramper’ buggies that you can hire to take you to Heddons Mouth or on the coach path to Woody Bay (book in advance 01598 763556).

Beaches
Woolacombe, Saunton Sands and Croyde Bay are probably the best known and are all lovely sandy beaches popular with surfers too. Please note that some do have restrictions on access for dogs during the summer months. There are also rocky coves, the closest being our own Heddon's Mouth. After following the river down the valley, it opens up into a lovely beach of large boulders and rocks. Woody Bay can be good for a swim on a calm afternoon at high tide.