Hammonds, Combe Martin, North Devon, England - Sleeps 8

Combe Martin offers access to the really beautiful North Devon coast and the South West Coast Path. If you are happy to brave a very steep couple of kilometres to start, have a go at walking to Great Hangman. On a clear day you can see Wales in the distance, and perhaps spot a seal in the water. You can also walk along the coast to the left of Combe Martin. Discover Watermouth Harbour and the lovely little cafe there, which serves Devon Cream Tea.

Combe Martin Village

We recommend The Castle Pub, five minutes walk away. It’s a friendly, laid-back pub frequented by locals. They don’t serve food, but they do have food vans visit a couple of nights a week. Try the Thai takeaway on Wednesdays or the Mexican on Saturdays. You can take the food into the pub and eat while you have a drink. The Pack o’ Cards is an iconic building in the village. They offer hearty plates of food and have a lovely big beer garden which is good in warmer weather. If there are additional guests who couldn’t fit into Hammonds with you, the Pack O’Cards also runs a B&B. Bobbie’s Bakes is the local bakery, and we believe they do a restaurant offer sometimes too but we haven’t had the chance to try it out yet. If you would like to spoil yourself and spend a bit more, try the Sandy Cove Hotel, just outside the village on the way to Ilfracombe. It has really spectacular views and a tasting menu in one of the restaurants, with three AA rosettes.

There are a couple of businesses closer to the beach, which offer a range of water sports. We recommend OSKC Sports with friendly and enthusiastic guides to give you a tour of the coast. Combe Martin has an extremely high tidal range so please do be careful when on the beach, walking along the coast or in the water. Therefore we recommend using one of the guides to get to know the coast before venturing out on water craft. Water sports may be seasonal.

Villages to Visit

Ilfracombe is the closest town with a large Tesco and other amenities and offers a wide range of eateries and shops, with a beautiful harbour to explore. Many businesses are closed over the winter months which reduces the range somewhat, so it may be best to check what’s open before you head out. In summer, to avoid the parking issues along the coast, there is a bus that runs through to Ilfracombe from Combe Martin.

Lynton and Lynmouth are beautiful villages, Lynmouth at the bottom of the hill and Lynton at the top. Lynton has a charming range of shops. We recommend Charlie Fridays for a delicious healthy bite in a colourful, quirky cafe.

If you are into antiques and interiors, South Molton is worth a visit. There are some very cute antique shops and on the third Sunday of the month there is a Salvage Fair in the local Pannier Market and market days on other weekends too. We have been lucky enough with some great finds in South Molton and have found the staff at both Atlas and Source for the Goose Interior/Antique shops really friendly and helpful. South Molton also has a fantastic cheese shop, worth the extra spend for some really delicious cheese.

Dulverton, is just over the border in Somerset. There is a fantastic pub called Woods. It has won many awards for the delicious food, in a charming period pub. Please remember to book as it is a popular pub and then enjoy the drive back to Hammonds across the magnificent Exmoor. On Exmoor you can go horseriding on the moor, which is beautiful throughout the seasons.

The closest big town is Barnstaple. Many trains come into this station. We believe that the bus number 301 comes from Barnstaple Station to Combe Martin, via Ilfracombe. The closest district hospital is in Barnstaple. There are the usual range of high street stores for any forgotten essentials and some good independent eateries and shops.

Woolacombe has a really magnificent beach. It is a wide and long sandy beach, which has good surf in the right conditions. In summer months it is a busy beach, so arriving fairly early may make it easier to get parking. Between Saunton Sands, Croyde and Woolacombe, there are plenty of local surf schools with board and wetsuit hire.

Parking

Please use either the paid private parking arranged for the house, or one of the council parking areas. Do not park on the double yellow lines outside the house. It is okay to stop briefly to unload/load your car but then move your car promptly. The road is ticketed at all times and parking on the yellow lines creates issues with the residents of the village.