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The official Tourist Information Centre for Barnstaple, the
capital of North Devon. We offer comprehensive information on where to stay,
what to do and where to go in North Devon.
Welcome to Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre As the Tourist Information
Centre in North Devon's premier town we have gathered a massive information
resource to assist the tourist, this is so vast that it is now housed in a
five-storey building in the centre of the town. However, our greatest asset
is our staff - we have, between ourselves, over 50 years experience in this
service: we have inspected over 1,000 places to stay, we have visited every
attraction, every garden, historic house, pub and restaurant in North Devon,
we have walked and cycled, surfed and sailed every part of the region's coast
and country. Over the last 20 years, this service has dealt with nearly 2.5
million enquirers. North Devon Maps and Guides Many of the references given
in this site refer to Ordnance Survey maps, if you haven't got one for North
Devon, but are proposing to come here, we strongly advise you to purchase
one before arrival. See our Maps and Guides section. Road Map of North Devon
Click here to view a larger version of this useful map of the area. It takes
about 45 seconds to load and if you want to print it, will fit onto an A4
sheet. Click here to view a 300dpi more detailed version which will take 1.5
minutes to open (with 56k modem). Where to stay View a comprehensive selection
of four different types of holiday accommodation in nine areas of North Devon
and Exmoor using our helpful search page. Make a selection and then contact
our FREE booking service on 01271 375000 during office hours. What's on in
2002 View a chronological list of what's on in North Devon throughout the
year. The Barnstaple Tourist Information Centre would like to thank the North
Devon District Council for its financial support over the last 14 years, in
recent years through the North Devon Marketing Bureau who have allowed us
to use some photographs from their picture library in the creation of this
website.
north devon, north devon accommodation, north devon holiday, barnstaple, north devon coast, croyde, woolacombe, devon farms, devon cottages, barnstaple information centre, stay north devon
PARKING IN TOWN If driving to Barnstaple for the evening's night-life (pubs,
clubs, restaurants, theatre, cinema, etc) aim to park in the Queen Street carpark
- follow brown signs to "tourist information" - all Barnstaple's car parks are
free after 6.00pm. Taxis are everywhere, with ranks in Boutport Street and Queen
Street. Regular bus services back to Ilfracombe and Bideford continue until
about 11.00pm. The clock tower in The Square EATING OUT There are plenty of
restaurants in town, however most of these can be heavily booked on Fridays
and Saturdays, so book in advance if you can. Again the busiest area is Boutport
Street, in particular at the southern end (The Square). The clubbers' restaurant
is Chambers Brasserie, The Square, tel: 01271 321045. The "posh" restaurants
include The Lynwood House, Bishops Tawton Road (one mile south of town centre),
tel: 01271 343695; The Imperial Hotel, The Square, tel: 01271 345861. Saturday
Dinner Dances take place in most of the town's three star hotels: The Royal
& Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, tel: 01271 342289; The Park Hotel, Taw Vale,
tel: 01271 372166; The Barnstaple Hotel. Braunton Road, tel: 01271 376221; all
have quality restaurants. There are many independent restaurants in town, mostly
chef-owned, Giovanni's (Italian), Boutport Street, tel: 01271 321274; La Viennetta
(Italian), Boutport Street, tel: 01271 325531; The Fullam (Chinese), Cattle
Market, tel: 01271 328882; The Bank (brasserie), Boutport Street, tel: 01271
324446; Jalapeno Peppers (TexMex), off Boutport Street, tel: 01271 328877; and
many more.AN EVENING AT THE THEATRE OR CINEMA Both the Queen's Theatre and the
Central Cinema are in Boutport Street. What's on can be found out by visiting
one of North Devon's Tourist Information Centres or buying a copy of the North
Devon Journal (see The View section) 55p.A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN Most of the
town's night-life is found in The Square, Boutport Street, Queen Street (all
within 400 yds of Queen Street car park). Popular pubs include: Wetherspoons,
Seamus O'Donnell's, Sherry's in Boutport Street. Chambers Brasserie and Golden
Lion Tap in The Square. The town has 31 pubs. Popular clubs include: Chicago
Rock in Queen Street. Euphoria in Silver Street. GLT's in The Square. Rockabilly's
in The Strand. Busy nights are Thurs-Sat. There are 11 bars/pubs/clubs in Boutport
Street. 24 hour CCTV security cameras blanket the entire town centre, including
car parks. IN THE COUNTRY INNS & TAVERNS THE WILLIAMS ARMS Wrafton, Nr Braunton.
Thatched tavern offering carvery meals lunchtime and evening. Children welcome
'til 9.00pm. Parking. Beside A361 five miles west of Barnstaple. HUNTERS INN
Newton Tracey, five miles south of Barnstaple, beside B3232 (Torrington road).
Parking. Childrens room. THE STAGS HEAD Stags Head, Filleigh, seven miles south-east
of Barnstaple. Good food at all times - but popular for Sunday lunches, don't
leave it too late. THE PYNE ARMS East Down, seven miles north-east of Barnstaple,
just half a mile north of the A39 (Lynton road). Lovely country pub - you can't
book, just turn up. Last orders for food 9.00pm. Buy two mushroom stroganoffs,
one with side salad, the other with side order of chips. Moules galore. THE
HUNTERS INN Heddon Valley (NT), one of the great romantic inns of Exmoor, risen
like a phoenix from the ashes of indifference, once again offering excellent
dishes at a broad range of prices. Potent cider - watch out! This part of Exmoor's
magnificent coastline is glorious walking country - use Hunters Inn as a lunch
stop or make a circular walk ending with an evening at the Hunters'. THE CRANFORD
INN Cranford Cross, three miles east of Great Torrington, on B3227. Country
pub out in the wilds of the Devon countryside. Good for lunches, after/before
a visit to RHS Rosemoor Gardens. IN THE COUNTRY RESTAURANTS THE BROOMHILL HOTEL
Muddiford, two miles north of Barnstaple, entrance from B3231. Tel: 01271 850262.
Good Food Award winners 2001 as voted by tourists and local people. Traditional
English and Mediterranean cuisine. BY THE SEA/ESTUARY INNS & TAVERNS THE SEAGATE
HOTEL The Quay, Appledore, tel: 01237 472589. A waterside tavern offering an
excellent oriental cuisine, very popular - so you must book. Parking. Pick a
high tide and stroll replete along the quay 'twixt lobster pot and smack upon
the evening tide. THE THATCH Thatched tavern in centre of pretty Croyde village.
A popular haunt of the surfing fraternity which gather hereabout. THE HARTLAND
QUAY HOTEL One mile south of Hartland Point lighthouse, 16 miles west of Bideford.
Tavern offering choice of bar meals, good for families with kids. Stunning landscape.
Rock pools. Sea caves. Seals and sea birds. Include a walk along the coast path
or a visit to Hartland Abbey (historic house). BY THE SEA/ESTUARY RESTAURANTS
THE DECKS Marine Parade, Instow, tel: 01271 860671. Must book. Six miles west
of Barnstaple. First floor restaurant overlooking the Taw/Torridge estuary,
spectacular sunsets o'er Appledore. Top of the range restaurant - start saving!
THE COMMODORE HOTEL Multi-award winning restaurant specialising in using top
quality, fresh local produce (seafood, meats, vegetables) when in season. Diners
get the same view as The Decks (above). ILFRACOMBE HARBOUR There are a choice
of restaurants, specialising in seafood dishes, on the quay beside the harbour.
Fresh seafood dishes. CREAM TEAS AFTERNOONS STOKE BARTON FARM Stoke, Hartland,
15 miles west of Bideford. Summer only. WATERSMEET LODGE (NT) Watersmeet (a
2,500 acre wooded gorge belonging to the National Trust - free entry). The lodge
is just under two miles up the gorge from Lynmouth harbour. Alternatively, park
a carpark on A39 above lodge and walk down zigzag path past waterfalls. Summer
only.
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