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North Devon & Somerset

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4.0 stars(21 reviews)
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The best of the West Country

6 days From £549 £499 per person
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Save up to £100pp on selected UK and European 2023 holidays when you book before 31st of March 2023.

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2023 Tour code: 23NSS

About the tour

Uncover the best of the West Country as you take in a delightful tapestry of scenic railways, idyllic harbour towns and sprawling National Parks. You'll also try award-winning Somerset cider and explore RHS Garden Rosemoor.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Barnstaple

Meet at your hotel in Barnstaple, North Devon's largest town and one of the oldest boroughs in the United Kingdom. Steeped in history but with a cosmopolitan air, this is the perfect starting point to take in the beauty of North Devon and Somerset, with Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks on its doorstep.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - Dartmoor National Park

Travel to Exeter for a journey on the Dartmoor Line. This mainline railway dates back to the 1800s, and reopened in 2021 for the first time in almost 50 years. The line whisks you through rural scenery to Okehampton, at the edge of Dartmoor National Park, where you have free time for lunch. The vast heather moorland known as Dartmoor National Park is the rugged heart of Devon, defined by trickling streams, craggy peaks and deep valleys. A guided coach tour takes you into the heart of Dartmoor. You see Two Bridges, a local beauty spot that was historically the point where two bridges crossed the West Dart and River Cowsic. Today it's a scenic area, nestled in an isolated spot surrounded by moorland and greenery. You also visit the picturesque market town of Moretonhampstead before returning to the hotel.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Barnstaple

Enjoy a free day to discover more of the area at your own pace. Barnstaple is bursting with things to see and do, from tempting independent cafés to historic markets. The Pannier Market has remained mostly unchanged for over 150 years, and offers fresh local produce, crafts and flowers. In nearby Bideford, discover a pretty town filled with great pubs, friendly locals and scenic river views.

Please Note: For departures 23NSS01 and 23NSS02 days 3 and 4 have swapped around

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

Travel to Woody Bay, a serene bay surrounded by the scenery of Exmoor National Park, for a journey in a Victorian carriage on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Relax and take in the backdrop of wild moorland and picturesque coastline. You transfer to Lynton where you have free time. Here, you could ride the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway. This award-winning funicular railway joins the historic towns of Lyton and Lynmouth, separated by a steep cliff, and boasts incredible views across the coast and ocean. Later, you visit the enchanting RHS Garden Rosemoor. Stroll through the kaleidoscopic displays, including an elegant rose garden with around 2,000 rose plants, the 'hot garden', where plants are chosen for their warm hues, and a fruit and vegetable garden with a mouthwatering array of produce.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Somerset

Take the coach to Bishops Lydeard for a trip on the West Somerset Steam Railway, a journey that takes you through spectacular countryside on the longest heritage line in the UK. You arrive in Minehead in time for lunch. The picture of a typical English seaside resort, you'll find a beautiful sandy beach and pretty harbour a gift shops, traditional pubs and cafés. This afternoon, stop at Sheppy's Cider Farm, where the Sheppy family has been making award-winning craft cider for over 200 years. You have chance to try the classic Somerset cider, one of the oldest cider brands in the world, made to a traditional recipe passed down through six generations. You return to your hotel for your final evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Home

Your time in Devon ends after breakfast, and you're free to make your way home or continue your explorations further.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

On many of our UK & Ireland tours, you may check in at the first hotel on your itinerary anytime after 14:00; your Tour Manager will be available between 16:00 and 18:00. However, if you are arriving later, you can meet your Tour Manager before dinner from 19:00.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

The Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple

The Barnstaple Hotel, Barnstaple

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The Park Hotel, Barnstaple

The Park Hotel, Barnstaple

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Trains

West Somerset Railway
Dartmoor Line
Lynton & Barnstaple Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK rail connections

Reviews

4.0 stars4.0 / 5 · 21 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (6)
  2. 4 stars
    (10)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

DavidHollingdale

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2022

Good value tour

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr D.Macklin.

4 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Good holiday but not enough time visiting places during the days out.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Graham Jackson

4 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Hotel was good. However, room was above a kitchen extract fan which created a degree of continuous background noise between 6am and 10pm. Dinner provided a selection of choices. Staff were friendly and courteous. Excursions covered a wide area - a lot by coach. Train journeys were OK, although the heritage railway which only travelled from one station to the next was probably not worth the hassle, although it passed an hour which would probably been better spent in Lynton. However, all in all a good and enjoyable break.

Collected by Trustpilot

P Hotston

4 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Well organised and hotel well situated and excellent evening meals.

Collected by Trustpilot

Margaret Rose

4 stars

Submitted 24 Sep 2022

Very enjoyable comprehensive tour of North Devon, but be prepared for coach journeys as well as train trips. Hotel location in Barnstaple ideal.

Collected by Trustpilot

Brian

4 stars

Submitted 21 Sep 2022

We had a really good time, visiting many different places. Barnstaple was a good location to be based. I understand that Bideford is an alternate location but I feel this would definitely reduce the convenience significantly and would be a poor move. Rail Discoveries certainly included many trips and was expertly organised and managed

Collected by Trustpilot

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The best of the West Country

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