Garden Breaks in North Devon

Garden Breaks in North Devon

Visit North Devon and enjoy some of the best gardens in the region.

 

If you’re seeking to immerse yourself in the charm of the English country garden, look no further than garden breaks in North Devon.
This region boasts a unique blend of coastal and country gardens, providing some of the most picturesque natural scenery in England. Whether you’re a gardening enthusiast or simply looking to unwind in nature, North Devon offers an ideal backdrop.

We specialise in helping you plan an unforgettable North Devon gardens tour, offering variety and contrast alongside some of England’s most stunning landscapes.
Many gardens are open from spring to autumn, allowing you to witness the changing seasons in all their glory. By booking through us, you can also enjoy admission discounts to renowned public gardens like RHS Rosemoor and Marwood.

garden breaks in North Devon

By choosing garden breaks in North Devon, you can explore a wide array of coastal and country gardens while taking in magnificent views. When you stay at The Carlton, you’ll be at the heart of a designated area of outstanding natural beauty, nestled within a unique UNESCO biosphere reserve.

North Devon Garden Breaks

North Devon’s beauty evolves with the seasons, and this change is beautifully reflected in some of England’s finest gardens. Below is a helpful guide to gardens in the area that should not be missed during your garden break in North Devon.

We can cater to all your requirements.

We are here to ensure your garden break is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Start your day with a range of meal options, including continental and full English breakfasts. We can also prepare picnic lunches for your day out and mouth-watering three-course dinners for your return.
During colder months, we offer a special rendezvous service, delivering hot soup and lunch right to you—a popular choice among our guests.

 After a day spent exploring North Devon’s gardens, unwind at our hotel library with a hot chocolate, latte, or freshly brewed tea, complemented by afternoon cake. Alternatively, our well-stocked bar and extensive wine list can satisfy your other refreshment needs.

English breakfast

Exploring the Charms of North Devon in Autumn

As summer gracefully transitions into autumn, North Devon transforms into a picturesque haven for travelers seeking nature’s beauty, serene landscapes, and a taste of authentic English life. While North Devon is a year-round destination, there’s something truly enchanting about visiting during the autumn months. So why should you consider North Devon as your next autumn getaway?

 Stunning Scenery: A Riot of Colors

 North Devon’s landscape explodes with a riot of colors during autumn. The rolling hills, dense woodlands, and rugged coastline are all drenched in shades of red, orange, and gold. The contrast of the lush green countryside against the fiery hues of autumn leaves is a visual treat that’s perfect for photographers, artists, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature.

 Peaceful Beaches: Tranquility by the Sea

 While summer often brings crowds to North Devon’s beaches, autumn is a different story. The beaches become tranquil, offering a peaceful and reflective atmosphere. The soft sound of waves crashing against the shore and the gentle sea breeze provide the ideal backdrop for a leisurely beach walk or a cozy picnic.

 Walking and Outdoor Activities: Explore the Great Outdoors

 North Devon boasts a network of scenic walking and hiking trails, and autumn is the ideal time to explore them. Whether you’re an avid hiker or just looking for a leisurely stroll, there are routes suitable for all levels. Popular destinations include Exmoor National Park, Hartland Peninsula, and the South West Coast Path. Don’t forget to pack your camera to capture the breathtaking vistas along the way.

 Charming Villages and Markets: Cultural Exploration

 Exploring the quaint villages of North Devon is a must during your autumn visit. Villages like Clovelly, Appledore, and Lynmouth offer a glimpse into the region’s rich history and maritime heritage. Many villages host weekly farmers’ markets where you can sample local cheeses, jams, and crafts while mingling with friendly locals.

 Wildlife Encounters: Discover Local Fauna

 Autumn in North Devon is also a great time for wildlife enthusiasts. As migratory birds make their way south, you can spot various species along the coast and wetlands. Keep an eye out for seals, otters, and red deer as well, which are often more active during this season.

 North Devon in the autumn offers a unique and enchanting experience for travelers. The combination of stunning scenery, peaceful beaches, outdoor activities, cultural exploration and wildlife encounters makes it a compelling destination for those seeking a memorable autumn getaway. So, pack your bags and immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquility of North Devon this Autumn.

Alternative Funeral Venue Ilfracombe

To offer a brand new alternative funeral service, The Carlton has partnered with local funeral directors William Pearce & Son. These are based around the concept of an unattended cremation.
End of life celebrations can be a daunting and difficult event to plan. Our alternative funeral offers a much more bespoke way to celebrate a loved one, family member or friend.

Professional Services

With the aid of William Pearce & Sons, you can plan a professional service at The Carlton. Our discrete venue allows for many styles of marking the passing of the deceased. You can choose the way in which you mark their end of life. Previous customers have chosen a traditional service, whilst others have opted for a more relaxed and informal send off. In saying goodbye you won’t be rushed.

Catering & Accommodation

Naturally, The Carlton can cater for your guests and mourners after the alternative funeral service, but this is not obligatory. We have a great range of buffets and sit down options if you wish to explore these. If family or friends require overnight accommodation, please ask us about our special discounted rates to stay in Ilfracombe.

The Benefits

Our alternative funeral service has been developed with these principals in mind.
Timely. After your loved one has passed the timeline can be dependent on external factors like the availability of Barnstaple Crematorium or booking a church service. Using our venue will permit much more freedom to quickly plan and deliver the funeral.
Flexible. When planning your service at The Carlton, you can truly make the event unique. Not being in a formal setting means friends and family may be more relaxed, and able to participate in the alternative service in a much more natural way.
Unique. An alternative end-of-life celebration service could include an official celebrant, minister or officiant, to lead the event, or a completely free flowing event. With use of digital displays, music and even web broadcast to family and friends who cannot attend in person. You can decorate and personalise your funeral space if you wish.
Cost. In the current climate with inflationary pressure on all our budgets, William Pearce & Son have developed a fully costed plan, with funeral room hire at The Carlton included.

Other links
William Pearce & Sons
End of Life Celebration at The Carlton

Excellent for a wake

Absolutely faultless. Easy to organise at a difficult time, very welcoming in the day, unobtrusive yet excellent service. Felt very comfortable and guests very appreciative. Oh, and the food was absolutely bang on, plentiful and delicious.

Thanks so much.

Richard S

Food Waste Initiatives

Environmental Responsibility

We’ve always believed in reducing our impact on the environment and operating our business in a responsible way. Our sustainability credentials are part of our provenance, and it runs through the way we work and do business. Not only do we champion local produce, seasonally supplied from North Devons Larder but we also aim to reduce our impact on the environment.  For example our grease traps prevent fat and grease getting into the drains and into the sea. Our rebuild of the hotel incorporated energy saving iniatives throughout. We maintain our equipment so that they work efficiently.

We’ve summarised the ways we work to reduce our environmental impact in this graphic.

Carlton Environmental Sustainablity

Food Waste Recycling

As part of our actions to act responsibly we work hard to reduce our food waste. This means we use a lot of the whole product in preparing meals, and where we can and it is safe to do so we’ll rework product.  Further we are now repurposing waste plate food. In summer 2023 we opted to work with Olio as part of their well-established programme to repurpose and distribute surplus food from restaurants. Their food waste hero volunteers collect surplsu food from our kitchen and then via the Olio app “advertise” the food for free collection. This was the food is saved from being binned and our local community can benefit from the food.

Each month we track our progress, and you can follow this below.

March 2023

Our food waste statistics.

February 2023

Our food waste statistics.

January 2023

Our food waste statistics. We were closed for part of the month as we refurbished the hotel guest and public rooms.

December 2023

As we are into our winter trading, we recorded a reduction in waste food being made and therefore collected.

Our end of year statistics are quite amazing:

Since we started working with Olio in August, nearly 300kg of surplus food has been saved. That’s over 5kg each day. Over the whole period, that’s the same as over 550 meals and over 1000kg of CO2 emmissions saved. This is the same as saving 175,000 litres of water or over 3,400 car miles off the road.

Monthly Stats

November 2023

Business is always quieter this month which means surplus food is also reduced. Stats for the month are very similar to October’s performance.

Monthly Stats

October 2023

We end the first quarter of working with Olio with a reduction in both food sent for surplus and uptake. As the hotel is not as busy the amount of available surplus product has diminished. Over 3/4s of the food offered was rehomed though. This meant nearly 120 meals saved and some 37K of water and 214kg of CO2 emission saved or avoided. 19 households locally benefitted from our surplus food. Our info graphic is here.

September 2023

For our second month working with Olio, we have increased the numbers of households using the service, as the volume of surplus food has also increased. Our September info graphic tells more.

August 2023

We started working with Olio and their Food Waste Heroes this month. In a brand-new pilot for small hotels we’re seeking to repurpose our surplus food, ingredients and menu items. Using the Olio app, food is collected by Olio’s volunteers (the food waste heroes) and given to local families or individuals. It’s not sold to anyone.

Our August info graphic explains more.

Our hope is to further reduce our food waste volume and ensure that surplus food goes to a good home, benefiting the local community and environment.

Frequent Questions

The Carlton Hotel subscribes to Olio, we pay to be part of the scheme. We also incur costs in packaging the food and making the meals ready for collection. However we save on waste landfill to offset some of these costs.

Further Reading & Links

If you are interested in the calculations used click here..

You can work with Olio as a volunteer. Click here

You can download the Olio app for more information. https://olioapp.com/en/

 

Pre-Show Supper at The Brasserie

Are you going to a show or performance at our favourite local theatre? Then we have an offer for all ticket holders. You can save 10% off our full menu, and this includes all food and drink,  when you dine at The Brasserie before your show.

Book a table in our Brasserie to start your evening off with a great meal and wonderful hospitality. Enjoy a one, two or three course meal, terms and conditions below.

 

Our Brasserie is conveniently located just five minutes from the Landmark Theatre and is an ideal spot to enjoy a meal pre- or even a drink pre- or post- show.

This discount applies to any item on our menu.

Book online here.

Or call us on 01271 862446.

Welcome to The Carlton

 

T&C’s

You need to book online and in the comment field mention Landmark. We’ll need to see proof of your theatre ticket (paper or digital).

Cannot be used with other loyalty or discount offers.

Minimum spend of £20 per head is expected, including food and drink, if dining.

The Secret Beaches Of North Devon

The Secret Beaches Of North Devon

It’s well-known that North Devon’s coast is home to beautiful beaches such as Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton – but there is also a multitude of hidden beaches and coves dotted along the gorgeous shoreline. Here are 15 beaches where you can escape the crowds.

1. Barricane Beach – Tucked between rocks, Barricane Beach sits on the outskirts of Woolacombe, harbouring exotic shells carried in by the waves from the Caribbean. If you go on a warm evening from Easter and through the summer period there is a café that serves its famous Sri Lankan curry to eat on the beach looking out to sea.

2. Tunnels Beaches – These beautiful private beaches in Ilfracombe were hand-carved in the 1820s. Step through the tunnels and you’ll discover a beautiful rocky stretch split into the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ beaches – a reminder of the beach’s history as Victorian bathing pools. The tidal pool remains.

3. Rockham – Rockham in Mortehoe, is a stunning secluded bay. Although it’s a short walk from the village down to the beach, it’s well worth it for the peace and serenity it has to offer. Make sure you check the tide times before visiting, as access is restricted at high tide. Rockham also makes a great resting point while walking the South West Coast Path from Woolacombe, to Morte Point and up to Bull Point Lighthouse. From here on a clear day you can even see across the Bristol Channel to Wales.

4. Wringcliff Bay – This beach is something special, sitting at the bottom of the Valley of Rocks, a top beauty spot on the outskirts of Lynton and Lynmouth. This is ideal as a stop while walking the Valley. Look out for the Lynton Goats on the way down.

5. Broadsands – Voted “Britain’s Happiest View” in 2018, this gorgeous little cove near Combe Martin is one of North Devon’s prettiest hidden gems. It’s quite a walk down to the beach from the road due to the sheer number of steps but it’s well worth it for the peace and tranquillity that await you on the shores. You can also hire a kayak or paddleboard from Combe Martin and paddle your way around to your little tropical paradise.

6. Bucks Mill – A hidden gem near Clovelly, Bucks Mill is a beautiful unspoilt beach in a secluded cove with a delightful waterfall at the end of a half-a-mile walk. Serenity and stunning views await you.

Bucks Mill beach at Bucks Cross on the North Devon coast of Great Britain

7. Lee Bay – Located in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lee Bay is a wonderfully secluded spot near the picturesque village of Lee, between Woolacombe and Ilfracombe. Known for its bright red Fushia flowers scattered along with cove amongst wild vegetation. This sheltered cove enjoys a warm climate that takes you transports you to an exotic destination.

8. Wild Pear Beach – This little cove sits just outside Combe Martin, nestling the sand and protecting it from the wind, which makes it perfect for sunbathing. This little gem is also a designated naturist beach so please bear this in mind. It is a steep ascent down to this beautiful spot, but again also reachable via a kayak or paddleboard around the coast.

9. Grunta – This little sandy cove near Woolacombe sits in front of the village of Mortehoe. This is another great little beach along Woolacombe’s busier stretch. As it’s only accessed at low tide, the receding water leaves lots of little rock pools which little ones will adore investigating – so make sure you pack a net and bucket and they’ll be happy for hours.

10. Woody Bay – Woody Bay, near Lynton and Lynmouth, sits at the bottom of striking cliffs covered in woodland, offering the perfect opportunity for wild swimming. You will discover a manmade rock pool here, accessible at low tide, while it’s also adjacent to the South West Coast Path, so you can visit while winding your way around the coast. You may see seals bobbing in the turquoise waters a little further out from shore. You could also take a little visit to Woody Bay, Lynton & Barnstaple Railway – a steam train that puffs through the picturesque Exmoor countryside.

11. Crow Point – Crow Point is a must-see if staying in the area, said to be one of the prettiest and most peaceful river beaches in the South West. The beach can be reached via toll road over Braunton Burrows past the most beautiful nature reserve. You will arrive at a unique viewpoint of the Taw/Torridge estuary, taking in Instow, Appledore and Westward Ho!. There’s a wreck out in the middle of the beach which makes a perfect photographic location and if you follow the shoreline you’ll find yourself on the world-famous Saunton beach, where the Robbie William’s Angels music video was filmed.

12. Mouthmill – Another fantastic spot near Clovelly, Mouthmill is a wonderful rocky beach with waterfalls and striking rock formations to enjoy. Surrounded by sheer cliffs and the remains of an old limekiln. Best visited in spring/ summer, you can walk from the car park through Brownsham Woods where you’ll be met with out of this world scenery. A trickling stream, shimmering sunlight filtered through the trees and a carpet of bluebells and wildflower as far as the eye can see. It’s truly magical.