North Devon is an area we have not visited for a while. This holiday stays at the beautiful, old world Royal & Fortescue Hotel in Barnstable and explores the best that North Devon has to offer.

Your holiday itinerary:
MONDAY: Completing our pickups we begin our journey to North Devon. With suitable stops along the way we aim to arrive at our hotel with plenty of time to settle in before dinner.
TUESDAY: This morning, we enjoy a unique and fascinating visit to the Quince Honey Farm, the largest honey farm in the UK. Our visit gives you access to all the buildings and exhibitions and a private talk giving an overview of Quince Honey Farm and what goes on in a colony of honeybees, how they make honey and why, and how much they make. Find out why some honey is runny, and some are not, how long honey lasts, what it can be used for and a bit about the interesting history of humans and honey. There will be an opportunity to try some of the delicious Devon honey. Visit the shop where you can purchase some of the award-winning honey as well as chutneys, marmalade, fruit curd and honeycomb. The café offers hot drinks, snacks and lunches. There will be chance to wander around the unique hexagonal themed Nectar Gardens which display thousands of bee friendly plants. This afternoon we travel to the beautiful RHS Garden Rosemoor. Nestled in the Torridge Valley, Rosemoor is an enchanting place to visit and blends formal and informal planting to magical effect. The garden has expanded over the years and there are now more 65 acres to explore and has been designed to provide year-round interest and inspiration. The garden centre is the perfect place to top quality plants, gifts and homeware.
WEDNESDAY: Today we explore the picturesque Exmoor National Park. Named after the rive Exe, this wonderful National Park is one of the UK’s smallest National Parks. But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty and variety, thanks to spectacular coastline, including the highest coastline of the British mainland, expansive moorland, steep wooded valleys and rolling farmland. Learn about the Exmoor ponies, England’s largest Red Deer
population, Lorna Doone, and the Lynton and Lynmouth Funicular Railway, the highest and steepest water powered railway in the world.
THURSDAY: Enjoy a free day here in Barnstaple. Situated on the River Taw, Barnstaple is an ancient market town and one of the UK’s oldest boroughs, featuring a blend of high street shops and unique boutiques in and around the popular Green Lanes shopping centre Within the town as well as the shops there are town trails taking in some of the 375 listed buildings including the 17th century alms houses, medieval churches and chapels, old bridge, and Pannier Market. The history of the area illustrated in the free to visit Barnstaple Museum. Perhaps enjoy tea and cake at the cafes on the Strand.
FRIDAY: After breakfast we must say goodbye to Barnstaple and begin our journey home. With suitable stops along the way we aim to be back in Essex late afternoon.

Important Information:

Please read the itinerary and following information carefully before deciding if this holiday will be suitable for you:
1) In Salisbury there is approximately a 10 minute walk from the coach park to the city centre.
2) Sensible footwear and clothing is advised for the visit to RHS Garden Rosemoor.
3) Our entrance to RHS Garden Rosemoor is with a discounted group rate which excludes any free entrance by member(s) of the RHS and RHS member guest