Local Scene
Nestling midway between Exmoor & Dartmoor in beautiful rolling North Devon ‘Tarka’ countryside Kings Nympton has previously won the coveted CPRE Devon Village of the Year award. It is wonderfully remote and yet only 35 minutes drive to the M5 motorway and approximately 10 minutes from the market towns of South Molton and Chulmleigh.
The thatched and heavily beamed Grove Inn Public House is a few minutes walk away and offers a genuine welcome, 2 inglenook wood burning fires during the winter months and excellent home cooked food all year round as well as serving excellently kept beer and local cider.
Kings Nympton is ideally situated to explore and enjoy unspoilt countryside surrounding the village and as a base from which to explore. Nestling midway between Exmoor and Dartmoor
Many attractions are easily accessible including the dramatic North Devon cliff coastline, glorious sandy ‘surfers’ beaches at Saunton Sands, Bude, Woolacombe and Croyde, as well as golf, horse riding, fishing and field sports.
Kings Nympton Community Website – Kings Nympton Online
The Old Rectory Cottages are perfectly located to explore the numerous attraction North Devon has to offer – just a few are listed below….
Local Attractions
South Molton is the local market town 10 minutes drive from Kings Nympton. The town has a range of antique and curios shops as well as tea rooms, public houses and a market on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Studio Active & Gym Active – South Molton, North Devon (fitnessnorthdevon.co.uk)
If you feel the need to workout. The local family run Gym Active in South Molton is open 24hr offering classes and personal training in private studios.
Honey Farm & Family Attraction | Quince Honey Farm, North Devon
Visit the Quince Honey working Farm where you can see behind the scenes how everything works. See millions of bees and take a look around the hexagonal shaped Nectar Gardens where you can see many bee friendly plants. There is a large indoor and outdoor play area for kids to let of some steam before having delicious food in the large restaurant, or a light bite or maybe even a glass of wine.
Enjoy this fabulous introduction to falconry experience. Weather dependant and must be pre booked. Falconry on Exmoor | North Devon Hawk Walks
Rock & Rapid Adventures | Devon’s Most exciting Adventure Centre (rockandrapidadventures.co.uk)
Based near to us in South Molton, enjoy one of many exciting activities including: coasteering, axe throwing, archery and outdoor climbing.
Dartington Crystal Visitor Centre and Factory Tours (visitdartington.co.uk)
Recently upgraded visitor experience centre will enable you to see glass making demonstrations, glass engraving and even take part in creative activities including Hand-casting and glass painting creating lasting memories whilst learning about the history of this working factory.
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum | National Trust
Lots to keep children entertain spend a fun filled day at this Regency House with a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and lots of special events.
RHS Garden Rosemoor | Fun, family days out & events in North Devon
One of The Royal Horticultural Society spectactular gardens, with lots of events for the family and kids play area.
30 minutes drive north of South Molton towards the North Devon coast, Exmoor Zoo is a childrens delight with a range of animals and regular feeding times and information on the animals provided by enthusiastic staff. www.exmoorzoo.co.uk
Explore the 34 mile traffic free Tarka Trail cycle route. Either by hiring bikes from Barnstaple Tarka Trail Cycle Hire, Barnstaple, North Devon (tarkabikes.co.uk) or https://www.bidefordbicyclehire.co.uk/ the perfect place to join the Tarka trail. The bike depot is situated in the middle of the cycle trail offering you the choice of cycling south towards Torrington and Meeth or North to Barnstaple. Either route offers a flat traffic free tarmac path allowing you the opportunity to take in the Devon countryside and of course the many pubs or cafes along the route.
Exmoor is the smallest of the UK’s National Parks and is a real ‘gem’. Vast expanses of moorland and deep wooded valleys are ideal to simply drive across to the North Devon coast with views over towards Wales and Lundy Island or to walk over. All year round Exmoor feels virtually deserted and is often compared with the Scottish Highlands.
In the heart of Exmoor in ‘Lorna Doone’ country Tarr Steps are an ancient stone crossingover a bubbling river. After crossing Tarr Steps there are a number of beautiful walks along the river and through wooded countryside.
Exmoor – Tarr Steps (exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk)
Tarr Steps is a great place to go when looking to explore Exmoor National Park whether you are an experienced walker or someone who prefers a short walk. Here you will find a car park and toilet facilities and perhaps see wild ponies in the surrounding countryside. A couple of circular walks – the short one from Clapper bridge or a more challenging from Dulverton to Tarr Steps.
So many different things to do and see at Watersmeet from Fishing and Foraging, beautiful walks through woodland, coast, rivers and moorland. Even try your hand at canoeing.
Wimbleball is a hub of colour and activity throughout all the seasons. Nestled within the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park. With an array of walking and cycling trails winding around the 530 acre site, and a fantastic range of watersports, including kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and sailing, and other activities available, this is the perfect location to spend a day outdoor.Wimbleball Lake,Exmoor
The closest beaches are at Saunton Sands, Woolacombe, Putsborough and Croyde. All are sandy and expansive and are safe and clean– they are therefore wonderful for children. Beaches are approximately 40 minutes away.
The Big Sheep – The best family day out in North Devon! (21 MILES)
Experience a great family day out at The Big Sheep, North Devon’s top family attraction.There are lots of fun live shows to enjoy like their famous sheep racing, fantastic BIG indoor playground including exciting slides, imaginative soft play, climbing areas, tumble towers, mazes, obstacles and fun rides suitable for all ages. Plus you can meet many animals who live on the farm!
Watermouth Family Theme Park & CastleWatermouth (watermouthcastle.com)
Visit one of the West Country’s premier family theme parks including rides and play areas and beautiful landscaped gardens within the grounds of a Victorian Castle the well known and thoroughly enjoyable Watermouth Family Theme Park near Ilfracombe. But don’t get lost in the Maze!
Top Family Attraction – Things to do in North Devon – The Milky Way
Right on the edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and only one mile from the world famous fishing village of Clovelly, with it’s cobbled street and harbour. With views of the coast to the North and Dartmoor to the South – they have their very own Cosmic Typhoon roller coaster!
Chagford Swimming Pool | Dartmoor Devon
Visit the largest open-air, freshwater pool in the southwest being fed from the river Teign. This historic beautiful community pool is managed by a committee of volunteers. The water reaches the pool via a mill leat (a small man made stream diverted from the nearby river), which originally powered the water wheel at Rushford Farm.
Valley of the Rocks Exmoor | A Stunning Place to Visit (thebestofexmoor.co.uk)
Visit the dramatic Valley of the Rocks a section of coastline on the northern edge of Exmoor. Climb to the cliff tops and breathe in the spectacular views, walk through the deep valley, steep craggy cliffs on either side. An interesting place to visit whether there are blue skies or stormy clouds!
North Devon’s discount outlet centre located just outside Bideford. Affinity Outlet Devon
South Molton 
Saunton Sands 
Exmoor Zoo 
Tarka Trail 
Dartington Crystal 
Affinity Outlet Devon 
Rosemoor Gardens 
Tar Steps
Slightly Further
Lynton is up on the cliffs and Lynmouth down by the sea, connected by a steep road and by the victorian water powered Cliffside Vernicular railway. Lynmouth was made notoriously famous by the 1952 floods which destroyed much of the town.
The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (lynton-rail.co.uk)
Support this exciting project to rebuild of the world’s most famous and picturesque narrow-gauge railways. Take a ride in the restored heritage carriages on a 2 mile round trip.
A famous North Devon attraction, Clovelly is an ancient village with a very steep cobbled path down to the old harbour with its Red Lion public house. There are no cars allowed in Clovelly which is privately owned – visitors park outside the village and walk down past quaint fishermans cottages and antique shops.
Just outside St.Austell approx. 1.5 hours drive from Kings Nympton this amazing attraction is a gardeners’ delight. Trees and plants from all over the world are housed under 2 huge glass ‘bubbles’ all set in a disused and now regenerated clay pit. The Eden Project has become world famous since it opened only 2 years ago.
Near to The Eden Project are the very picturesque Cornish fishing villages of Looe which nestles on 2 sides of a river and Fowey with its narrow lanes and interesting collection of old buildings, shops, restaurants and public houses. www.edenproject.com
Lynton & Lynmouth 
Clovelly 
Eden Project
Other
There is a local train service from Kings Nympton north to Barnstaple and south to Exeter and Exmouth. Passengers literally must ‘flag down’ the train which runs through glorious Tarka Country. Exeter with its Cathedral has excellent shopping facilities and going by train is a delightful way to see more of the Northand Mid-Devon countryside. www.thetrainline.com
Kings Nympton Train Station
Sporting Activities
Enjoy a round of golf at one of North Devon’s fabulous golf courses:
A family owned and operated short 18 hole golf course set in over 13 acres of glorious Devon Countryside.
Spectacular Golf Course in North Devon | Highbullen
This 9 hole USGA specification golf course is set in wooded parkland with breathtaking views across to both Dartmoor and Exmoor. This is a testing but not impossible course enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels. Pay and play available with golf buggies and clubs available for hire.
Saunton Golf Club & Course in North Devon | England | UK
36 Holes of Beautiful Championship Links Golf, set in the Heart of North Devon
Saunton Beach | North Devon surfing and family friendly beach
You can’t visit North Devon without visiting one of the fabulous beaches. Saunton Beach great for surfing, body boarding a great family friendly beach. Breathtaking.
Collacott Stables in Kings Nympton provides horseriding tuition to beginners and offers hacking to more experienced riders.
North Devon is a surfer’s paradise – the well known beaches of Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton are 40 minutes drive from Kings Nympton
Wakeboarding | North Devon Wake Park
Great place to try your hand at a new watersport: wakeboarding, paddle boarding, open water swimming or the exhilarating Ringo Rides you just need to make sure you have enough time to try everything.
There are a number of clay pigeon shoots nearby as well as in season shoots for experienced sportspeople. Offering some of the countries finest shoots.
There are numerous walks, both local and further afield that can be chosen to suit anyone from families with young children to even the most experienced hiker.
CYCLING: The local routes are numerous and include locations for bicycle hire. See Tarka Trail.
QUADS: Based 15 minutes from Exeter City Centre on the Escot Estate. They have over 12 miles of quad bike tracks, fully trained instructors for the ultimate Quad safari experience.
Quad Biking Exeter – Devon’s Premier Off Road Quads (exeterquadcentre.co.uk)
EBIKES: trail riding across North Devon
eBike Trail Tours – Riding over North Devon on Electric Bikes Trail Tours – eBike Trail Tours
SEGWAYS: Segway experiences in North Devon
Segway | Devon | Things to do in Woolacombe | England (easiglide.co.uk)
Fishing trips can be arranged on the Rivers Mole and Taw – tuition can be arranged and fishing parties catered for.
There are many different locations to sample the fine food that this region has to offer and dining locations are provided in your in-cottage information pack.
Chumleigh Golf Course 
Collacott Stables 
Surfer on Croyde Beach 
North Devon Walks 
Stepping Stones on River Mole 
The Grove Inn - Kings Nympton
