NORTH DEVON DELIGHTS - Lots of Singles (All rooms are Double & Twin for Sole Occupancy)A wonderful five day break to Ilfracombe – perhaps the perfect, timeless Devon resort. Ilfracombe - The resort retains all of its Edwardian and Victorian charm and has plenty to see and do, with an old world charm to the Town Centre, a classic British Harbour and Beach and the wonderful Damian Hirst Statue "Verity"overlooking Ilfracombe Harbour with the award-winning Ilfracombe Aquarium, the unique Tunnels Beaches, fascinating Ilfracombe Museum and St Nicholas Chapel.Tiverton with the Tiverton Horse Drawn Canal Barge Located in Tiverton (Mid Devon), On the banks of the beautiful Grand Western Canal & Local Nature Reserve, Tiverton Canal Co is a truly unique family-owned and run Canal Living Heritage Attraction. With staff and crew dressed in clothing of a bygone era and with large Heavy Horses (including Shires) at the ready. The Brind family are proud to operate one of the very last remaining Horse-Drawn Passenger Barges in Great Britain!
Tiverton, in the Mid Devon countryside, the town of Tiverton is brimming with history and heritage just waiting to be discovered; with romantic castles, historic houses, and horse drawn barges. Centrally located in Devon, Tiverton is the ideal base for exploring the Devon countryside and to really escape on holiday – where you can discover surrounding traditional thatched villages, enjoy rural countryside walks and wildlife, and enjoy beautiful local produce at your leisure.
Hartland Abbey and Dartington ChrystalHartland Abbey is the cherished home of the Stucley family with treasures and memorabilia collected over many generations. Visitors can wander through the house at will or, for groups, conducted tours are available by prior booking if required.
Built in the 12thC, Hartland Abbey survived as a monastery longer than any other in the country. In 1539 Henry VIII gifted the Abbey to the Keeper of his Wine Cellar whose descendants still live here today. Hartland Abbey is probably the most historically important ancestral home in North Devon containing much of national interest, including architecture and decoration from the Mediaeval, Queen Anne, Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods, paintings, furniture, Chinese artefacts and porcelain collected over many generations.
The beautiful 18th Century Walled and Woodland gardens, the walks and the parkland provide visitors with extensive grounds through which to wander and enjoy the stunning valley leading down to the rugged Atlantic cove and cottage at Blackpool Mill, the location for many notable films. Wildflowers proliferate – from primroses and violets, wild garlic, bluebells and foxgloves in spring.
The Old Kitchens Tea Room provide a delicious, home made and varied menu of light lunches and cream teas, scrumptious cakes, baguettes, sandwiches, speciality teas and coffees. The Tea Rooms, open from 11am, are accessible only with a valid entry ticket to the gardens and grounds.
The BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’, ZDF’s production of Rosamund Pilcher’s, ‘The Shell Seekers’ (Die Muschelsucher), John Le Carre’s ‘The Night Manager’ with Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman, ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society'(2017) with Lily James, BBC’s ‘Gold Digger'(2018), The Game of Thrones – House of The Dragon (2021) and ITV’s The Long Call were all filmed on the estate. In 2023 scenes from ‘The Salt Path’ by Raynor Wynn were filmed at Blackpool Mill, starring Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson. An external scene from ‘Speak No Evil’ was filmed in Oct 2023. BBC Antiques Roadshow was held here in 2012. In 2019 ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier starring Lily James and Kristen Scott Thomas was filmed on the estate at Hartland Quay and in September WildBrain and King Bert Productions filmed Series 1 of Enid Blyton’s ‘Malory Towers’ for CBBC inside and around Hartland Abbey. In 2020 scenes for ‘Brittania’ and ITV’s ‘The Long Call’ were filmed near Hartland Quay. In June 2025 BBC Gardeners World, presented by Advolly Richmond, explored the legacy of Gertude Jekyll on the gardens. Enid Blyton’s ‘Malory Towers’ was first filmed here in autumn 2019, inside and outside the Abbey.
Dartington Chrystal is the new Visitor Experience in North Devon, it houses an updated and upgraded Timeline Exhibition of Dartington Crystal’s products spanning over 50 years of history from 1967 to the present day.
A creative team of in-house staff have been working tirelessly for the last six months to make something quite special, something that is both a leisure experience as well as being a lasting archive of some of the wonderful craftmanship of its North Devon’s glass makers. As well as being able to see glass making demonstrations in a newly installed studio furnace area, Master Engraver Nick Davey will be creating masterpieces right before your eyes.
Accommodation. Dilkhusa Grand Hotel, Ilfracombe - Well located on the level seafront, only a short stroll from the town centre and 10th century harbour, the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel promises wonderfully comfortable accommodation, fabulous evening entertainment, good food and a warm welcome and high standards of service. With a lift to 3 Floors.Whats included
Luxury Escorted Coach travel with reserved seating - (comfortable seats with extra legroom)
Escorted Tour with experienced driver and courier
USB Charging Points and Free WiFi onboard the coach
Four nights dinner, bed and breakfast at the Dilkhusa Grand Hotel, Ilfracombe
Evening entertainment programme
Excursion to Tiverton with a ride on the Horse Drawn Canal Barge & Cream Tea
Excursion Hartland Abbey
Excursion to Dartington Chrystal
Day at leisure in Ilfracombe
Refreshments served onboard the coach enroute (small fee)
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