Introducing the beautiful north devon coast and countryside
The Taw Wharf development has an enviable position on the River Taw in Barnstaple. The river front properties offer extensive river views. The town centre is just a short five-minute walk over the historic long bridge, but even closer there are a range of supermarkets, retail outlets and eateries on offer to residents living nearby.
Food and Drink
You could quite easily park your car up at home and not need it again, as Barnstaple offers so much to those that live and visit nearby. There are a large number of pubs and restaurants in Barnstaple and the surrounding areas, offering cuisine such as ‘pub grub’ to fine dining and Michelin Guide quality restaurants such as The Coach House by Michael Caines just a 20-minute drive from home.
Beaches
Beaches are second-to-none with a huge coastline with many different beaches to choose from. If you expect long sandy beaches then Woolacombe (13 miles) or Saunton Sands (8 miles) offer great options for a day of sunbathing; or there’s more options as you head west such as Westward Ho! (10 miles) the only town in the UK to have an exclamation point in its name, or a smaller more dog-friendly option of Instow (6 miles).
Retail
Shopping in the area offers many options, Barnstaple itself has most of the bigger name stores such as Next, right on your doorstep, M&S, Laura Ashley and many local independent stores with quality wares on sale. The Anchorwood Bank retail development where Taw Wharf is located offers more options such as a large Asda, a Food Warehouse as well as other options such as gyms and coffee shops.
Walking and Cycling
The fresh air in North Devon is something you can only truly understand if you’ve visited the area and with walks a-plenty starting straight from your front door you have no reason not to enjoy a healthier, fresher lifestyle when moving into your new homes. The South West Coast Path, with its section of the Tarka Trail (a local walking route), leaves directly from your new front door. So, whether you head out on foot, on 2 wheels or with the dog in tow you have miles and miles of North Devon coastline to explore right on your doorstep.
Transport
Although you may not ever want to leave your new home town, Barnstaple offers many transport links to connect you with the rest of Devon and the south west. The local train station is less than half a mile away offering regular connections to Exeter where you can get to all the major cities and hot spots on the south coast. Bus links regularly run from Barnstaple bus station in the town centre, or from the main road outside of Anchorwood Bank running to all major towns and villages around North Devon.
Schools
Barnstaple has a great range of local schools on offer for families moving to the area. According to Ofsted reports in 2019, at least 2 of the Barnstaple based primary schools rated Outstanding while another 7 schools rated as Good.
Things to see in North Devon
North Devon has so much to offer we can’t list it all here, but here’s a few of our favourites that we’re sure you’ll want to explore, if only for a day!
Clovelly (19 miles) – A privately owned village famed for its cobbled streets, quaint terraced cottages and pebble harbour. Just make sure you bring good walking shoes for the trek back up the hill or hitch a ride on the village landrover!
Arlington Court (9 miles) - An intriguing National Trust Regency house and picturesque garden, Arlington Court is a hidden gem on the edge of Exmoor National Park, something you wouldn’t expect such a short drive from home.
RHS Rosemoor (13 miles) - If you can appreciate the art of gardening then RHS Rosemoor is the perfect spot to stop for a walk around the gardens. Offering more than just a ‘few plants’ the gardens are something to be admired.
Broomhill Art Hotel & Sculpture Gardens (3 miles) - You will never get bored on a visit to Broomhill. With an estate filled with everything from the quirky to the traditional and artwork and sculptures from many local artists there’s always something new to spot on each visit.
Tapley Park (8 miles) - Tapley Park is part of the Christies Estate in North Devon and offers a beautiful country home and acres of outdoor gardens to explore during the summer months.