North Devon is a captivating area of the country with an amazing variety of beautiful countryside scenes - rolling hills, hidden woodlands, spectacular rivers, rocky coves and long sandy beaches. North Devon has an extremely rich represented wildlife and great number of parks reserving rather stunning amount of species.
The most famous of them are Exmoor Zoological Park, Wildlife & Dinosaur Park and North Devon Farm Park.
Exmoor Zoological Park, designed for the family visits is a kind of zoo that has something for everybody interested in our living world, whether that is Rabbits, Spiders Monkeys or Birds. The main feature of this park is that rare and charming animal pets can be seen playing and enjoying themselves in a NATURAL surrounding.
Wildlife & Dinosaur Park occupies over 30 acres of sub-tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls and woodland walks with life size animated Dinosaurs. There are represented by over 170 species of wildlife.
North Devon Farm Park, one of the oldest farms in the district and Rare Breeds Centre is based around a 15th century Devon farmhouse. Within the territory of 50 acres of countryside, you can see the moors. At the territory occupied by the Farm Park there are rivers and lakes, as well as many animals to see and feed.
Another one site that is worth mentioning is Dartmoor that was designated as a National Parks in 1951. It is an amazing moorland landscape with wooded valleys and wind swept Tors - granite hilltops that provide habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. It covers 368 square miles (953 km) of open moorland that can be easily and freely covered on both foot and horseback. Being a rich habitat for wildlife Dartmoor has a wealth of archaeological remains.
Since the Stone Age, man has been creating majestic structures that we still marvel at today. Being the cradle of untouched wild nature, North Devon is passing rich in castles, cathedrals and monuments: Watermouth Castle, Okehampton Castle, The Churches Conservation Trust, Hartland Abbey. All these places belong to the English Heritage. The number of galleries and museums is also incredible. The most visited from them are BURTON ART GALLERY & MUSEUM, Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon, Cobbaton Combat Collection and Ilfracombe Museum.
If you want to have a nice rest in North Devon, one of the best places is Porlock village. Why Porlock village? You'll see...
Being a large village a few miles West of Minehead on the coast, Porlock is surrounded on three sides by the wild moorland of Exmoor to the South, Selworthy Hill to the East and Culbone Hill to the West and on the fourth side, the Bristol Channel provides breathtaking views along the coast and across to Wales. Porlock village has managed to preserve the old charm of 13th century- lime washed cottages with traditional tall chimneys, St. Dubricius's church and the Harington monument, being one of England's finest.
Porlock is believed to be an ideal place from which to explore the wild and beautiful Exmoor National Park. Porlock village is also well-known owing to its Porlock Hill. It is a 25% (1 in 4) incline with some very tight bends. In horses and cart's time it was impossible to reach the top of the hill without somebody's help. Porlock Hill first ascended by motor car in 1900 for a bet.
Today, Porlock is a busy visitor destination during the summer. It caters well for tourists by offering an excellent selection of cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops. There is also a first class information centre, village recreation ground with tennis courts, a bowling green and children's play area. Everyone can found something especially for him/her in this wonderful and friendly village. Porlock is the perfect place to get away from the stresses and bustle of modern life.
It is the place that makes people return.