North Devon Coast AONB

About the North Devon Coast AONB

The North Devon Coast AONB covers 171 km2 (66 mi2) of coastal landscapes, from the border of Exmoor National Park to the Cornish border at Marsland Mouth. The area is highly important for its diverse habitats and includes Special Areas of Conservation, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, numerous County Wildlife Sites and is part of the internationally recognized UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Climate

Devon has a mild climate with warm summers and mild winters, although as with much of Great Britain, the weather from day to day can be changeable.

Fauna and Flora

With thirteen distinct habitats for flora and fauna identified within this one area, Devon is teeming with wildlife. From internationally important salmon breeding grounds and otter populations in its wealth of rivers and streams; to sea birds such as guillemot, oyster catcher and turnstone on the coast; to the dolphins, basking sharks and grey seals spotted annually off shore, there’s plenty of life to spot in this area.

Tourism

An estimated four million people visit North Devon every year, mainly for its unspoiled environment.

Activities

There’s a staggering amount to do in this area, simply because of the sheer diversity of the landscape. There are fantastic Devon beaches for play, surfing and wildlife discovery. There are over 300 km (~186 mi) of public footpaths, bridleways and byways within North Devon’s coastal areas. One of the best ways to explore is by taking the South West Coast Path, a national trail which stretches along 1,014 km (~630 mi) and links to many other shorter walks. Cyclists can enjoy the inland Tarka Trail Cycleway which offers over 52 km (~32 mi) of off-road cycling.

How to get there

North Devon is an hour’s drive from the nearest motorway, but there are fast and frequent train services from all parts of Britain to Devon.