A well serviced, idylic seaside village. (Combe Martin in general)

Member Name: harveyspeed

Product:	Combe Martin in general
Date:	25/05/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Services, location, friendly atmosphere

Disadvantages: The inland end of the village is very quiet and 2 miles from the seafront; nightlife

Combe Martin is a coastal village located in North Devon. It is situated at the bottom of a valley, formed by the small River Umber. Combe Martin stretches for 2 miles along the A399 and is often argued as the longest village in the country.

The village has a vast array of ammenities, including five pubs; a range of shops; numerous camping and caravan sites nearby; and of course, its beaches. The Focsle Inn is located on the seafront, with outdoor seating overlooking the pebbled main beach. It appeals to families whilst also having a bar area where children are not permitted. The Dolphin Inn and Castle Inn also overlook the sea, but neither of these have outside seating areas as they are built along the A399. Further inland, perhaps a mile at most, is the family-friendly and quite striking Pack O Cards (4 floors, 13 windows and 52 doors!). It has an outdoor play area, built alongside the small river, set in a large garden. The building itself is quite spectacular and there is a museum detailing its history. Further inland still is Ye Olde George and Dragon.

The beaches around Combe Martin are predominantly pebbled. There is a path built out into the sea, which at low tide is exposed to allow access to the rock pools and caves, which keep the young and old entertained during the day.

For the active visitor, there are many walks around the village. The nearby peaks of Little Hangman and Great Hangman are a great starting point, and provide some pleasant views, sections of this walk are incorporated into the Tarka Trail which loops around North Devon.

The 300 bus services provides visitors the opportunity to travel to Ilfracombe, Lynton/Lynmouth and Minehead. The 30 bus also travels to Ilfracombe, but then continues on to Barnstable.

There are many camping and caravaning sites in and around the village. During a recent stay, I visited Newberry Farm, which is a touring site, located directly off the A399. He charged us £5 each for one night camping, which was quite reasonable!

Summary: Excellent location for families and couples looking for a relaxing break.