Whether you’re a frequent visitor to this little-known corner of North Devon coastline, or a first-time traveller to this tranquil haven, Lee is the ideal base for easy exploration of the whole of Devon. The famous villages of Covelly, Lynton and Croyde are just a stone’s throw away along the coast.
Lundy Island, which lies 12 miles off the coast, was named as Britain’s 10th natural wonder and has been designated as a site of special scientific interest. It can be explored by catching a ferry from Ilfracombe which is 3 miles away.
From its elevated position on the sunny southern slope of Lee valley, The Old Vicarage overlooks the small local church, craft and gift shop and Lee Memorial Hall.
Lee itself is the quintessential English village by the sea, lined with fuchsias and decorated with the local slate.
A couple of hundred yards’ walk from the house and on the way to the beach you have our much loved pub The Grampus Inn. A quaint, privately owned, family run pub full of atmosphere, with a great pub garden, some superb red wines (produced by our neighbours in Gigondas, on their 16th century family run estate). It is also very proudly dog friendly.
The house is a short 7 minute stroll to Lee Bay beach. It is great for children, when the tide is out, its sheltered cove often makes for calm waters, ideal for paddling, swimming, kayaking or simply soaking up the sun. There is a mixture of sand and slate shingle to sit on. The slate formations make a very dramatic and hugely interesting coastline here, with an abundance of interesting rock pools and even a cave!
There is a wealth of beautiful beaches in the area, all of which are dog friendly (check for some seasonal restrictions).
Moving on from Lee Bay beach, Woolacombe is our next closest beach and is completely different. Voted in the top 20 ‘Best Beaches in the World’ in 2020, there’s 3km of beautiful golden sand which is several hundred yards wide when the tide goes out. This is the place to catch a good wave, very popular with the surfers and boogie boarders. However, even on the busiest days, the beach is long enough that you don’t have to fight for that wave.
There is a wealth of stunning walks from the front door. Cliff walks from the house westward to Bull Point lighthouse, Mortehoe and Woolacombe or east to the Torrs and Ilfracombe, there are also trails through the woods.
Exmoor National Park with its wild open spaces also provides a wealth of interesting walks, riding and cycling. More information about the various activities can be found at the house.
There are a wealth of activities nearby to keep the energetic and adventurous entertained from horse riding, quad biking, cycle paths, surfing & kite flying.
For grocery shopping, there is Tesco’s Supermarket at Ilfracombe (3.6 miles away) or Braunton (9 miles away). Tesco and Majestic Wine in Barnstaple also offer a delivery service. There are plenty of shops offering fresh locally farmed meat, fruit and vegetables.