Make the most of August 2026 in North Devon
August in North Devon has a certain effortless magic. Long beach days slip into sunset suppers, village streets hum with summer life and there is always something happening just around the next headland.
From sheepdogs and soapboxes to twilight castles and flour-bombed raft races, we have gathered together some of the best things to see and do near Woolacombe this August.
Clovelly Lifeboat Day
Sunday 2 August 2026
Take a trip along the coast to Clovelly, where its famously steep, cobbled street tumbles down towards one of Devon’s prettiest harbours.
Lifeboat Day celebrates the work of the RNLI with a traditional day of maritime entertainment in and around the harbour. Stay afterwards for fresh seafood, a drink beside the water and the slightly less relaxing walk back up the hill.
North Devon Show
Wednesday 5 August 2026, 8am–6pm
The North Devon Show brings the very best of the countryside together for one wonderfully rural day at Umberleigh Barton.
Expect livestock, horses, local food, countryside demonstrations, shopping, live entertainment and an excellent number of dogs. It is a proper North Devon institution and a brilliant day out for all ages.
https://northdevonshow.com/Find out more and book North Devon Show tickets
Sheepdogs and falconry at Borough Farm
Wednesday evenings: 5, 12, 19 and 26 August, at 6pm
Just outside Woolacombe, Borough Farm hosts one of our favourite summer evenings. Watch skilled working sheepdogs in action before falconry displays take to the skies above the North Devon countryside.
There is no need to book; simply arrive, find a spot and enjoy a charmingly old-fashioned evening on the farm. Well-behaved dogs are welcome too, although they may leave with unrealistic career ambitions.
Borough Farm also offers shepherding experiences on selected Thursday evenings throughout August.
https://www.boroughfarm.co.uk/View the Borough Farm summer programme
Twilight evenings at Watermouth Castle
Selected Tuesdays and Fridays from 4–28 August 2026, from 5pm
There is something particularly lovely about visiting Watermouth Castle as the day begins to soften.
Its summer Twilight Evenings include selected rides, outdoor play, beautiful gardens, food, bubbles and family entertainment, all set against the North Devon coast. It is a gentler, less hurried way to enjoy the castle — and a rather clever option if the beach has already occupied most of your day.
August dates are 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 and 28 August.
Open-air theatre in Clovelly
Saturday 15 and Friday 21 August 2026
Clovelly provides a suitably magical setting for two open-air theatre performances this August.
Widdershins takes place on 15 August, followed by The Sword in the Stone on 21 August. Pack an extra layer, settle in beneath the summer sky and enjoy family theatre in one of Devon’s most atmospheric villages.
Summer music beside the sea
Every Thursday until 27 August 2026, at 7.30pm
For a beautifully simple summer evening, head to the seafront at Westward Ho! for a free outdoor performance by Bideford Town Band.
Bring something to sit on, perhaps collect fish and chips on the way, and enjoy traditional brass-band music with the Atlantic as a backdrop. Concerts are weather permitting — this is Devon, after all.
Ilfracombe Soap Box Derby
Saturday 22 August 2026, from approximately 11.30am
Homemade vehicles, courageous drivers and the steep descent of Larkstone Lane: what could possibly go wrong?
The Ilfracombe Soap Box Derby is a wonderfully eccentric day of gravity-powered racing, with imaginative carts tackling a 600-metre course towards the harbour. Expect speed, spectacle and some engineering decisions that may not stand up to close inspection.
Silent Disco Beach Clean at Woolacombe
Sunday 23 August 2026, 10.30am–12pm
Help care for one of Britain’s most beautiful beaches while enjoying a silent disco beside the sea.
Led by the National Trust’s Woolacombe team, this cheerful community beach clean combines music, movement and marine conservation. It is free, feel-good and just a little more glamorous than your average litter pick.
Lynmouth Raft Race
Saturday 29 August 2026
There are raft races, and then there is the Lynmouth Raft Race.
Teams take to the harbour in creatively constructed homemade vessels while spectators provide encouragement — and a considerable number of flour bombs. Some rafts race magnificently. Some simply reaching the start line should be considered a triumph.
Combine it with the cliff railway, a walk around Lynmouth and Watersmeet, or supper overlooking the harbour.
Beyond the Calendar: North Devon Days Out for Any Day
Of course, not every summer day needs an itinerary. Some of North Devon’s loveliest experiences can be enjoyed whenever the mood — and perhaps the weather — takes you.
Here are a few of our favourite days out to add to your August escape..
Step back in time at Clovelly
Clinging to a 400-foot cliff, Clovelly’s steep cobbled street winds between flower-covered cottages before reaching its historic harbour and pebbled beach.
The village is completely car-free, preserving an atmosphere that feels wonderfully removed from modern life. Explore its museums, meet the famous Clovelly donkeys, pause for refreshments beside the harbour and then prepare yourself for the considerably less leisurely journey back uphill.
Ride the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway
Linking the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, this remarkable funicular is the world’s highest and steepest completely water-powered railway.
The short journey delivers spectacular views across the coast and turns travelling between the two towns into an experience of its own. Browse Lynton’s independent shops and cafés, wander around Lynmouth’s picturesque harbour or continue into the wooded valley towards Watersmeet.
Walk or cycle the Tarka Trail
Inspired by the journey of Tarka the Otter, the Tarka Trail forms a 180-mile figure of eight through North Devon and Exmoor.
You certainly don’t need to tackle all of it. Choose a manageable stretch and enjoy peaceful estuary views, wooded valleys, wildlife and traffic-free cycling. The route between Braunton, Barnstaple, Instow and Bideford is particularly accessible, with plenty of cafés and waterside stops along the way.
Bikes can be hired at several points on the trail, and Byron guests can visit our Partners page to access an exclusive bike-hire discount.
Set sail for Lundy Island
Visible from much of the North Devon coastline, Lundy sits rather mysteriously where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol Channel.
At just three miles long and half a mile wide, this peaceful granite island is home to extraordinary wildlife, dramatic scenery, historic buildings and 42 scheduled monuments. Look out for seals, dolphins, seabirds and Lundy’s famous puffins, although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Day trips sail from Ilfracombe or Bideford on selected dates and should be booked in advance. The crossing takes approximately two hours each way, leaving between four and six hours to explore. Pack sensible clothing whatever the forecast — and if the rain does arrive, the wonderfully characterful Marisco Tavern awaits.
Or simply stay close to Woolacombe
Not every memorable holiday day requires a car journey.
Learn to surf in the UK’s first World Surfing Reserve, walk over Morte Point in search of seals, explore Barricane’s rock pools or stay on Woolacombe Beach until the sun disappears into the Atlantic.
When the weather decides not to cooperate, Byron’s indoor pool, sauna, gym and games room offer a rather appealing plan B.
Make North Devon Your Own
Our new interactive Things to See and Do guide makes exploring North Devon wonderfully simple. Browse our local recommendations, filter them by distance and interest, and see everything together on one handy map.
Plan every detail in advance or simply open the guide over your morning coffee and see where the day takes you.
Because the only difficult part of a Woolacombe holiday should be deciding what to do first.
Explore our Things to See and Do guide
Opening times, sailings and arrangements may change, and some activities require advance booking. Please check directly with each provider before travelling.
We believe we are the best place to stay in the South West, but don’t just take our word for it, here is what some of our guests have had to say in their holiday reviews!
We have just returned home having spent a wonderful week at Byron. The apartment was modern, clean and very comfortable with everything you needed. Byron is just minutes from the beautiful Sandy beach and the coastal footpaths so that once you’ve arrived you don’t really need to get back in the car. Parking, indoor pool, communal facilities and lifts to apartments are truly another added bonus. Would highly recommend, we cannot wait to return!!!
Anne, Bristol
