An ancient packhorse bridge crosses the Bray River. Challacombe in North Devon

Find My Favourite Holiday Cottages in Challacombe

Challacombe is a small village in North Devon that lies on the edge of the Exmoor National Park. Visitors to Challacombe will find a delightful selection of holiday cottages. Typically, these are old but fully restored cottages or barn conversions equipped to meet the discerning guest's needs. The village is set on a single road, with the village’s popular pub, The Black Venus Inn, at the far end. An excellent village shop also sells tasty home-baked cakes and pies along with plenty of visitor information. The pretty River Bray that runs directly through the village creates a ford near the pub, with a public footbridge next to it. Walk further up the lane, passing some traditional Devon cottages to an ancient packhorse bridge. This is the start of the footpath up to Moles Chamber amidst typical Exmoor moorland. This tranquil, rural setting and more sheep roaming the roads than cars make Challacombe the perfect peaceful retreat for a countryside holiday cottage in Devon.

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A country escape awaits at Brook Cottage. Expansive views of rolling green hills stretch forever from the romantic cottage near Challacombe in Devon. Boasting a four-poster bed and other luxury touches, the pet-friendly cottage promises seclusion, a woodburning stove and a sunroom.

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There are some great walks around Challacombe due to its location on the edge of the Exmoor National Park. Footpaths run alongside the River Bray, which passes through the village, allowing you to cross the ford in the village (there’s an adjoining footbridge for those without wellies).

Many walks also take you back across the river via a historic Packhorse Bridge, where the footpath climbs the moor to Moles Chamber. Beyond these are fantastic views towards Dartmoor and the North Devon Coastline, almost as far as Cornwall. The white-towered Challacombe Church is a mile further up the road, which still invites lambs into the building at Easter!). Wistlandpound Reservoir is also close by and is extremely popular with dog walkers throughout the year. Its circular trail is also accessible by visitors in wheelchairs.

The Black Venus Inn is the village’s local and is a beautiful old stone-built pub that sits at the top of the village. The original 16th-century building has plenty of character, with low ceilings and original beams. It’s regarded as one of the best places to eat in North Devon and attracts people all over the county due to its seasonal menu, delicious food and large beer garden.

For shopping, the nearby surrounding towns offer a variety of supermarkets. The Post Office in the village stocks many of the essentials and doubles as a tearoom for whenever the need to gorge on a Devon Cream Tea proves irresistible (which it often will).

About 11 miles towards the West coast is the large market town of Barnstaple, with plenty of large supermarkets, an abundance of fantastic restaurants, a great nightlife atmosphere and easy access to walks and cycle paths via the Tarka Trail. Challacombe is also only a short distance away from the seaside town of Ilfracombe and the villages of Lynton & Lynmouth and about a 25-minute drive to the beaches of Combe Martin and Woolacombe.

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