Things to do

WOODlaNDS HOTEL

& RESTAURANT

“TOP TEN”

Favourite Restaurants

Browns Bistro - Fore Street - Excellent local reputation. All food prepared on site from local ingredients. Excellent fish. Early two course meal from£13.95. Typical meal around £25-£30 per head including wine. Relaxed atmosphere. Booking advisable during evenings. Evening menu (publisher file!)

Neils - Fish Restaurant. Slightly more expensive but good reputation for seafood

Salty Monk - 2 Rosettes for food. A more a la carte experience.

VIEWS 

1. Top of Peak Hill looking East towards Sidmouth
2. Top of Salcombe Hill Looking West towards Sidmouth
3. Archway in Connaught Gardens looking out towards Ladram Bay
4. Top of Peak Hill looking towards Dartmoor
5. Woodbury Common looking towards the River Exe - 180 degree views up to 40 miles away
6. Woodbury Common looking towards Sidmouth  - you can see Gibraltar (Portland) (40miles away)
7. Connaught Gardens Looking towards the Esplanade
8. The Esplanade - the name says it all. Spectacular cliffs, blue sea, waves crashing against the shore. Gentility
9. Coly Valley – Beauty and peace. Off the beaten track. Gorgeous churches.
10. Any Boat Trip . Try Stuart Line cruises.

DAY TRIPS 

1. Beer – outstanding small fishing beach. Picture postcard. Great place to hire a boat for a couple of hours. Stunning Xmas illuminations.
2. Branscombe. – Allegedly one of the longest villages in Britain. Beautiful valley. Great pubs, great church and old forge. Lovely beach but you have to pay to park near it.
3. Lyme Regis – Can get quite busy in summer. Walk the Undercliffe pathway, Site of Europe’s largest active landslip!
4. Charmouth – Fossil hunting. Where the saying “she sells sea shells on the sea shore” was attributed to Lyme Regis Fossil hunter Mary Anning. Find dinosaur bones!
5. Budleigh Salterton and Otterton (where Princess Diana had her fling with Hewitt)
6. Dartmouth – An hour away. Lovely hisrtoric setting. Get there early to avoid queues on the ferry
7. Dartmoor National Park– Astonishing beauty. Visit Grimspound – Where Sherlock Holmes hid in the Hound of the Baskervilles. Climb a Tor
8. Exmoor National Park– Quite a drive but a great day trip. Lynton & Lynmouth are spectacular
9. Exeter – The buildings around the Cathedral and the quay are particularly worth visiting.
10. West Bexington and Fleet. The coast road from Bridport to the Fleet offers one of Britain’s most spectacular views. Tales of Smuggling. The book Moonfleet is based on events in this area

 PLACES TO VISIT 

1. Powderham Castle – Used in the Anthony Hopkins film – The Remains of the Day
2. Darts Farm Shop– allow a couple of hours , it is really a large exclusive department store , a wonderful place to pick unusual presents
3. Sidmouth Museum – well worth a visit.  Probably not for children. Local history.
4. Killerton – a beautiful stately home and gardens
5. Bicton Gardens- perfect for all the family
6. A La Ronde –very interesting
7. Forde Abbey – a little further a field but we love it
8. Connaught Gardens- a little bit of heaven all ages adore them
9. Sand – our closest Historical house and gardens, limited opening days
10. Stourhead Gardens – again a little bit further away but simply stunning all year round

 Pubs

Sidmouth

1. Radway – Tuesday night Quiz night Starts 9pm. Can get quite smoky. Stephen and Sarah are perfect hosts.
2. The Swan -  good old fashioned pub
3. The Anchor - Legendary venue for Folk week. Now in new hands of Matt & Trevor. On the up.

Beyond Sidmouth

1. Fountain Head – Branscombe (6 miles) For all real ale enthusiasts. Basic but unforgetable.
2. Masons Arms (6 miles) – under new ownership. However always has been popular in the past.
3. Golden Lion – (3 miles) Tipton St John – good pub food reputation. Runner up in regional food competition. Frankie is a good host
4. The King’s Arms at Stockland – Good Food.
5. Drewe Arms at Broadhembury (12 miles) – sensational fish restaurant in the middle of the countryside in gorgeous village.

Favourite Shops

1. Sidmouth Garden Centre – Outstanding service.  
2. Fields Department Store – service as it used to be.
3. Hayman’s – outstanding award winning butcher. Famous pasties. They have the knowledge.
4. Christopher Piper Wines (Ottery St Mary) – One of the country’s leading wine merchants
5. Mountstephen’s – Traditional Jeweller.
6. Kendrick’s Ice creams
7. Emily’s – Belgian chocolates.
8. The Clock tower – Connaught gardens tea room. Les Routiers listed!
9. Gliddons – old fashioned, wholesome toy shop.
10. Church Street Traders - beautiful shops in idyllic street.

Favourite things to do with Children

1. Radway cinema – lovely cinema – recently refurbished. Pay the extra £1 to get  seats upstairs (They are much better)
2. Sand Castles on Jacob’s ladder beach (Not at High tide!)
3. Swim at the excellent local pool
4. Visit Crealy theme park – Pirate ship, mini roller coaster, log flume, but not overly tacky.
5. Visit Farway Countryside Park – Very charming rustic park. Great for 8 & under. Handle the animals
6. Feed the ducks in the Byes (pick up a free bag of bread from reception)
7. Pecorama – Impressive model Railways + ride on small steam train.
8. A day in Torbay – Paignton Zoo, Babbacombe model village, Princess theatre, arcades, water slides and Goodrington Sands + Living coasts (excellent)
9. A day’s mackerel fishing from Beer. Hire a boat. (about £15 for 2 hours - per boat).  Unforgetable great fun!
10. Seaton - Tramway

Favourite Annual Events - Events we never miss

1. Folk Week  (first week in August)
2. Christmas Carnival (early December date to be announced)
3. Christmas lights at Beer (mid December)
4. Red Arrows (dates are different each year but always August)
5. Sidmouth Regatta Week (late August) (raft races, fancy dress, sailing races & fireworks)
6. Good Friday – Hot Cross buns handed out! Bedford Car Park (only for children)
7. November 5^th – Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels – Unbelievable! Locals carry flaming tar barrels on their shoulders. Makes "The Wicker Man" seem a quaint family occasion
8. Royal Devon and Exeter Show (May) -  Great agricultural show.
9. The Bluebells at Blackbury Castle (spring) –if you’re lucky you may even see a Fairy!

  Walks

Please ask at Reception for directions,

1. Top of Salcombe Hill - Views to take the breath away

2. Otterton to Budleigh Salterton - wildlife galore along the banks of the Otter
3. Peak Hill inland to Keeble’s Seat
4. Weston to Weston Beach (not for the faint hearted)
5. Sidmouth to Budleigh ( A day's trek - inspiring)
6. Woodbury Common - see the terrain were the Royal Marine commandos train.
7. Sidmouth to Beer (the hardest section of the South West Coastal Path, 4 enormous climbs of 450 feet.
8. Golden Cap - The highest cliff on the South Coast - 100 feet taller than Beachy Head. Soak up the views and tales of smuggling