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  • About me
  • Content creation services
    • Brand partnerships and advertising
    • User generated content
    • Social media management
    • Words for your website
  • My travel blogs
  • thoughts on blogging
  • Contact

Hi! I’m Claire Hall, a copywriter and digital content creator ready to help boost your profile online

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My recent travels

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Mid-life mum sharing adventures big āœˆļø & small 🌱, places I šŸ’š & unpolished moments
I’m also @omanwanderlustcom @devonwithkids @travinfluence MorešŸ‘‡

It’s rare to find places in the UK that are still It’s rare to find places in the UK that are still relatively untouched by modern conveniences, like coffee shops with reward apps. But Clovelly in North Devon can count itself among them. 

This ancient fishing village that clings to the cliffs above Bideford Bay has steep cobbled streets lined with lived-in homes and independent businesses. There’s also a year-round programme of community-led events.

Clovelly has been here since before the Dooms Day book and has been owned by just three families since then. But for most of that time it was ā€˜hidden’ by modern standards.

It was in 1855 that it was made famous by Charles Kingsley, the author of ā€˜Westward Ho!’, whose salty tale about pirates and adventure sparked a boom in Victorian tourism.

Earlier this month we visited for what must be the third or fourth time with our kids. And this was the first time that no carrying was required on the 120m hill šŸŽ‰ We’ve stupidly negotiated it with a pushchair in the distant past!

The street through the village is unsuitable for cars and even walking up and down the steep clobbed street isn’t for the faint-hearted. But the harbour views and seeing the cute houses is worth it.

Pause at the bottom for a paddle in the harbour, food from @redlionclovelly or a walk along the beach before stomping back up the hill or catching the Land Rover shuttle service up the less scenic back road. 

šŸ“ Clovelly, near Bideford, EX39 5TA

šŸš— parking is free at the visitor centre

šŸŽŸļø a family ticket (two adults + two children) costs Ā£25 this summer

šŸ“† check the clovelly.co.uk website for the event calendar. Most events are included in your entrance fee.
I think I’ve found my new favourite National Trust I think I’ve found my new favourite National Trust property.

Castle Drogo at Drewsteignton is England’s newest castle, completed in 1930, and one of several National Trust places offering extra family activities over the summer.

We stopped off on our journey to North Devon last week. I’ve had my eye on a visit for a while. Last time we came the castle was covered in scaffolding, having its roof fixed.

This visit was very different - we were able to step inside the modern fortress and explore rooms draped in tapestries reminiscent of medieval times alongside 20th Century family rooms. It’s beautiful and fascinating.

There’s also plenty to entrain younger visitors. Look out for knitted versions of the Drewe family’s favourite pets around the castle, play games in the nursery corridor and play room, dress up in 1920s garb and find the woodland play areas beyond the formal gardens.

You can also explore the walks through Teign Gorge below the battlements or use them to enjoy views of Dartmoor.

Summer of Play activities continue in the castle grounds throughout the school holidays.

Here’s some handy things to know before you visit:

šŸ“ Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, EX6 6PB. There are some very narrow lanes as you get closer to the castle

šŸš— parking is free for National Trust members. Non-members can park using the machines in the car park or the JustPark app

šŸ° the number of rooms open in the castle can vary depending on the number of volunteers on duty

🧺 bring a picnic or pop into the modern cafe beside the car park 

🐶 dogs are allowed in the castle grounds but not inside

What do you think? Is this a castle you could live in?
Solar Eclipse 2026 šŸ“ Slapton Sands, South Devon, w Solar Eclipse 2026 šŸ“ Slapton Sands, South Devon, with the fam and @flip_flops_or_wellies 

Where did you watch?
Every August the sleepy village of Hartland in Nor Every August the sleepy village of Hartland in North Devon comes alive with a tradition that stretches back to the 1920s - Hartland Carnival.

The grand procession of floats, bands, dancers and tableau is the climax of a week of community events. And there’s always themes to impress from entries based on recent films to vintage TV shows and, of course, a good dose of political satire.

We’ve been several times over the years and, after a bit of a break, booked our summer holiday around it. This family-friendly event oozes community spirit and good old-fashioned fun.

Fancy staying a while? There’s plenty of reason to extend your time in the village. Here’s what we got up to during our five night break:

šŸ„ā€ā™€ļø Bodyboarding and swimming at Hartland Quay

šŸ° Exploring @hartland.abbey and Blackpool Beach - the location for TV shows like Malory Towers, the Night Manager and Sense and Sensibility. 

šŸŽ£ Visiting the beautiful car-free @clovellyvillage - I’ve lost count of the times we’ve been now but it never disappoints.

šŸ“† Hartland Carnival takes place every August with events throughout the week in the run-up to the grand procession, usually on the second Saturday of the month.

šŸ  We stayed at @fosfelle Cottages which is a short walk from the village. 

Have you been to a carnival recently?
Our National Trust membership has just renewed and Our National Trust membership has just renewed and it reminded us that we really need to make the most of it over the summer. 

On our way back from a walk and dip on Dartmoor we stopped for lunch and a wander at Buckland Abbey.

This 700-year-old monastery turned country pile on the edge of Dartmoor oozes Plymouth history. It was once the home of Sir Francis Drake - although he never hung around for long. 

You can now see the orchards that were once tended by monks and a museum of maritime treasures on display.Ā 

Outside the Abbey there’s woodland paths which are among some of our favourite easy walks on Dartmoor.

The Abbey is also hosting extra activities as part of the Trust’s Summer of Play. The skittles and flag designing station in the Great Barn were hits with our two.

Here’s what you need to know about visiting Buckland Abbey this summer:

āš”ļø Summer of Play activities are on at the Abbey until 6 September 2026. All activities are included with entry

🌳 there’s also a natural adventure playground 

🧺 bring a picnic or pop into the National Trust cafe for pasties, sandwiches and cakes

🐶 dogs are allowed in the grounds but not the kitchen garden or house

šŸ“ Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EY

šŸ›£ļø there’s a few narrow lanes on the approach to the Abbey so be prepared to use passing places. 

šŸš— Parking is free

Have you been to a National Trust property this summer? What activities did you find?
šŸ“Bantham beach This Blue Flag surfer’s paradise i šŸ“Bantham beach

This Blue Flag surfer’s paradise is eye-wateringly beautiful. Grassy dunes roll into a golden sandy beach with cliffs to the East and the River Avon estuary in the West. 

We filled a full day here riding the incoming tide and relaxing on the sand. If you fancy learning to surf you can do that too with @discoverysurfschool.

Here’s what you need to know if you fancy a visit:

šŸ“ Bantham, Kingsbridge TQ7 3AN

šŸ—ŗļø Be aware that the road into Bantham is very narrow with passing places. On sunny days it will be busy. Look ahead, don’t bunch together with other cars and prepare to reverse!

šŸš— Parking costs Ā£12 for the day for cars (vans and motorhomes cost more). Payment is by card/contactless only

ā° Check the tide times. There’s plenty of sand to lounge on at high tide but there’s a sand bar in the middle of the beach. It’s important to know if the tide is going in or out across this - it would be easy to get stuck. 

šŸ‘¶ bring buckets, spades and sun shades for little ones. The beach is shallow making it great for paddling but be aware the tide comes in fast. 

šŸ„šŸ¼ For older kids, bring body boards. There’s also rock pools to explore on the east side.

🐶 Dogs aren’t allowed from May and September but can walk around the estuary.

🧺 Bring a picnic or buy hot and cold food and drinks from the Gastrobus in the car park
18 years married, 26 together 🄰 I’ll be forever g 18 years married, 26 together 🄰

I’ll be forever grateful that this man was given my number by an over-enthusiastic bar manager while we were working at the same pub - GDPR was not a thing in 2000 🤣

Data-breaches aside, I can’t imagine my days without him right here beside me. I will be forever grateful that our journeys crossed and aligned 🄰

Can’t wait for our next adventure! It’s going to be 18+ according to him 😳🤣
We found a wadi in Dartmoor! Apologies if you wer We found a wadi in Dartmoor!

Apologies if you weren’t with us for our Oman-era, but wadis - dry or flowing river beds - played a massive part in our weekend adventures in the Middle East. We have missed them.

This is Foggintor Quarry, which is between Princetown and Yelverton in the National Park. This wild swimming spot can be reached during an easy walk recommended to us by @dartmoorpartner.

I’d love to try another wild dipping spot on the moors this summer. Can anyone give us some ideas?

āš ļø We carefully scoped out our entry and exit point, and stayed in the shallows, thankfully avoiding scraping our knees on the rocks.
šŸ“North Sands in Salcombe Fans of 2025 film The Ro šŸ“North Sands in Salcombe

Fans of 2025 film The Roses might recognise the location for our latest beach day.

North Sands is one of our favourite South Devon beaches for paddle boarding. We hung out here A LOT in 2020.

Here’s what you need to know if you fancy a visit:

ā° Check the tide times. There is only a thin strip of sand at the top of the beach at high tide. 

šŸš— The car park isn’t huge and the mobile phone signal is sketchy, so bring some coins to feed the machines in case you can’t get signal for the Pay By Phone app. 

šŸ†“ There is free parking on the winding road up the hill from the beach BUT be considerate of residents. We prefer to arrive early and use the car park. 

šŸ‘¶ This small sandy bay is shallow making it a fun paddling spot for families with young children. 

šŸ„šŸ¼ For older kids, bring snorkels, paddle boards and ball games.

🐶 Be aware that this is a dog-friendly beach all year round. Great news for dog-lovers like us, but it might be overwhelming for anyone who is not a fan, especially as the beach shrinks with the tide.

🧺 There’s a picnic area next to the car park or you can visit @thewinkingprawn for take out or to dine in. I recommend the takeaway POBOY Shrimp.

Devon beach fans. Give a shout out to your favourite beaches. We’re off to another today! 

šŸ–ļø Holidaying in Devon this summer? There’s a Highlight in my profile of where we’ve been playing tourist in our backyard
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