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Travel Influence
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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

tinboxtraveller

Mid-life mum sharing adventures big ✈️ & small 🌱, places I 💚 & unpolished moments
I’m also @omanwanderlustcom @devonwithkids @travinfluence More👇

Not all gems are hidden, but this is one I’m guilt Not all gems are hidden, but this is one I’m guilty of gatekeeping 🙊

📍 Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth 

We spent A LOT of our summer here and have no regrets.

Whole days, half days and evening dips 👌 

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

⏰ There’s no need to check the tide times. You’ll always find plenty of beach at Blackpool Sands

⚠️ First-time visitors are always perplexed that this is a shingle beach, not a sandy one. Honestly, I prefer it!

🌊 This beach is great fun for water confident swimmers, but the steeply shelving shingle means there’s often large waves along the shoreline. Children need to be supervised

🛟 RNLI lifeguards are on duty over the school summer holidays

🛶 This is a great place to kayak and paddle board. Both can be hired with buoyancy aids from @redequipment

🏄 Our girls like to float around on their body boards, but this is not a good beach to catch a wave - the shoreline is too steep

🧖‍♀️ Pimp your beach day by booking into the  @brya.life beach sauna 

🚗 The car park has an ANPR system. Pay at one of the machines before you leave. Prices vary throughout the year. A full day costs £9 in the summer holidays

🐶 Dogs are banned over the summer and welcomed back from October to April 

🧺 Bring a picnic, or visit the takeaway or restaurant for fresh food on the go or al a carte dining 

🕺 Check the @blackpoolsandsdevon socials for updates about live music, themed dining and events throughout the year

📍 Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 0RG
It’s not often we visit somewhere totally new to u It’s not often we visit somewhere totally new to us in Devon. But on our way back from the North to South coast we did just that. 

RHS Rosemoor is a collection of 22 beautifully curated gardens spread over 65 acres in the Torridge Valley.

I can’t lie, the lawns and roses were looking a little sun-scorched, but it was still a joy to explore whether you’re green-fingered or not.

The 11-year-old enjoyed the Brick Explorers trail (on until 30 August), the grandparents loved the formal gardens (and turned their day tickets into annual membership before they left) and I could have hung out beside the peaceful lake much, much longer than the kids would allow.

We’ll definitely return! 

Handy things to know: 

🎟️ pre-book for the best prices. Adults from £13.60 and children aged 5 to 16 £6

📆 RHS Rosemoor is open all year round excluding Christmas Day

🐶 RHS Rosemoor is unique because it welcomes from Monday to Wednesday and bank holidays. They must be kept on a short lead. Look out for signage about areas they cannot go

🧺 bring a picnic or pop into one of the cafes. We thought they were reasonably priced.

🛝 Families with younger children can find natural woodland playgrounds around the informal gardens. There’s also nature themed brass rubbings

⏰ Allow at least three hours to explore 

📍 Great Torrington, EX38 8PH

Do you have an RHS near you? Have you been?
Did you know that the CBBC series Malory Towers wa Did you know that the CBBC series Malory Towers was filmed at Hartland Abbey in North Devon?

The 1940s boarding school drama, based on Enid Blyton’s books of the same name, was one of my kids’ favourite shows for a while. 

We first visited the year before filming began - scroll for a few pictures from our 2018 visit 🥰

The girls have always wanted to return. But despite visiting Hartland regularly, it has taken us eight years. The reason being that it isn’t always open.

The Stucley family, whose ancestors were given the 12th Century Abbey by Henry VIII, still live here, which is why you need to carefully check the website before you arrive. 

The Abbey is a mix of historic house and family home with some fascinating murals, furnishings and heirlooms inside. Photography is not allowed, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

Fans of Malory Towers can also find props and information about the filming of the show’s seven series here and in the grounds.

If you walk a mile to Blackpool Mill Beach you might also recognise a cottage used in the filming of The Night Manager.

Handy to know:

🎟️ a family ticket including entry to the house for two adults and up to three children costs £42. You can get tickets just for the grounds and gardens

📆 Hartland Abbey is open to the public Sunday to Thursday between mid-March and the beginning of October. Double check the website.

🐶 Dogs are welcome on a lead in the grounds and on the beach at but not in the house

📍Hartland, near Bideford, EX39 6DT

Have you visited somewhere because a TV/film was made there?
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 ‘hidden’ by modern standards.

It was in 1855 that it was made famous by Charles Kingsley, the author of ‘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 🎉 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. 

📍 Clovelly, near Bideford, EX39 5TA

🚗 parking is free at the visitor centre

🎟️ a family ticket (two adults + two children) costs £25 this summer

📆 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:

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

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

🏰 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 📍 Slapton Sands, South Devon, w Solar Eclipse 2026 📍 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:

🏄‍♀️ Bodyboarding and swimming at Hartland Quay

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

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

📆 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.

🏠 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. 

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:

⚔️ 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

📍 Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6EY

🛣️ there’s a few narrow lanes on the approach to the Abbey so be prepared to use passing places. 

🚗 Parking is free

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

📍 Bantham, Kingsbridge TQ7 3AN

🗺️ 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!

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

⏰ 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. 

👶 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. 

🏄🏼 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
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