Happy New Year!

Ocean Backpackers would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year!!! We had a great 2015 and are really looking forward to the year ahead!

Ilfracombe has seen more fab new galleries, cafes and restaurants open recently and the Harbour area (where we are situated) became known as the Artisan Quarter in 2015! Woolacombe Beach (a ten minute drive from us) got voted Best Beach in Britain for 2015 by Trip Advisor and Tunnels Beaches is waiting to hear if they have earned the title of best British wedding venue of the year!!

The Marine Conservation area around Lundy Island is thriving and more and more visitors are either visiting for a day or choosing to stay over to enjoy all the peace and tranquility Lundy has to offer. Not to mention the abundance of wildlife too! We are a couple of minutes from the Lundy boat/office and provide a great place to stay before and after your trip!! The Harbour is home to Damien Hirsts ‘Verity’ and thousands of visitors came last year to see the local attraction and decide whether they “love her-or hate her!!” There are more boat trips than ever leaving from the Harbour in the summer season-lobster and mackerel fishing, life boat trips, wildlife trips (dolphins and seals often seen) and “white water” trips too!! ! Or why not try a spot of sea fishing or crabbing from the comfort of the shore!! You name it-we have got it!!

Recently, there has been much talk of a watersports centre being built at the Harbour. This would bring together clubs such as the gig boats, kayakers, canoers and provide some great facilities that can be enjoyed by the general public too! The Harbour is a great place to start a coasteering or kayaking session and local experienced activity providers can tailor a package to suit groups of all kinds!

So what’s been happening at Ocean Backpackers? Well, every bed in the backpackers (we sleep 56) receieved a new mattress in 2015 so that we can guarantee comfort to all guests that come and stay! We were awarded another certificate of Excellence form Trip Advisor-due to our cracking reviews and have really enjoyed welcoming hundreds of guests to stay! Walkers, climbers, divers, surfers, kayakers, canoers, cyclists, groups, families, friends and independent travellers have all enjoyed a stay and we continue to offer budget accommodation with great self-catering facilties for all!! Our third floor has proved ideal for families (with its separate kitchen and private family rooms) and many groups of all kinds have taken advantage of hiring the Backpackers for exclusive use. Schools, activity groups, families, friends, universities-we have loved providing a “home from home” for them all!!!

So have a happy, healthy and very enjoyable 2016-Remember to live, laugh, love all the way ……..and we hope to see you at Ocean Backpackers very soon!!!!!