How to prepare for the perfect beach day
Ready to spend the day with the family on the golden sands of Woolacombe Bay? Not sure what you need to pack and prepare for the perfect day of sun, sea and sand…
…continue reading for our perfect beach day tips!
Pick your beach and plan your transport
One of the best things about a holiday to Woolacombe Bay is that you are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, in fact it’s thought there are around 40 beaches in and around Woolacombe, not to mention the ones that are a bit further afield in Devon.
So your first step in preparing for a perfect beach day is actually deciding on which beach you want to go to and how you will get there. Are you looking for a secluded bay or a bustling coastline? How about rock pools or just plenty of golden sand? And what about your furry friends - which beaches are dog friendly all year round?
Luckily when you stay at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park, Twitchen House Holiday Park and Easewell Farm Holiday Park you’re within easy driving distance of a number of beautiful beaches so whatever your preference you can have your perfect beach day.
Check car park limitations
After a lovely day at the beach the last thing you’ll want to come back to is a parking ticket on your car. There is plenty of parking in Woolacombe near the beaches but charges do differ throughout the year so make sure you’ve packed enough change, although most car parks now accept contactless payments. If you pay for a certain number of hours, set an alarm on your phone so you don’t don’t forget, just make sure you leave enough time to pack up and walk back to your car.
Check the weather forecast
If you’re imagining a “perfect beach day”, it’s probably not raining. With that being said, one of our top tips for a perfect beach day is planning ahead and checking the weather forecast to make sure you’re not caught out on a wet and windy day. Similarly it’s also good to check the weather forecast to see if it’s going to be exceptionally hot, small children and dogs don’t do well in extreme heat so avoiding these days too will be more enjoyable for everyone.
Check the tide times
Beaches in North Devon and Cornwall can be long and sandy, but they also have some of the largest tidal ranges in the world. So come at certain times and at high tide you might find the surf is lapping up a lot closer to the shoreline than it did a few days ago. On the other hand, at low tide the beach can be absolutely massive making it quite a walk to reach the ocean edge. But the good thing is the tides are influenced by the moon so clever boffins can work it out accurately and into millions in the future too, so you can consult the Woolacombe tide tables to plan which days and when to hit the beach.
Packing list for the perfect beach day
When you’ve got a whole family to organise for a beach day it can get a bit hectic and important things can easily get forgotten, that's why we’ve also included some beach day essentials to help you plan ahead:
Sun protection:
It goes without saying, top of a packing list for a beach day should be sun protection. This includes a strong SPF, UV protective sunglasses and a sunhat that ideally keeps your ears and neck shaded from sunlight.
Swimming costumes:
Another beach day essential item to pack, swimming costumes! Whether you’re planning on taking a dip or just relaxing in the sun, packing a swimming costume will allow you to do both.
Beach towels:
For drying off after a splash around or for simply relaxing on, beach towels are another packing essential for a successful beach day.
Kid's entertainment:
It’s important to remember to bring fun things to keep the kids entertained and family beach days usually mean one thing - sand castles! So don’t forget buckets and spades but also keep your eye out for other items like a frisbee, a ball, bodyboards and maybe inflatables if you have packing space.
Your entertainment:
Although you want to keep the kids happy, you’re also allowed to have a little ‘me time’ so bring something to keep yourself entertained like a good book or earphones for a podcast. Just remember to keep one eye on the kids!
Refreshments:
If you’re trying to save money then packing a picnic should be on your list of beach day essentials. Make some sandwiches, pack some fruit, crisps and other snacks. Remember to pack lots of water and any other favourites that your family has, storing it all in a cool box is a perfect and transportable way to keep it refreshed and prevent it from warming up in the sun.
So there you have it, our guide full of the tips for the perfect beach day!
