Bucket and spade in hand, miles of golden sand, rolling waves and rolling dunes. This is what seaside holidays are all about. Each Devon Holiday Park is just a hop, skip and jump from some of the most stunning stretches of the soul soothing yellow stuff.
What do you do at the beach? Splash in the surf, build a sandcastle or hunt for shells? The West Country is where beaches are at their very best, soft sand, salty sea spray and a sweet scent of suntan lotion. And you'll need some, the sunshine's above average here, Devon's anything but run of the mill.
There's more to holidays here than just the sandy beaches, but for many families a brilliant UK beach is right up there on the staycation checklist. You really don't need to go far, all four North Devon Holiday Parks are so close you can taste the fresh sea air on your tongue. But this is not just any beach, Woolacombe comes with an awesome rep as a real surf hotspot, it's been awarded the Blue Flag for over 20 years and a premier seaside award too so you're sure it's clean and safe. Little surprise it's consistently named best beach time and time again - why would you go anywhere else?
Nearby are more legendary unspoilt seaside spots like Croyde and Saunton Sands, many are dog friendly beaches all year round too. It's often said that North Devon's coast is just like being in Cornwall but without the long drive, and you'll forget going abroad when you see this coastal collection. Find your holiday haven in the North Devon Beach Guide for genuine proof you'll never be settling for second best when you pick a beach break in North Devon.
Britain's best beach
Stone's throw from your Park
Just over the dunes, and moments away, you'll find the most glorious 3-mile sweep of golden sands of Woolacombe Beach. It's a constant poll topper, it's easy to see why. Like being voted again Britain's best beach in the Sunday Times beach of the year awards for 2021.
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Surfing beaches
Totally beachin' man
Chase the waves on Britain's best surfing beaches stretching from Cornwall along the Atlantic Ocean coast with Woolacombe beach at the top of the list. Some of the finest UK surfing beaches are right here to suit experienced surfers and body boarding beginners.
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Beach break days
Take me to the ocean
Happiness is a day paddling about in the surf, skimming stones into the sea, building a sandcastle or family games on the sand. Or maybe something a little slower like hunting for crabs, relaxing on a deckchair or a beach barbecue. Buckets and spades at the ready!
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Dog friendly beaches
Lead me to the sea
Miles of sand means lots of space to run around, all year round. In Summer you must stick to the dog friendly zones on many beaches in North Devon, including Woolacombe but it's a very small area of the beach and from Mill Rock onwards you can roam about lead-free.
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Beach safety
Respect the water
Woolacombe is already one of the safest beaches in Britain, there's no jet skis or speedboats to spoil your fun. Your holiday heros are the RNLI beach lifeguards who keep a close eye. Plus find out forecasts and tide times as well as beach safety information on their website.
Find out more+ Beach and coastal safety guide
To ensure the utmost safety the RNLI provide a comprehensive beach lifeguarding service in Summer at Woolacombe Beach and Croyde Beach, check out their beach safety tips here:
- It's easier than you think to get into trouble in the water. Get to grips with the common risk factors and find out how to minimise them when you know the risks
- Tide times and heights vary throughout the month and can easily catch you out if you haven’t checked the tides guide
- In the UK, the majority of RNLI Lifeguard incidents involve rip currents
- Waves are great fun, but they can be dangerous. Understanding how they work will keep you safer
+ Beach access guide from our Parks
All our Parks are located in Woolacombe in North Devon, so whichever you choose you'll be in the same village as Britain's best beach. Drive and walking times and distances from our Parks to Woolacombe Tourism Information Centre at the main Woolacombe Beach entrance provided by Google Maps:
- Golden Coast is the quickest drive in approximately 5 minutes (1.9 miles), walking is 31 minutes but it is not recommended due to large stretches of the main road not having foot paths. Suggest route: drive 5 minutes | walk not recommended
- Woolacombe Bay is our closest Park to the beach and you can drive it along Sandy Lane in approximately 5 minutes (0.8 miles) although in the direction from the Park to the beach this is a single track lane with passing places and restrictions on larger vehicles so some drivers may find it a more comfortable experience to remain on the main roads, in which case the drive is approximately 9 minutes (3.3 miles) passing Golden Coast. Walking is the shortest journey using the footpath from the Park existing by the Royal Hotel, this takes approximately 15 minutes and is steep in parts due to the Park's stunning hilltop location and is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs due to stiles on the public foothpath. You can alternatively walk along the single track Sandy Lane with a pushchair or wheelchair paying attention to vehicles. Suggested route: drive 9 minutes | walk 15 minutes
- Twitchen House to the beach by car is approximately 8 minutes drive (1.8 miles) through the picture postcard village of Mortehoe. There are multiple footpaths from the edges of the Park and you can walk along the 'donkey path' through National Trust land in approximately 28 minutes or directly at the end of the foothpath is the beautiful Combesgate Beach which takes about 20 minutes from the Park, whilst the footpath is open grass or woodland it is less steep than the walk from Woolacombe Bay and more suitable for smaller children. Suggest route: drive 8 minutes | walk 20-28 minutes
- Easewell Farm is directly oppposite Twitchen House so the drive is the same as from Twitchen House talking approximately 8 minutes (1.8 miles). By foot you will find it easier to walk to Twitchen House in approximately 11 minutes (0.5 miles) and then follow the recommended footpaths in the listing above. Suggest route: drive 8 minutes | walk 31-39 minutes
+ Beach amenties & car parking guide
Woolacombe Beach amenities & car parking
There is plenty of day parking in Woolacombe with five beachside car parks; The Esplanade roadside parking operated by North Devon Council, Marine Drive operated by Woolacombe & Mortehoe Parish Council although this car park is not recommended for those accessing the beach with pushchairs or mobility issues, Barton Road car park next to the mini-golf course operated by Woolacombe Bay Hotel (hotel main car park is for residents only), and The Esplanade Beach and Sandy Burrows car parks operated by Parkin Estates who also rent beach huts from the last week in May to the first week in September and provide beach amenities including eating and drinking, shopping and entertainment. There are many surf shops and beach shops as well as cafés, ice cream shops, restaurants, pubs and bars in Woolacombe village centre where limited on street car parking is available for up to one hour.
Putsborough Beach amentities & car parking
There is one privately operated car park with a beach shop and café. Alternatively you can walk to Putsborough Beach which is situated at the southen end of Woolacombe Bay from Marine Drive car park either along the ridge or the beach, or walk the 3 miles across Woolacombe's beaches.
Croyde Beach amenities & car parking
There are multiple car parks in Croyde both operated by North Devon Council and private operators with the largest being Down End Car Park near to the beach. Although Croyde is a smaller village and beach than Woolacombe, it also has beach shops, cafés and bars.
Saunton Sands amenities & car parking
There is one privately operated car park at the northern end of the beach with beach huts, surf schools, beach shops, cafés and bars.
North Devon Beach Guide
Discover ten of Devon's top beaches on your doorstep... heading to the seaside Golden Coast is the quickest drive and Woolacombe Bay is the shortest walk, or Twitchen House is only just a little further and an easier route for smaller children.
Find out more Woolacombe beach holidays information in the Good Times blog including 5 of Devon's secret beaches, or perhaps 9 reasons a holiday in Woolacombe is better than a holiday in the Caribbean and 7 ways to be socially distant on the beach.