A Coastal Walk in Devon – Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands

Can you believe that our little Island is surrounded by over 7700 miles of coastline? The beaches of the United Kingdom vary from the wonderfully serene bays in the South of England to the stunningly ragged edges of Scotland. The county of Devon has some of the most striking beaches in England. If you live in the United Kingdom and you have never been to the South West of England, I would highly recommend you book a short holiday and get down there!

Still not convinced? Let me tell you a little more. Every year, without fail, my family and I spend New Year in Devon. Unfortunately, due to family circumstances, this year’s visit had to be kept rather short – and in consequence, we weren’t able to explore quite as many places as we usually do.

My personal highlight this year the sunny day we spent in Croyde and Saunton Sands. A Coastal Walk in Devon always cheers up my mind.

WOOLACOMBE, CROYDE OR SAUNTON SANDS?

Quick answer: choose Croyde for a compact village, thatched cottages and rock-pooling; choose Saunton for a long, spacious beach walk and slow, rolling surf. Woolacombe is the stronger all-round resort base when you want a broad beach with town facilities, although the personal day described below documents Croyde followed by a short drive to Saunton rather than a Woolacombe visit.

Route note: this is an account of a multi-stop North Devon coastal day, published in January 2015 after a winter/New Year visit. It does not establish that we walked one continuous route between all three beaches. [KAT INPUT NEEDED] to add any exact mileage, start point or continuous walking route.

What matters	Woolacombe	Croyde	Saunton Sands
Best fit and atmosphere	Broad sandy beach with a busier resort-town feel	Small village, cottages, rock pools and a compact bay	Big-sky space, dunes and a long beach
Facilities and parking context	Town and beachfront facilities; use current signed car parks	Village and beach parking varies; the visit below used parking at the village edge	Facilities and a managed car park are by the main entrance
Surfing	Established Atlantic surf beach	Popular surf bay; conditions can be powerful	Known for long, slow waves and used by surfers year-round
Dogs	Seasonal zones and signs apply	Seasonal restrictions apply from May to September; dogs must be kept on leads in the dunes	Dogs are allowed year-round; follow the signed lead zone by the beach huts
Lifeguarding and water safety	Seasonal cover varies: check the live RNLI listing	Seasonal cover varies: check the live RNLI listing	Seasonal cover varies: check the live RNLI listing
Walking	Wide sands and coast-path options; check tides and signed routes	Beach, dunes and village footpaths; the tide shaped our route below	Three miles of sand backed by Braunton Burrows

Rules, patrol dates and parking arrangements change. Check North Devon Council’s live beach rules, the RNLI lifeguarded-beach finder and the individual beach operator before travelling. If Woolacombe is your base, our Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park review covers a separate family stay.

A COASTAL WALK IN DEVON – WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COASTLINE

Croyde and Saunton Sands are located on the North Coast of Devon, in the South West of England. This stretch of coast is lined with sandy beaches and quaint little villages. There are three beautiful beaches that are definitely worth a visit: Saunton Sands, Woolacombe and Croyde Bay. Saunton Sands, probably one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of sand in the UK, lies to the South of Croyde. Croyde Bay, on the other hand, is a small partly rocky beach, sheltered by the sand dunes and the countryside that surround it. Woolacombe is located to the North of Croyde and its sandy beach is 3 miles long. All three bays face the Atlantic Ocean. No wonder they are such popular surfing spots, especially in summer when temperatures are a bit milder. The surrounding fields and sand dunes are crisscrossed with various hiking paths and bridleways – perfect for a coastal walk. The South Devon Coastal Route is a favourite among many visitors. If you are bringing a dog, check the live seasonal rules before setting out. Saunton allows dogs year-round, while Croyde and Woolacombe use restrictions or zones at busier times; follow the signs on arrival.

A COASTAL WALK IN DEVON – CROYDE BAY

Croyde Bay is your typical sleepy seaside village with gorgeous thatched cottages and a friendly atmosphere.  The unspoilt village is steeped in old-world charm with great input into the area by the young surfing community, tourism and walkers with three fantastic beaches to choose from. Today you can find places to stay, eat and drink in a huge variety of establishments in the area together with many outdoor activities to choose from.

The village of Croyde Bay is slightly set back from the beach. On our winter visit we found parking at the edge of the village, but current availability and charges should be checked locally. The beach itself is easy to reach – a short walk through the fields will lead you right down to the bay.

Our own journey began with a windy drive through hedgerows and fields. We were able to park our car at the edge of the village and from there headed down the footpath to the beach.

At the bottom, we were greeted by a flabbergasting panoramic view. This part of the beach is covered with rocks, so we spent the first half an hour climbing and hoping from stone to stone.

I do love rock pools though and could just sit and stare at them for ages. They are also a great educational tool for kids.

Luckily we were able to continue our stroll on slightly firmer – albeit sandy – ground.

I must say, Croyde Bay is spectacular. The beach is nestled in between hilly terrain and sand dunes and in the background the movement and sound of the waves crashing onto shore, add to the feeling of utter peace.

The beach is very popular with the locals and several families, couples and dogs were enjoying the bright winter sun alongside us.

On the north side of the beach, a cluster of picturesque buildings leads back to the village.

I would suggest you take this much more accessible path if you have small children or are equipped with a pram.

At this point, the tide was coming in and we had no desire to get stuck. So after some fun and games in the sand, we headed back into Croyde.

Winding our way through the fields, we passed a multitude of thatched cottages, offering an array of photographic opportunities.

On our way back, we bought a packet of clotted cream fudge in a local shop. Unfortunately, the fudge was so delicious that it was devoured before I had the opportunity to take a picture of its pretty stripey packaging.

The Thatch, the local pub, was filled with smiling people and if it had been up to me I would definitely have stopped for an afternoon meal or at least for a drink. Unfortunately, my dad is more of the packed sandwich kind of guy. Perhaps I should have tried to convince him with a pint of beer.

A COASTAL WALK ALONG DEVON’S LONGEST BEACH – SAUNTON SANDS

Over-ruled however, we headed on further to Saunton Sands – for part 2 of our Coastal Walk in Devon.

Saunton is just a short drive away from Croyde and is at the centre of the UNESCO designated North Devon Biosphere Reserves.

If you are a nature-lover and enjoy long coastal walks, Saunton Sands is a must-see and you should add it to your bucket list immediately.

This beach is extremely popular with surfers and also very family and dog-friendly. No wonder then that the beach was packed even though the sun was already setting.

FURTHER READING