North Devon has over 171 sq km of coastline which draw in thousands of tourists and locals who can't help but fall in love with its stunning beaches, rocky coastline and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). From surfers to sandcastle makers, there are plenty of hotspots amongst our beautiful coastal areas that are always popular including Combe Martin, Lee Bay, Woolacombe, Croyde Bay Beach, Saunton, Barricane Beach, Northam Burrows Country Park, Westward Ho!’s Pebble Ridge, the Hartland Peninsula, Braunton Burrows, Tunnels Beaches, Woody Bay and Putsborough Beach.
So deciding which is the best for you can depend on what you are after from your visit. Undoubtedly the most popular and recently voted the Beach of the year by The Times who stated "Our winner for 2021 is perfect for a post‑pandemic summer with miles of sand, benign surf, food trucks and huts for hire" is Woolacombe. Tripadvisor has also voted it the Best Beach in the UK, 4th best in Europe & 13th best in the world!
If you wish to dip your toes in the waves then you had better head to one of our lifeguarded beaches. These include Woolacombe, Croyde Bay Beach, Saunton and Westward Ho! Remember to always only swim between the red/yellow flags to keep safe! These four are loved by the surf community because they are known for the biggest and cleanest waves. Saunton Beach is 5 miles of sandy beach with the UNESCO World Biosphere Braunton Burrows directly behind it. It's a popular film location with recent shoots including the upcoming film The Witcher and more famous music videos such as Pink Floyds The Wall & Robbie Williams’ Angels video. Westward Ho! is possibly the most photographed beach in Devon because of it's renowned pebble ridge. But our favourite features is possibly the backdrop of amusements, fish & chip restaurants and the most famous Ice Cream vans in Devon: Hockings!
If you are after a quieter, intimate & tucked away retreat, the following beauty spots are definitely for you. Tunnels Beaches, Woody Bay and Barricane beach are rocky paradises that are more secluded and offer a peaceful place to just admire the sea. Be aware of tide times as vast amounts of Barricane beach can get cut off so make sure you are mindful of this. You may also need to be aware of the opening times for Tunnels beaches as it is often used as a picturesque wedding venue and therefore access may be limited.
If you are after a beach stroll with your dog, you may want to head to Instow, Northam Burrows (If livestock is near, please ensure you remain in control of your dog/s at all times) or Putsborough Beach. Although many of our other beaches allow dogs, they may need to remain on lead, in certain areas or are only permitted at certain times of the year (usually off-season) These beaches are great for your whole family to paddle, cool off and shake it out.
There are so many other fantastic local beaches to shout about including:
So whether your want to look for crabs & wildlife in the rock pools, top up your tan or surf the waves, North Devon is crammed with the best beaches around. Why not visit them all!
